Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA): Spurs Eye Starting DeWayne Dedmon; Gasol Off Bench

[GSH]

The point remains: If he's 6'10'' barefoot, then he plays at roughly 6'11'' - 6'11'' and 1/2 depending on the shoe.

Look, I'm not going to get baited into any ridiculous arguments tonight. Putting on taller shoes works for team photos. It doesn't make you a bigger player on the court. If you're going to add shoe height to a 6'10" guy, then you have to add shoe height to the 7' guys too - so the only way to compare players legitimately is barefoot.

If you won't/can't see that, it's not worth arguing about.

[lilbthebasedgod]

Make's me have more hope we can get to around 55 wins.

[bklynspursfan]

[Chinook]

It's not going to be very fun with them not playing together.

[Killakobe81]

1) The Report:

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/view...?f=2&t=1465870

(Basically a recap of chatter from front-office guys during the summer league. Posting the entire Spurs section, but the last point is the most important.)



2) Credibility

Keith Smith is a basketball writer who is a Celtics mod on RealGM (Smitth731). He's basically all of the things you guys like about me and none of the things you guys don't like about me. He's the author of what is easily the most comprehensive spreadsheet out there for NBA salaries:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gid=1562502222 Like Mark Deeks, he's not the quickest with the news, but he's the most accurate at least when it comes to salaries.

He freely admits he's not a reporter, and if you know of him at all, it's possible that you do because he sort of "broke" a Griffin-to-Boston trade that hasn't happened yet. So right now, he's not on the tier right Woj in terms of dropping bombs. Still, this is Spurstalk, not a court of law.

3) Veracity

I believe Smith did hear the chatter. He has a good track record and does too much other good work for it to make sense for him to damage his credibility about a team/fanbase he probably don't care much about at all. But that's only part of the equation. Who was his source? The big possibility would be RC, since he was there and easily available and would obviously know what the team was thinking. But there were other Spurs' people there, including some FO guys probably and definitely the SL coaching staff. The latter group doesn't really seem to have much credibility, except for maybe Becky. Then there could be their players, but I consider that completely unlikely. Regardless of who said it, I have a hard time believing it. They didn't even know they were going to get Dedmon (although by the time whoever talked to Smith, they did, obviously), I don't think they'd be crazy enough to plan on starting Willie Reed, and he was the runner up.

4) Implications

Like OMG. It's strange to think Pau would be okay with this. But if it were something the Spurs would say during the SL, then you'd have to think they talked to him about it prior to signing him. Whether it works out that Pau comes off the bench or not, it sure does suggest that he's not obsessed with starting. But it does make sense. Off the bench, the Spurs are looking to play one-in-four-out, so he'd probably get a sh'ton of low-post touches he wouldn't necessarily be able to have with the starters. I'd probably be hurt defensively, however, playing without at least one of Green or Kawhi a lot of the time.

For the bench, it would change my projection of their offense. I'd actually expect it to be closer to how the starters roll, with Anderson playing the Kawhi role on offense and Pau playing the LMA role. I don't know how much I would like that. Manu would just sort of be there, like Parker is with the starters. Mills should be fine. And Bertans/Simmons would probably get touches. But I don't think there's a consistent plan of attack with that unit. Just seems like a lot of iso's and jump-shooting. Should help stave off worry about the bench not having talent or go-to offense, though.

For the starters, it sort of allows them to keep their offense from last year. Dedmon doesn't have Tim's upside offensively, but if he can board and finish, he should be able to be more effective than Tim was at the end. Parker gets another PnR partner, which might help him drive more easily. Green gets a dump-off man on his ill-fated drives. For the folks wanting that big roll-man/finisher, you'd be getting your wish. Defensively, the idea of funneling to Dedmon seems interesting. Dude's a talented shot-blocker, and you'd hope Danny and Kawhi would put him in easy-help positions. He can show on the PnR and recover, so that's an improvement over Duncan. But he's also a foul-machine, at least for a potential starter. Tim's best defensive attribute was that he contested so well without fouling. Would be an adjustment.

For Dedmon, I think this would hurt him. The SL won't have the spacing the bench was projected to. I think he's getting third-big minutes no matter where he is in the rotation, so instead of being a pillar of offensive ball-movement as he would be off the bench, he would be the fifth option that'd really only get touches if the third option can't find a way to score. He'd have to live as a garbage man, which is cool, but not as glamorous. Could still end up closing out games if he plays his role well enough, though.

I always thought larry coon was the best salary/cap guy isnt that who DPG (and guys on LG) use for those questions?

[Chinook]

I always thought larry coon was the best salary/cap guy isnt that who DPG (and guys on LG) use for those questions?

Coon is the best CBA guy. But if you click the link to Smith's spreadsheet, you'd see just how jam-packed it is with info.

[MaNu4Tres]

I can see Dedmon subbing in at the 6 minute mark for Gasol and playing with both the starters and bench in both halfs, much like Manu has done most of his career.

That scenario will allow Gasol to do the same.

[look_at_g_shred]

Don't see this happening at all.

[SAGirl]

Kind of think at this point some ppl are expecting too much of Dedmon. I question his fit with the starters unless LMA makes some quantum leap development as a passer bc neither big generates assists.

If anything that burdens Tony more to be the one moving the ball, perhaps Kawhi who is also not a special player passing the ball. Maybe Kawhi makes a leap in that category this season.

I really think we are bound to play more small ball and not Twin Towers the entire game. LMA will play as a 5 on occasion and so will Pau.

[littlecoyotecoin]

You may want to look in the mirror just a LITTLE.

[SAGirl]

You may want to look in the mirror just a LITTLE.

maybe.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Dedmon starting???









It's going to be a long season.

[playbonner15]

Just means more BonBon time if Gasoft goes down

[DAF86]

Pau doesn't strike me as the guy that would be cool with that.

[BillMc]

By the time Murray is ready, Manu and likely Patty will be gone. Also, don't see Pop abandoning Kyle unless he plays awful.

[San Antonio Slayer]

Also, don't see Pop abandoning Kyle unless he plays awful.

his running in SL was even more awful than last season that's for sure))) looks like he gained some weight but all came into his butt.

[poeticism707]

1) The Report:

http://forums.realgm.com/boards/view...?f=2&t=1465870

(Basically a recap of chatter from front-office guys during the summer league. Posting the entire Spurs section, but the last point is the most important.)



2) Credibility

Keith Smith is a basketball writer who is a Celtics mod on RealGM (Smitth731). He's basically all of the things you guys like about me and none of the things you guys don't like about me. He's the author of what is easily the most comprehensive spreadsheet out there for NBA salaries:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...gid=1562502222 Like Mark Deeks, he's not the quickest with the news, but he's the most accurate at least when it comes to salaries.

He freely admits he's not a reporter, and if you know of him at all, it's possible that you do because he sort of "broke" a Griffin-to-Boston trade that hasn't happened yet. So right now, he's not on the tier right Woj in terms of dropping bombs. Still, this is Spurstalk, not a court of law.

3) Veracity

I believe Smith did hear the chatter. He has a good track record and does too much other good work for it to make sense for him to damage his credibility about a team/fanbase he probably don't care much about at all. But that's only part of the equation. Who was his source? The big possibility would be RC, since he was there and easily available and would obviously know what the team was thinking. But there were other Spurs' people there, including some FO guys probably and definitely the SL coaching staff. The latter group doesn't really seem to have much credibility, except for maybe Becky. Then there could be their players, but I consider that completely unlikely. Regardless of who said it, I have a hard time believing it. They didn't even know they were going to get Dedmon (although by the time whoever talked to Smith, they did, obviously), I don't think they'd be crazy enough to plan on starting Willie Reed, and he was the runner up.

4) Implications

Like OMG. It's strange to think Pau would be okay with this. But if it were something the Spurs would say during the SL, then you'd have to think they talked to him about it prior to signing him. Whether it works out that Pau comes off the bench or not, it sure does suggest that he's not obsessed with starting. But it does make sense. Off the bench, the Spurs are looking to play one-in-four-out, so he'd probably get a sh'ton of low-post touches he wouldn't necessarily be able to have with the starters. I'd probably be hurt defensively, however, playing without at least one of Green or Kawhi a lot of the time.

For the bench, it would change my projection of their offense. I'd actually expect it to be closer to how the starters roll, with Anderson playing the Kawhi role on offense and Pau playing the LMA role. I don't know how much I would like that. Manu would just sort of be there, like Parker is with the starters. Mills should be fine. And Bertans/Simmons would probably get touches. But I don't think there's a consistent plan of attack with that unit. Just seems like a lot of iso's and jump-shooting. Should help stave off worry about the bench not having talent or go-to offense, though.

For the starters, it sort of allows them to keep their offense from last year. Dedmon doesn't have Tim's upside offensively, but if he can board and finish, he should be able to be more effective than Tim was at the end. Parker gets another PnR partner, which might help him drive more easily. Green gets a dump-off man on his ill-fated drives. For the folks wanting that big roll-man/finisher, you'd be getting your wish. Defensively, the idea of funneling to Dedmon seems interesting. Dude's a talented shot-blocker, and you'd hope Danny and Kawhi would put him in easy-help positions. He can show on the PnR and recover, so that's an improvement over Duncan. But he's also a foul-machine, at least for a potential starter. Tim's best defensive attribute was that he contested so well without fouling. Would be an adjustment.

For Dedmon, I think this would hurt him. The SL won't have the spacing the bench was projected to. I think he's getting third-big minutes no matter where he is in the rotation, so instead of being a pillar of offensive ball-movement as he would be off the bench, he would be the fifth option that'd really only get touches if the third option can't find a way to score. He'd have to live as a garbage man, which is cool, but not as glamorous. Could still end up closing out games if he plays his role well enough, though.

I could easily see this happening.

I think Dedmon has the potential to be a a great overall

contributor, because of PnR, in the same vein as

Deandre Jordan. But first, he must prove

he ain't a fouling machine...

[TD 21]

Look, I'm not going to get baited into any ridiculous arguments tonight. Putting on taller shoes works for team photos. It doesn't make you a bigger player on the court. If you're going to add shoe height to a 6'10" guy, then you have to add shoe height to the 7' guys too - so the only way to compare players legitimately is barefoot.

If you won't/can't see that, it's not worth arguing about.

Seems to me that's precisely what you've attempted to initiate, you grumpy old . Obviously, you have to add shoe height to a player of any size and as I alluded to, basketball shoes typically add 1 - 1 and 1/2 inches.

[tonight...you]

By the time Murray is ready, Manu and likely Patty will be gone. Also, don't see Pop abandoning Kyle unless he plays awful.

Rock climbing, Bill. Rock climbing.


Must see!

[GSH]

Seems to me that's precisely what you've attempted to initiate, you grumpy old . Obviously, you have to add shoe height to a player of any size and as I alluded to, basketball shoes typically add 1 - 1 and 1/2 inches.

LOL... I understand why you don't get this. Under-sized players want to list their height wearing shoes for the same reason you stuff that sock in your underwear.

[TimDunkem]

GSH is talking from experience.

[tonight...you]

LOL... I understand why you don't get this. Under-sized players want to list their height wearing shoes for the same reason you stuff that sock in your underwear.

I laughed. I laughed hard.

[cjw]

He only played 13 min a season in a organization with very little iden y. I wonder what the Spurs see that others teams don't? Hopefully he can pass but since he's been surrounded by non shooters in Orlando and played in such limited minutes it's hard to see. The sample size is just so small.

Steven Adams is 5 years younger and only saw a season with 15 min or less his rookie season, but for what it's worth (very little), their per 36 numbers are very similar.

I think the Warriors also expressed some interest in Dedmon, for what it's worth.

He'll be 27 when the season starts and has only played 1,940 minutes in his career (for comparison, Lebron has logged almost 1,700 the past two postseasons alone). Per 36 minutes are solid, should get looks at the rim (65% finisher from close) and isn't a total liability from the FT line. He's not a floor stretcher by any means, but can hit from 10ish feet, so isn't a clog for floor spacing.

I think the most telling point is he's been a net positive in his time with Orlando - 111 oRTG and 103 dRTG. That's for a team that's been about 103 oRTG and 107 dRTG over the course of his time there. So 8 points better offensively and 4 better defensively (+12), though not a huge bar to clear playing with such a poor team - not to mention compe ion is likely almost exclusively benches.

[TD 21]

LOL... I understand why you don't get this. Under-sized players want to list their height wearing shoes for the same reason you stuff that sock in your underwear.

I get it, genius. I'm just saying, to use Dedmon as an example, I'd rather say he's 6-11-ish than his barefoot and (in his case, at least) in shoes listing, since neither is an accurate measure of what he plays at.

[BillMc]

Rock climbing, Bill. Rock climbing.


Must see!

Man, I'd love to see that in a theater. But doubt I'll be able to in Eastern Europe.