Spurs should've shipped Mills, not Green

[Spurtacular]

We didn’t offer him

Surely we didn't offer lil bon bon.

[emmo]

People make a whole thing about the one year rental stuff; but what they don't realize is:

1. Toronto is obviously doing the win now / take maybe one last legit shot at a le mentality (especially with Lebron switching conferences).
2. They had soured on DeRozan and his huge contract. They sat him on the bench for the 4th quarter of a playoff game ffs.

This bull that they wouldn't have taken Mills is nonsense.

Toronto is definitely in a win now mode. But the rest of your argument assumes the Spurs had more leverage than they actually had. Toronto preferred taking on Green’s expiring contract over being stuck with Mills’ (or Gasol’s) multi-year contract since neither is a piece to their win-now strategy.

[emmo]

As much as I wanted 2014 Green to show up, it’s been pretty obvious that his best days are behind him. Good news for Green fans is that the Spurs might be able to get him back next summer for cheap.

Possible

[Spurtacular]

Toronto is definitely in a win now mode. But the rest of your argument assumes the Spurs had more leverage than they actually had. Toronto preferred taking on Green’s expiring contract over being stuck with Mills’ (or Gasol’s) multi-year contract since neither is a piece to their win-now strategy.

It's not a leverage situation when you're going for the best player in the league even for a year. Toronto was gonna get it done or not.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

.

[LCM]

Raptors already have a cheaper Mills - Fred Van Vleet. Listened to the Jabari Young/Don Harris podcast from July 29th. If Patty isn't here, the Spurs wouldn't have a shot at Marco, and without Marco that is one big piece of motivation for Manu not to come back. Patty, Manu, Marco, and Tiago were really tight. We can form that again with adding Bertans, Poeltl.

I really like how this team is going to shape into a pack of grinders. Players with things to prove ... whether they are reestablishing themselves or carving out their own place. But this is for damn sure, people on this team are going to talk to each other, they are going to play for each other, and if you aren't willing to grind in that 4th quarter to do whatever you can to secure a victory, don't come out of the locker room.

[therealtruth]

Pop only wanted to keep one all-defensive team member. The wasted potential of Murray-Green-Leonard All-Defensive lineups. That might have actually worked against the Warriors. Now I've seen charts with Beli as the starting SF. Hopefully it doesn't give Pop any ideas.

[Dex]

The Raptors very clearly had a plan with taking Kawhi: take the gamble for one season to see if he is healthy and if they can convince him to stay, and if not, hit the reset button.

Which means they weren't going to take on any big, long contracts. Which means they weren't going to take Mills. End of story.

The only two players who even remotely fit their needs was Green (1 year left) or Pau (partially guaranteed 2nd year). Obviously, Pau would have been preferable, but Toronto doesn't need another big right now, and despite how you feel about Gasol, the Spurs did.

If we had kept Green, we would be even more over-loaded at SG, and would've had to go out and find another cheap, serviceable center.

I'm not happy about the trade either, but it makes perfect sense why it worked out the way that it did.

[TimmyBuckets]

The Raptors very clearly had a plan with taking Kawhi: take the gamble for one season to see if he is healthy and if they can convince him to stay, and if not, hit the reset button.

Which means they weren't going to take on any big, long contracts. Which means they weren't going to take Mills. End of story.

The only two players who even remotely fit their needs was Green (1 year left) or Pau (partially guaranteed 2nd year). Obviously, Pau would have been preferable, but Toronto doesn't need another big right now, and despite how you feel about Gasol, the Spurs did.

If we had kept Green, we would be even more over-loaded at SG, and would've had to go out and find another cheap, serviceable center.

I'm not happy about the trade either, but it makes perfect sense why it worked out the way that it did.

[emmo]

The Raptors very clearly had a plan with taking Kawhi: take the gamble for one season to see if he is healthy and if they can convince him to stay, and if not, hit the reset button.

Which means they weren't going to take on any big, long contracts. Which means they weren't going to take Mills. End of story.

The only two players who even remotely fit their needs was Green (1 year left) or Pau (partially guaranteed 2nd year). Obviously, Pau would have been preferable, but Toronto doesn't need another big right now, and despite how you feel about Gasol, the Spurs did.

If we had kept Green, we would be even more over-loaded at SG, and would've had to go out and find another cheap, serviceable center.

I'm not happy about the trade either, but it makes perfect sense why it worked out the way that it did.

[szkorhetz]

Pop was pretty clear, that Faptors wanted him. Otherwise the deal wouldn't have been completed.

[dbestpro]

Mills was offered up to every team in the NBA for their best player. They all said no.

[Spurtacular]

Mills was offered up to every team in the NBA for their best player. They all said no.

[Stabula]

Danny Green is trash at any price these days. His defense is on the decline and his shot is long long gone.

[alpha_HaZE]

How about Mills for Leonard, Meyers from Portland + Blazers 2020 first round pick? Mills is better than Staukas, has played for them in the past and the fans loved him, and will fit well after the departure of Napier. Leonard on the other side hasn't been able to find minutes, but the guy works hard in the off-season, has a nice 3 point shot, and quite surprisignly has numbers very similar to Patty. For example, they have identical defensive rating, they shot the ball from the 3 at the same rate, and have a similar usage and eFG percentages. Leonard could is a better fit for us and will make our roster more balanced.

DJ/White
DDR/Bryn/Manu
Gay/Beli/Lonnie
LA/Davis/Leonard
Pau/Poeltl

I wouldn't go for it right now, but wait and see how Bryn and more importantly White and DJ are playing. If they are hitting their 3 point shots and can play better defense than Patty, I would go for it.

Spurs having 2 first round picks in back to back drafts would allow us to surround LA, DDR, and Gay with some nice young talent. I am pretty sure that all 3 when their contracts are up will sign longer team friendly deals.

[kobyz]

Green is garbage

[Stabula]

Green is garbage

[Isitjustme?]

How about Mills for Leonard, Meyers from Portland + Blazers 2020 first round pick? Mills is better than Staukas, has played for them in the past and the fans loved him, and will fit well after the departure of Napier. Leonard on the other side hasn't been able to find minutes, but the guy works hard in the off-season, has a nice 3 point shot, and quite surprisignly has numbers very similar to Patty. For example, they have identical defensive rating, they shot the ball from the 3 at the same rate, and have a similar usage and eFG percentages. Leonard could is a better fit for us and will make our roster more balanced.

DJ/White
DDR/Bryn/Manu
Gay/Beli/Lonnie
LA/Davis/Leonard
Pau/Poeltl

I wouldn't go for it right now, but wait and see how Bryn and more importantly White and DJ are playing. If they are hitting their 3 point shots and can play better defense than Patty, I would go for it.

Spurs having 2 first round picks in back to back drafts would allow us to surround LA, DDR, and Gay with some nice young talent. I am pretty sure that all 3 when their contracts are up will sign longer team friendly deals.

Lol first round pick. You'd have to include a first to dump him

[r0drig0lac]

Tbh I don’t care if the spurs give away patty for nothing

[daledondale]

No way Pop was giving away his 3rd best player.

[John B]

Honestly Raptors had more leverage than the Spurs. Plus the Raptors were not going to take any money at all back past this year. Incase Kawhi does leave they were rebuilding.

This. If things don’t work out with Kawhitter, Raptors rebuild with young core. We still could see Danny back

[ducks]

I'm guessing that the Raptors would've taken Mills instead of Green if they had to. Anyone else think that Pop had to keep his pet and get rid of someone who maybe just hadn't quite gotten over himself enough?

they wanted an expriring contrat
they want to start over if leonard does not stay

[shaq_h8ter]

Green was Kries safety blanket in strange town.
Not to mention, even I noticed Green was gimping around the court.
Hmm healthy player that shoots threes vs Mr Gimpy's 3pt shot and gimpy D.

[LittleCriminal]

I know the celtics would be in need of a meth fix to do this but..

Gasol and Mills for Irving and G.Yab*****

[BackHome]

Raptors already have a cheaper Mills - Fred Van Vleet. Listened to the Jabari Young/Don Harris podcast from July 29th. If Patty isn't here, the Spurs wouldn't have a shot at Marco, and without Marco that is one big piece of motivation for Manu not to come back. Patty, Manu, Marco, and Tiago were really tight. We can form that again with adding Bertans, Poeltl.

I really like how this team is going to shape into a pack of grinders. Players with things to prove ... whether they are reestablishing themselves or carving out their own place. But this is for damn sure, people on this team are going to talk to each other, they are going to play for each other, and if you aren't willing to grind in that 4th quarter to do whatever you can to secure a victory, don't come out of the locker room.

Damn you need to post more great write up