You really think a few games led to such a dramatic shift? They obviously had it in mind in the off season. As someone who's followed the Spurs for some time, you should know that Pop often starts the following season how they generally played the previous one (which is predictably why Gasol started and Forbes got the initial nod over White in the first preseason game).
If Murray and White were healthy, Cunningham/Gay are probably 50/50 to start at PF, with the other backing up and Bertans is probably out of the rotation.
Yeah, for 5 minutes. As someone who's followed the Spurs for some time, you should know that Pop often starts the following season how they generally played the previous one (which is predictably why Gasol started and Forbes got the initial nod over White in the first preseason game).
If Murray and White were healthy, Cunningham/Gay are probably 50/50 to start at PF, with the other backing up and Bertans is probably out of the rotation.
Dude, it makes no ing sense to sign a guy for 7 mils per year and another for 2 mils per year thinking that the 2 mils per year guy will be in the rotation and the 7 mils per year guy won't. Stop arguing for the sake of arguing.
Yet it took all of 5 minutes for Cunningham to pass Bertans in the rotation.
The difference was, Bertans was an RFA who was generating interest (namely from the Nets and Jazz), while Cunningham was a minimal journeyman type. In other words, $7M isn't really a reflection of how they view Bertans, but rather the cost of doing business. Based on their actions over 2+ seasons, they're clearly not entirely sold on him, which is probably why his contract went from the initial 4 years that was reported to 2.
Whatever rationale you want to use, you don't waste 7 mils of cape space on a player you think will be out of the rotation. Just stop it.
I knew you were ignorant, but I didn't know you were this stupid.
They clearly preferred Anderson in a vacuum, but Bertans was more needed with this roster and wasn't going to cost as much. They couldn't afford to lose both, so they picked him. $7M was what it took to get him down to 2 years, so that they're not tied up long term. It's still well short of the average salary.
"Out of the rotation" on this team still often means at least 1, 000 minutes and one long term injury to a rotation player away from more.
BTW, tonight: 8 minutes 0 pts, 0 assts, 1 rbd, 3 fouls, 0 fg attempts. Cunningham made a difference on the team more for what he represents than what he actually is as a player.
He represents that tall 3 and D player that every contending team should have, he also got into the lineup in place of a traditional center, which allowed the Spurs to play the type of lineup that has proven to be the key to success in today's NBA: just one big and two tall forwards to his sides.
All of these changes helped the team show improvement vs lesser teams but Cunningham as a player is definitely not the long or even mid term solution. The Spurs should be really agressive in finding that 3 and D 6'8", 6'7" guy. If they made an ocean of improvement with Cunningham, imagine how good they could be by having an actual above average NBA player on that role.
This I can agree with. To be clear, I repeatedly said, in terms of caliber, he's really a fringe rotation type.
And even with all of that in mind, you still don't pay a guy 7 mils per year if you think a journeyman earning the vet min will be on the rotation over him.
You do because it's about asset retention and you have no means to replace the $7M player.
We all discussion the rotation as in when everyone is healthy, but that's rarely the case. You need at least 12 rotation players to get through a season.
You play your best players. Bertans is a mid career player earning mid career salary. Cunningham is a stop gap who is just as likely to out of the league next year. That's why he's earning no $$ because there is no upside.
As a win now stopgap he's as good as we can expect. BErtans was always going to a bench player when we resigned rudy. You can debate whether hed do better with more minutes but not that he can outlay a healthy rudy
Can't really judge his value tonight, on a B2B starting Bert, shuffling the lineup, without a key part of the current Big 3 (Rudy) and the others tired after a late finish last night. This team is also likely not good enough to withstand losing any of LMA/Gay/DeRozan for any game. And Cunningham only had like 3 shots anyway.
10/10 damage control ^^^ that's how you do it boys
That's exactly the problem. With unlikely exceptions, like the Pels game, Cunningham doesn't shoot much, because he knows he sucks on offense. It's not that he doesn't shoot much because the other team is trying to stop him, he doesn't shoot much just because he passes up good looks, because he has no confidence knocking down shots.
funny all the "poor's man" comparisons. With 31 years of age and 9 teams, not much potential for improvement to be realistic. He will be an OK rotation player at most, with the occasionally good game.
For picking him out of the scrap heap he’s been pretty decent. Kind of like a box of discarded dishes you see by the apartment dumpster when you’re in college...you bring them in, wash ‘em up, and use them because it’s either that or nothing. They get the job done, and don’t completely suck, but as soon as you can afford something better you know they’re going to get replaced.
He is a filler Piece, he is playing a role, and next year he will be gone, signing with another team.. He is a small forward who is good enough to contribute but not enough to standout on a regular basis. Hence why he is been on multiple teams over his career, that is not a shot at him but these types of players bounce around.. Did i mention that he is no spring chicken, but i am all for players who help contribute to the team...
Yeah sadly seems like this
Starting small forward fir the Spurs off the scrap heap bc there’s so many bench players that are paid the big bucks
Cun is the starting PF.
Can't fault Pop's rotation tonight, given what he had. Also, the only real difference likely would have been Anderson instead of Bertans. I can't think of an impact SF that went for the MLE.
That’s not the point. The point is looking at where they spent all their money and where they didn’t.
So, just about it when Chin clearly showed there was really no reasonable SF alternative?
It’s not about a specific player it’s roster construction it’s who you choose to get paid, extended and for how much. How that limits your opportunities elsewhere. There’s been players available whether through trades, draft trades or FA. If you are trading your starting SF, SG and not resigning the good backup you had or played there in Kiwis absence last season get someone better. Didn’t have to let Danny go and get no wing back. There was a time they had 5-6 great or good wings for their system and either traded them all out or let them go for nothing back. Didn’t replenish that pot and it’s empty.
I am not going to play armchair GM bc I have no idea the amount of quality of players available in private channels that GM discuss, but there’s players available. They didn’t have to build a roster with literally scraps at the wings off the bargain bin bc the paid off a high amount to players that are limited, play in the bench anyways, etc.
Maybe bandwagon instead of greyhound bus is more appropriate.
its a fair point... a lot of cash on the bench
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote