Matt Bonner Back For More: One-Year, Minimum Deal

[TheGoldStandard]

Anyone not named jeff ayers is already better than jeff ayres. Not that high of a bench mark tbh.

There is a poor guy somewhere named Jeff Ayres that had to change his name not to be associated with that steaming pile of horse manure

[dabom]

There is a poor guy somewhere named Jeff Ayres that had to change his name not to be associated with that steaming pile of horse manure

[Vic Petro]

Looks to me that the Spurs wanted a pure stretch-4 for the 6th big. They gave Cady a chance to fill the role. When he proved he wasn't ready, they went back to Bonner. If it had to be a stretch-4, he's better than anything else out there on the scrap heap on corporate knowledge alone.

[Cactus Jack]

It was destiny.

[TheGoldStandard]

This Jeff Ayres is a better basketball player than our former Jeff Ayres

[Spurtacular]

It's not their decision. They HAVE to offer LaLanne a contract to keep his rights, and Cady has to refuse it. If he accepts he goes to camp, and if they cut him, no one owns his rights.

Well, then sign him and let him play in the d-league. Though, he's likely the 15th man at this point if they don't resign Ayers.

[TheGoldStandard]

Looks to me that the Spurs wanted a pure stretch-4 for the 6th big. They gave Cady a chance to fill the role. When he proved he wasn't ready, they went back to Bonner. If it had to be a stretch-4, he's better than anything else out there on the scrap heap on corporate knowledge alone.

Can we send Bonner to the Summer league, he could use some minutes

[SPURt]

yes!! Spurs shower time gets this one more season:

[HarryLoLa]

[Strategic]

Why have a 22 year old sixth big sitting behind the bench most games? When TD and West rest do you really want someone that doesn't know the offense playing beside Aldridge? Get that dumb outta here. When Patfo needs a young big get one. Bonner fits the uniform.

[Sean Cagney]

Dude shoots 37% from 3 one season and suddenly people act like he's no longer a threat from deep

Spurs fans are insane. You could do so much worse than Bonner on a minimum deal for your 14th man. He probably won't even play 10 mpg next season, and won't even play 5 mpg in the playoffs...is this seriously that big of a deal to some of you?

Those last parts you mention are a very good thing, situational he is fine and the 14th man role..... If he goes 09-11 on us again we are ed I agree though, not a fan of dude but at that role who cares really?

[SpurPadre]

Like who? Duncan, Aldridge, West and Diaw are all seasoned vets. The only up-and-comer among our posts might be Marjanovic. But hes hardly a typical rookie with plenty of professional experience at the highest level outside of the NBA.

Among the international draft and stash player there might be one or two honestly. Mulitinov, Jean-Charles and Lalanne are all possible post players that might have benefited from that last roster spot. But having seen two of them up close during SL they're quite clearly not ready for the NBA and wouldn't be end-of-the-bench options in a win-now Spurs culture. I imagine their opinion of Mulitinov is probably similar to that of LJC right now - they just need more seasoning abroad.

Thanks for the good take though I'm still not a happy about the deal despite the fact he'll have a ultra-minimal role on the team. Still loving our chances for next season, of course.


The team is actually rather short on pure 3 point shooters. This is especially true among the posts as neither Aldridge nor West is an accomplished distance shooter, and Diaw's 3 point shot is very hot and cold. And don't expect Duncan nor Marjanovic to be jacking those up either.

Thanks for the good take though I'm still not happy about having him back despite his obvious minimal role. Of course, I'm still loving this offseason!

[Rito3d30]

replace Aryes with Bonner da victory cigar?
yeah
the Spurs is STACKKKKKED

[Aztecfan03]

Still the best Ikaba defender we have.

And playing LMA at 5, Bonner at 4 and Diaw at 3 probably mean that all the 5 guys on the court are a threat from 3 pt line

No. No. And No.

And since when is Kawhi not a 3-pt threat?

[Strategic]

More posts about needing a bench full of 3 point shooters. Trying to think of what pure shooters the Spurs lost from last seasons championship team. Oh wait, Spurs lost the inconquerable Bellinelli. I think LMA and DW's 17 footers will fill the gap.

[SpursFan86]

Those last parts you mention are a very good thing, situational he is fine and the 14th man role..... If he goes 09-11 on us again we are ed I agree though, not a fan of dude but at that role who cares really?

That's exactly the point. No one here is advocating that we go back to playing Bonner 20+ mpg But to act like he's completely worthless or has no use anymore is just as dumb. Even with him having a down year (and fwiw, he claims he was dealing with an elbow injury), he still shot 37% from 3. He's still a stretch 4, and you never know when you might need that for spot minutes here and there.

And before someone says "Well yeah but Pop loves Bonner and will end up playing him more than he should!" - over the past 2 years, Bonner has averaged 12.2 mpg in the regular season and 5.9 mpg in the playoffs. That's with Splitter constantly dealing with injuries and only playing ~20 mpg. Now we have Aldridge who will be playing 30+ mpg, and also David West. I see no reason to worry about Bonner getting too many minutes.

[SAGirl]

Not with the second unit, Ginobili's play making/usage won't.

I'm not concerned with conserving Ginobili's energy. He's going to play 22-24 mpg, get the occasional game off and probably have at least one injury too. He should be fine.

With the quality of the top three wings, they don't need a fourth the caliber of a Belinelli, but they do have a need for someone with a similar skill set. Signing a Jenkins or Butler or whoever, wouldn't stop Green from growing or automatically block Anderson and Simmons from getting an opportunity, but they wouldn't be irrelevant either. In fact, they'd probably be the odds on favorite to be the fourth wing, since they're a better fit. Also, it's not like Leonard and Ginobili are the most durable of players.

Manu towards the end of the season was playing a less, more around 18 minutes. He was also lacking in scoring and his decision making was compromised the more of a burden you put on him. Spurs signed Simmons bc he can get his own shot as well as shoot the 3. They are developing KA to be a playmaker and a scorer who doesn't need others to create a shot for him. It will be easier for MAnu to play with guys like these, who can hit the 3 but also do their own thing than to have to create looks for a spot up shooter. I agree w/ Manutres. You are thinking this Manu will be like the MAnu of old and he won't be. Second unit will be more dynamic than b4 and less dependent on Manu. He is likely to play a lot off of other guys. He really couldn't at times last year handle all the playmaking burden by himself. He is likely to be even more effective with less of a burden and more help.

[Capster]

I groan every time Pop sends Bonner in to the game.

[Beaverfuzz]

IT'S BONER TIME!

[-21-]

Til the wheels fall off

[hsxvvd]

Let's face it... without Bonner there'd be half as many threads.

[GSH]

If you're gonna look at Matt Bonner stats, there's only one that means anything:

Bonner has a career .414 3P shooting percentage.
Bonner has a career .355 PLAYOFF 3P shooting percentage.

Anything else you can say about him is totally overshadowed by that one stat. If you just have to look at another stat, how about this?

Bonner has a career .569 EFG%
Bonner has a career .511 PLAYOFF EFG%
Last year in the playoffs, Bonner had a .300 EFG%


Let him play in the regular season, to rest some other guys. But if you measure success in rings? Bonner ain't your guy. He needs to be off the floor in the post-season. He's proven it for 9 straight seasons.

[Chomper]

I really like Matt Bonner as a person and I think he's great for team chemistry. He's a lovable goof and he serves as the teams comic relief throughout the grueling regular season.

But I really hope he never plays a minute in the playoffs. He can't even make wide-open 3's anymore. He's been irrelevant for several years now, and he's never showed up in a single Spurs playoff series in his career besides vs the Lakers in 2013.

[SpursFan86]

Bonner hasn't even played 6 mpg over the past two postseasons. I really don't get why people are worrying so much about him playing in the playoffs

[spurraider21]

Bonerific