Splitter deal = 3 years, $10 million ??

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

My guess is Bonner really got 4 years, $11-12 million ...performance incentives, 4th year team option. No one has confirmed that he got a raise. That article we all read might have just assumed so.

Yeah, I read a few sources again and they all said "a raise from his $3.2mil last season", but intimated that it was a small raise ie. 3.3/3.4mil for next season. That means your suggestion above sounds very likely. If there are performance bonuses and a team option on the 4th year, that contract isn't too bad. Not ideal, but nothing to get annoyed about.

And let's not forget that Matt seems to be a great, down-to-earth guy, and I'd bet he's a good presence in the lockerroom. As a 9-10th guy with experience and hustle, that contract is okay, especially if he starts nailing his 3s again. We don't really want him to play much in the post-season, but as one of the guys who plays a role to get us there on a contract slightly above his ability, I'm down.

[Obstructed_View]

Really? I'd go as high as good when he's in the right matchup, but excellent!? WhatyousmokinWillis?

He gets burned by the top 20 post bigs in the NBA. Those guys score on everyone. He's always in position and always has a hand up on them, and he can cover everyone else and his team defense is very good. That makes him better than average. The fact that he's been improperly utilized and asked to do things that are far beyond his capabilities isn't his fault. Again, hopefully Splitter's going to be getting a lot more of those assignments going forward and we can see how Bonner adjusts to the lightened load in situations where the Spurs can dictate the mismatch for a change.

[Seventyniner]

He gets burned by the top 20 post bigs in the NBA. Those guys score on everyone. He's always in position and always has a hand up on them, and he can cover everyone else and his team defense is very good. That makes him better than average. The fact that he's been improperly utilized and asked to do things that are far beyond his capabilities isn't his fault. Again, hopefully Splitter's going to be getting a lot more of those assignments going forward and we can see how Bonner adjusts to the lightened load in situations where the Spurs can dictate the mismatch for a change.

+1

Bonner defending a #1 or #2 big is far from ideal, but he should do a good job against a #3 or #4 big.

[rmt]

If so many fans are complaining about Bonner now, think what it'll be like 4 years from now when he's even slower. If he were being paid the min and not played much, it wouldn't be bad. That's like the difference between Shaq at min ( , yes!) and $20mil (no way).

But at 3.5mil, Bonner's going to be played to the detriment of Splitter and Blair. Pop won't be able to help himself. Bonner's contract is as bad as Splitter's was good so I should think of it as Bonner getting what Splitter should have gotten and let it go.

[lotr1trekkie]

It still works out to the law of S and D. Some teams are smarter about it and some teams[NY] don't have to worry about it and never have.

How many players are actually not OVERPAID in the NBA? Name them. It would be a short list.
Primarily, most owners are are more concerned with the value of the franchise than winning. Example, the Dallas Cowboys have done squat for a decade or more. The franchise is worth twice as much. In other words owners make more money in appreciation then they do in winning. The Cavs owner was so pissed off because the value of it decreased 20%. Even if Miami doesn't win a championship, the owners are much richer for their investment. I have always been amazed when watching the Spurs play in Miami that half the seats were empty at tipoff and most empty during the last 10 minutes. Miami now becomes Lakers-East! $5000 to $10,000 seats at courtside. Cameras covering the beautiful people attending games.
Can we at least rename the team the SOUTH BEACH HEAT.

[rmt]

That's what I regret most about the Lebron/Wade/Bosh thing. I won't be able to sit behind the visitor's bench when the Spurs come to town. Last year interest in the Heat was so lacking, I sat 2 rows right behind the bench for $123. Great seats and the players are so much faster than they seem on TV. Here's to hoping that the Spurs come in March/April and some of this craziness wears off by then.

[silk]

Best contract of the summer so far

[ffadicted]

I would be happy about this, but the FO ed it all up by giving Bonner so much, so I'll remain neutral

[Samr]

Not every contract is going to be perfect, and Bonner's (reported) contract is for a bit above the $2 mill a year he should probably get. But, it's tolerable, and it could be worse. Bonner is a serviceable role player, and he has a skill set that is somewhat unique, valuable, proven, and getting better (he *drives* now too, apparently). As a spot player, I say it's fine. Having a big man to occasionally space the floor is a big deal, and could make the difference in a few games. And those games could make the difference.

Where this relates to Tiago is, I think we're all just afraid of Bonner getting big minutes. And with Splitter now signed and sealed, that just won't happen.

[DBMethos]

Having a big man to occasionally space the floor is a big deal, and could make the difference in a few games. And those games could make the difference.

Only problem is that Bonner is only capable of spreading the floor in games that don't make a difference.

[Marcus Bryant]

I would be happy about this, but the FO ed it all up by giving Bonner so much, so I'll remain neutral

What exactly did they up? Even if that contract was 4 years/$15 mil fully guaranteed, that's significantly less than the NBA average salary over those 4 years. And thanks to the Bird Rights the Spurs have with him, re-signing him doesn't require using either cap exception.

Bonner is by no means a favorite of mine. Frankly I was hoping that he'd be gone this offseason. But this angst about his contract is silly. And comparing it to Splitter's contract is nonsensical as the Spurs held Splitter's draft rights and could dictate his entry into the NBA. If Splitter was a true NBA free agent there's no way he'd get less than Bonner.

The things this board obsesses over...

[polandprzem]

Only problem is that Bonner is only capable of spreading the floor in games that don't make a difference.

I would not be so sure.

Anybody considered Pop trying lineup with Split Dunc and Bone ?

[Obstructed_View]

Only problem is that Bonner is only capable of spreading the floor in games that don't make a difference.

He's capable of doing a lot more than he's done. He's been asked to do more than he's capable of doing far too often. Let's see how he does if the team can develop some kind of rotation so he knows what's expected of him for a change.

[Whisky Dog]

Hopefully Bonner is signing for the 3 yr 8 to 9 mil range. I would rather have a guy we don't know will choke in the playoffs, but Bonner at least can help Dice and TD get to April with a hopefully rejuvenated and fresh game. One the POs start his ass needs to be firmly planted on the bench.

I disagree that we don't know what he can do in the playoffs if he has a defined role. He's had a definied role for 2 yrs as the big who shoots 3s and he still disppears in the playoffs. Some guys just don't have ability to be clutch. Someguys like Bonner are just chokers

[Obstructed_View]

I disagree that we don't know what he can do in the playoffs if he has a defined role. He's had a definied role for 2 yrs as the big who shoots 3s and he still disppears in the playoffs. Some guys just don't have ability to be clutch. Someguys like Bonner are just chokers

The vast majority of the last two years he was either the first big off the bench or the starting center getting the assignment of defending the other team's best post player. Don't know about you, but that's a poorly defined role for a three point shooting power forward in my opinion.

[Dex]

The vast majority of the last two years he was either the first big off the bench or the starting center getting the assignment of defending the other team's best post player. Don't know about you, but that's a poorly defined role for a three point shooting power forward in my opinion.

Unless you are Robert Horry.

Note to Pop: Matt Bonner is a far cry from Robert Horry.

[Obstructed_View]

Unless you are Robert Horry.

Note to Pop: Matt Bonner is a far cry from Robert Horry.

Horry wasn't starting, wasn't the primary post defender, and didn't play very many minutes. Bonner might actually be able to play a Robert Horry type role if he ever got a chance to play that way.

Note to everyone: The one time Horry was asked to play that role was in the '06 playoffs. That didn't work out well.

[cantthinkofanything]

He's been asked to do more than he's capable of doing far too often.

WHAT!?!??!! All we are aksing him to do is hit the three. I think everyone would be willing to cut him some slack on his crappy defense if he COULD JUST HIT A THREE POINTER IN A PRESSURE SITUATION.

[Obstructed_View]

WHAT!?!??!! All we are aksing him to do is hit the three. I think everyone would be willing to cut him some slack on his crappy defense if he COULD JUST HIT A THREE POINTER IN A PRESSURE SITUATION.

Not sure what team you've been watching for the past two seasons.

[ElNono]

Horry wasn't starting, wasn't the primary post defender, and didn't play very many minutes. Bonner might actually be able to play a Robert Horry type role if he ever got a chance to play that way.

Note to everyone: The one time Horry was asked to play that role was in the '06 playoffs. That didn't work out well.

Robert Horry could bang with anybody in the post. He was a great post defender that always managed to disrupt the offense with a tap and steal, or by a timely blocked shot. He also knew how to effectively take charges.

Horry was much more than a one-trick pony. That's exactly why Matt will never be able to play Horry's role.

[cantthinkofanything]

Not sure what team you've been watching for the past two seasons.

Are you saying that Matt Bonner has made big shots when they mattered? I'm not talking about meaningless games in the middle of the season. I'm talking about Steve Kerr, Robert Horry playoff shots.

[Whisky Dog]

The vast majority of the last two years he was either the first big off the bench or the starting center getting the assignment of defending the other team's best post player. Don't know about you, but that's a poorly defined role for a three point shooting power forward in my opinion.

The telling sign to me is that yes Pop asked him to do to much and it was a bad role for him, but it was the same role he played all season. It wasn't like once the playoffs started he was thrust into a different role from what he played all year. During the season he showed promise and hit shots when it was a regular season game with no pressure. In the same situations in the playoffs for 2 straight seasons he has failed to even come close to maintaining his effectiveness from those regular season games. To me, 2 consecutive playoffs with the same trend after two fairly good regular seasons is a sign of a pressure choker.

[ElNono]

Let's get this straight...

When he's the king of +/- and shooting 40% from 3PT in the regular season it's because he grew into his role, but when he fails to meet those same standards in the playoffs it's because that's not his role?

What is his role? Riding the pine when the playoffs come around? I'm good with that.

[Obstructed_View]

Robert Horry could bang with anybody in the post. He was a great post defender that always managed to disrupt the offense with a tap and steal, or by a timely blocked shot. He also knew how to effectively take charges.

Horry was much more than a one-trick pony. That's exactly why Matt will never be able to play Horry's role.

Horry played very few minutes, almost never started and was NOT the primary post defender at any time when he was a Spur, aside from the '06 playoffs when the Spurs played .500 ball and lost to a team they should have beaten easily.

[ChumpDumper]

Robert Horry could bang with anybody in the post.

That reminds me when he tried to defend Shaq. He couldn't bang with everybody.