Roster - Remaining Spots

[Chinook]

Easily the most compelling roster question at this point is Joseph's status. The Spurs are paying a lot in terms of cap space to hold onto his rights. Of course, unless Joseph signs his QO (would say that's about 20-percent likely if he and team don't have a plan in place for a different contract), the Spurs can free up that space any time they want. If Joseph accepts his QO he gets a de-facto no-trade clause for next season, but the Spurs gain $2 Million in cap space. The team would retain his Bird rights to next off-season if they can't agree to a trade for him before then.

So what's the holdup? My guess is that both the Spurs and Joseph only want their partnership to continue if Cory has a clear spot in the rotation. The Spurs probably aren't willing to commit $3-5 Million on a third-string PG, and Joseph doesn't want to toil on the bench forever, despite being a good soldier about it so far. But as Harlem said, the backup SG spot is potentially available, and while Cory at 6-3 is undersized in many matchups, he can hold his own in most because of his solid defensive skills. The Spurs would also like to pair Patty with a play-maker/penetrator. Joseph can do that WAY better than most folks on this board give him credit for. There are teams like Golden State against which such a small set of backup guards would struggle. But that can be resolved by bringing in a third-string wing like Ellington. I think Cory would be willing to ink a long-term deal if he was told he was going to step into Manu's shoes with the goal being that he would get a crack at Tony's spot in a few years.

Obviously Tim eats first, and he's given up so much food already. But I came into this off-season thinking that keeping Cory was at the top of the optional list. I'd much rather keep Joseph and figure out the fourth-big issue later, provided the money is the same. I think holding onto Cojo will go a long way to keeping the Spurs relevant beyond next season.

[ceperez]

Why? It's a low risk high reward type of move since we cant really sign any big or no one would come and sit in the bemch for the vet min. Again assuming Bonner goes into the FO. Gotta start em young as long as his body is nba ready. Hes got the summer to improve

The Spurs have never been known for playing rookies. I would like them to develop some young talent. Maybe this is the year when the Spurs actually drafted on need. Multinov and Lalanne are both centers, so who knows if they both are going to be in this year's roster.

[ceperez]

Easily the most compelling roster question at this point is Joseph's status. The Spurs are paying a lot in terms of cap space to hold onto his rights. Of course, unless Joseph signs his QO (would say that's about 20-percent likely if he and team don't have a plan in place for a different contract), the Spurs can free up that space any time they want. If Joseph accepts his QO he gets a de-facto no-trade clause for next season, but the Spurs gain $2 Million in cap space. The team would retain his Bird rights to next off-season if they can't agree to a trade for him before then.

So what's the holdup? My guess is that both the Spurs and Joseph only want their partnership to continue if Cory has a clear spot in the rotation. The Spurs probably aren't willing to commit $3-5 Million on a third-string PG, and Joseph doesn't want to toil on the bench forever, despite being a good soldier about it so far. But as Harlem said, the backup SG spot is potentially available, and while Cory at 6-3 is undersized in many matchups, he can hold his own in most because of his solid defensive skills. The Spurs would also like to pair Patty with a play-maker/penetrator. Joseph can do that WAY better than most folks on this board give him credit for. There are teams like Golden State against which such a small set of backup guards would struggle. But that can be resolved by bringing in a third-string wing like Ellington. I think Cory would be willing to ink a long-term deal if he was told he was going to step into Manu's shoes with the goal being that he would get a crack at Tony's spot in a few years.

Obviously Tim eats first, and he's given up so much food already. But I came into this off-season thinking that keeping Cory was at the top of the optional list. I'd much rather keep Joseph and figure out the fourth-big issue later, provided the money is the same. I think holding onto Cojo will go a long way to keeping the Spurs relevant beyond next season.

I like CoJo's worth ethic and defensive skills. I just don't think it is good enough. He doesn't know how to orchestrate the offense. He just doesn't get it. It is beyond his IQ. He just can't see, he's practically blind!

Spurs should just ditch the investment and focus instead of relying on Anderson.

The Spus just need an additional PG stopper like say a KJ McDaniels. Someone with enough quickness and length to bother a Steven Curry type player.

[bluebellmaniac]

Yes, he was traded to the Lakers (will be finalized after the moratorium just like the Splitter trade), and the impending buyout is obvious. That situation is going to turn toxic by December.

If these things come to fruition (and the S&T thing for Splitter), Chinook will be quite the prophet.

As it has been prophesized, so let it be...

[BillMc]

Remind me who moved into the stating line up when Kawhi was out all that time with his hand last season? Was it Marco? Or Boris? I ask as I imagine our new roster dealing with injuries...

[BD24]

Bonner should just go to the FO tbh. Sign west and ellington for vet mins. Get milutinov to play 5th big. Resign manu. Keep patty.

TD/Milutinov
LMA/West/Bobo
Kawhi/KA/ellington
DG/Manu
TP/Mills/Cojo

I really like this lineup and it seems realisitc. Except for maybe Cojo coming back, I don't think that can really happen. Ellington is a 2 not a 3 btw. He doesn't have the size to play the 3, only 6'4 I believe.

[Raven]

dream lineup:

Parker/Cojo
Green/Mills/Ginobili
Leonard/Anderson/LJC
Aldridge/West/Bonner
Duncan/Diaw

[tholdren]

I hated the Joseph pick when SA took him. I think he is a valuable piece moving forward. Had pop given him more PT in the playoffs over Parker, SA would have won the LA series. He's a hard worker, and isn't afraid of getting in the lane. His movements aren't as fluid as Tony's, but he is effective, understands the system, and comes with ZERO off-the-court issues. I really don't see a better fit for a backup PG. Patty is a 2 from my perspective; who is also essential to SA success.

[BD24]

Remind me who moved into the stating line up when Kawhi was out all that time with his hand last season? Was it Marco? Or Boris? I ask as I imagine our new roster dealing with injuries...

Believe it was Marco unfourtanetly. We could use a good defensive 3 off the bench. Not really any available in our price range though is the problem.

[BD24]

I hated the Joseph pick when SA took him. I think he is a valuable piece moving forward. Had pop given him more PT in the playoffs over Parker, SA would have won the LA series. He's a hard worker, and isn't afraid of getting in the lane. His movements aren't as fluid as Tony's, but he is effective, understands the system, and comes with ZERO off-the-court issues. I really don't see a better fit for a backup PG. Patty is a 2 from my perspective; who is also essential to SA success.

Only problem I have with this is that I am assuming you are suggesting having Patty and Cojo on the court at the same time? If memory serves me correctly that lineup didn't workout to well last year, just too small.

[Chinook]

Remind me who moved into the stating line up when Kawhi was out all that time with his hand last season? Was it Marco? Or Boris? I ask as I imagine our new roster dealing with injuries...

Believe it was Marco unfourtanetly. We could use a good defensive 3 off the bench. Not really any available in our price range though is the problem.

I feel like it's going to be LJC this season his defensive skills seem more suited to being a four (at least that was the case last time I saw him) but he has pretty good agility plus the length to help compensate against quicker players. He also seems to have really good anticipation when contesting shots, both as a help defender and on the move. I think he'll be a fine defensive forward. Issue with him is that his offensive game was pretty much that of a PF. He has decent handles and can shoot from 18 feet, but he's not running PnRs or spacing the floor unless he's improved a ton over the last couple years. As a fill-in for Kawhi, that's not the worst thing in the world, as Leonard will spend a lot more time on the block next season and LMA can spread the floor. But I can't see him being a real option until he can hit threes reliably. Think Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

[Raven]

keeping cory is the most important thing now. Losing would essentialy tank the rebuild while contending mantra.

[Raven]

Believe it was Marco unfourtanetly. We could use a good defensive 3 off the bench. Not really any available in our price range though is the problem.

what do you mean unfortunately, we sucked ass when that happened, so you should be glad that this will not happen again

[BD24]

what do you mean unfortunately, we sucked ass when that happened, so you should be glad that this will not happen again

You misinterpreted my post sir. I meant unfourtanetly as in Marco should have never started, it was painful watching players blow by him because he has awful lateral quickness.

[BD24]

I feel like it's going to be LJC this season his defensive skills seem more suited to being a four (at least that was the case last time I saw him) but he has pretty good agility plus the length to help compensate against quicker players. He also seems to have really good anticipation when contesting shots, both as a help defender and on the move. I think he'll be a fine defensive forward. Issue with him is that his offensive game was pretty much that of a PF. He has decent handles and can shoot from 18 feet, but he's not running PnRs or spacing the floor unless he's improved a ton over the last couple years. As a fill-in for Kawhi, that's not the worst thing in the world, as Leonard will spend a lot more time on the block next season and LMA can spread the floor. But I can't see him being a real option until he can hit threes reliably. Think Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.

I could live with with him as the backup, have they said anything about him coming over this year yet? I know he is playing in SL, but haven't heard much about what happens after that. I am excited to get a look at him in the sl though.

[lmbebo]

Are spurs limited by the CAP on signing LJC? I mean he has a rookie contract he would get, so would spurs be able to sign him if they are over the cap?

[Drom John]

Bryce Cotton signed a two year non-guaranteed deal with the Jazz near the end of the season.

[Chinook]

I could live with with him as the backup, have they said anything about him coming over this year yet? I know he is playing in SL, but haven't heard much about what happens after that. I am excited to get a look at him in the sl though.

Are spurs limited by the CAP on signing LJC? I mean he has a rookie contract he would get, so would spurs be able to sign him if they are over the cap?

We've gone over this a couple of times, but the Spurs are currently carrying a cap hold of about $800k on their cap (in lieu of a $525 roster charge) for LJC. The only way they can get that hold removed is to have him sign a form promising to not come over until next summer. That will NOT happen unless something extreme occurs. This is the final year that LJC is guaranteed two seasons of salary under the rookie scale. He's not like Splitter or Mirotic in that he stands to get more as a free agent if he waits. He will get a min contract or even worse, a contract like Covington has in Philly where he's locked up cheap for years. Since he has the unilateral right to accept his tender can come over, that's what he's going to do.

So any talk about him having to impress in the summer league to keep a spot or making a roster projection without him in it is incorrect. There's a 99-percent chance LJC is a Spur come October. The team is already accounting for that financially. That being said, if the Spurs use Bird rights to reup Green and Leonard and go over the cap, they'll still able to get LJC.

[BillMc]

We've gone over this a couple of times, but the Spurs are currently carrying a cap hold of about $800k on their cap (in lieu of a $525 roster charge) for LJC. The only way they can get that hold removed is to have him sign a form promising to not come over until next summer. That will NOT happen unless something extreme occurs. This is the final year that LJC is guaranteed two seasons of salary under the rookie scale. He's not like Splitter or Mirotic in that he stands to get more as a free agent if he waits. He will get a min contract or even worse, a contract like Covington has in Philly where he's locked up cheap for years. Since he has the unilateral right to accept his tender can come over, that's what he's going to do.

So any talk about him having to impress in the summer league to keep a spot or making a roster projection without him in it is incorrect. There's a 99-percent chance LJC is a Spur come October. The team is already accounting for that financially.

Thanks for the clarification (again) Chinook. So if LJC is destined to be on the roster, the next question is - is he any good? Your previous posts imply promise, others say he was a wasted pick. I personally have no idea. I've never seen him play even on a youtube vid. (Yeah, I know easy to rectify that situation). No matter what, he's taking a roster slot it seems.

[Dre_7]

Bonner is okay with me, but please do not bring back Ayers!

[Texas_Ranger]

Spurs need a shooter. Would be great if he's a SF. I don't really care if they get West cause Tim/LMA/Diaw play most of the time in the playoffs. Sign Bonner for minimum and a defensive center. Just don't bring back Errors, he's a waste of space. I'd rather have Reggie Williams on the team than that piece of .

[ceperez]

We've gone over this a couple of times, but the Spurs are currently carrying a cap hold of about $800k on their cap (in lieu of a $525 roster charge) for LJC. The only way they can get that hold removed is to have him sign a form promising to not come over until next summer. That will NOT happen unless something extreme occurs. This is the final year that LJC is guaranteed two seasons of salary under the rookie scale. He's not like Splitter or Mirotic in that he stands to get more as a free agent if he waits. He will get a min contract or even worse, a contract like Covington has in Philly where he's locked up cheap for years. Since he has the unilateral right to accept his tender can come over, that's what he's going to do.

So any talk about him having to impress in the summer league to keep a spot or making a roster projection without him in it is incorrect. There's a 99-percent chance LJC is a Spur come October. The team is already accounting for that financially. That being said, if the Spurs use Bird rights to reup Green and Leonard and go over the cap, they'll still able to get LJC.

Hard to find any videos of him post draft, but here's one 2015:

see #1 highlight... appears to have the spring.

[RodNIc91]

We've gone over this a couple of times, but the Spurs are currently carrying a cap hold of about $800k on their cap (in lieu of a $525 roster charge) for LJC. The only way they can get that hold removed is to have him sign a form promising to not come over until next summer. That will NOT happen unless something extreme occurs. This is the final year that LJC is guaranteed two seasons of salary under the rookie scale. He's not like Splitter or Mirotic in that he stands to get more as a free agent if he waits. He will get a min contract or even worse, a contract like Covington has in Philly where he's locked up cheap for years. Since he has the unilateral right to accept his tender can come over, that's what he's going to do.

So any talk about him having to impress in the summer league to keep a spot or making a roster projection without him in it is incorrect. There's a 99-percent chance LJC is a Spur come October. The team is already accounting for that financially. That being said, if the Spurs use Bird rights to reup Green and Leonard and go over the cap, they'll still able to get LJC.

Super clear post! Thanks for the clarification

[BillMc]

Hard to find any videos of him post draft, but here's one 2015:

see #1 highlight... appears to have the spring.

Cheers!

[djohn14]

CoJo isn't that big of a difference maker. We will ned to aquire a few more pieces, sure but Cory Joseph dosen't stand between us and a le.