Bringing him over won't magically make him a mature, NBA-ready player. If he's brought prematurely, it slows down his development because he won't get playing time, thus taking even more of the time TD doesn't have to wait.
I'm aware of that. My point is that you might as well start the NBA learning process for him now instead of hoping that somehow staying in the French league is going to benefit him that much more. The Spurs have already brought him over after their season ended last month for a looksee so perhaps they are thinking along those lines.
He has to be developed to a certain point before he has a chance to be successful in the NBA. He's not going to start the NBA learning process as the last man off the bench.
I wouldn't be so sure. A season spent working on weight training, practicing against Tim Duncan and the rest of the bigs , working with Engelland on his shooting, and perhaps a cameo would go a long way towards his development.
Mahmini does not need to be on the Spurs' roster for the Spurs to be involved in his development. They have been so since they drafted him.
He can do weight training in Europe. The Spurs have not revolutionized the concept of the weight room in their SA facility. He can work out in SA some this summer, then the Spurs can develop a regimen for him, and work with his French coaches to ensure he follows through.
There is little practice time during an NBA season, so he wouldn't have much time to glean anything from Duncan or the other bigs.
Mahmini has a lot more to learn about the game than perimeter shooting form, so a specialist like Engelland is not the best coach for him. What he needs most of all is playing time, which he can get right now in Europe, but not in San Antonio.
He's not going to find better compe ion in France than in the Spurs' practice facility. Yes, it's better to have the weight training done with the team and as for the shooting, what's wrong with a bigman who can shoot a J like a guard?
Reminds me of Dave when he first entered the league.
The Spurs do not practice much during the regular season because of the demands of the schedule. So the "better compe ion" isn't going to do him any good because he's not going to get many opportunities to play against it in between the plane flights, hotel stays, and night spent in warmups on the bench.
Much of the weight training is done during the offseason, and there's no reason Mahmini can't partake in that without having to be on the 2006-07 roster.
It would be very nice to have a big man who can shoot a J like a guard. I would not be very nice to have a big man who can't play the game of basketball except for shooting a J like a guard, because he was shoved onto an NBA bench before he had to chance to develop.
Who knows, Mahmini might have Jermaine O'Neal upside. Why are you advocating repeating Portland's mistake with him?
The NBA season does not give much of an opportunity to groom young players who aren't going to be in the regular rotation. I suppose you could argue for throwing Mahmini to the wolves and making him the first big off the bench regardless of whether he can handle it, and just cross your fingers that he figures it out. There will be consequences for that in the win-loss column, and in team chemistry.
All he'll get in the NBA next year that he can't get in Europe is tired from all the travel.
Move him to the next league in France and get him used to the next level of compe ion, especially as by all appearances the Spurs will already have one new big, maybe two, with Scola, to work into the team philosophy.
Then they can send him to Austin. He'll face better talent there than in France.
not if he plays in Euroleague team. Euroleague>NBDL
He carries himself and moves the same way Dave did. I can see him having the same strengths and weaknesses (not to imply that he'll be as good as Dave, of course).
He fits the template that Dave created for playing next to Duncan -- athletic, no need for the ball, shot blocker, quick defender. Unfortunately, nether Rasho, nor Nazr, nor Oberto has fit that mold yet -- although Nazr teased by looking awful close a few times.
He also seems to catch the ball fairly well down low. The non-Nazr decent hands.
I am leaning towards wanting him here now instead of later. In the early months of the season, Pop should give him enough playtime to develop, even if it means some loses. From the sounds of it, he mainly needs to work on his body. He sounds like he picks things up fairly quick and so I think he would come along fine in learning the system and the NBA.
I guess my mind might be changed if he does not play well in the summer leagues or the WC depending on which one he ultimately ends up at.
I'd be for it, too, if Javtokas wasn't coming over.
Especially if Scola comes over, too, there's no time for him to play.
We shouldn't get too greedy on this guy. He'll be good, but you can actually stunt him a little by bringing him over. Let him develop on a team with no great expectations, let him develop his post moves in peace. He's only 19 or 20, right?
Well, I am not sold that Javtokas and/or Scola are coming over yet. There has been nothing that I have read so far that says one or both of them are going to be with the Spurs next year. I do agree that if both of them come over then we should leave Ian over there to grow some more, but if only one is coming, I might be inclined to still bring him over. Of course, if he shows a lot during summer league or the WC, then I would say bring him over now.
the best thing ian can do right now is be on the court as much as possible. that's not gonna happen in san antonio next year.
I agree with that reasoning, but everything I've seen has Javtokas coming over. It seems a done deal to me.
Scola is another thing. My feeling is he's a Spur next year. Regardless, he'll be in the NBA, if not in SA.
If only Javtokas comes, then I'd think about Mahinmi already. But all else equal, for his own development, I think having him in France for another year or two is best.
Looking at that video, I see no reason to leave him in Europe. Quick feet, good hands, looks pretty quick too. If you surround him with better players, he will be better. Send him to the summer leagues and the NBADL for a short time, then bring him on in. I'll bet he is already better than Oberto, and for the size/length we need to add to the team, probably a better option than Scola.
Nice video.
Mahinmi can get up, no question. He still looks pretty skinny ... but so did 99% of successful PF/C projects at 19.
With the Spurs currently working him out, I think it'll be tough not to bring him over if he's playing well. I know they want to keep him in Europe, but they also know that they need to win now.
It'll probably come down to free-agency. If they can go out and get a couple quality bigs and a Long Three, then it'll be a lot easier to keep Mahinmi in France.
I haven't been that impressed with any Mahinmi video yet. I'm not saying he's not good or won't be good. But he just looks like a skinny, athletic highschool kid who is better than the players around him. He looks raw -- really raw. Does he have any offensive game outside dunks, layups and putbacks? I see why they say he's a couple years away from being NBA ready. I guess we'll see more of him against almost-NBA talent in summer league.
I'm torn about bringing him over. Nothing develops players more than in-game action. And I don't think he'd see any minutes on the Spurs. So in that sense, he should stay overseas. But I wouldn't mind him bringing him over because I think practicing against NBA players would do him a lot of good.
dunks make highlights not outside shots
not sure if he can shot outside or not though but dunks make highlights
Well I've seen game film, not just highlights.
if that is the case he and spurs need to pick a few spots on the court where he can hit a outside shot and practice that. kind of like bowen in the corner for a three
I don't want him to become an outside shooter. It's just that he's not going to be able to just dunk all day in the NBA. He is going to have to develop some shots around the basket .. a hook, a short turnaround, etc.
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