Spurs Acquire Matt Bonner And Eric Williams From Toronto For Rasho

[BgT]

Great, great trade.

Matt Bonner is one of my favorite players in the league. This guy is the Malik Rose or Udonis Haslem the Spurs needed.

Spurs have finally said goodbye to 2006/07 le. Not because Rasho's gone, but because they got 2 ty players in return. Perhaps in 2007/08 the team will get much better.
As for Rasho not contributing - I think it's Pop's fault, too. Small ball. Pfffff.

[ducks]

rasho was given a chance

[Kori Ellis]

Spurs have finally said goodbye to 2006/07 le. Not because Rasho's gone, but because they got 2 ty players in return. Perhaps in 2007/08 the team will get much better.
As for Rasho not contributing - I think it's Pop's fault, too. Small ball. Pfffff.

You think the Spurs are done for the summer? This is just a salary move. Whatever these two players give is gravy. Bonner will play some and stretch the floor with his shooting. Williams will be an end of the bench player or gone.

Free agency hasn't even started, I don't see how you can write the Spurs off for next year. The Spurs have $7M to spend in free agency, plus will likely make a couple other trades.

You do realize that last season the Spurs tried to traded Rasho for Abdul-Wahad, who isn't even in the league.

This trade is a steal for the Spurs.

[jcrod]

WOW.

I heard this while at work today and was very suprised.

I'm still not sure if I truly like the deal, but I do think something had to be done. I like what the deal means from a financial standpoint. I just don't know how much better it makes the team.

I've always felt that Rasho could be alot better than what he showed in San Antonio. I always felt that he needed to play more minutes.

In his 3 years in SA he continuously lost minutes each year.

2003:28.7
2004:25.5
2005:19.0

I beleive he needed closer to 30-32 minutes per. I also believe POP need to attempt to run some plays for him to become involved in the offensive scheme.

I never liked the whole distribution of minutes between the bigs. I want a legit starter. Not 3 guys that asverage 18.5 apiece.

My fear is that Bonner will fall into that same role getting 20 minutes a game.

I like Bonner. I like his energy. I like his heart. I think he can and will bring an at ude that the Spur frontcourt has been lacking. I'd like to see a little fire in someones eyes.

I just don't think he's the answer. He's not the fix. He'll be a good role player. I picture him being something like a mix between Haslem and Junk Yard Dog ... with an outside shooting touch ... but not quite as good as either.

Williams is nothing more than a piece to be traded at a later time.

I wonder if there are more moves to be done. I wonder if Nazr stays. If not, does he start? Does Bonner start? How much will Oberto and Horry's PT eat into Bonners time?

I'm also happy for Rasho. He should get more minutes now. I think his play and numbers will see a decent improvement. Toronto is a good place for him. He'll be alongside some atletic big guys who will get him some easy buckets.

IMO Rasho will be more of a 12 & 8 kind of guy up there, and Spur fans around the world will be asking why he couldn't do that while in San Antonio.

Dude, whats your team again??????

Sound like a Spurs fan to me. I agree almost 100%.

I hope he's at least half of what TIMVP is hyping up to be. He seems to be what the Spurs need. But I honestly think Williams would do good here, he's a hustler and we need that. Good trade either way.

[J.T.]

I'm amped about this trade. Wake me up when September ends.

[Slinkyman]

Are you asking if they could trade Williams plus Scola's rights?

I would guess they could but I'm not an expert at this stuff. ChumpDumper should know.

yeah that's what i was wondering, also realized Williams for JR Smith and Arvydas Macijauskas works but i don't know if NO would do it or if the spurs still want Smith.

I also wonder if there's a reason the spurs made this trade now and didn't wait till after the draft but maybe this trade helps the spurs get the pieces needed to make a move into the first round.

[Kori Ellis]

yeah that's what i was wondering, also realized Williams for JR Smith and Arvydas Macijauskas works but i don't know if NO would do it or if the spurs still want Smith.

I also wonder if there's a reason the spurs made this trade now and didn't wait till after the draft but maybe this trade helps the spurs get the pieces needed to make a move into the first round.

I think the trade happened now because it will help the Raptors figure out what to do with their pick.

[T Park]

This deal opens up so many trades with Williams and Barry.


God, I LOVE the offseason

[ducks]

this week has been great
mavs choke
spurs improve
this lineup might have beat the mavs this year

[Kori Ellis]

This deal opens up so many trades with Williams and Barry.


God, I LOVE the offseason

They can't trade Williams in conjunction with Barry for another two months.

[picnroll]

Raptors want to sign Garbajosa. One more reason to rid themselves of Bonner. Both are outside shooting big men.

[resistanze]

I really hope the Raps package the draft pick in a deal to acqure a solid player/star. I'm willing to part ways with anyone except Bosh and maybe Peterson.

[BgT]

You think the Spurs are done for the summer? This is just a salary move. Whatever these two players give is gravy. Bonner will play some and stretch the floor with his shooting. Williams will be an end of the bench player or gone.

Free agency hasn't even started, I don't see how you can write the Spurs off for next year. The Spurs have $7M to spend in free agency, plus will likely make a couple other trades.

You do realize that last season the Spurs tried to traded Rasho for Abdul-Wahad, who isn't even in the league.

If those two players would cost 1.5M each (which is not possible, but I wrote IF), it would be a better trade. Bu the budget is almost the same after the trade for 2006/07 and Spurs even had to give some money to Raptors. Now, you don't really expect Spurs starting to buy great players this summer do you? No way. We need a center, it's going to cost a few million, there is no way we will be getting any quality for this season. I'm telling you - Spurs have just given up for the next season and want to have some real space for 2007/08. Plus, imagine Spurs winning the game seven against Dallas. Who would be playing in the Finals at center position? That's right.

This trade is a steal for the Spurs.

Well, we just don't agree there, but the season hasn't even started yet. We'll see. Spurs had a great chance to trade Rasho + someone else for a good player(s) and they f... up.

[angel_luv]

Just found this in my inbox.
Spurs Acquire Eric Williams and Matt Bonner for Rasho

The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they have acquired Matt
Bonner, a 6-10 center, and Eric Williams, an 11-year NBA veteran, plus a
2009 second round pick from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for Rasho
Nesterovic. "We are excited about the additions of Bonner and Williams,"
Spurs General Manager R.C. Buford said.

Good thing I spend more time here than I do in my e-mail.

I can't even imagine me finding out that way.

[Kori Ellis]

We need a center ... Who would be playing in the Finals at center position?

I believe Tim Duncan will be playing center.

[angel_luv]

Does Timmy like to play Center?

[timvp]

Spurs had a great chance to trade Rasho + someone else for a good player(s) and they f... up.

The Spurs couldn't trade Rasho + 1st Round Pick + Cash for Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

Knowing that, this trade is somewhat of a miracle.

[SPARKY]

This offseason presents the Spurs with some opportunities. Spurs have Mohammed to perhaps find themselves a sign and trade. They have their MLE and LLE. With Williams' contract, the Spurs will be able to offer a team some cap relief in '07 between now and next February if the Spurs are willing to take back a contract with some years on it. As always, they have Scola's rights to deal. A polished scorer from the Euroleagues should attract some interest, if the Spurs have decided he doesn't fit their style. Beno may be expendable depending on if the Spurs land a solid point. Barry's also available for a deal and his contract isn't that bad. Come next February it will offer a team some cap relief the next year.

Also, the Spurs shouldn't find themselves unwilling to do a deal because of lux tax concerns.

[Kori Ellis]

Does Timmy like to play Center?

He plays center all the time.

[T Park]

Spurs had a great chance to trade Rasho + someone else for a good player(s) and they f... up.

Link to those trades please?

[jcrod]

He plays center all the time.

He doesn't want to be called a center though. I remember reading somewhere where RC and Pop said TD doesn't want to be called a center in the starting lineup, even if he plays there 50% of the time.

[SPARKY]

I'm not sure what more the Spurs could have expected for Radoslav Nesterovic and $23 million in salary. Now the Spurs have the flexibility to become players in the 2007 free agent market or to facilitate a nice trade or two.

[BgT]

I believe Tim Duncan will be playing center.

I said for THIS season. Game 7 Mavs win ---> Phoenix ---> Miami.
Rasho would have some serious playing time.

The Spurs couldn't trade Rasho + 1st Round Pick + Cash for Tariq Abdul-Wahad.

Link to those trades please?

Well, you two... it seems Spurs were able to trade Rasho ALONE, right? Case closed.

He plays center all the time.

You can be sure that Tim HIMSELF demands a true center in the team, don't worry about that. It is a public secret that Tim doesn't want to play center, especially in D.

Now the Spurs have the flexibility to become players in the 2007 free agent market or to facilitate a nice trade or two.

As I said, it looks good for Spurs in 2007/08, (unless we get some stupid crappy player contract in the summer) but for 2006/07 it doesn't look good.

[JUUOT]

came back from a meeting and trying to catch up. I think this is a wonderful trade. I live in ottawa and got raptors TV this year. after 2 games i was a Bonner FAN. He has an incredible energy and breath smartness and kindness butat the same time he can be so agressive. You can see all his teammates loved him , HE HAS THE DRIVE. We need young players like this who want IT BAD. I have seen him change the momentum of the game on 3pt but also on transition dunk AND transition Dfense. He IS pretty fast for his syze and WILLING to do what it takes.

his game has flaws but i can accept them so much easier when a player puts so much heart to it. He will only improve. Good trade.

By the way Eric Williams will not even be a stop gap solution. we need to get rid of him by buying out or exchanging him during the season. no way he can contribute in the play-off he is done.

[Kori Ellis]

Well, you two... it seems Spurs were able to trade Rasho ALONE, right? Case closed.

Yep. After 2 years of trying, they got rid of him. That's why taking anything they could get is a good trade.