Gooden is Walking Away This Offseason

[SenorSpur]

Yes, yes and yes! I do not understand people who are ragging on him at all. Do you realize how we've never had a player alongside Timmy of this caliber after DRob?

Amen!

Even Duncan has commented on how pleased he is to see the Spurs calling plays for Gooden in the low box, that are normally only reserved for him. If you'd rather see Bonner continue to clang 3-balls, as a starter, be my guest.

Whatever flaws Gooden may have, he's got more ability that any other big on this roster, not named Duncan. Flaws can be worked out in camp. I'll take my chances on Gooden. Sign him to the MLE or a big portion of it.

[HarlemHeat37]

Again..before we get Gooden, I'd rather get a big that plays D to help Duncan..Timmy can still play great D, but he can't control the entire paint like he used to..he needs a shot blocker next to him..is Ian that guy? he's obviously not worth relying on..

if we can get someone like that, I don't mind Gooden..

we just need a young big man to help on D..if Ian can be that, obviously it'll be a big key..but he's obviously unproven and can't stay healthy..

if not that, then at least get a big that can play 1 on 1 man defense, and let Duncan become a help defender..Rasheed could fit that role, if he decided to take a little amount of $ in pursuit of a ring..

Duncan/Gooden
Sheed/Ian

would be fine with me..assuming Ian can stay healthy, and 'Sheed signs for cheap..

[SouthTexasRancher]

i hope gooden takes a 1 year 1 million contract this coming offseason

while we can pursue ariza i do have faith he wants to win a championship and will when ginobili comes back

You will not see the same Manu in the future. His ankle situation is not good for basketball at any level. He could play soccer or baseball and possibly get away with his bad ankles and the stress on the bones, Ligaments, tendons, nerves and muscles but, not at the NBA level. Sad to say but, it is just one of those quirkie facts of life.

[NewJerSpur]

-Keep Manu, build a bench that is not overly relient on his contributions so the offense stops when he's not around

-Whether we keep Gooden or not, we need to get younger at the Big spot.

[SenorSpur]

Gooden would make sense in SA as a guy who can come off the bench to provide scoring up front and give TD more rest during the regular season. He's more of a #3 big than a #2 big.

Amen again.
Duncan needs to play less miniutes, not more. The Spurs need a player that can replicate some of TD's scoring and reboundng prowess in the paint, while he rests. KT is too old. Ian is too young and unproven. Gooden is the only logical option.

The Spurs are in an inferior position, with a talent-poor roster. They would be big arrogant fools if they allow his guy to walk.

[Borosai]

Gooden would make sense in SA as a guy who can come off the bench to provide scoring up front and give TD more rest during the regular season. He's more of a #3 big than a #2 big.

True, but he still needs to pass, right? He needs to understand that he's not always the first or the best option. If he can, then he would definitely help the team.

[NewJerSpur]

True, but he still needs to pass, right? He needs to understand that he's not always the first or the best option. If he can, then he would definitely help the team.

He also needs to play better defense when his shots aren't falling and he's not getting calls he rightfully deserves.

[baseline bum]

I know he didn't play that well this last game, but if you only get 8 mins of playing time and seeing this stiff redhead get a gazillion more playing time than you, you'll definitely be walking away. In the short time Gooden has been with us, he has shown he can do a lot more than this pathetic excuse of an NBA player Matt Bonner. I don't know why Pop doesn't give Gooden enough chance even in games where he's doing well, especially in a game like this where no role player can score, at least if Pop gave Gooden a bit more playing time, you know he'll keep on being aggressive and he's gonna get fouls which will help us.

Unless Pop says (assuming what he says has a lot of bearing on Gooden) he'll get more playing time once he goes through a complete training camp and does well, Gooden is good as gone.

Oh wait, maybe if we throw a truckload of money at him he might stay. (Which is least likely the case esp if we're looking for Bowen replacement.)

Not a good time to be singing Gooden's praises. He played 8 minutes because he picked up 4 fouls. If it wasn't for Mason's colossal up to end the first on a 16-3 run, Gooden would have been the worst player on the floor today.

[Marcus Bryant]

Well, who else do they have? Splitter is, at best, a year away (if ever). Next season is Thomas' last. They do need Mahinmi to step in and contribute. It's unfortunate that Mahinmi wasn't able to play this season. Gooden has his negatives, but I'm not sure the Spurs can be that picky, especially if he's willing to sign a reasonable contract starting at the MLE.

[SenorSpur]

True, but he still needs to pass, right? He needs to understand that he's not always the first or the best option. If he can, then he would definitely help the team.

You have a point in that he can sometimes be a bit of a black hole. However, I wouldn't hold that against him too much. Playing with the 2nd unit, he has been the best scoring option, in the absence of Manu. I'm sure Pop wanted him to be aggressive around the basket. He's got good footwork around the rim, is aggressive and one of the better FT shooter on the team. He's got way more positives than negatives. He needs to be retained.

[spurspokesman]

This is not to excuse Gooden's poor play, as of late, but there is a chance he could be hurt from that crash landing that he had in Game 2.

He showed enouugh that makes me believe he warrants another look, if they could resign him to a reasonable contract. His low post scoring and rebounding ability are ideal to a team that struggles so much offensively. After all, low-post scorers are not falling out of the sky.

Right on the money senor. Oh please don't mention bonner and gooden in the same sentence. That's unfair to drew

[spurtech09]

gooden was playing pretty good intill you fell on his back in game 2....I think his back is bothering him ....he doesn't look the same

[baseline bum]

Well, who else do they have? Splitter is, at best, a year away (if ever). Next season is Thomas' last. They do need Mahinmi to step in and contribute. It's unfortunate that Mahinmi wasn't able to play this season. Gooden has his negatives, but I'm not sure the Spurs can be that picky, especially if he's willing to sign a reasonable contract starting at the MLE.

I was responding more to the idea that Pop wasn't giving Gooden a fair shake today, which is patently false. Drew looked awful today in those 8 minutes. As for whether to sign him, I'm still not sure who I'd like most between Drew, Sheed, and Dice with the MLE. The Spurs should definitely have their choice between Gooden and Wallace, but I get the feeling McDyess might just retire instead of moving to another team.

[benefactor]

I think he just needs more time in the system. Most of us agree that a big that has Gooden's offensive skill set isn't just going to walk through the door. Marcus Bryant has a good point about Gooden being a nice trading chip if we sign him for the MLE. Most teams would love to have a big like him for that kind of money. If he can't learn to pass out of a double or play consistently decent defense then we will should be able to move him.

[NewJerSpur]

gooden was playing pretty good intill you fell on his back in game 2....I think his back is bothering him ....he doesn't look the same

He played well after he fell on his back as well. He's just started to fade a bit like the rest of the role players. I'll be encouraged if he picks it back up in San Antonio.

[baseline bum]

I think I'm leaning more towards hoping Rasheed has another year in him once he gets out of that cancerous environment that Iverson created in Detroit.... Especially with Bruce likely playing the last games of his career right now; the Spurs are going to have to find some way to stop teams, and I don't see any better option than rolling the dice on Sheed. Still, I love Drew's scoring off the bench, and it will suck to lose that if the team looks in Rasheed's direction.

[HarlemHeat37]

like I said, I've supported Gooden since he's been here..I love his offensive game..we just need to go back to the principles..

if Ian can come in and give us 15 MPG of energy, a blocked shot, and 1 or 2 dunks, that should be fine..if you add that with Rasheed signing for little $, and Gooden signing for a reasonable amount of the MLE, I would be fine with our core of big men..have Bonner and/or Thomas come in and play 10 MPG to give Duncan or Wallace some rest..

I still believe we can get something good for a package of expiring contracts(Thomas, Bonner, Oberto) though, so that will depend on what we get as well..

there's no doubt that we need a big to give us energy on D though..is Ian worth risking not making a move for that type of player?..

[ss1986v2]

at this point, im not sure rasheed has too many more quality years left in him (if any). he will be 35 years old next season, going on his 15th year in the league, with over 1100 career games and just under 40000 minutes. those all put him well into the danger zone for players, especially for bigs. i think the last two years we have seen the beginning of his decline, and i think hes due for that big drop off.

as for gooden, we are far too talent thin to be letting a player like gooden walk if all it takes is the MLE. hes flawed, but thats good value for him (even if we look to move him sometime down the line).

[HarlemHeat37]

you wouldn't take Wallace on 1 year contract for relatively cheap, ss?

[baseline bum]

at this point, im not sure rasheed has too many more quality years left in him (if any). he will be 35 years old next season, going on his 15th year in the league, with over 1100 career games and just under 40000 minutes. those all put him well into the danger zone for players, especially for bigs. i think the last two years we have seen the beginning of his decline, and i think hes due for that big drop off.

as for gooden, we are far too talent thin to be letting a player like gooden walk if all it takes is the MLE. hes flawed, but thats good value for him (even if we look to move him sometime down the line).

It's a huge risk, but Gooden or not, the championship window might be 1-2 years, if that even. I wonder how much of Wallace's decline is playing on a team that has nothing to play for, and how much is physical. I don't think there is any way this team can afford have the ty defenders it has now (Finley, Bonner, Gooden, Udoka) playing major minutes, especially without Bowen there to cover the toughest matchup. The only player other than Sheed who can offer much D at the MLE would be Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, but he is a spectacularly bad offensive player. It's one thing to be able to score in meaningless games in Milwaukee, but in our offense Luc would make Bruce look like Maravich.

[ss1986v2]

you wouldn't take Wallace on 1 year contract for relatively cheap, ss?

no, i would if the deal is only 1 year (or 1+1 with a TO), and comes in at the BAE or less. hes still better than bonner or KT, so its a clear upgrade there.

im just not sure he settles on us if all we are offering is 1 year on the cheap. wouldnt someone else be willing to offer more over a longer time for someone like sheed? i figure if you want sheed, it starts at something similar to what KT got last year.

and at that point, id probably rather spend the whole wad on gooden.

[NewJerSpur]

It's a huge risk, but Gooden or not, the championship window might be 1-2 years, if that even. I wonder how much of Wallace's decline is playing on a team that has nothing to play for, and how much is physical. I don't think there is any way this team can afford have the ty defenders it has now (Finley, Bonner, Gooden, Udoka) playing major minutes, especially without Bowen there to cover the toughest matchup. The only player other than Sheed who can offer much D at the MLE would be Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, but he is a spectacularly bad offensive player. It's one thing to be able to score in meaningless games in Milwaukee, but in our offense Luc would make Bruce look like Maravich.

[ss1986v2]

It's a huge risk, but Gooden or not, the championship window might be 1-2 years, if that even. I wonder how much of Wallace's decline is playing on a team that has nothing to play for, and how much is physical. I don't think there is any way this team can afford have the ty defenders it has now (Finley, Bonner, Gooden, Udoka) playing major minutes, especially without Bowen there to cover the toughest matchup. The only player other than Sheed who can offer much D at the MLE would be Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, but he is a spectacularly bad offensive player. It's one thing to be able to score in meaningless games in Milwaukee, but in our offense Luc would make Bruce look like Maravich.

i dont really disagree with this line of thinking. im just not sure wallace, at his current millage, will be able to continue to contribute even over the next 1-2 years. and i mean significant contributions (more than what KT and gooden bring).

if you have gotten a chance to watch him in recent years, hes spending more and more time camped out at the three. his inside game isnt what it once was (never was the best). and his usual money fall away shot on the baseline really has not been there for him. hes had the same problems defensively that we see from KT and even timmy at times; hes just not mobile enough anymore to deal with the current gen bigs. man-to-man in the low post, hes still decent enough, but thats only doing to continue to degrade too. and the whole age thing is only going to get worse.

[timvp]

Before the two games in Dallas, I thought re-signing Gooden was a good idea. Now after two horrible outings? I'll say it depends on the situation. If it's Gooden or nothing, you take Gooden for at least his trade value.

But if you can get Rasheed to sign one-year deal and then keep the 2010 flexibility? I think you have to do that.

But considering that Rasheed signing a one-year deal is unlikely and the MLE crop isn't bubbling over with options, it could very well come down to Gooden or a sub par player. In that case, signing Gooden is better than just wasting a season next year in preparation of the 2010 plan.

[spursfan1000]

Yeah, POP needs to give him atleast 20 minutes a game. if he dosent like the minutes he is getting he will walk away I gurantee it, we can't afford that unless we can get another younger player like him.