If we really love Tim Duncan as a fan...

[8FOR!3]

On the verge of winning the conference? Wtf are you watching? Dumbass.
Anyone that honestly believes in this team still is blind. Athleticism has been a weak point since 2007, and in 3 years since nothing has been done to address the issue. Yeah every team has tough years, but not when their centerpiece is on the declining side of his career. Tim has maybe 2 years left where we can tally double-doubles consistently, let the man go if he chooses. He's earned it

Take a chill pill, I meant the division...

[dbreiden83080]

Only happen if he pushes for it, but it will be real intersting to see how the off-season goes. He'll be 34 next year, and he needs more help than ever before..

[Bartleby]

Tim would be somewhat difficult to shop due to his contract/age,

This is a whole new level of stupid

[z0sa]

Tim wouldn't pull some dramatic move like that on his own part, but if the Spurs decided to completely blow the team up and offered him the chance, he just might take it.

[fusionjazzman72]

If Spurs continue to suck this year, the first thing Pop should do this offseason is asking to Tim want he want: retire as a Spurs (with the assumption he will never win #5) or be traded to a true contender.

If Tim decides to stay, Spurs should re-sign Manu, spend their MLE and try to do some trades to improve the team now.

If Tim rather choose to be traded to a contender, Spurs should trade him for expiring contract and prospects/picks and start rebuilding. The rest of the plan would be to let Manu go, trade Parker for expiring contracts and prospects/picks, let RJ contract expire and go with a young coach.

[da_suns_fan]

You guys are ridiculous.

Duncan "deserves" to be on a winner blah blah blah

The dudes making...what? 20 million a season? I think he deserves to have to play basketball for the Spurs for the rest of his life.

[Double-Up]

If Spurs continue to suck this year, the first thing Pop should do this offseason is asking to Tim want he want: retire as a Spurs (with the assumption he will never win #5) or be traded to a true contender.

If Tim decides to stay, Spurs should re-sign Manu, spend their MLE and try to do some trades to improve the team now.

If Tim rather choose to be traded to a contender, Spurs should trade him for expiring contract and prospects/picks and start rebuilding. The rest of the plan would be to let Manu go, trade Parker for expiring contracts and prospects/picks, let RJ contract expire and go with a young coach.

IMO you don't trade away the face of your franchise and the reason for the 4 rings just because you have a couple down seasons. You must do whatever it takes to win now and make your team a le contender. He's already won rings so I'm sure being on a contender isn't that big of a deal especially since he's making tons of money anyways and gets to stay where he's appreciated the most.

[SpurCharger]

This Is Timmy's Choice. He Has Earned That, I hope I never See Him In Another Jersey.

[DPG21920]

If Spurs continue to suck this year, the first thing Pop should do this offseason is asking to Tim want he want: retire as a Spurs (with the assumption he will never win #5) or be traded to a true contender.

If Tim decides to stay, Spurs should re-sign Manu, spend their MLE and try to do some trades to improve the team now.

If Tim rather choose to be traded to a contender, Spurs should trade him for expiring contract and prospects/picks and start rebuilding. The rest of the plan would be to let Manu go, trade Parker for expiring contracts and prospects/picks, let RJ contract expire and go with a young coach.

What do you think this team can do theoretically to make themselves a contender over the next two years? We only know this:

1) Tim, Manu & TP are no longer a championship core.

2) Spurs will be in a tough spot financially next year.

[superjames1992]

Good Lord, people. This forum is becoming like the Twilight Zone.

I'd be laughing my ass off if I was a fan of another team reading these threads.

[cdcast]

The key to this summer will be Parker and RJ. Can the Spurs get anything significant in a Parker trade and RJ trade? If they can, they could reload for next season.

They'll have Splitter for the MLE and a first rd. pick.

They'll have to re-sign Manu. By letting him go for nothing, that's another spot to fill with no way to replace him.

[ShoogarBear]

. . .

Pop is interested in playing you at center.

[ohmwrecker]

Tim would never ask to be traded. Tim would never play for another coach. Tim would never bust a Shaq.

Really?! Just watch him.

[HarlemHeat37]

I think it's more likely that Duncan would just retire IMO..

If he is traded, I think there will still be suitors for him, despite his large contract..he's still gonna be good enough to be a legit #2 option on a le contender for the next 2 season IMO..

[benefactor]

and anyway, even without Tim, i cant' see why an all star point guard like tony and a great experienced winner like manu wouldn't be useful to rebuild. Of course, it depends on their next contract. but you can't win with only young prospects.

They aren't going to win anything with Parker and Manu either. Manu is nowhere close to his former self...and he is only going to regress more from here on out. If he would accept a very reasonable deal then it could be considered. It's not really worth 8 million or so a year for the next few years if the team is in full rebuild mode.

Parker is going to want a raise from his current contract. He has an awful lot of miles on him to invest 16-17 million a year over the next three or four seasons. The other problem is that developing young players will be more difficult with Parker leading the team. He is a score first point guard that isn't that great at setting up his teammates. When in full rebuild mode, the Spurs would benefit more from a distributing point that can get the whole team involved. Parker is great working together with Duncan and is great at getting to the rim. Take Duncan away and Parker becomes a scorer that can win games for the team, but can't carry them to a le and can't really help the new players develop their own strengths.

If Duncan decides he is done, then it's all done.

[Bruno]

What do you think this team can do theoretically to make themselves a contender over the next two years? We only know this:

1) Tim, Manu & TP are no longer a championship core.

2) Spurs will be in a tough spot financially next year.

I'm not sure Spurs will be able to be again a true contender but
they should be able to be a good team and be able to offer a decent end of career to Tim.

Spurs aren't in a that bad situation financially wise for the next year. They will be able to re-sign Manu and to spend their MLE without going too deep in the luxury tax territory.

If Spurs do a trade this summer or at the next trade deadline, the key will be Jefferson contract. A $15.2M expiring contract is a nice trade asset.

[HarlemHeat37]

I think we could still make a run for 1 more year if the FO is interested..I'm sure the Spurs COULD flip Jefferson for a guy like Iguodala, I would be shocked if Philly didn't do it, considering they've been trying to trade him for months..the key would be whether or not the Spurs FO would want to pay Iggy for the next 3-4 years..

Get Manu back on a reasonable contract + get Splitter with part of the MLE..we still have a 1st round pick for next year..Hairston is on a cheap contract next year, actually play him..fill the rest with minimum players that won't play..hope Tony rests for the Summer and comes back strong next year..

PG Parker(13.65 mil)
SG Hill(0.85 mil)
SF Iguodala(12.35 mil)
PF Splitter(???)
C Duncan(18.84 mil)

Manu(???)
Blair(0.92 mil)
Hairston(0.85 mil)
McDyess(4.86 mil)
*1st round pick*(1.6 mil or so)

The rest of the roster wouldn't matter since they wouldn't play, just sign vet minimum players..that wouldn't be too hard on the luxury tax..

Personally, I don't think the FO would sign off on a guy like Iguodala since his contract is long, but I think that is a roster that could win a le..it would make Duncan-Parker-Iggy the big 3 while making Manu an elite role player..then there is adequate size with Splitter + athletic players in Hill/Hairston/Iggy/1st round pick..

If it doesn't work out..Tony's contract expires at the end of the year(unless there is something with an extension), McDyess basically expires, Duncan can retire..if it doesn't work, the rebuilding can begin the next season..

I can dream..

[DPG21920]

Lets say best case scenario the Spurs sign Manu to a 3 year 18M contract. They will probably have to use most, if not all the MLE on Tiago to have a serious shot at bringing him over.

If the Spurs cannot swing a deal or until they swing a deal, this scenario puts the Spurs as follows:

Tim Duncan
Tony Parker
Manu Ginobili
Richard Jefferson
Antonio McDyess
Dejuan Blair
George Hill
Malik Hairston
Tiago Splitter

9 players and approximately $65M in salaries.

That roster is not a contender and appears to be the most likely scenario if no trade happens. The question is, if this is the reality does it make sense to go this route? Does just adding Tiago/Malik to the mix make the team slightly more compe ive than they are this year?

[HarlemHeat37]

No it doesn't..moving Jefferson is the only option to compete IMO..it comes down to that or rebuilding IMO..

Adding a 1st round pick will also help too, since our pick isn't going to be that low this year..

[mookie2001]

The team should move to Vancouver too

[spurs1990]

I know this sounds like heresy, but I've always liked seeing Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant play together, and if that scenario can't happen in Spurs' silver and black, then I'd be interesting to see them together on another team.

Duncan deserves plenty of leeway, so if he was up for it, then the Spurs should explore deals.

Personally, I'd never believe he'd go that route...just isn't his norm.

[slayermin]

...

Pop is interested in playing you at center.

[peskypesky]

Signed.

The greatest PF of all-time deserves a real chance to win another ring. It's not going to happen with the Spurs, and he has given this team enough. Four championship trophies. I want to see Duncan get that 5th ring much more than I want to see him play his heart out for another season on a team that is going nowhere fast.

[ElNono]

Really, what bothers me the most about these decisions (no trading, small ball, rotations) is that they hurt TD the most, and he deserves better. A lot better.

[L.I.T]

No it doesn't..moving Jefferson is the only option to compete IMO..it comes down to that or rebuilding IMO..

Adding a 1st round pick will also help too, since our pick isn't going to be that low this year..

I agree.

If we are dreaming, going into this summer as well, the RJeff/Dice contracts could be attractive in sign and trade scenarios; especially if as you say the Spurs could sweeten the deal with draft picks.

Say what we will about the FO, but they have been able to play around with contracts pretty well. If they could only figure out how to use them...