Props to the Spurs front office

[angelbelow]

No doubt that our FO is the best in the league. I guess we spurs fans don't say it enough but they've been top notch since 2001. Few would complain about moves made from 2001-2007 as there were many memorable ones (drafting Parker, signing Ginobili, Horry, Barry, Bowen etc, etc)

I think it was around 2008 where most of the criticism started to happen. That was also around the same time our team was labelled old and washed up. But lets take a look at some of the key FO moves that were overlooked/ignored because they didn't work out:
-Kurt Thomas for Brent Barry. I was ecstatic about this trade because we needed a rebounder/interior defender and Kurt was above average in both. Additionally he had an effective 15 jumper. Barry (like most assumed at the time) came back to SA after being waived by the Sonics. It didn't work out because Thomas had some injury issues (continued to plague him for the rest of time with the spurs) and we didn't have enough offensive firepower to overcome the Lakers.
- 2008/2009 season - I was pretty critical about this season. The front office made no significant moves other than draft George Hill. We got killed by injures though and Pop benched Bowen for Finley.
-2009/2010 - Spurs acquire Allstar Richard Jefferson. At the time, this move as considered as a positive one, and for good reason. Besides Kobe Bryant, RJ was the only player to average 20 ppg+ and play 82 games for the past 2 seasons. Pop also coached RJ during the 04 Olympics. Spurs also bring on fan favorite Antonio Mcydess.
-2010/2011 - Spurs sign Tiago Splitter.

IMO the majority of the moves made by the FO from 2007-2011 were positive ones but are often overlooked or criticized because they didn't pan out. But you can't say the FO didn't try (besides 08/09).

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Boris for back up PG?, nah, that would require Pop to be proactive in his lineups. And we all know Pop is reactive when it comes to matching up

[MaNu4Tres]

that hill for leonard, danny green, rights to best big in europe trade has worked out pretty well so far.

fify

[Mel_13]

fify

Green was on the roster before the trade.

[Solid D]

Boris for back up PG?, nah, that would require Pop to be proactive in his lineups. And we all know Pop is reactive when it comes to matching up

Ha, I asked remember when...? I wasn't suggesting Boris play PG now.

[MaNu4Tres]

Green was on the roster before the trade.

His minutes weren't-- which is my point.

Trading Hill opened up minutes for Danny. So essentially Spurs traded Hill for Leonard, Green, rights to Lorbek/Bertins.

[Mel_13]

His minutes weren't-- which is my point.

Trading Hill opened up minutes for Danny. So essentially Spurs traded Hill for Leonard, Green, rights to Lorbek/Bertins.

Good trade.

[TD 21]

Thinking back on it, the patience of the FO was impressive when it came to signing the fifth bigman. They could have panicked along the way and just signed a warm body. But instead, they waited around until a potentially solid player at a cheap price became available.

Please. They got lucky that the four bigs stayed almost entirely healthy, just like they did last season with Jefferson staying healthy and somewhat covering up their lack of an NBA caliber backup three for the majority of the season. One long term injury (which they deserved for their ignorance) to the injury prone Splitter, or any of the other three, and they'd be fighting for a playoff spot right now.

Given the situation they put and found themselves in, the moves were all good moves. In fact, I don't think they could have done better in any of the three cases.

[Dex]

We staaaaaaaaaaaaaacked!

[Giuseppe]

Once you crossed the line signing Neal after he raped signing two quitters like Jackson & Diaw ain't hard.

I betcha they don't quit on you though, huh?

[vander]

Role players don't win championships


our big 3 are still TP, TD, and Manu, same as before, but older

[Solid D]

Role players don't win championships


our big 3 are still TP, TD, and Manu, same as before, but older

You've got to have both stars and good role players to win a championship. Have you forgotten the history of the NBA?

For every Bill Russell and John Havlicek, there is a KC Jones and Gerald Henderson. For every Magic and Kareem, there is a Rambis and Coop. For every Jordan, Parker and Duncan, there is a Steve Kerr, Mario Elie and Bruce Bowen.

[Solid D]

and then there is the standard bearer role player with 7 rings named Robert Horry.

[analyzed]

To think at the end of last season we we're looking at SF line-up of RJ and Anderson, and where desperate for a 3 even considering signing Josh Howard. To have a matured Kawhi and Jackson is a of an upgrade. When you think about it when we loss to Memphis in the playoffs , we had 5 players bascially absent who are here today. (Manu with 2 arms) , Tiago (non existant last year).
Green (out of nowhere!), Kawhi (boy is he better than adverstised) and Jackson (I din't realize how good he is) . That's a whole 5 of quality ballers who can compete in the playoffs . Seriously I din't see this coming, I really thought we we're done as playofff contenders. This is a surprise