Free Agent: Raja Bell

[T Park]

agreed.

Bell has some big game shootin in him as well

ala 01 NBA Finals.

[Mark in Austin]

My favorite thing about him is he's he's probably the dirtiest player in the leauge ... so it's better that he's on your team.

There's some serious irony in somebody so against bringing Malone in last year making this statement.

Don't get me wrong... I was against Malone too. Just a surprising rationalization from you, timvp.

[timvp]

There's some serious irony in somebody so against bringing Malone in last year making this statement.

Don't get me wrong... I was against Malone too. Just a surprising rationalization from you, timvp.

I didn't care that Malone was dirty. I just hated him for being a Drama Queen.

[insert slomo's pic]

[foodie2]

Did Bell not play for the Spurs one summer, and not make the team? If Pop liked him so much, why didn't he?

[timvp]

Here's the Raja Bell story:

After the 2000 season, the Spurs ran an open camp to look for a guard. Players included Raja Bell, Damon Jones and about ten other guards. The camp lasted a couple days and after it was over, Pop said the player that stuck out the most was Bell.

The Spurs invited him to training camp and the final cut was between Bell and Derrick Dial. Buford wanted Dial, Pop wanted Bell. The Spurs decided to go with Dial.

Then later that year, the 76ers had some injury problems and needed a guard. Pop called Larry Brown and suggested Bell. Bell played well and even came up big in the Finals that year.

After the Championship in '03, the Spurs almost signed Bell but decided to go with Devin Brown instead.

[T Park]

interesting.

Wonder if they can get Bell now.

or will he command too much money.

[whottt]

to Bell.

Raja Bell is right there with Manu as being one of the fiercest compe ors in the NBA...If the Spurs signed him? He'd beat out Devin and Barry...Not a doubt in my mind.

This guy is tough as nails and he is a great defensive player...he d'ed up on Parker a couple of years ago...he did a great job on him. So he can defend all sizes of guards.

He also has "the man" syndrom though and doesn't always realize he is a role player...he'll take stupid shots. But I'd take this guy in a heartbeat.

[SenorSpur]

I'm on board too. I think Raja would be a good fit, but if the Spurs can come up with comparable options for the 2/3 position,, I'll go with it.

[picnroll]

I remember after that flagrant on Bell against Manu Pop was all over the refs. Bell came over to Pop to say it wasn't intentional, you could see he didn't want Pop to think he was a cheap shot artist. Pop signaled to Bell that he knew and it was okay. You could see the respect the two had for each other in that exchange. All things being equal I'm sure Pop would be more than happy to have Raja on the Spurs.

[Marcus Bryant]

In re 'height/length' at the 3...

Height is somewhat overrated in the NBA. Charles Barkley was one of the game's best bigman ever at 6'4" tall. Earl Boykins routinely smokes guys with a 5'3" 130 lbs frame.

The key when it comes to defense is having the lateral quickness and anticipation to stay with an offensive player, harass them and challenge every shot of theirs.

This season the Spurs were able to win a championship with using Bruce and guys normally thought of as guards holding down the 3 spot. I think that the Spurs could use more defensive intensity in the perimeter rotation, not less. Bell would be a nice guy to have on this team, a guy who will ensure that the defense on the wings doesn't suffer a letdown when Bruce goes to the bench.