Winning will quiet a lot of his complaining. I'd if I were sitting the bench for a team that was going to win 30 games.The point is Scola is used to coming off the bench and would know his role. SARS has never averaged less than 31 minutes per game and that was by far the outlier (37.0 mpg/career) and he ed about coming off the bench in Portland - and rightfully so. Why would anybody think he'd suddenly swallow his ego and/or suddenly become an effective bench player?
Well if the Spurs talk to SARS and tell him that he's coming off the bench and will have to fight for minutes and he still wants to come, then what do you think then? SARS has been wanting to come to San Antonio for like four years now "for a chance to win."
If he's sincere and will take a bench role, the Spurs have to look at him.
Well, I guess so. But as pointed out upthread, the Spurs have never liked to create logjams on their bench and cleared out space for Manu to develop off the bench. If SARS comes, then I don't see them bringing in Scola and 1) making him unhappy for coming, and 2) stunting his growth by shoving him behind another player of similar capabilities.If he's sincere and will take a bench role, the Spurs have to look at him.
So if SARS comes then I expect Scola to be finding other digs and possibly for one of the centers to be moved as well. Both of which I think are bad ideas. In no way do I think Abdur-Rahim is a good fit for this team. In no way do I think this team is a good fit for the player. Maybe two years ago but not anymore.
Wow SAR an Marshall are the players I would have benn interested too, maybe I should call RC for an assistant job...
Scola and SAR seem way too similar to have both. Both are big men with great shooting touch around the basket, maybe not that quick or athletic, and possibly a little bit "soft" in the low post.
I think you gotta pick one or the other (unless you're getting rid of Rasho or Nazr) and then figure some kind of big man rotation that makes sense.
Thanks, Russ. My point exactly. And Scola comes much cheaper without the grandiose expectations of playing time.
Why would SAR's expectations be grandiose?
Every FA has to know how minutes are distributed here.He wants to be a Spur. That's part of the drill.Why would anybody think he'd suddenly swallow his ego and/or suddenly become an effective bench player?
Two things to remember when you are comparing Scola to SAR:
1) If the Spurs wait one more year, Scola has no buyout.
2) If the Spurs' scouts aren't as high on him as everyone else, they may look to trade him now since his stock is so high.
He wanted to be a Spur. In previous years. When there was playing time.He wants to be a Spur. That's part of the drill.
Spurs fans love their team and believe any free agent would kill to play (or ride the pine) for them. Far more convincing is Abdur-Rahim's desire to play a significant role for a playoff team. Period. He had problems not starting the last two years. He has never made the playoffs. Next year, as a King or a Net, he will both start and make the playoffs.
This ain't rocket science. It's the Malone scenario all over again, but with a significant larger number of years ahead for the player. He won't be a Spur.
Sounds like he still does.He wanted to be a Spur. In previous years. When there was playing time.If we trade center for him, that role could be quite substantial. After Horry retires in two seasons, even moreso.Far more convincing is Abdur-Rahim's desire to play a significant role for a playoff team.Seeing as Barry and Rasho took less money to do so, this isn't that farfetched.Spurs fans love their team and believe any free agent would kill to play (or ride the pine) for them.Probably not, but there is no denying the Spurs are on his short list.He won't be a Spur.
Lip service tons of FAs have given the Spurs over the years. No doubt he likes the franchise.
But the Spurs don't need him. Not with Scola.
And the player would be better off professionally if he played for one of the other teams where his skills would be better utilized.
If they get SAR, Scola is trade bait.Not with Scola.And Barry could start on alot of teams too.And the player would be better off professionally if he played for one of the other teams where his skills would be better utilized.
For more money.
He's been saying he wants to be a Spur for like four years now. Even in the middle of the year, there was an article saying he wanted to come here. After the season, the first words coming out of free agency is SARS wants to come here.
I don't even like SARS. I've never been a big fan of his. But the Spurs ARE going after him and SARS is interested ... thus the reason we are talking about him. Believe me, there are plenty of guys out there I'd rather see in a Spurs uniform.Spurs fans love their team and believe any free agent would kill to play (or ride the pine) for them.
He's the one who has been on record for four years saying he wants to come to San Antonio. I don't see any Spurs fans dying to have him.Far more convincing is Abdur-Rahim's desire to play a significant role for a playoff team. Period.
On Portland. Not too many players would like to be in the worst organization in the league and not even start.He had problems not starting the last two years.
Thus the reason I don't even like him.He has never made the playoffs.
Let him go then. But as long as the Spurs are interested and as long as SARS is interested in SA, we have to discuss it.Next year, as a King or a Net, he will both start and make the playoffs.
We'll see. I'm not rooting for it.This ain't rocket science. It's the Malone scenario all over again, but with a significant larger number of years ahead for the player. He won't be a Spur.
Well, put me in the "against it on all levels" camp. Also the "would bet he never even visits San Antonio" camp. It seems this is this summer's "Tracy McGrady mentioned San Antonio! He's going to be a Spur next year!" thread. It simply doesn't make serious basketball sense for any involved party. But I guess it's fun to talk about it.Let him go then. But as long as the Spurs are interested and as long as SARS is interested in SA, we have to discuss it.
I think Manu's success is blinding some when it comes to evaluating how Scola's game translates to the NBA. Perhaps he'd be a better fit than SAR for the Spurs, but how would he do when he has to play some semblance of man to man D?
Think about the following. This summer you re-sign Horry (accomplished, apparently) and then sign SAR using the MLE.
So your frontcourt looks like:
4 Duncan
5 Mohammed
4 Horry
4/3 SAR
5 Nesterovic
Horry's the primary big backup next season. SAR will help to keep Horry's regular season minutes down and he can get some spot minutes at the 3 as needed against long 3s. Rasho is kept around as trade bait, assuming the Spurs decide to go with Nazr long term.
Then next summer, Scola has no buyout and you bring him over.
Then your bigman rotation looks like
4 Duncan
5 Mohammed
4 Horry
4/3 SAR
4 Scola
You get a little smaller overall in the frontcourt, but Duncan functions as the backup center so it's not really that much of a change in the rotation. I suspect that Horry's regular season minutes will be limited if not start to decline by then, so there will be an opportunity for SAR and Scola to get some and assuming that Horry only plays 2 more seasons (2005-07) then after he leaves there are plenty of minutes for SAR and Scola.
I don't know if SAR is willing to take the MLE for maybe 25 minutes a game, but if he did, you might aswell let Scola in Europe for another year. The 12 man roster would look absolutely frightening.
1. Parker 33 / Beno 15
2. Manu 28 / Barry 15 / Devin 5
3. Bowen 28 / SAR 15 / Devin 5
4. Duncan 26 / Horry 12 / SAR 10
5. Rasho 24 / Nazr 18 / Duncan 6
I just do not see how this guy is available for the MLE in the NBA. Someone is bound to give him more.
Abdur-Rahim, Nets' top target, in town for two-day visit
Published in the Asbury Park Press 07/6/05
BY BOB CONSIDINE
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art...507060459/1002
The Nets are ready to roll out the red carpet for Shareef Abdur-Rahim, with the hopes of not being swept under the rug.
The former All-Star forward and New Jersey's No. 1 free-agent target will begin a two-day visit with the Nets today — after coach Lawrence Frank met with him at his Atlanta home last week — and then fly on to Sacramento for a visit with the Kings.
The Nets are hoping their first impressions will be the last.
"We're trying to show interest, obviously," Nets president Rod Thorn said. "And we're trying to ascertain interest going the other way.
"Everyone knows what we have to offer. We have a trade exception we may or may not be able to use and we have a mid-level exception. But ultimately it's up to the player to decide."
The Nets, eyeing a quality power forward to join their established starting lineup of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson, are limited in what they can offer Abdur-Rahim and face stiff compe ion from the likes of winning teams like the Kings, the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs.
The Nets have a $4.9 million trade exception and a $4.9 mid-level exception to spend on free agents. They'll need to use the trade exception on Abdur-Rahim to better compete with other teams — and they must use it by July 29. With a sign-and-trade, a team can offer one more year (a maximum of six) and bigger annual raises (10.5 percent, instead of eight percent).
Abdur-Rahim, who is averaging 19.8 points and 8.1 rebounds in his nine-year career, made $14.6 million last year. But having yet to log a minute in a playoff game, he is craving a winning situation. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the only winning team with substantial cap room, and they have not made Abdur-Rahim a priority.
The Nets figure to have certain personal advantages with Abdur-Rahim, 29. Frank and Abdur-Rahim are good friends going back to their days with the Vancouver Grizzlies in the late 1990s. Kidd and Abdur-Rahim both attended the University of California, although not simultaneously.
Conceivably, the Nets could also find Portland a willing partner in a sign-and-trade for Abdur-Rahim based on the friendship between Blazers general manager John Nash and Nets GM Ed Stefanski, although Thorn insists "business is business."
Nash has the Blazers in a youth movement. The Nets could offer a future first-round pick and cash in a possible sign-and-trade for Abdur-Rahim, who insists he will not re-sign with Portland.
Thorn said the Nets are still investigating various contingency plans. If Abdur-Rahim signs elsewhere, the Nets have free-agent forwards Donyell Marshall (more a perimeter player) and Stromile Swift (good athlete, but underachieving) on their radar.
The Nets are also looking to sign Heat free-agent guard Keyon Dooling with some of their mid-level exception. Frank made a visit to Dooling in Florida before heading out to Las Vegas for the team's summer camp.
....does anybody still consider the Kings a winning team?
Quick, somebody say something about that window again.
The Kings are a troubled franchise. Webber is gone and Peja looks like a different player.
The Spurs are mentioned yet again as a suitor for Abdur-Rahim. Go figure.
I think he has a real interest in coming here.
Kevin (New Jersey): Hey Chad, how big are the chances of Shareef Abdur Rahim running alongside J Kidd, Vince, and RJ in a Nets uniform next season?
Chad Ford: (1:18 PM ET ) They are praying. He'd be a great fit there and both Shareef and the Nets know it. The problem is that several other teams like the Spurs are talking sign-and-trade with the Blazers. That allows them to pay more money. The Blazers are trying to work out a Rasho Nesterovic for Abdur-Rahim swap.
fyi..
Well well well. TMac, nay is he.
From Chad Ford on ESPN.com:
Kevin (New Jersey): Hey Chad, how big are the chances of Shareef Abdur Rahim running alongside J Kidd, Vince, and RJ in a Nets uniform next season?
Chad Ford: (1:18 PM ET ) They are praying. He'd be a great fit there and both Shareef and the Nets know it. The problem is that several other teams like the Spurs are talking sign-and-trade with the Blazers. That allows them to pay more money. The Blazers are trying to work out a Rasho Nesterovic for Abdur-Rahim swap.
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