Small Forward News(Spurs Related)

[SenorSpur]

You know SenorSpur...the impression I got from watching DerMarr last season was the length he had and his contesting of shots. It wasn't his on-ball defense so much that impressed me - so I would agree he's not the best there. He's not an in-your-shorts defender, but he does alter shots and shotmaking decisions. He also runs the floor very well for a 6-9 guy.

Wow! I completely forgot he was 6-9. A 6-9 perimeter defender sounds intriguing. Though I'd still be a bit leery of him and his desired contract demands.

I do believe if any coaching staff can get in his head and force him to develop - it would be Pop and his staff.

[benjirh]

I have not heard any contract demands from him. I would be surprised if they are very high though.

[Solid D]

I don't know how serious the Spurs are about DerMarr but I would think if there were any problems about coachability or bad habits with him, new coach Chip Engelland would know about them.

[Kori Ellis]

@ this thread.

WOAI.com reported Johnson is among the shooting guards the San Antonio Spurs are interested in.

They are getting this from an article that I wrote two days ago. Here's what I wrote:

Other prospects the Spurs may consider are Indiana’s James Jones, Philadelphia’s Matt Barnes, New Orleans’ Casey Jacobsen and Denver’s DerMarr Johnson.

As you can see, it doesn't say the Spurs ARE interested in DerMarr.

[Solid D]

I don't know how serious the Spurs are about DerMarr but I would think if there were any problems about coachability or bad habits with him, new coach Chip Engelland would know about them.

Yeah, that's why I said I didn't know how serious they were...because I saw they were quoting WOAI. I didn't know it was quoting you.

[picnroll]

Here's excerts from an article with Walsh's stance on resigning James and Davis and the Pacers luxury tax situation.

Aug 15, 7:52 PM EDT

Pacers Waive Retired Reggie Miller

By STEVE HERMAN
AP Sports Writer

....

Walsh said Indiana is already "way over the cap."

But more importantly, we're over the luxury tax number by a lot, too, so I still have work to do to try to get down under that, but also I have to pay the tax," he said. "This will take $6 million right off the top of that. The rest of it, you've got to do through trades or through other means."

The Pacers last week signed free agent Sarunas Jasikevicius, a free agent from Lithuania. Waiving Miller gives them more money to work with in their efforts to re-sign veterans Dale Davis and James Jones.

"Not all the way, but it's helpful in that, too," Walsh said. "I am not close with them in the sense I would need to do some other things to really start making them a real offer. But I'm happy with our team, where it is right now."

link

[BillsCarnage]

Word from the local sports talk show says the Suns might work on a S&T for James Jones if they miss out on Finley. They'd use part of their trade exception from ATL for the deal.