Roster Reload - ESPN insider says Spurs could be even better

[xmas1997]

Essentially. Used the mMLE and can opt out. I don't know how much interest the Spurs would have if he did, though. The main appeal of AK was that he'd be a secondary Lebron/Durant defender. While the Finals did show that it would be nice to have someone to check James when Kahwi gets into foul trouble, I don't think Kirilenko really showed well in that regard during the ECSF. I'm not sure he was noticeably better at defending James than Diaw (who wasn't really good) was. While I think the team would take him over Ayres, I doubt they'd spend the MLE on a player who wouldn't be in the top-8 of the rotation.

Thanks for the astute take as always.
I still have hopes we get Love somehow without gutting the team. That would carry us past the TD years IMHO.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

If we can't bring back Patty that would really suck. I'm hopeful we can get him and then pick up some of the Lakers' scraps. I really liked what I saw from Wesley Johnson this year, and think he would be a perfect fit to spell Kawhi and Danny. Gasol, if he was looking to take a pay cut and become a cog in the Spurs machine. Even Meeks is interesting as another knockdown shooter.

Also curious to see what Jeff Adrien will command

[Mel_13]

Also curious to see what Jeff Adrien will command

Should be a minimum player. I've always regarded him as a poor man's DeJuan Blair.

[xmas1997]

Then it may well be that the draft is what gives us a competent backup for Leonard at pick #30 unless they move up.

[Chinook]

I thought you'd consider Bonner a five because his strength on defense is in the post. What is your distinction?

Part of it is the position at which the player is actually listed. A bigger part is what type of player starts next to them in the front court. Antic, Hawes and Frye (before this season) were each the biggest players on their side of the floor and started next to PFs who were perhaps undersized. So they defensively matched up with the opposing five. Bonner technically played the five, but Duncan was the real center, and Matt was listed as a PF/SF when Tim wasn't on the floor. By that definition, Bosh was also a stretch-five, while Bargs was a stretch-four, but I think their current positions are kind of anomalous compared to their careers.

Essentially, take away their three-point shot, and what position would they play?

[Seventyniner]

Essentially, take away their three-point shot, and what position would they play?

For Bonner it would be assistant coach.

[TacoCabanaFajitas]

Should be a minimum player. I've always regarded him as a poor man's DeJuan Blair.

I don't think anything about him that I saw this year says minimum player. Dude can fill it up, at least on a bad team. I'd like to see him work with Splitter on the 2nd unit if Boris is starting. I was thinking of him as a Middle-Class Man's Drew Gooden

[Mr. Body]

Essentially. Used the mMLE and can opt out. I don't know how much interest the Spurs would have if he did, though. The main appeal of AK was that he'd be a secondary Lebron/Durant defender. While the Finals did show that it would be nice to have someone to check James when Kahwi gets into foul trouble, I don't think Kirilenko really showed well in that regard during the ECSF. I'm not sure he was noticeably better at defending James than Diaw (who wasn't really good) was. While I think the team would take him over Ayres, I doubt they'd spend the MLE on a player who wouldn't be in the top-8 of the rotation.

Not to say they dodged a bullet with Kirilenko, but after the playoffs I don't know where he'd fit. He's a good junk/defensive player but wouldn't help offensively, which Leonard does. And as noted they didn't need a backup long SF defender after all. Kirilenko's not getting better or younger.

[xmas1997]

Many are saying that the Spurs should draft Inglis to back up Leonard if he hasn't taken his name out of the draft yet.
He has hands as big or bigger than Leonard and plays hard defense.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

It wasn't his shooting that kept him on the outskirts of the rotation, as he connected on 43 percent of his 3PA. Rather, it was his defensive issues. Bearing that in mind, the Spurs could seek to upgrade their stretch big position by pursuing Channing Frye, who can opt out of the last year of his deal in Phoenix. An elite shooter, Frye also is an underrated post defender and works well within team defensive schemes, and he was rebounding the ball well until he began to wear down over the second half of the season.

funny that you said that as he was actually very nice to the Spurs in twitter - I thought he was actually selling himself to the champs

[xmas1997]

funny that you said that as he was actually very nice to the Spurs in twitter - I thought he was actually selling himself to the champs

This could be very interesting if your hunch is true.
That would be a significant upgrade.

[Warlord23]

IDK if lowballing Diaw to throw money at a soft big like Frye is a good idea.

[xmas1997]

IDK if lowballing Diaw to throw money at a soft big like Frye is a good idea.

Why would they lowball Diaw?

[Warlord23]

Why would they lowball Diaw?

Unless I'm reading it wrong, the article in the OP suggests that the Spurs should sign Frye for almost double of what they'd offer Diaw. If I'm Diaw I wouldn't consider that a fair offer, especially given how the Finals panned out

[DAF86]

Long, athletic SF and Bigman with a jumpshot. That's the two areas where the Spurs could improve.

[TheGoldStandard]

Bertans and Jean Charles need to make an appearance in the Summer League, really though Bertans could be something of interest next season.

[cjw]

Those small amounts only matter in year that a team intends to use cap space. The Spurs won't be using cap space in 2014. All their player signings will made using various exceptions to the salary cap.

Unless TD retires, you're exactly right. I'm just too far in the weeds.

[T Park]

Bertans and Jean Charles need to make an appearance in the Summer League, really though Bertans could be something of interest next season.

Not happening with their injuries

[exstatic]

Many are saying that the Spurs should draft Inglis to back up Leonard if he hasn't taken his name out of the draft yet.
He has hands as big or bigger than Leonard and plays hard defense.

Inglis pulled out right before the deadline today.

[TheGoldStandard]

Not happening with their injuries

Understandable but would have hoped one of our draft and stash would be at Summer League. How's Hanga's progress if you know?

[Mel_13]

I don't think anything about him that I saw this year says minimum player. Dude can fill it up, at least on a bad team. I'd like to see him work with Splitter on the 2nd unit if Boris is starting. I was thinking of him as a Middle-Class Man's Drew Gooden

[xmas1997]

Inglis pulled out right before the deadline today.

Damn, sorry to hear that.

[superbigtime]

Channing Frye 7 million? Yeah, that!

[Uriel]

I seriously doubt a GM as forward thinking as RC would sacrifice the 2015 cap space for a player like Channing Frye. More likely, he'd try to sign a mid-tier Bonner replacement, a la Josh McRoberts, to a one-year deal, rather than break the bank for a guy who's only marginally better.

[Jenks]

That article could have the winning lotto numbers and I'd never know it

As soon as I see Elhassan's name, I think of this, and move on
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2013...s/spurs-lakers