Spurs Sign Five Players For Camp

[T Park]

Jawad is the most intriguing of all of them IMO.

Sanders looks like another Linton Johnson, but actually understands that a basketball needs to go through a hoop.

[loveforthegame]

I like Williams, Graham, and Sanders. It would be nice to see one of them make the team.

[Mr. Body]

This is like getting a couple late second rounders for free, since Graham and Williams were projected by some. Look to be Austin Toros, maybe.

These pick-ups are really solid and I would not be surprised at all if one of them pans out.

[mattyc]

Interesting, I was wondering when we'd sign some filler guys. Having Joey Graham's bro is interesting.

[TDMVPDPOY]

Give that williams guy a contract imo, lock him up on a 5 year maximum at the minimum $$$ contract , we need a sf badly.

[mookie2001]

they know about big 12 basketball in australia?

[Kip Fanatic]

I like Sanders and Williams. I too was surprised Williams wasn't drafted. I think it had to do with the others from UNC being drafted. Williams is going to be a very good player in this league some day. I hope nothing but the best to all these guys. I trust that the Spurs will make the best decision. They have done it before. No one had ever imagined what Stephen Jackson could become and look at him now. He's not an All-Star, but he is a solid player. My money would be on Williams though because he seems the hungriest. He seems like he is out to prove to all those other teams that passed him up.

[JUUOT]

I have been reading stuff on williams for the last hour. this guy seems good. when your teamates praise you like this and say stuff like May : we won thanks to your heart. for me it means something. Plus if you add the obvious reasons: he is tall physic and doesnt mind playing D.
Sanders has convinced me in summer league and seems to be a possible good role player option. But like devin he will have to prove the sky's the limit not the syze the limit...
graham is more of a SG and i could not find as much on him.

I would gor for Sanders and williams hoping one of them developed in a solid role player. (williams might have the tool to be more than this)
Spurs do not need a guy ready to contribute but will badly need fresh blood either next summer or the other. The other problem is lux tax...maybee they will retain only one more guy...but i hope it will be 2

[Samr]

The big name though is Melvin Sanders. I think he's going to make the team. His defense is top notch and he's very fast. The only downside is his offense where he isn't the greatest of shooters and doesn't jump especially high to finish around the basket.

But after signing Fin, the Spurs don't need more offensive output from the bench.

[Solid D]

Jawad Williams was at Game 7 of the Finals in San Antonio in June...as was Tony's buddy Boris Diaw.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.nba.com/finals2005/courtside/game_7.html



A NBA hopeful was also at the SBC Center. Jawad Williams, the senior starting forward for the 2005 NCAA Champion North Carolina Tar Heels, was here to just soak it all in.

"This is my first time at The Finals," said Williams. "It will come down to who can make their shots … they both can win it."

Seeing Rasheed Wallace of the Pistons, a fellow Tar Heel, playing in Game 7, however, does conjure up some college pride.

"That's one of the main reason's why I chose Carolina," reflected Williams. "The ties that the school has to the NBA are great. All the players come back."

[kolko]

Just a note about other teams' pickups in this thread.

Sonics invited Noel Felix and Alex Scales to training camp.

http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/invitees050930.html

[Kori Ellis]

Sonics invited Noel Felix and Alex Scales to training camp.

http://www.nba.com/sonics/news/invitees050930.html

I am very excited for them both. They've been there for a few days already. Camp officially doesn't start until next week but they've been running scrimmages with the vets everyday. The Sonics only have 1 or 2 roster spots left; so it will be tough for either of them to make it.

[Admiral]

I have seen Sharrod Ford play just about every game he's been in over the last four years, so I can comment about him. He is definitely a tweener by NBA standards. He played PF at Clemson, and improved a lot over the course of his four years. He was a fairly raw player coming out of high school, especially offensively. He could always rebound and block shots, but his offensive skills have improved by leaps and bounds.

He is a guy who will work his tail off to improve his game. Every year he had something new, and if he had played somewhere like Duke or North Carolina he would've gotten a lot more press (and would've surely been All-ACC first team). I am concerned that his height and slight build will make it tough for him in the NBA, especially since he is definitely a power forward and not a small forward. However, he plays bigger than his height suggests because he has long arms and seems to get off his feet pretty quickly.

Hopefully he can make a team (the Spurs would be great) and make some contributions. He will probably never be a guy who turns heads, but he will be a guy who works hard and plays tough. At the minimum, he will be a guy who can be counted on to rebound, block some shots, and run the floor well.

Oh yeah, he's a great guy too. His mom drove from the Washington, DC suburbs to Clemson (about a 9 hour drive) to see all of his games, and she plans on moving to wherever he ends up to support him and be at all of his games too. I'm pulling for him.

[whottt]

Elie
Horry
Bowen

I hear the right names being mentioned...especially in the emulation department....if Elie likes him and his style of game remotely resembles Horry's with Bruce's work ethic, then he's going to have a good career ahead of him.

This is not my official endorsement for scrub of the year though....I think I am going to keep it to myself this year...the Spurs have been tough on my favorite scrubs lately.

[AFE7FATMAN]

I am very excited for them both. They've been there for a few days already. Camp officially doesn't start until next week but they've been running scrimmages with the vets everyday. The Sonics only have 1 or 2 roster spots left; so it will be tough for either of them to make it.

IMO Noel is a good steady role player. Alex is going to make somebody
very very happy. A very good option off the bench. This guy can score.

[AFE7FATMAN]

I like Sander, Williams and Graham could go to the Austin toros and maybe come back when/if- Rasho/ somebody gets traded.

[Solid D]

Thanks for the info, Admiral. It's about time you shared your knowledge again!!!

It's been a long 3 months. Good to hear from you, man!

[Kori Ellis]

Alex is going to make somebody
very very happy. A very good option off the bench. This guy can score.

Alex is a good player. And he's been to camp four seasons in a row but never made a team. He's a little too short to play shooting guard in the NBA and not a point guard. He has a good chance this year though. He has a lot of teams looking at him.

[Kori Ellis]

Hi Admiral. Thanks for the info on Sharrod. How's med school?

[Cant_Be_Faded]

The big name though is Melvin Sanders. I think he's going to make the team. His defense is top notch and he's very fast. The only downside is his offense where he isn't the greatest of shooters and doesn't jump especially high to finish around the basket.

Sounds like my kinda player. This is the I've been waiting for. How tall is he?

[Samr]

He will probably never be a guy who turns heads, but he will be a guy who works hard and plays tough. At the minimum, he will be a guy who can be counted on to rebound, block some shots, and run the floor well.

Too bad number 31 has already been taken. Sounds like this guy fits an old mold.

[timvp]

Sounds like my kinda player. This is the I've been waiting for. How tall is he?

He's Devin Brown size but skinnier. If he can hit shots from the outside and learn to finish around the basket, he's an NBA player. If not, he'll never make it.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

He's Devin Brown size but skinnier. If he can hit shots from the outside and learn to finish around the basket, he's an NBA player. If not, he'll never make it.

say what? He's devin brown size, skinnier, and a SF? How does that work..how could he guard NBA SF's

[timvp]

say what? He's devin brown size, skinnier, and a SF? How does that work..how could he guard NBA SF's

Good question. He's going to prove he has the ability to guard NBA SF's. But I think he can. He's basically Bowen minus about three inches. He will never be a great defender like Bowen because he's not tall enough, but he can be a very good defender who can pressure the ball fullcourt and make players work.

But he's certainly not the answer for the mythical Long Three.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

Good question. He's going to prove he has the ability to guard NBA SF's. But I think he can. He's basically Bowen minus about three inches. He will never be a great defender like Bowen because he's not tall enough, but he can be a very good defender who can pressure the ball fullcourt and make players work.

But he's certainly not the answer for the mythical Long Three.

I wouldn't call it mythical, just elusive.

Man I remember wanting to see more of Devin Brown back when we signed him for the 10 day contract. Noone has interested me, as far as 3rd strings go, like he did. I think playing with bruce helped DB alot, and it probably will help these new kids too.