Spurs notebook: Udrih draws interest, but likely won't be dealt

[ploto]

All of these teams wanting point guards and the Spurs not playing Beno Udrih at all. So far it doesn't look like it will happen, but do you think the Spurs will be able to find a taker?

Chad Ford: (12:50 PM ET ) I think Indiana is interested though I'm not sure they'll pull off a deal. Seems like all the Spurs want is a little cap relief and a second round pick. Someone will probably make that deal. In fact, I wonder why the Hawks didn't try to get Udrih instead of Johnson.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=14718

[Mr. Body]

I'd probably take Udrih over Johnson, too. He's cheaper and has more 'upside', even if it's not that high.

[ploto]

The Pacers were all set to draft Beno with the pick after the Spurs when the Spurs took him. Guess Bird is still interested.

[wildbill2u]

Marvin Williams is not available. They would trade Childress first. No one trades away a top 5 pick so soon unless he's an absolute bust, which Williams is not.

But Williams production and at ude so far exemplify why drafting, even at the top lottery picks, is not a science and even 'can't miss' college stars sometimes can't immediately, if ever, break into a starting rotation.

And if a highly touted college star like Williams can't bust the Atlanta starting rotation, imagine the confidence of all GMs in the NBA who draft way down in the draft like the Spurs do, year after year.

That's why the Spurs often go for foreign players in the 1st round that they can keep overseas. They don't get guaranteed contracts.

[AFBlue]

But Williams production and at ude so far exemplify why drafting, even at the top lottery picks, is not a science and even 'can't miss' college stars sometimes can't immediately, if ever, break into a starting rotation.

And if a highly touted college star like Williams can't bust the Atlanta starting rotation, imagine the confidence of all GMs in the NBA who draft way down in the draft like the Spurs do, year after year.

That's why the Spurs often go for foreign players in the 1st round that they can keep overseas. They don't get guaranteed contracts.

Actual Bill,

He does start for Atlanta, and he plays serious minutes. Also, he was not a superstar in his one year of college (a main reason the Bucks took Bogut), and Atlanta drafted him knowing he'd be a work in progress....

He's just clearly behind two guys in the development curve that happen to play his exact position, and one specifically (Smith) that happens to duplicate his talents almost to a T. He has talent and has the ability to put it together, I just think that Smith & Childress will likely slow that development.

One of them NEEDS to go and any of them could likely fetch a Mike Bibby-type player in return...

[Mr. Body]

But Williams production and at ude so far exemplify why drafting, even at the top lottery picks, is not a science and even 'can't miss' college stars sometimes can't immediately, if ever, break into a starting rotation.

And if a highly touted college star like Williams can't bust the Atlanta starting rotation, imagine the confidence of all GMs in the NBA who draft way down in the draft like the Spurs do, year after year.

That's why the Spurs often go for foreign players in the 1st round that they can keep overseas. They don't get guaranteed contracts.

They do if you draft them in the first round. Of course drafting at any point in the first round is risky, but Marvin Williams is hardly a bust, and was never a college star. He was drafted on all potential, during a draft year that was fairly week. Remember this was the year Andrew Bogut went #1. Also, consensus had Atlanta bungling the pick, when Chris Paul was still available.

In any case, drafting foreign players is just as risky as drafting domestic players. In fact, it's been riskier for the Spurs lately, since it hasn't paid off at all.

[AFBlue]

They do if you draft them in the first round. Of course drafting at any point in the first round is risky, but Marvin Williams is hardly a bust, and was never a college star. He was drafted on all potential, during a draft year that was fairly week. Remember this was the year Andrew Bogut went #1. Also, consensus had Atlanta bungling the pick, when Chris Paul was still available.

In any case, drafting foreign players is just as risky as drafting domestic players. In fact, it's been riskier for the Spurs lately, since it hasn't paid off at all.

Great minds think alike...and so do not-so-great minds....

[SenorSpur]

They do if you draft them in the first round. Of course drafting at any point in the first round is risky, but Marvin Williams is hardly a bust, and was never a college star. He was drafted on all potential, during a draft year that was fairly week. Remember this was the year Andrew Bogut went #1. Also, consensus had Atlanta bungling the pick, when Chris Paul was still available.

A personnel faux pas that still haunts their franchise and one that alone should have gotten GM Billy Knight fired.

In any case, drafting foreign players is just as risky as drafting domestic players. In fact, it's been riskier for the Spurs lately, since it hasn't paid off at all.

I wish the Spurs would at least balance their drafting some. Lately it seems they have all but ignored the domestic draft pool in favor of the international market. At the very least, they should have balance out their selections by taking the best player, at their draft position, in either market.

[AFBlue]

A personnel faux pas that still haunts their franchise and one that alone should have gotten GM Billy Knight fired.



I wish the Spurs would at least balance their drafting some. Lately it seems they have all but ignored the domestic draft pool in favor of the international market. At the very least, they should have balance out their selections by taking the best player, at their draft position, in either market.

Spot on analysis both times Senor. No one knew Paul would be THAT good, but knowing the Hawks needed a PG and Paul was at least going to be a solid pro, he really screwed the pooch. Getting Smith at 17 was his only good move, but the team doesn't have the right leadership/chemistry to take J-Smoove's (that's how they do in the ATL) game to the next level.

On drafting locals, the Spurs have had some misteps in recent past...something I hope the FO can turn around with several opportunities in the upcoming draft, though I'm not holding my breath...

[SenorSpur]

Another indictment on Hawks GM Billy Knight is after he mistakenly passed on Chris Paul (stupid!), he compounded the gaffe by going out and spending reasonably big bucks on Speedy Claxton. Now we all got love for Speedy from his time here, but we also know that he's been somewhat brittle during his career.

[AFBlue]

Another indictment on Hawks GM Billy Knight is after he mistakenly passed on Chris Paul (stupid!), he compounded the gaffe by going out and spending reasonably big bucks on Speedy Claxton. Now we all got love for Speedy from his time here, but we also know that he's been somewhat brittle during his career.

And that he lacked a legitimate jumpshot. He did have a good year backing up Paul in NO, but giving starting PG money to a classic backup PG was a mistake. It's not something they can't remedy, as long as they fire Billy Knight...