Johnny Ludden: Bowen good as new

[Mr. Body]

That's always been the priority of the fan base. Somebody can correct me if I'm wrong, but while I'm sure that they wouldn't mind it, I don't know if the organization has ever actually come out and said that finding Bruce's replacement is a priority.

Last year, finding bigs who could play alongside Duncan was a more pressing need. As it turns out, so was signing Vaughn as the third point.

Getting bigs was perhaps top priority, but wasn't as urgent, since getting those kinds of players isn't quite as hard. To replace Bowen we need a significantly better player than Oberto, Elson, or Butler is.

It was their top priority, or at least second, to get a Bowen replacement. There were the Popovich "Derrick McKey" comments, etc. It's also been well-known that the Spurs have been trying to trade up in drafts to get players that fit the mold, last year dangling Scola. I'm not sure who they were after, maybe Sefolosha.

Of course they've been after a Bowen replacement. Does it make any basketball sense to not be?

[Bruno]

Signing an athletic swingman has never been Spurs top priority for at least 2003.

Ludden says Spurs want a player to spell Bowen. I'm not sure Spurs are ready to gamble on a draft pick and wait to see if he pans out : Bruce is too old to take that luxury. I think that this athletic swingman will be get via FA or trade.

Another thing to consider is James White. I know he has done nothing but it's the same thing for players who will be drafted in June. Spurs liked him last June when they wanted to draft him, they liked him in November when they have signed him and they liked him in January when they decided to keep him while his salary became guaranteed. If Spurs still like him in June, they won't draft a similar player.

[Mr. Body]

I agree trading for a vet SF would be optimal to the Spurs, but I don't think that option is really available. They could have to pay through the nose for that position and don't have much to offer. Not really sure who's available, maybe Outlaw or Pietrus or somebody, and those guys would be as much 'projects' as anybody they'd draft. Honestly, I think Corey Brewer or Jeff Green could be less work than Travis Outlaw. But of course getting Brewer or Green might even be harder.

[Bruno]

Not really sure who's available, maybe Outlaw or Pietrus or somebody, and those guys would be as much 'projects' as anybody they'd draft.

You've just said that a player who has averaged more than 9 ppg for more than 3 years in nba (Pietrus) is more a project that a player who has never played a nba game or even a game against someone older than 23.
Even an average player like Matt Barnes has 90% to help Spurs more next year than a player like Corey Brewer or Jeff Green. Bottomline is : if SPurs think they need help as soon as next year at SF, they will do more than drafting a SF.

[Mr. Body]

My point, which you chose to obscure, is that Pietrus is not a good player yet. Dumping in 9 ppg for an also-ran like Golden State is not terribly impressive, if it does show NBA talent at least. My point is that trading for a guy like Outlaw or Pietrus, the only kinds of SFs likely available, isn't a far cry from trying to trade up for one of the better SF prospects in this draft. It would take the same type of work to get Pietrus playing championship caliber ball than it would Jeff Green. I would rather get the guy who hasn't shown signs of a ceiling yet.

[AFBlue]

Also to be considered is the $$ the Spurs have available. If they've only got $5M to spare (assuming they use it all), they better make damn sure they get their guy at the 3 spot because of the opportunity cost associated with potentially bringing another player in the fold (Scola, etc.).

[K-State Spur]

Getting bigs was perhaps top priority, but wasn't as urgent, since getting those kinds of players isn't quite as hard.

Actually, it's always easier to find an athletic wing than a big man (especially one who can defer to Timmy, but still be effective in his own right). That we haven't had a whole lot of success in doing so is maybe the one mark against a front office that has done a pretty solid job everywhere else.

[Mr. Body]

It is a truism that skilled wings are easier to find than big men, but I mean in this case, finding decent guys who can fill the gaps near one of the best big men ever, in Duncan, has been and is far easier than finding a very good wing to fill for Bowen. The talent needs are different.

[Bruno]

My point, which you chose to obscure, is that Pietrus is not a good player yet.

I'm not high at all on Pietrus but your point isn't only that.

It would take the same type of work to get Pietrus playing championship caliber ball than it would Jeff Green.

I strongly disagree with that. If Spurs get a player like Pietrus, he will be able to give them something like 20 quality minutes as soon as next year. On the other hand, a rookie picked with a mid first is a long shot to help a contender. Most of mid first round picks doesn't really help their teams when they are rookies.
BTW, Getting a quality athletic swingman in FA is light year easier than geting a 15th pick.

[AFBlue]

I'm not high at all on Pietrus but your point isn't only that.



I strongly disagree with that. If Spurs get a player like Pietrus, he will be able to give them something like 20 quality minutes as soon as next year. On the other hand, a rookie picked with a mid first is a long shot to help a contender. Most of mid first round picks doesn't really help their teams when they are rookies.
BTW, Getting a quality athletic swingman in FA is light year easier than geting a 15th pick.

If the Spurs draft a SF at the bottom of the first or top of the second, I think it won't matter so much how ready that individual is, but what the opportunity is. As of right now, the Spurs still have Bowen and Finley to fill that void. If Bowen's defensive ability is severely diminshed and Finley opts out of his contract, then the player to succeed Bowen becomes a TOP priority

[Mr. Body]

All else equal, I'd rather pull a Corey Brewer than Mikhael Pietrus. The only SFs remotely available are all significantly flawed and probably more expensive than it would be to move up in the draft. If we can get Pietrus for, like, Butler + something, then by all means... Either way, it'd be difficult. Regardless, Bowen's starting next year, and the only guy out there (other than Nocioni) that appeals to me as much as Green or Brewer, or even Thaddeus Young, is Travis Outlaw. And there's nothing that says he's for sale. As far as I know the only SF remotely available right now is Pietrus and a handful of SFs in the draft already have him beat insofar as what the Spurs will eventually need.

[Bruno]

All else equal

Stop living in a fantasy world :

1) Spurs will need to trade way more things to get a lottery pick for Brewer than to get a player like Pietrus.

2) Pietrus isn't the only interesting free agent. If Warriors wants a lot for him, Spurs can go after a player like Patterson, Mason, Wells, Walton or Posey and these players are unrestricted free agent.

3) FACT : Most of the players drafted with a mid first round pick can't help a contender in their rookie year.

If Spurs top priority is to get help at SF for next year and the only thing they do is to draft a SF with a mid first round pick, they are stupid.
If Spurs think that they could be fine next year at SF with Bowen and Finley, drafting a SF and not going after FAs makes some sense.

[mardigan]

Isnt Rashard Lewis a free agent next year?

[SequSpur]

Last night, dude got 27 minutes, was 2-5 from the field, 0 for 2 from the 3 land, 2 got damn rebounds, 6 pts.

Yeah, I would say he is as good as new... When he was new, he was getting waived and playing in YMCA leagues... Yep... good assessment by Ludden.