Ludden: Spurs in summer league beginning today

[Darkwaters]

Chandler's $10M contract was prohibitive, mostly because the Spurs didn't have the types of contracts to procure him.

If you look at what the Bulls received in return it was:

PJ Brown's expiring $8M contract and young gun JR Smith.

IIRC, Spurs still had Nesterovic on the books but I don't know how attractive his large, long-term contract would've been, and Barry's contract, which would've needed to be paired with another contract in order to make the deal work, also had more than a year on it.

Basically, I don't think the Spurs had the right package of players to get the deal done.

On his contract....it looks much better now than it did when he signed it two years ago and even up to last summer when he was traded. Seems he, Curry, and Nene are actually starting to live up to the expectations that came with their respective teams giving them large deals....but those deals weren't exactly earned at the time they were given.

For arguments sake, the Bulls had absolutely no interest in JR Smith and he was only really included for salary issues. He was traded a few weeks later for 2 second round picks to the Nuggets. So essentially, PJ Brown + filler was traded straight up for Chandler. That proved to be a very savvy trade for the Hornets.

I realize that the Spurs didn't exactly have the appropriate pieces to receive Chandler's contract, but he was the ideal player that was "available" last summer. But a trade wasn't reasonable last season from the Spurs' end and I know that.

You had simply asked "Who would have been better than Butler that was available last summer" and I replied. There were centers on the market last year that would have been good...but they were either unreasonably priced, too difficult to acquire, or too attached to their current home.

[AFBlue]

For arguments sake, the Bulls had absolutely no interest in JR Smith and he was only really included for salary issues. He was traded a few weeks later for 2 second round picks to the Nuggets. So essentially, PJ Brown + filler was traded straight up for Chandler. That proved to be a very savvy trade for the Hornets.

I realize that the Spurs didn't exactly have the appropriate pieces to receive Chandler's contract, but he was the ideal player that was "available" last summer. But a trade wasn't reasonable last season from the Spurs' end and I know that.

You had simply asked "Who would have been better than Butler that was available last summer" and I replied. There were centers on the market last year that would have been good...but they were either unreasonably priced, too difficult to acquire, or too attached to their current home.

Just playing devil's advocate aye?

It's cool.

I was just trying to dispel Sequ's notion that there were much better options out there with the $5.5M the Spurs had at their disposal....and I'm right.

On Butler, the book is far from written. I think this kid could be a legitimate piece to the Spurs' future, and I hope he begins to prove me right starting today at 3.

[samikeyp]

So with Sanikidze coming over for the summer league, does that mean he has a shot at the roster?

[AFBlue]

So with Sanikidze coming over for the summer league, does that mean he has a shot at the roster?

No one on the roster outside of Butler has a guaranteed contract with the club and there's potentially two open spots (if White is cut before 1 Aug), so I suppose any one of those players have a shot.

I would still consider it a longshot, but it's certainly possible.

[samikeyp]

Cool. Thanks.

I guess if one of those guys does well he could also be used in trades too.

[Darkwaters]

So with Sanikidze coming over for the summer league, does that mean he has a shot at the roster?

I don't know that Sanikidze has shown enough consistently to really be considered this year. And with the roster crunch going on, I think it's even less likely. Suffice it to say that unless the kid absolutely blows up, destroys everything in his path, shuts down players like Kevin Durant (despite the fact that we don't play the Seattle Prestis) and scores all over every and anything then he won't make the roster. But if he does have a super solid showing in summer league then the Spurs could possibly pencil him into the plans for the next season (since we do own his rights anyways) and watch him more closely next season hoping he gains consistency.

[whottt]

Butler will tear up the Summer League...there is absolutely no doubt on my part he will dominate it offensively.


Scoring is not Butler's problem, that's what he is good at doing. I think what kept him on the bench last season was his conditioning, the fact that he doesn't move much on D, and adjusting to the team. He probably wasn't practicing hard either...but the kid can score around the basket, with above average offensive talent for a bigman.

[Darkwaters]

Butler will tear up the Summer League...there is absolutely no doubt on my part he will dominate it offensively.


Scoring is not Butler's problem and I think what kept him on the bench last season was his conditioning, the fact that he doesn't move much on D, and adjusting to the team. He probably wasn't practicing hard either...but the kid can score around the basket, with above average offensive talent for a bigman.

I know from my time playing sports that I always preferred playing games or scrimmages to running drills and practices. Practice is boring, repe ive and really not fun. Games, on the other hand, are very fun. I really think that Butler just didn't have the motivation to practice hard and lost favor with the team. But I'm sure that when presented with ample playing time on a Summer League team we'll see a lot of life out of him and he will knock some heads off. I just think he needs to mature and realize that practice is, regardless of what AI says, very important. But his on the court game is there and should only get better.

[Darkwaters]

I realize that the games are webcast...but does that mean that I have to watch them live? Or can I watch them after the fact later tonight?

[whottt]

I know from my time playing sports that I always preferred playing games or scrimmages to running drills and practices. Practice is boring, repe ive and really not fun. Games, on the other hand, are very fun. I really think that Butler just didn't have the motivation to practice hard and lost favor with the team. But I'm sure that when presented with ample playing time on a Summer League team we'll see a lot of life out of him and he will knock some heads off. I just think he needs to mature and realize that practice is, regardless of what AI says, very important. But his on the court game is there and should only get better.

The impression I get is that the Spurs told him not to expect to play much last season, and he said ok, I won't. And that set the tone for his season. He just accepted it...


Butler has offenive talent, he's got some skill....but IMO, regardless of what the Spurs told him...they would have loved for him to crack the rotation, and if he was practicing bettert han Elson or Butler...he would have done so. So obviously, he hasn't exactly morphed into Moses Malone like they were hoping(or maybe he's turned into Moses defensively ), but if he gets minutes and the ball, he'll put some points on the board at a nice PCT. He's never had a problem scoring when given minutes.

[Switchman]

I realize that the games are webcast...but does that mean that I have to watch them live? Or can I watch them after the fact later tonight?

Yeah I am wondering this too. I'll be at work without internet at 3