Spurs among teams interested in Juan Carlos Navarro

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

But couldn't that backfire on you when the Spurs come out and state that they NEVER had any interest in the first place? I would think that the agent would lose leverage and credibility.

The Spurs would never burn bridges like that. It's like an unspoken code.

[Kindergarten Cop]

The Spurs would never burn bridges like that. It's like an unspoken code.

The scenario in my example is if, and only if, the Spurs actually were not interested in the first place. Many posters are assuming that the agent is making up the fact that the Spurs were interested in order to drive up the price of his client. What type of bridges would the Spurs be burning if they came out and spoke the truth and discredited a lying agent? I would think that it would actually help the Spurs in their foreign endeavors. I've never seen an unspoken code that says that if an agent lies and claims that you are pursuing his client that you have to sit back and pretend that you actually do.

If the Spurs actually did inquire about his services, then yes you have a point - but I'm just speaking to those that claim that the agent is pretending that the Spurs are seeking his client when in fact they are not.

[mountainballer]

some are acting as if it was an absurd idea, that Spurs think about signing a player like Navarro.
don't you know your favourite team? JCN does have many of the qualities the Spurs are usually looking for, so, even if there is just a very small chance to get him, I do expect the FO to contact JCN's agent and express interest.
it was reported, that he is looking for a contract of about 3 years / 10-12 million. that's not cheap, but it's also not out of the Spurs price range, assuming that they will try to dump either Beno AND Brent. we know, that both don't have much future with the Spurs, Brent is to old and beno to bad, so if I think about a player, who could provide what this two did, JCN seems to be a very logical call. Brent and Beno combined for almost 35 minutes last season, so it's not that there aren't any minutes left in the rotation, if they are gone.
people say that JCN isn't a playmaker. right, but the fact that he always played SG with Barca doesn't mean that he doesn't have any PG skills. the fact that AI played mostly SG also doesn't prove that he can't play PG. JCN for sure isn't the greatest playmaker, but he should be able to deliver what Beno and Vaughn do as a back-up PG. he is a quite good passer and a very smart team player.
that's the one point, the other is, that he is really an outstanding shooter. in this regard, people will see a lot of Steve Nash in him. the way he can create for himself is very similar to Steve. (I'm not claiming that he would be even close to him, just pointing at something that could help to give an idea about the player Navarro)
overall, if the idea was to replace Beno and Brent with Navarro (+ a defensive minded veteran SG, who plays for the minimum), it should be a huge upgrade. Navarro will struggle at defense against bigger players, but it is not that either Brent or Beno were lockdown defenders as well. but Navarro has improved his defense against players of his size significantly, much like Tony did over the last years. since Ivanovic coaches Barca, he has improved big time at defense.

in therory, a small line-up of Tony + JCN + Manu + Horry/Bonner + Tim should be able to put enourmous pressure at any defense.

bad idea to ask for a player like him? , no!
that's why I'm absolutly sure that the FO at least asked about a possible interest of Navarro to play for the Spurs.

[Streakyshooter08]

The decision if Navarro will come to the NBA will be made today. If he was the holdup for the Spurs then they might sign somebody else soon.

Navarro decision due today
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Deadline nears on trade for Spaniard
By Marlon W. Morgan
Contact
August 3, 2007
Today is the day Pau Gasol will learn if his best friend, Spanish guard Juan Carlos Navarro, will be his newest Grizzly teammate.
The Washington Wizards, who hold Navarro's NBA rights, have until the close of business today to strike a deal to trade Navarro. That's the deadline imposed by Navarro's current team, FC Barcelona, which has agreed to let him out of his contract for a buyout of about $2 million if a deal can be reached by today.


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Talks between Washington president Ernie Grunfeld, Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace and Navarro's agent, Alex Saratsis, lasted until Thursday evening and are scheduled to resume first thing this morning, Saratsis said.
''There's nothing that concrete to report today,'' Saratsis said. ''There's definitely been discussions. I wish I could give you something that was concrete.''

Saratsis said a handful of NBA teams are interested in dealing for Navarro, but the Grizzlies remain the strongest possibility for the 6-3, 27-year-old shooting guard set to make his NBA debut.

''At this juncture, obviously with the deadline approaching, there's still a few options out there,'' Saratsis said. ''I think one of the most appealing ones is Memphis because of the ability to play with Pau. Anyway you look at it, he'd basically be coming for the chance to prove that he can play in the NBA and play with his best friend. ... There's other teams that are continuing to have discussions, but I think the strongest possibility right now is Memphis.''

During the last month, Gasol and Navarro, who have played together for FC Barcelona and on the Spanish National Team, have expressed through the Spanish media their desire to team up in the NBA. But Wallace said reports that Gasol offered to pay Navarro's buyout are untrue.

''We've had ongoing talks with all sides involved in this,'' Wallace said Thursday morning as he boarded a plane for Memphis. ''In this one, I wouldn't say we've reached a deal until we've reached a deal. If that ever happens, I'd feel comfortable. It's a unique situation.''

The Wizards, who according to the Washington Post are over the salary cap with about $64.7 million committed to contracts next season, have been trying to trade Navarro's rights. There have been reports that Grunfeld has been trying to include center Etan Thomas, who is owed about $20 million over the next three seasons, in the deal.

Wallace would not say which players, or possible draft picks, have been mentioned in the trade discussions.