Manu would have to take a pay cut. The question is will he? I won't blame the spurs if they let Manu walk if he wants what he is getting now.
I think the Spurs might have ways to get Manu back if he goes into free agency. They could deal to get him back later on. RJ's expiring could be tempting next season. It also depends on the contract that Manu can get as a FA. I think a reduction on his salary is going to happen, the question is how much less money...
The thing with Manu is, how much is his last contract about dollar-amount, and how much of it is about winning (a championship)?
The money they'd be paying Salmons is reasonable and not much more than they'd be needing to pay to fill the role next year. So if Manu's going to be looking for a comparable contract to what he's got now and they're already up there in salary as it is next year, it's hard to see them putting together a team with a real shot at a championship under those cir stances.
I don't think the Spurs can pay him what he'd like, which might force one or both of their hands.
This is how you do it. Whichever of McDyess, Thomas or Splitter the Spurs decide to trade, you pair that with Jefferson and you attempt to convince a team with partially guaranteed contracts in the final year of their deal to take him in the off season rather than waiting for the deadline. The Spurs could do the same with Salmons.
But I don't see Salmons as a necessity in this trade and either of the two scenarios I just presented aren't a given, which is why I think Pargo will be the second player coming back. This is not the only reason I think that, but it would be fitting with what "the Kings announcer said", as in backup PG. Other reasons: he makes peanuts, is expiring, buried on the Bulls bench, Spurs had interest two summers ago and would need PG insurance/depth if Mason is dealt.
Last edited by TD 21; 02-16-2010 at 12:42 AM.
The Manu uncertainty is part of the reason WHY the Thomas/Salmons trade needs to happen. Personally, I think the two are mutually exclusive. Like anyone else, I'd love for Manu to stay. I just think he's going to test his value in free agency and will likely get a contract worth more than the Spurs can pay. I simply think he wont be back.
Salmons would help hedge against the loss of Manu. The colossal failure of the RJ trade also makes getting another swingman, of good all-around ability, a priority.
Manu's my favorite Spur and it will suck to see him in another NBA uniform, but it has become clear that his return is far from certain. For 1 yr at 5.8M, Salmons is a reasonable insurance policy.
Good luck with that. Any "partially guaranteed contracts" worth that much would be extremely valuable ... much more valuable than RJ + a big.
Manu's having kind of an anti-Dampier contract season so far. If the Spurs make a trade and suddenly win a le, is Manu more likely to stay than if they don't do anything and suck? In addition, what does one scenario or the other do to Manu's perceived value as a FA?
A deep playoff run by the Spurs would most likely include a major contribution from Manu and lead to an increase in his price tag.
I simply wonder what drives him more. I can see a scenario where they turn into world beaters again and he suddenly decides that he's not going to leave. I get the feeling that the only reason he's had to consider leaving is because the Spurs have considered lowballing him.
Official:
Source: Camby dealt to Blazers
ESPN.com news services
Two struggling teams looked to each other for help on Monday.
The Los Angeles Clippers agreed to trade Marcus Camby to the Portland Trail Blazers for Travis Outlaw and Steve Blake, a source close to the situation told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher.
The 35-year-old Camby is second in the league in rebounding this season at 12.1 boards per game, to go along with 7.7 points. The Blazers have had a hole in the middle of their lineup since Gred Oden went down with a knee injury in December.
The 6-foot-9 Outlaw is averaging 9.9 points and 3.5 rebounds per game in his seventh season with Portland. Blake, a 6-3 guard, is putting up 7.6 points and 4.0 assists per game. He's coming off a 20-point, 12-assist game in a win over the Suns before the All-Star break.
Ric Bucher covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angele...ory?id=4917644
Camby is gone, the Spurs gotta move in on Thomas now...
the market for Thomas is drying up . . . Spurs could get lucky.
He'll leave if they lowball him. If they go into into rebuild mode, they won't want him and he won't want to stay.
In short, Manu stays if the Spurs are still in win-now mode and they put a respectable offer on the table.
I'd still like to see them open negotiations once the trade deadline passes. Of course, there's still the whole issue of participation at the WC this summer.....
Hopefully business picks up on Tuesday:
WojYahooNBA
GM's and agents expect flurry of activity Tuesday. Everyone was holding deck close today, including PHX and Cavs. Best offers are on way.
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA
God I would hate to be a GM this time of year.
Late late late late nights with crappy chinese food and long phone calls with other GMs haggling over contracts and talking with agents trying to sell them on proposed trades.
This time of year they definately earn their money...
I really wonder what the Spurs are trying to do. I swear if they get smaller, I'm going to go completely insane.
I was just thinking the same thing. Being a GM this time of year has to be a , trying to figure out the teams needs, what to do, what not to do, which contracts/numbers match....
Well RC better be getting to work.
Seems like a great time of year to me. Give me the chinese food and the money to wreck a franchise like Ernie Grunfeld, or live off of playing 20 years ago like Larry Bird.
Yep, getting paid upwards of a million dollars a year to play a real life fantasy GM is a rough life
Yep, getting paid upwards of a million dollars a year to play a real life fantasy GM is a rough life
Seriously, stop following me.
One wrong move and you wreck a franchise's season or seasons.
One big wrong move and your permanently out of the game of basketball and have to hope you get hired by ESPN to be an analyst (Matt Millen not withstanding of course)
I'm sure he's at his desk, phones plugged in computer on and doin his best.
Yup, one wrong move and you crush a team's, a city's, even players/coaches hopes. Yikes....
yeah . . . but you can still strut around the block with your millions of dollars twirling your mustache until some other franchise hires you to destroy them like Grunfeld.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote