the point of that?
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4965031.html
Rockets in position to sign Spanish-league star
Morey expects Scola to be with team next season; Spanoulis shipped to Spurs in trade
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
The Rockets completed a deal to land the rights to forward Luis Scola, one of the stars of Argentina's 2004 gold-medal-winning Olympic team and twice the MVP of the Spanish league. They will send guard Vassilis Spanoulis, a 2009 second-round pick and cash to San Antonio for Scola and reserve center Jackie Butler.
Scola, a 6-9, 230-pound forward who was the 56th player taken in the 2002 NBA draft, had been one of the most coveted unsigned players in the world but became increasingly difficult to sign as he emerged as the star of Tau Ceramica (Vitoria, Spain), one of the top powers in Europe.
The Spurs permitted the Rockets to talk with Scola, 27, in recent days and, although contract negotiations were not permitted, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was confident Scola was ready to make the move to the NBA.
``We're planning to sign Luis,'' Morey said. ``He's excited to play in Houston. We expect to see him in a Rockets uniform next year. Luis is very motivated to come to the league and is very motivated to play with Yao (Ming) and Tracy (McGrady).
``The Spurs gave us permission to speak with him about three days ago, and we had a long conversation.''
Teams are not permitted to make offers until the deal is complete, but the Rockets likely will be able to offer Scola between $3 million and $3.5 million for the first year. Morey would not discuss the parameters of the deal he has in mind.
Scola, who had a deadline of Saturday to tell Tau if he would be leaving, has a buyout of reportedly $3 million. Under league rules, the Rockets are allowed to pay only $500,000 of that but can structure the contract to ease the initial impact of the buyout.
``For sure, he's one of the best power forwards in Europe, for sure,'' said Rockets forward Lior Eliyahu, who played against Scola twice last season. ``He's a good penetrator, can (score) off the pass, can face the basket, back to the basket. I remember him as a leader. He is the leader of the team.''
Scola averaged 15.5 points and 5.9 rebounds in the Euroleague this year and averaged 14.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in seven years with Tau in the Spanish league.
Cleveland Cavaliers assistant general manager Lance Blanks, the director of scouting for the Spurs when Scola was drafted, said Scola will fit well with the Rockets.
``He plays with a lot of passion,'' Blanks said. ``I think he has a unique ability to score. He has shown how crafty he can be. He really understands the game. His basketball IQ is pretty high. He really is a good acquisition for them.''
While the deal should bring the Rockets their power forward, it also could mean Spanoulis' freedom.
Spanoulis and his agent, Miodrag Raznatovic, could not be reached Thursday, but last week, Raznatovic said Spanoulis would never play for the Rockets or any team in the United States. He even added, ``They could trade him to San Antonio and he could be the starting point guard, and he would he would say, `No, I cannot.' ''
Spanoulis played in 31 games last season, averaging 2.7 points and in 8.8 minutes. Butler, a 6-10, 260-pound center, played in just 11 games with the Spurs after he was acquired from the Knicks. Butler, 22, has averaged five points on 53.9 percent shooting in 69 career games.
Butler has one guaranteed season, worth $2.35 million, remaining on his contract.
Morey said the deal does not change the Rockets' intentions to sign Chuck Hayes and Dikembe Mutombo. But with little room likely left in the mid-level exception, the Rockets could try to sign Mutombo for the veteran's minimum.
``Jackie is someone we wanted in the deal,'' Morey said. ``Obviously, we had a need at center. He'll have a shot to prove it.''
But the prize in the deal was Scola.
``He has a pretty complete game in terms of an offensive skill-set, defensive integrity. He was MVP of the Spanish League, the best league outside the US, two of the last three years. He's been Euroleague first team which I would say makes him a top five player over the there.
``If I had to describe him, he's just a winner.''
the point of that?
Congrats Spurs, you just handed the second place in the divison over to Houston.
Nice job.
this team.
whats the deal with john lucas?? anybody kno what his status is with the rockets? wish spurs got him in the deal
I think the Spurs gave up on Butler last season...
I think this summer league was entirely to up his trade value and to make him look good.
I know for a fact Mahinimi is a better player for this team than Butler and Scola.
I don't want a team full of projects while we are trying to defend our le.
What was Butler's trade value prior to summer league? What were the Spurs chances of Scola ever suiting up or it being a harmonious situation once it happened?
Pop and RC were sick of Scola too...
And when was the last time they gave up on a Euro player and were wrong to do so?
Come to think of it, when was the last time they gave up on anyone and were wrong to do so?
Yeah mofos....you been CIAED.
Stephen JacksonCome to think of it, when was the last time they gave up on anyone and were wrong to do so?
Udonis Haslem
Thats two right there I can think of.
ing Idiots People..if Scola Was As Good As People Are Making Him Out To Be..then How Come No Teams Were Making Offers???? Please Tell Me??
They dont want projects? What is Mahinmi then. Thats as in raw as it gets.
hey dumbass..if spurs resgined sjack then manu wouldve proablly gone to denver or somewhere else...and haslem??? gimmie a break
Maybe...but at the same time he could the Spurs over...and has given every indication he might do so.
Basically this was a trade of 2 disgruntled Euros and Butler for CapSpace, a second rounder, and cash.
LMAO....watch Spurs games much?You also can then play Butler some before the trade deadline to increase his value. You can trade him at the trade deadline for nothing if that's what you want.
You know what...I'd rather the Spurs focus on winning a le and if they are going to develop a bigman...I'd rather it be Ian.
It's better than getting nothing for them...or playing games trying to develop a player they aren't interested in at the expense of one they are.Selling both pieces at their lowest possible value to the Rockets for nothing isn't a good trade. I'd rather keep Scola and Butler away from the Rockets than have a worthless second round pick.
They didn't give up on Jack...and Udonis sucked then.
lol, Stephen Jackson would have just meant that Brent Barry would never have been signed.
I'd rather the Spurs had drafted Josh Howard only to then send him off to a Siberian gulag.
Simply by keeping him away from the Mavs, the Spurs would now be Back-to-Back-to-Back repeat champions.
As evidenced by our lack of recent les....and you have a broad definition of give up...that includes pursuing Jason Kidd.
How do you know this? Have you seen some secret footage we haven't seen?
Oh wait, let me shed a tear for the potential lost second round draft pick Scola could cost them.
Misttter regular season strikes again. Who cares what happens before the All-Star break? Barry could be shooting 99% on threes and it doesn't matter. The season starts in March. Most of us have figured that out.
What are the chances Mahinmi even plays five games for the Spurs next year? 10%?
Mahinmi rhymes with Barry so it's all good.
LMAO...I bet I can go back to some early Summer League game threads and find half the people now outraged at giving up on Butler....ripping him to bits in some of those threads.
He has some offensive skill...he also takes plays off...on offense...who in the does that?
My final opionion on this trade is that it's too soon to judge it.
Even if I don't like it, I can see why Spurs have done it.
For Spurs FO, Bonner > Scola and Butler is a scrub.
If Spurs are right about their evaluation of these players, people will look dumb for calling that trade "the worst trade of Sprus history".
If Spurs are wrong, they will look awfull to have helped a division rival.
Once again, better to let Scola's ugly ass rot than to give him to the Rockets. We can play the what if game all we want, but as long as there is a good chance, and there is, that Scola can become something with our rivals, not to mention Jackie - then yes i would rather let him sit and rot and get NADA for him and get a second rounder for Jackie from the Nets (they would probably give more)It's better than getting nothing for them...or playing games trying to develop a player they aren't interested in at the expense of one they are
AARON BROOKS for SCOLA, BENO, BARRY, wait scola is gone
No...the same footage ya'll have seen. I don't see how it be argued that either of them are a better fit for this team skil set wise than Ian.
Ian is an athletic rebounder and shotblocker type who hustles his butt off...at worst, he's going to be a big version of Malik.
I know he sucked this year...
He didn't get minutes....
Like Sanikidze.
And Oberto last year.
Minutes matter...figure it out.
There has to be more to this then meets the eye. I actually think the FO is looking at it in the following way.
1. heads up trade; butler for the fool. An obvious salary dump and roster spot opening.
2. scola for a second round draft pick
I really think they wanted to just dump Butlers salary, so they made the trade. Scola's name came up so they made that trade for a second rounder.
I may be seachign here, buts thats the best I can come up with. It sure looks worse the way it sounds. butler and scola for a second rounder. yikes...
There has to be a reason for creatring the space. I hope, I pray,
Have to remember that none of these people are starters and may bever be. the FO cant be perfect everytime.
Lets not forget the people we have gotton in the past. bowen, kersey,. finley, barry, person, horry, jackson, vanexce, elie.... These are names we got in the FA market. Not all were great, but helped in one way or another. give them some credit.
Yoda
And this trade won't help the France/Argentina fight.
We had Manu vs. Tony and now we have Scola traded to open a roster spot for Mahinmi.
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