Moving Jefferson's contract

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Like you said, Philly wanted to attach Dalembert and especially Brand to the contract, it's the smart move..with that being said, there were a lot of rumors that they didn't want to pay Iguodala for so long, especially since the last few years of his deal are back loaded..there's no way any team in the NBA will take on Elton Brand's contract, so I really believe Philly would trade Iggy for a big expiring + a 1st round pick(maybe 2)..

None of those guys interest me at all, I'd rather let Jefferson expire than take on Hamilton or Maggette..I agree with PAD, there's absolutely no way either of those guys would fit here, it would be the same problem as Jefferson..

Trading Jefferson for a guy like Iguodala is the only available move IMO..if RJ isn't traded for somebody that will give us something next year, the Spurs are better off rebuilding..

I can think of a couple of other things I might try...

Jefferson + a future first (protected) for Ariza and Battier
sign Tmac for the LLE and Splitter for the MLE...

[HarlemHeat37]

I would have to see more of McGrady to judge that..I'm not sure if I would be cool with Ariza/Battier..I think they're both better fits than Jefferson and Ariza was my original pick to acquire, but I think we need a legit playmaker to make up for the lost ability of the big 3..

I think there will be more options in the Summer as the CBA talks advance and the off-season begins..

[dbestpro]

I don't think you are moving Jefferson's expiring for nearly any of those guys, without added incentives. ...

RJs contract will be like McGrady's next year. Someone will add incentives to dump salary next year to get a contract like RJs.

Elton Brand, Gilbert Arenas and who knows who else will be in the dog house this time next year.

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I would have to see more of McGrady to judge that..I'm not sure if I would be cool with Ariza/Battier..I think they're both better fits than Jefferson and Ariza was my original pick to acquire, but I think we need a legit playmaker to make up for the lost ability of the big 3..

I think there will be more options in the Summer as the CBA talks advance and the off-season begins..

I agree with you that a "legit playmaker" would be a needed acquisition if we are to contend. However, there are 2 safe ways we could accomplish that acquisition. 1) A Jefferson trade for say Iguoalda/Turkoglu/Deng/etc. 2) A draft pick, if we hit another home run (Blair, Hill). Assuming we spend most of our MLE on bringing in Splitter or another big, the other option (not safe) for a legit playmaker is to take a gamble on a longshot with whatever is left of the MLE/LLE. I think TMac is by far the best gamble out there. To get 2 major scorers out at all times, one needs 96 minutes : Tim (24 Minutes) + Manu (24 Minutes) + McGrady (24 Minutes) + Tony (24 Minutes) = 96 < Tim (32 min) + Manu (28 min) + McGrady (28 min) + Tony (34 min) = 122 min

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RJs contract will be like McGrady's next year. Someone will add incentives to dump salary next year to get a contract like RJs.

Elton Brand, Gilbert Arenas and who knows who else will be in the dog house this time next year.

Yeah, but do we want Brand or Arenas? I don't think so; those guys aren't worth the contractual pain we'd be taking on...

[Mr.Robinson]

Jefferson has been put on a leash. Come playoff time he'll be dunking on everybody and getting to the line at will.

[da_suns_fan]

I should further note, that is simply a list of players. It does nothing to address the Spurs side of the equation (ie. who would fit), nor does it address incentives needed. I think to move Jefferson's contract, incentives will be needed for almost all of these players.

From my perspective, assuming Splitter is coming and does pan out, I would not expect the FO to get a big. We can currently expect to have 4 decent bigs next year (and 3 the following 2 years) - Duncan, McDyess, Blair, Splitter.

Similarly with Parker and Hill, PG is a pretty full spot. However, it should be noted that moving Parker with Jefferson might be an option as an incentive; at that point, getting back a good PG would be important. Assuming not moving Parker, a PG received would have to be able to run 2 PG sets with Parker (ie. be able to cover SG's defensively; Parker isn't big enough to do this).

This leaves the wing spots, which is clearly the point of greatest weakness on the team. All of our current wings have significant flaws: Manu has injury issues, Hill is undersized, Jefferson has no balls/brains (he apparently has the physical ability and skills, just doesn't do it 90% of the time), Bogans, Mason, Finley (well, the less said the better about these 3), Hairston is mildly undersized and significantly inexperienced (and that lack of experience may be hiding other flaws, which will only come out with playing time).

This analysis short lists the following candidates:
Iguoalda
Deng
Maggette
Ellis
Gerald Wallace
Stephen Jackson
Richard Hamilton
Kevin Martin
Danny Granger
Turkoglu
Arenas

My own personal preferences would start with
Iguoalda
Deng
Danny Granger
Ellis
Pretty much in that order.

This is primarily driven by youth, and my estimation of fit in the Spurs scheme. I think Iguolda and Deng would be much the preferable options (Granger would be nice, but I doubt he is actually available... Bird is hanging on too hard to a team thats flawed at it's core.) Ellis is last because a) he a bit undersized b) seems a bit of a headcase and c) I'm not at all sure he'd fit well with Parker.

Its hard to imagine any of those players would be traded for nothing but an expiring contract. Stranger things have happened (Gasol), but I doubt the Spurs could nab any of them without throwing in Blair.

Danny Granger is a pipe-dream. Even WITH Blair. Even with Tony Parker, for that matter. Would the Pacers trade their most popular player for Tony Parker? Im not saying Granger is better than Parker, but why would the Pacers make that deal? Straight up for Jefferson will NEVER happen.

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Its hard to imagine any of those players would be traded for nothing but an expiring contract. Stranger things have happened (Gasol), but I doubt the Spurs could nab any of them without throwing in Blair.

Danny Granger is a pipe-dream. Even WITH Blair. Even with Tony Parker, for that matter. Would the Pacers trade their most popular player for Tony Parker? Im not saying Granger is better than Parker, but why would the Pacers make that deal? Straight up for Jefferson will NEVER happen.

Read the whole damn thread and get a clue... I have never proposed that any of those players would be available for solely an expiring contract. Rather, I have always suggested a trade involving Jefferson's expiring and future first round pick as incentive.

As far as Granger in particular, his availability depends entirely on Larry Bird waking up and realizing he's building a perennial non-contender if he has Granger as #1...and therefore deciding to blow it up properly and start over.

[Agloco]

Early in the season, rarely because teams are still full of hope.

Come February, failed teams will be tripping over themselves to take RJ so they can shed salary. It will probably be the best thing RJ does for the Spurs.

ting on the liquor bar again I see.....

But correct again I hate to say. y J just doesn't work here. Best to grind it our until this time next year. Perhaps we can flip him for a draft pick or a decent defensive minded center.

[da_suns_fan]

Read the whole damn thread and get a clue... I have never proposed that any of those players would be available for solely an expiring contract. Rather, I have always suggested a trade involving Jefferson's expiring and future first round pick as incentive.

As far as Granger in particular, his availability depends entirely on Larry Bird waking up and realizing he's building a perennial non-contender if he has Granger as #1...and therefore deciding to blow it up properly and start over.

GEEZ GUY!!! Dont be so freaking sensitive!

My point was that most of the players you mentioned were a stretch without throwing in Blair.

And even if Bird decides he's building a perennial non-contender and decides to blow it up, is highly unlikely he would want to move Granger. Even if he's not a "#1", he's definitely a #2. Might as well keep him.

[G-Dawgg]

I don't know.. I haven't completely given up on RJ yet. It's really unfair to use him as a scapegoat. After all many players -Stephen Jackson for example took a few years to become accustomed to the Spurs. I honestly think the problem is just coaching and chemistry. How are players supposed to find a niche if they aren't given consistent rotations, minutes, or even the lack of plays being run for them? RJ is a young athletic player that has proven he can play in this league. He just needs the coach to use him to his strenths. Unfortunately the coach is having a hard time doing so. I say keep RJ, don't unload his contract call some plays for him and utilize his skillsets in an offense that works to his tools rather than make him adjust to playing out of position, and making him wait for the game to come to him. The problem is the spurs are turning into ballhogs these days and only Ginobili and Duncan seen to be playing team ball. So since RJ isn't usually getting the ball where he is comfortable he's struggling. Keep RJ and trade Parker. Parker seems to have adopted a 'me first' mentality and the team has bogged down since. Hill as good as he is is not a quarterback either. We gotta get back to running set plays for players to get involved and less freestyling.

[elec99]

You know, I've never watched RJ's game as a Buck. I'd be interested in seeing how he was able to put up 20ppg. Was he making his own plays, driving to the rim, open shots, being fed the ball, etc.

And of course, why it's so difficult for him to do whatever-it-was for us.

But the proof will be this: When he is playing for another team after us, how he does. Big numbers means it was Pop's system, same/poor numbers means it was RJ.