Off Season Game Plan

[pad300]

A lot of people here apparently think that Diaw is going to a MLE level offer somewhere, if the Spurs don't give it to him. I don't see it myself. He spent up until his buyout pouting on Charlotte, and then spent the last series showcasing his flaws.
He only played 20-25 mpg for us, which doesn't show him as a starter level player and didn't put up overwhelming stats (PER 12.1 during the season, 14.7 during the playoffs). Last time he got a long term contract, he promptly started sucking wind... Which team is going to pay Diaw more than the LLE?

[objective]

I think the time has come to trade Splitter.

And I say that as a Splitter fan who has been frustrated these past two years over how Pop has used him.

It doesn't matter what Splitter does or how well he ever will play (though he did not play well in the WCF), Pop doesn't respect his game. He's just another 'blue collar lunch pail' Oberto type in Pop's eyes and will never get the chance to be anything more than that.

A team being smart will see the good things he can do, just like how a team being smart saw with Scola. The Spurs couldn't see how on earth a talent upgrade like Scola could help them for a 3/10 deal, but they sure as could give a 3/9 deal at the same time to Matt Choking Bonner.

Splitter either alone or combined with guys like Blair, Neal, and Bonner could get someone that Pop will find a use for.

[Jumi]

I think the time has come to trade Splitter.

And I say that as a Splitter fan who has been frustrated these past two years over how Pop has used him.

It doesn't matter what Splitter does or how well he ever will play (though he did not play well in the WCF), Pop doesn't respect his game. He's just another 'blue collar lunch pail' Oberto type in Pop's eyes and will never get the chance to be anything more than that.

A team being smart will see the good things he can do, just like how a team being smart saw with Scola. The Spurs couldn't see how on earth a talent upgrade like Scola could help them for a 3/10 deal, but they sure as could give a 3/9 deal at the same time to Matt Choking Bonner.

Splitter either alone or combined with guys like Blair, Neal, and Bonner could get someone that Pop will find a use for.

My thoughts exactly! The guy was given a fair shake from the start.

[TD 21]

As for Josh Smith signing, he's too expensive, shoots too many 3's and isn't as good enough of an on-the-ball defender for his freakishly athletic skill. Of course, he's been playing for that Atlanta outfit all of his career. That alone would explain the holes in his game.

He's signed through next season. With Duncan and Ginobili possibly retiring by then, they could easily afford to re-sign him, because even if they come back for another season, it'll be at reduced rates (unless Duncan signs for two years this off season). The only big contract on the books will be Parker and the only relatively big one somewhat on the horizon will be Leonard.

I'd really, really hate to trade Jackson. Plus, he'd be the ideal type to mentor Smith. So to revise that trade, I'd offer Splitter, Blair, Neal and Bonner, instead. That would give the Hawks plenty of depth, most of which is of the young variety, which they desperately need and keep them compe ive (which I'm fairly certain is their goal; not to re-build). Plus, they would take on less money and for a notoriously cheap organization, with a bloated payroll, that has to be especially appealing.

Here's the problem: there's about a $5.2 million gap in salaries. Presuming they intend to re-sign Duncan, Green and Diaw (or sign Lorbek) and sign De Colo, there's no way they'll have the cap space to absorb that. But maybe they can talk Duncan into taking, say $12 instead of $15, to facilitate this. They can also throw Joseph in. It's difficult to calculate everything at this juncture, but the point is, financially if they want to make this work, they probably can. They'd need a backup center and a depth combo forward to fill out the roster, but they find those at the minimum.

[Richie]

I thik the 18th pick is a strong possibility of trading up to. Minnesota are in dire need of a 2 guard and Neal could be thier man. If the front office identifies a player we can get there that will help up front, I like a trade of Neal, Blair and maybe next years 1st (likely 25-30) for 18.

Maybe nobody good enough falls that low, but maybe a deal with Minni could be on the cards

[tesseractive]

I thik the 18th pick is a strong possibility of trading up to. Minnesota are in dire need of a 2 guard and Neal could be thier man. If the front office identifies a player we can get there that will help up front, I like a trade of Neal, Blair and maybe next years 1st (likely 25-30) for 18.

Maybe nobody good enough falls that low, but maybe a deal with Minni could be on the cards

Seriously? Minnesota has the #18 pick in the draft and they need a shooting guard and the best they can get in return is Gary Neal?

(BTW, that's not meant in a sarcastic tone. You may well be right -- but I will find it quite surprising if that's really the case. I would think there would be better guys available from somewhere)

[iManu]

We need a shot-blocking defensive big who can go 12 for 12.

[Richie]

Seriously? Minnesota has the #18 pick in the draft and they need a shooting guard and the best they can get in return is Gary Neal?

(BTW, that's not meant in a sarcastic tone. You may well be right -- but I will find it quite surprising if that's really the case. I would think there would be better guys available from somewhere)

Well they don't have much cap space to work with, so they've got the MLE to sign a 2-guard or trade. I'm not sure if there is a better 2-guard than Neal who they can draft at 18, so maybe they try to trade up in the draft to get someone like Rivers. They have young pieces like Wes Johnson and Derrick Williams to throw in to a trade with the 18 for a higher pick if thats what they choose, or use those same pieces in a trade with names like Ariza and Afflalo being floated around.

If they need someone who can play D then obviously Neal isn't thier man, but offensively he is superior to pretty much anyone else they can get. The guy is a flat out scorer and despite a bad series against OKC, has come up clutch consistently throughout his time with the Spurs. Maybe throw in a servicable big like Blair and a future first, then who knows. Maybe a long shot but Neal is very cheap for the quality of player you get, so who knows

[Richie]

Another shout might be Philly at 15. Aldridge says they need power forward and outside shooting, and theres nothing the Spurs have more of than great outside shooting.

Neal, Blair and Bonner (just to get him out of SA) for #15

[ViceCity86]

Sign Duncan for 1 year only and let him and Manu go off to the sunset after 2013.Look to trade Parker soon after for some young pieces and picks and start the rebuilding process.I say 2013 will be end of Duncan,Manu,Parker and Pop.

[Andthentherewas21]

Really depends on what the Spurs want to achieve next season. If its doing great in the regular season and just seeing how far they can get in the playoffs, just re-up everyone on the team and your going to get a similar result. Blair and Bonner can eat up regular season minutes and help keep down Duncan's minutes. Same with Green and Manu's minutes. Then you develop Mills or hope Joseph looks more capable than he has as the backup pg.

If they want to vie for the championship, they need a wholesale change. That means giving up some depth for star power. Probably the most realistic option floated would be Josh Smith, with the hope they could curtail his poor decision making.

The Thunder series exposed the greatest strength, and most fatal flaw of the Spurs, they are first and foremost a team. That means when Green can't hit a shot, Bonner disappears, Splitter struggles, ect there is no longer a Superstar Tim Duncan to rattle off 10 in a row and 3 stops on the other end. If one part of the team fails, the whole team does.

The Thunder are young enough to overcome some of that stuff due to their youth and energy. The main guys for the Spurs can't anymore. So while that great depth helps you win regular season games, you have to rely on those same role-players to bring it every night in the playoffs.

[Salty]

Agree with Timvp, Spurs should give Timmy a blank contract and ask him to fill it out. I'm absolutely confident in his desire to win another le and I'm sure he'll take a smaller contract if it helps him win another ring. Expecting something like a $10m/year deal, whether it's for 1 year or multiple years.

Not an expert on salary cap, nor have I done all my research, but the Spurs will have a $47m-$49m payroll (depending on Blair's and Mills' options) to work with (also doesn't include them amnestying Bonner). With Duncan's new contract, expect the Spurs to have a $59m payroll. Keep in mind, if the Spurs wanna keep their roster intact they still have to find a way to resign:

Danny Green
Boris Diaw
Gary Neal

Not sure they'll fit all three of them in the MLE.

First and foremost, the Spurs NEED to amnesty Bonner, not just because he has a vagina but because the Spurs need that extra $ for someone else.

Secondly, the Spurs should be concerned with making a move on draft night that will:
A) free up a little cap space
B) get quality young talent

[Richie]

Keep in mind, if the Spurs wanna keep their roster intact they still have to find a way to resign:

Danny Green
Boris Diaw
Gary Neal

Not sure they'll fit all three of them in the MLE

No need. We'll tender a qualifying offer to Green and assuming nobody offers him MLE type money in restricted free agency he will come back. If we want to match any offer, we have his bird rights so no need to use our MLE on him.

Neal is still under contract. Resigning him is simply picking up his unguaranteed salary for another year. This will 100% happen.

The MLE will be used on Diaw, Lorbek or possibly both if we can afford it. Doubt either would be happy with only half the MLE though

[texbumTHElife]

Is there any possible conceivable way we could pull a trade for David Lee? I still think he would be a perfect fit on the front line with Duncan. He is a proven rebounder and defender and is fearless.

[Plumblbw]

RE: Trading Splitter:

I like some of what Splitter does, i.e. good at setting screens and rolling to the basket, plays good defence at times etc. My problem with him is he can't shoot, isn't a consistent post threat, can't take advantage of mismatches and generally looks clumsy at times.

I wouldn't be disappointed to see him go, but are we likely to get anything better in the front court without giving up other significant pieces?

In other news, I know R.C. can be on fire at times, but how does he convince someone to trade for a ginger stretch 4 with guaranteed playoff chokeability?

[BillMc]

We should more or less keep the team intact as is. We were probably (in the end) the second best team in the league, and no worse than 4th. We need to keep going forward, but keep perspective. This is still a very good team.

[mudyez]

Still would love to see Batum in a spurs jersey at some point in his carreer (I know its unrealistic at least this off season).

A lineup with Leonard/Jackson/Batum would give us the needed athletism and I like the idea of playing them all at the same time.

[TDMVPDPOY]

I thik the 18th pick is a strong possibility of trading up to. Minnesota are in dire need of a 2 guard and Neal could be thier man. If the front office identifies a player we can get there that will help up front, I like a trade of Neal, Blair and maybe next years 1st (likely 25-30) for 18.

Maybe nobody good enough falls that low, but maybe a deal with Minni could be on the cards

18 + randolf