Translating RC Buford's Press Conference

[Twisted_Dawg]

http://www.nba.com/spurs/video/2013/...ordmov-2537710

RC Buford held a press conference today to talk about the free agency movement. Here's my version of what he said utilizing some paraphrasing and reading between the lines...

-Splitter gives the team a solid player now and also could step into a bigger role once Duncan retires.

Absolutely frightening the thought of Splitter playing without Tim. Does RC think we are stupid enough to believe his bull ?

[HI-FI]

What does he mean by "significant sacrifice"? That can only mean that Manu could have made a lot more money playing for another team. I call bull on that one and think RC is trying to defend the Spurs decision to sign him to that large contract in view of the firestorm of criticism they received. Had some team offered Manu a 3 year $30 million contract, Manu woudl have jumped on that and you couldn't have blamed him. My guess is Manu had little of any interest from any other teams based on his horrid playoff performance and injury history. A Phoenix, LAC, Houston or even Miami might have signed him to a 2 year $6 million deal to help sell tickets ot the Hispanic market. I highly doubt any other team was offering a 2 year $10 Million and no team was crazy enough to offer a 2 year $14 million save one. And his "Thank You" contract was that $14 million per year he just finished while wearing out his body playing for Argentina.

the goods. previous deal hurt us and this one looks like another bs deal as well. Not happy with it, I really think the organization has overrated his overall value. It sounds like he's finally willing to rest up and not give the Spurs his leftovers on a bloated deal, so perhaps he can live up to his contract, i hope anyways.

Bottomline: Buford had to bring everyone back or his ass was on the line. Can you imagine letting Manu and Splitter go and we fizzle next year or go out early in the playoffs? He would be crushed for his off-season moves. But re-signing Splitter and Manu and fizzling out or going out early in the playoffs...he simply has to say...I brought back a Finals team...we had to give them the opportunity to see what they could do. I dont like the Manu signing at all but it was a safe signing as far as public opinion and front office decisions go.

agree, i understand why they did it. it was ultimately a safe move, but i still think they are trying to spin the deal which was another loyalty/legacy contract for a player who just blew the Finals and is declining. I understand why RC did it, and least with AK47 signing a total shady deal with Nets, we realize that Manu fleecing the Spurs out of a couple million may not have made a difference anyways.

[LarryDavid]

Now here's a bit of blue skying -- what if Diaw loses a fair amount of weight this summer?

Wouldn't that clear up a lot of the roster imbalance all by itself?

hahahahaha...one can only hope.

[T Park]

The only firestorm of criticism is on this board tbh.

Because pocket protecting nerds that live in their mother's basement know better!!!!

[T Park]

On the the signings were made before Howard decided. It had been an almost forgone conclusion Howard was going to Houston.

[TheGoldStandard]

Boris won't drop weight, the Manu deal would have been good if he showed consistency but he was pretty lousy at the end of the year and through the playoffs, I don't know who pays 14 Million to a 35 year old 6th man. Pendergraph won't pan out but it really doesn't matter for that kind of money, most pissed that Bonner is still on the team and eating up money. Splitter having any kind of role on this team without Duncan is a huge joke..

[FuzzyLumpkins]

Neal's ability to play point guard make him a fit going forward.

[Hoops Czar]

Apparently Neal will be the backup point guard.

Then apparently, there's no need for De Colo or Mills. Nothing like wasting roster spots.

[TheGoldStandard]

Neal at the PG? haven't we tried this scenario before?

[loveforthegame]

I like what he said about most things but I just don't get the Neal is a backup pg BS. Again.

[Hoops Czar]

Neal at the PG? haven't we tried this scenario before?

Yeah, I don't know how many times a player has to fail before somebody takes notice. I guess around here, you get nine lives.

[ChumpDumper]

You guys really believe everything that is said?

[TheGoldStandard]

Yeah, I don't know how many times a player has to fail before somebody takes notice. I guess around here, you get nine lives.

I remember Cory getting a lot of minutes and then Neal comes back and he's back at backup PG. More dribbling into the corner, turning his back and losing the ball.

[Rogue]

apparently the Spurs didn't know Neal would stay when they gave Beli the contract. Signing beli for 3m/yr is a real bargain but it would still be a waste of money and talent to use him as the 10th or 11th man, a role that marco wouldn't feel content with. You got him cheap but will probably sell him cheap too imho.

Same happened in Dallas, we signed Calderon for 7m/yr although I believe that's a fair price for him, I still believe that we wouldn't have signed him in the first place had we known we would bring DH back for only 3m/yr. We could've saved the 7m and used the money to sign a shooting guard like Monta.

[TheGoldStandard]

apparently the Spurs didn't know Neal would stay when they gave Beli the contract. Signing beli for 3m/yr is a real bargain but it would still be a waste of money and talent to use him as the 10th or 11th man, a role that marco wouldn't feel content with. You got him cheap but will probably sell him cheap too imho.

Same happened in Dallas, we signed Calderon for 7m/yr although I believe that's a fair price for him, I still believe that we wouldn't have signed him in the first place had we known we would bring DH back for only 3m/yr. We could've saved the 7m and used the money to sign a shooting guard like Monta.

It's not up to Neal if he returns or not. .Spurs could always renounce him.

[cd021]

Apparently Neal will be the backup point guard.

Then there's a major log jam at PG with Joseph, Mills, and De Colo sitting behind him. Joseph not being the backup is very odd to me. He just spend the past two seasons developing and now he is possibly going to spend another as the 3rd PG. I'd hope that we would at least trade one.

[TheGoldStandard]

Then there's a major log jam at PG with Joseph, Mills, and De Colo sitting behind him. Joseph not being the backup is very odd to me. He just spend the past two seasons developing and now he is possibly going to spend another as the 3rd PG. I'd hope that we would at least trade one.

Joseph was getting minutes and then all of a sudden Neal returns to the lineup.. Pop does a lot of stupid things from time to time.

[Chinook]

It's not up to Neal if he returns or not. .Spurs could always renounce him.

He could sign is QO, which essentially would guarantee he stays on the team the whole year if he wants to.

[cd021]

apparently the Spurs didn't know Neal would stay when they gave Beli the contract. Signing beli for 3m/yr is a real bargain but it would still be a waste of money and talent to use him as the 10th or 11th man, a role that marco wouldn't feel content with. You got him cheap but will probably sell him cheap too imho.

Same happened in Dallas, we signed Calderon for 7m/yr although I believe that's a fair price for him, I still believe that we wouldn't have signed him in the first place had we known we would bring DH back for only 3m/yr. We could've saved the 7m and used the money to sign a shooting guard like Monta.

I think that He is a much better guard than Harris is. Can't defend but a 4 to 1 assist T.O ratio for a point guard is pretty damn good. Harris never became anything close to what every thought he would be he is a backup in this league.

[TheGoldStandard]

He could sign is QO, which essentially would guarantee he stays on the team the whole year if he wants to.

Regardless if the Spurs offer him a QO or is that just something that's out there?

[coyotes_geek]

Regardless if the Spurs offer him a QO or is that just something that's out there?

Spurs already offered him the QO. They can withdraw it at any time, but as long as it's out there, Neal can accept it.

[cd021]

Joseph was getting minutes and then all of a sudden Neal returns to the lineup.. Pop does a lot of stupid things from time to time.

That made sense. Miami didn't respect Joseph and Neal had a good series. Joseph needs regular season minutes (16 mpg) instead of having him go from D league to playoff rotation player in a matter of weeks. Neal actually has improved as a PG. It used to be he dribble up the court and look for an option and them if that fails take a shot.

I'm starting to think Beli is our 3 now, Cause Manu and Neal are going to eat up most of the minutes at SG this season.

[TheGoldStandard]

That made sense. Miami didn't respect Joseph and Neal had a good series. Joseph needs regular season minutes (16 mpg) instead of having him go from D league to playoff rotation player in a matter of weeks. Neal actually has improved as a PG. It used to be he dribble up the court and look for an option and them if that fails take a shot.

I'm starting to think Beli is our 3 now, Cause Manu and Neal are going to eat up most of the minutes at SG this season.

Neal at the 2 is fine off the bench but his ball handling is just crap.

[ElNono]

lol @ "they did this because of the public perception" after ing how " nobody holds them accountable! "...

maybe they think they know what they're doing and the results have been largely positive doing exactly that?

[Sean Cagney]

Yeah, I don't know how many times a player has to fail before somebody takes notice. I guess around here, you get nine lives.

They are ing idiots, excuse my french but if it fails all the time before it won't work next year. This FO and POP are so stubborn at times it's ridiculous. Bonner had 100 bad playoffs in a row, so he gets extended. I love this team but at times it makes me wonder what they honestly see.