The Oberto Dilemma - Oberto declines his option/becomes a free agent

[ploto]

When you look at the deals that other big men got last summer, I can see Oberto being offered the MLE by some team.

Supposedly the Spurs were willing to give that much to Przybylla last summer so why shouldn't Oberto expect close to the same for himself. Remember the contract extension offered by the Spurs to Nazr the summer after the 2005 championship. Oberto contributed more to this championship than Nazr did to that one.

Some team will make Oberto an offer he can't refuse and that the Spurs won't match.

[coopdogg3]

I would let Oberto walk and stick to the 08 plan if he wants a bigger deal than the Spurs are willing to give.

Although Oberto is a key component to our team, he is not vital.

I suppose this might throw a wrench into our draft scenarios.

Do the Spurs now go for a PF/C in the draft?

To the Spurs give the reigns to Jackie Butler?

Or do the Spurs fold their 08 plan and give into Oberto?

I highly doubt the latter will reign supreme.

I don't think there is an 08 plan, so it wouldn't surprise me at all if Oberto is resigned.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Any news on Finley?

[Solid D]

Oberto has now thrown down the handkerchief to Luis Scola. The challange is out there with no barriers. Mano e mano. It's a bake-off!!!

[ChumpDumper]

WSupposedly the Spurs were willing to give that much to Przybylla last summer so why shouldn't Oberto expect close to the same for himself.

Because he's 32 and can't jump over a phone book.

Some team will make Oberto an offer he can't refuse and that the Spurs won't match.

Possible, but not a problem that can't be overcome.

[steppy]

I get the feeling their beloved '08 plan is going to blow up in their face.

I think Oberto is one of those players that has intangibles and a pretty good basketball IQ that doesn't necessarily show up in a box score. He seems to know where to be on the floor with relation to Tim. He and Manu had a great connection from playing together for so long. There was more than once where they completed a nice play at a crucial point.

Hopefully he'll return. Then again, I can see someone else throwing huge money at him just to screw up the Spurs.

[ploto]

Oberto has now thrown down the handkerchief to Luis Scola. The challange is out there with no barriers. Mano e mano. It's a bake-off!!!

Maybe Oberto leaves and Scola can come then. Nice deal among friends to get them both what they want.

[Mitch Cumsteen]

Now all a team has to do to really hurt the Spurs is to offer Oberto something outrageous. Even the full MLE for two years makes the Spurs decide whether to keep Oberto and scrap The 2008 Plan, or go with Elson and continue The 2008 Plan.

It sounds like a no-brainer to keep Oberto, but this front office loves opening up cap space and has done so over re-signing some pretty quality players (Speedy, SJax, not to mention trading first round draft picks). If another team forces the Spurs to pick either cap space or Oberto, I don't think it's a slam dunk that the Spurs pick Oberto. Knowing the front office, they have the image of Elton Brand dancing in their heads for the 2008-'09 season.

Matching something like a two-year $11M or even a three-year $17M offer for Oberto isn't automatic, to say the least.

And I highly doubt Oberto will give the Spurs some sort of Manu/winning discount. He almost signed with the Memphis Grizzlies before the Spurs upped their offer. If he was willing to sign with the Grizzlies then, he'd be willing to go anywhere now that he has to bank in on his last pay day.

Bottomline is this could turn into an interesting situation if a team wants to overpay Oberto (even with a shorter contract). Plus there are enough teams out there who'd love to put the Spurs in a tough spot and could use Oberto (Dallas, Phoenix, Chicago, etc.).

I just can't see anybody offering a guy who averaged 4 and 4 the full MLE just to keep him from the Spurs. Even as idiotic as half of the current NBA GMs are, I just can't see it happening. Oberto doesn't fit in at all in Phoenix with their running game. He's not going to get minutes over Ben Wallace in Chicago and he certainly doesn't solve their low post scoring problems. Same thing in Dallas --- what is he worth to any of those teams? They all need to improve their teams and it doesn't look like Fabricio would be on their short list of answers. He's a nice role player with a limited domestic resume. I'd be stunned if anybody shot their MLE load to sign him. And if they do... good luck with that and see you next year when you collect your ring on a road trip to SA.

[TMTTRIO]

could easily see him moving to Chitown to team with Nocioni. That would give the Bulls a very strong Argentine connection and a viable center

[ploto]

See how quickly Spurs fans will turn on him for simply looking after himself and his wife and 2 kids. It's a business- right?

[timvp]

As it stands, if the Spurs don't add anymore contract on the books outside of The Big Three, it looks like the Spurs will have room to add a max free agent next summer. That's a pretty huge asset to have, especially in a year where there will be a couple of players out there that would look nice in silver and black.

If someone offers Oberto a two-year, $11M contract and the Spurs match it, that eliminates virtually all the cap room the Spurs had and pushes their cap space back down to just over the MLE. And really, Oberto is good enough to justify a team offering him a big, short term contract. A team will notice that Oberto was the Spurs' best plus/minus player in the playoffs and could view him as a capable center for a team wanting to make a championship push.

If the Spurs think Elson can take the second year jump in production and if they believe Butler is ready for a backup role, I can pretty easily imagine a scenario where the Spurs let Oberto go.

[coopdogg3]

See how quickly Spurs fans will turn on him for simply looking after himself and his wife and 2 kids. It's a business- right?

We're not turning on him. He's only worth so much to the Spurs, if another team is willing to offer more - best of luck to him.

[ChumpDumper]

He's already a millionaire several times over, so the tired "feeding my family" cliche simply doesn't fly. If he wants the most money, he can take it.

[coopdogg3]

As it stands, if the Spurs don't add anymore contract on the books outside of The Big Three, it looks like the Spurs will have room to add a max free agent next summer. That's a pretty huge asset to have, especially in a year where there will be a couple of players out there that would look nice in silver and black.

If someone offers Oberto a two-year, $11M contract and the Spurs match it, that eliminates virtually all the cap room the Spurs had and pushes their cap space back down to just over the MLE. And really, Oberto is good enough to justify a team offering him a big, short term contract. A team will notice that Oberto was the Spurs' best plus/minus player in the playoffs and could view him as a capable center for a team wanting to make a championship push.

If the Spurs think Elson can take the second year jump in production and if they believe Butler is ready for a backup role, I can pretty easily imagine a scenario where the Spurs let Oberto go.

Yeah, that's just it. They'll have the big 3, and nothing else. Then they need to sign 12 more players with about $15 million in cap room or so. Ain't gonna happen. There is no Master 2008 Plan.

[steppy]

I'm confused. How many players will be under contract after next season? Three? If we add another max player, that makes four? Are the Spurs going to fill in the rest of the roster with scrubs or what?

[timvp]

Some team will make Oberto an offer he can't refuse and that the Spurs won't match.

Yeah, if some team offers Oberto a deal that is half of what Rasho is on the books for, that could make the Spurs look elsewhere.

[Mitch Cumsteen]

Supposedly the Spurs were willing to give that much to Przybylla last summer so why shouldn't Oberto expect close to the same for himself.

Because Pryzbilla is 5 years younger, 3 inches taller, is a real shot blocker, and averaged better numbers. He's got a much higher market value that Oberto.

[timvp]

Yeah, that's just it. They'll have the big 3, and nothing else. Then they need to sign 12 more players with about $15 million in cap room or so. Ain't gonna happen. There is no Master 2008 Plan.

I'm confused. How many players will be under contract after next season? Three? If we add another max player, that makes four? Are the Spurs going to fill in the rest of the roster with scrubs or what?

If the Spurs actually landed a max free agent next summer (Brand?), they could surround The Big Four with NBDL talent and take home the championship. It wouldn't matter.

The Spurs would have been faced with the same issues if they would have landed Jason Kidd.

[Solid D]

Oberto might need to factor-in added security back home in the Cordoba area if he gets much more than he has now. He won't get anything close to Manu money but with greater net worth and notoriety, unfortunately, comes the threats of foul play.

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

I'm confused... ESPN is saying this about Finley

No Word From Finley
Jun 25 - Michael Finley has yet to inform the Spurs whether he will opt out of his contract and become a free agent. He has until Saturday to decide.

I thought today was the deadline?

[ducks]

spurs could be forced to trade elson
get a trade exection

[coopdogg3]

I'm confused. How many players will be under contract after next season? Three? If we add another max player, that makes four? Are the Spurs going to fill in the rest of the roster with scrubs or what?

They have the big 3, Butler, and whatever they do with the draft picks this year. Beno is a possibility as well, though he's probably gone. There just won't be enough room to fill a team with competent role players, a max or near-max guy, and be compe ive. It WILL be a chance to create a younger team to prepare for the next phase of the Spurs. They can hopefully add 3-4 youngers guys this year, and complete the process next off-season. Hopefully Holt is willing to take a steep luxury tax hit this year (for resigning Oberto and the MLE) since next year he should be OK.

[Kori Ellis]

Oberto will probably sign a 3-year/$10M deal with the Spurs. He probably only opted out to get years.

[whottt]

Planning to sign a max FA in 08 is stupid...been there, done that, never works.

We don't really need a max FA anyway...there's only one ball...and Oberto realizes that.

Every time this happens the Spurs struggle to replace the guy...for at least a year.

I'd rather not do that this time...the object is to win les, not attempt and fail to sign Max FA's...not to win the cap room trophy. To win les...this team needs to keep it's core and add to it's supporting cast...not try and fit another superstar into the mix...it's already hard enough to get enough shots for Duncan, Manu and Parker.

[ploto]

That is the same reason I question whether or not the Spurs are really going to be in the market much for trades. All those guys coming off the books next summer- I do not think they want to trade their expiring deals for ones that last past next season.