Sometime back in the mid 90's...
And so instead of choosing Sam Cassell with their late first round pick, the Rockets used their pick as an enticement for someone to take Matt Bullards $425K salary off the books.
Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon went on to be considered the greatest player never to have won a championship.
Excellent post. The spurs need to have the midset to always try to improve and explore all options to get better to stay on top.
They need to add new younger talented players so there won't be a total decline in the talent level where they will have too many holes at the same time to fill.
Who's the Cassell in this draft?
Another home run! It's amazing that many of us see what R.C. and Pop are either too arrogant to admit or are in complete denial about.
There are ways this team can be improved upon that we not necessarily filled by the acquisitions of Bonner, Elson, Butler and Vaughn last summer. Keep tryin' to play Bowen 35-39 minutes a game and let's see if that works as well this season.
The Spurs build the supporting cast around the Big 3 to put themselves in the best position to win in the postseason. If you look at the 'draft mistakes' over the last 5 drafts (Howard, Lee) those were the result of the Spurs moving their picks to accomplish other objectives (clearing cap room for a run at Kidd in '03 and moving Rose because of his contract).
The Spurs' window is now. TD is 31 and Manu will be 30 next month. A huge part of the Spurs' postseason success is tied to Manu. Given the way he plays, perhaps he will be able to play at the same high level in the postseason for a couple more seasons. Maybe there is someone in this draft who will be available at 28 or 33 who can step in right away. But for every Cassell or Howard there are 10 guys selected in that part of the draft who won't be.
I'm surprised the Atlanta Hawks braintrust isn't looking to horn in on the Finnish basketball market, which is burgeoning.
I don't understand what this really has to do with anything. So what's our objective this year? To try our best to ignore an aging roster and hope that everything breaks just right for us again?
That's the problem a lot of posters have right now. Our objective this year is to get younger and begin integrating our young players into the rotation. From all his quotes, it doesn't seem RC wants to do that. Nobody is saying discard the core or even most of the older position players. What they are saying is that if you can replace a guy like Brent Barry with someone who is younger, stronger, and brings a similar skillset (like Morris Almond), you should do it. Yeah, not every draft pick turns out well, but allowing an already old roster to further age isn't the way to go.
The objective is to win a championship next season. That should be clear.
Nobody in this forum knows if Morris Almond can even make it in this league. Now you want to replace a known quan y like Barry with him and castigate the front office for not doing so?
Also, do Spurs fans not realize that James White is on the team?
Adam (Hartford): Spurs and Jarrod Dudley???
Chad Ford: (1:19 PM ET ) No one knows what the Spurs are doing. They're the most secretive team in the league. Dudley is a guess. Petteri Koponnen and Zabian Dowdell are other guesses.
Spurs fans also seem to ignore the fact that the team has its MLE and LLE to use this summer to bring in proven talent. I don't see any reason why we should believe they won't make use of those. Some of you are extrapolating way too much out of what Buford actually said.
Dudley > Dowdell
(dowdell is overrated)
-Mars
Spurs 28th pick is going to Beno, to dump him. That's one 28th to get him and one 28th to get rid of him. The circle jerk completed.
Know one knew at the time that Cassell was the "Cassell" of his draft.
Will the Spurs pick up a rookie at 28/33 who will hit the game-clinching 3-ball in Game 3 of the Finals, in MSG no less, like Sam-I-Am did? Well, probably not (of course, there isn't going to be a Finals game at MSG anytime soon).
But I'm sick and tired of Jason Kidd plans or 08' plans, or whatever-the- other plans that involve the delusion that some max free agent in his prime will join the Spurs. Plans that put the focus on anything other than fielding the best, realistically available talent possible. I'm also sick and tired of the kind of negativity and pooh-poohing that says a rookie PG in one of the deepest drafts ever can't out-compete Jacques ing Vaughn (no disrespect to JV; I admire his heart).
This is a very special time for the Spurs with Tim, Tony and Manu in their primes. Yeah, I thankful for the thrilling championships. There's no better testament to the greatness of our terrific triplet than that.
But I also am prescient enough to realize that the margin of error is razor thin next year. Amare is right that Phoenix was an inch away -- really that series was a toss up. Dallas is still there. Utah's coming on strong.
So forgive me if I want more than a razor-thin chance. I want dominance. I want the kind of euphoria-inducing, dynasty-establishing, awe-inspiring dominance that makes grown men giggle. Sadly, if not for the goddamn "Plans," the Spurs would probably be on their way to a 6-peat next year.
So who's the Cassell of this draft? I couldn't honestly tell you. I haven't spent hours watching film footage, interviewing the players and attending workouts. But I have read that experts say this is one of the deepest drafts ever, and the Spurs have two nice picks. This team needs an injection of youthful enthusiasm, moxie, charisma and athleticism. Picking the next Cassell is R.C.'s and Pop's job. But based on their performance of the past 4-5 years, I'm fairly convinced they'll pass up on another Howard or a Barbosa or a Lee for some inane reason like getting rid of Beno's last contract year. If Beno can't make the roster and no one will take him, cut him and eat the goddamn contract.
I want the Spurs to TRY! They may not hit on the next Cassell/Redd/Howard/Barbosa/Milsap/Gibson/Boozer etc., etc. Those players are frequently out there, but the Spurs will never tap them if they don't even try.
This drmvp poster looks like a good addition. And yeah that was a pretty funny blast regarding Cassell.
Welcome
I can't see the Spurs bringing in more than one draft choice to this team next season. Given the young guys who are already on the team, there's not much need.
Nicely doneSometime back in the mid 90's...
And so instead of choosing Sam Cassell with their late first round pick, the Rockets used their pick as an enticement for someone to take Matt Bullards $425K salary off the books.
Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon went on to be considered the greatest player never to have won a championship.
The Spurs have to balance their draft plans with their moves in free agency. As it stands, they do have a fairly stacked roster. Yes, it can be shuffled somewhat, but are they to forestall a move to bring in an experienced vet this summer for the possibility that someone they draft at #28 can pan out? It worked with Parker, but did it work with Udrih? How will Spurs fans feel if the Spurs fill up the roster and then don't make a move on a free agent because they can't move the domestic player they drafted or don't want to take the $2 million hit or whatever it will be to waive them?
Just as free agency and trades haven't worked out for the Spurs, sometimes they have. Sure, I'd love for the Spurs to be able to snag the hidden late 1st round gem every draft and pick up the key veteran free agent every summer but life's unfair.
As I have said all along, the Spurs will stay put and draft a foreigner.
The Spurs since last years draft have claimed this is the deepest draft in the past decade, and have positioned themselves nicely (last year draft trades) to select some very good players.
However, I mentioned that the best bet for the Spurs would be to select a foreigner and stash him away for a year. Thus, his contract will not have a direct effect on free agency next year.
The Spurs can find themselves a good back up point with the 33rd, and set that players contract however they please, which becomes a bit more cap friendly.
Thus, the Spurs stick it out and draft either Belinelli, Rodriguez, Koponen, or another international.
Selections for the 33rd can range from Dudley to Dowdell, to Green.
Hey, thanks! It's a real honor to be welcomed by the Grand Mahatma of Spurs Fandom himself.This drmvp poster looks like a good addition. And yeah that was a pretty funny blast regarding Cassell.
Welcome
And sorry about some of my rant-like musings. I get a little riled up around draft time when I think about the Josh Howard/Barbosa thingy.
Ahhhhh ... breathe .... There, I'm fine now.
I'm not sure any of the available players at 28 or 33 would be able to come in and be any kind of a contributor right away. At the same time I don't know if any of the international young talent that would be available at 28 would be effective in another 2 - 3 seasons.
IMO, with the limited number of roster spots available, the Spurs best bet would be to draft for the future (players they can stash) with at least two if not all three slots. There is no Bowen-like player in this draft, and probably no legitimate SF prospect worth using both a roster spot and the 1st or early 2nd on. If there is to be any player taken to make the roster immediately, it should be a PG to take Beno's 3rd spot. My guess is they draft international with 28th, PG with 33rd, international with 56th.
Let's say you have a choice but you have to choose one or the other. Trade Beno, free up the roster space and a little luxury tax and use that to sign Mo Peterson or keep Beno and use the 28 pick. Which do you do?
Neither. I like the idea of trading Beno and freein gup a roster spot. You lost me on the Mo Peterson thing. He could probably help, but not sure the Spurs would be interested in him. They certainly don't appear willing to take on any existing contracts of up to 2-3 years or beyond.
missing on the translation:WeŽll try to get Scola this year If thereŽs nothing real good in the second round.
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