Spurs' future draft picks

[AFBlue]

There had been discussion of drafting Jonas Maciulis with our late second round pick. Has anybody heard anything about him recently?

Nothing lately, but I'm thinking the Spurs will almost certainly use their late round picks on European players (Maciulis a possiblity) that have no chance of joining a full roster next year....either that, or they'll trade the picks.

Other possibles are the Mirzas (Teletovic and Begic), Koponen, and Zabelin.

[Mr. Body]

Here's hoping McHale is dumb enough to hang on to Garnett. First, it'd mean Chicago needs to make smaller moves. Second, I'm still convinced Garnett will opt out after next season and sign with the Spurs for $6-8 million/year under the 2008 Plan.

[AFBlue]

Second, I'm still convinced Garnett will opt out after next season and sign with the Spurs for $6-8 million/year under the 2008 Plan.

Wouldn't that be nice....a longshot, but a nice one.

[Darkwaters]

Nothing lately, but I'm thinking the Spurs will almost certainly use their late round picks on European players (Maciulis a possiblity) that have no chance of joining a full roster next year....either that, or they'll trade the picks.

Other possibles are the Mirzas (Teletovic and Begic), Koponen, and Zabelin.

I'd love to get Kaponen. But I figured he'd go higher than 58.

[Mr. Body]

We'd either have to nab Kaponen with 33 or trade up somehow to get higher in the 2nd round. That's the true problem with losing the Chicago pick - we could have doubled up to jump 10-12 spots.

[Darkwaters]

Here's hoping McHale is dumb enough to hang on to Garnett. First, it'd mean Chicago needs to make smaller moves. Second, I'm still convinced Garnett will opt out after next season and sign with the Spurs for $6-8 million/year under the 2008 Plan.

McHale Says Plan Is To Keep KG
19th April, 2007 - 2:09 pm
Star Tribune -
On Thursday, Kevin McHale said that Randy Wittman will remain head coach of the Timberwolves and that he doesn't plan on trading Kevin Garnett.

Minnesota finished the season 32-50 and missed out on the playoffs for the third consecutive season.

"We're going to try to make some trades," he said.

"It was a bad season," McHale added. "There's no other way you can say it. It starts with me."

http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_ar...is_to_keep_kg/

[Mr. Body]

McHale just milking the money at this point. He's one of the worst GMs I've ever seen (curiously, Bird looks pretty lousy right now, too). That team needs to trade Garnett out and get something for him, or else he's gone forever and for good in the 2008 summer. They have their top 10 pick this year, I think, but that won't be enough to change things.

[mardigan]

I dont know how McHale can keep his job. Does anyone know when individual workouts start?

[wildbill2u]

I know it's very early, so the fact that Kevin Garnett hasn't requested a trade and McHale still has his job may change....but McHale came out with some comments saying he'd hold on to KG and overhaul the roster.

Again, not saying it won't change, but I would expect almost every other T-Wolves player to be on the block before KG. Too bad their only tradeable piece is Ricky Davis...or if they're willing to give up Foye for an immediate contributor.

Another overhaul of the roster around KG. How many times has that failed? What makes anyone think that McHale can do it?

[AFBlue]

I dont know how McHale can keep his job. Does anyone know when individual workouts start?

I think the rule on this actually changed. The NBA isn't allowing any team to work out a prospect before the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp in order to encourage participation by top prospects in the event....usually they just do the measurement stuff and wait for personal workouts.

Apparently this will give prospects less evaluation time in front of scouts before they have to make their declaration for the draft official as well...

[wildbill2u]

Nothing lately, but I'm thinking the Spurs will almost certainly use their late round picks on European players (Maciulis a possiblity) that have no chance of joining a full roster next year....either that, or they'll trade the picks.

Other possibles are the Mirzas (Teletovic and Begic), Koponen, and Zabelin.

The Spurs have a historic first that they could attempt in this draft: They could draft BOTH guys named Mirza. Think of the possibilities for marketing.

Theme song (to the tune of Mairsy Oats from the 40s) Mirza One and Mirza Two and little lambsie divie, other Euro guys, wouldn't do.

[Bruno]

There had been discussion of drafting Jonas Maciulis with our late second round pick. Has anybody heard anything about him recently?

He is playing in the Lithuanian league. it's not a very interestign league because there are only 2 good team (Rytas and Kaunas). Nba teams will mainly judge him on what he has done in euroleague.

[Bruno]

Other possibles are the Mirzas (Teletovic and Begic), Koponen, and Zabelin.

Mirza teletovic is to me not a good prospect. He is a very average euro PF with a good jumpshoot as only quality. I don't think he will play one day in nba.


BTW, some news about Mahinmi : Britton Johnsen is out for the season with a shoulder injury. This injury gives for the moment more playtime for Mahinmi : he played 20 minutes in his last game with a 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks game. Pau has the possibility to sign a player as Johnsen remplacement : I wouldn't be surprised to see a D-league player (like Jamar Smith) signing with them soon.

[mardigan]

Ramon Sessions and Marcellus Kemp from Nevada will enter the draft. Kemp is a baller, I wonder if he could be there when we pick in the second?

[mardigan]

Its official, Oden is coming out, as are Conley Jr and Cook

[Darkwaters]

Ramon Sessions and Marcellus Kemp from Nevada will enter the draft. Kemp is a baller, I wonder if he could be there when we pick in the second?

I'm curious if they're testing the waters or if they actually intend to go pro this season?

[Bruno]

Salary protections for the 07 year are now available on espn :

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2654216

Bruce Bowen :
$2,000,000 salary protection if waived before 7/1/07, thereafter full

Robert Horry :
$2,000,000 salary protection if waived before 7/1/07, thereafter full

James White :
no salary protection if waived before 8/1/07, thereafter $100,000 and will increase to $200,000 if not waived before 10/1/07 and to $300,000 if on opening day roster


If the player agrees, protection deadline can be postponed. I say that because if Horry decides to retire, he can give more time to Spurs for working on a trade using his "better than expiring" contract. Two years ago, Vlade Divac has done that but Lakers finally waived him.

For James White, Spurs will be able to see for free what he can do in summer league, it will cost them $200K to see what he can do in training camp, $300K so see what he can do up to january 10th and his full salary (around $700K) if they keep him after january 10th.

[Mr. Body]

Why is Horry a 'better than expiring' contract?

Bruno, you European! In this case 10/1/07 is October 1st, not January 10th.

Good job!

[mountainballer]

There had been discussion of drafting Jonas Maciulis with our late second round pick. Has anybody heard anything about him recently?

Jonas once stated, that he isn't interested in the NBA.
so there would be something to clarify, before thinking of using even a late 2nd rounder on him.
(I can see a lot of reasons, why he would prefer to play euro-ball)
but if he has changed his mind, he is an interesting option.
one thing for sure: fans will love him. he is a Berserker.

[Bruno]

Why is Horry a 'better than expiring' contract?

Let's take the scenario of a team who is under the cap and want to go further under the cap to sign a big FA. They have a player paid $4.5M. They can trade him for Horry (Horry salary is $3.6M) and then waive Horry : Horry will count for $2M against the cap and the team will have $2.5M more in capspace.
Horry can be atractive too for a team who try to avoid the luxury tax or for a team who has a player paid $4M they don't like and who want to save some money.
Horry's contract is better than an expiring contract because he is a $3.6M expiring who will cost only $2M.

Bruno, you European! In this case 10/1/07 is October 1st, not January 10th.

I'm european but I know that 10/1/07 is october 1st. James White contract, like all non-guaranteed contracts, will become fully guaranteed for the 07-08 year on January 10th (1/10/08).

[Mr. Body]

My mistake. I see what you were saying. However, White makes $700K according to Hoopshype.

[Bruno]

Coin flips have been done yesterday :
http://www.nba.com/news/ties_broken_draft_070420.html

[Bruno]

BTW, some news about Mahinmi : Britton Johnsen is out for the season with a shoulder injury. This injury gives for the moment more playtime for Mahinmi : he played 20 minutes in his last game with a 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks game. Pau has the possibility to sign a player as Johnsen remplacement : I wouldn't be surprised to see a D-league player (like Jamar Smith) signing with them soon.

Two good news :

First : Pau has decided that they won't sign a remplacement for Johnsen. Mahinmi will have more playtime for the end of the season because he will play too some PF now.

Second : Mahinmi has had his best game of the season in french league today
22 min
21 points (8/8 FG, 5/5 FT)
7 rebounds
1 blocks
4 PF
6 fouls drawn

[picnroll]

Pau site continues to list Mahinmi at 6'9". Is that right? What kind of compe ion is Pau playing now?

[Bruno]

Pau site continues to list Mahinmi at 6'9". Is that right? What kind of compe ion is Pau playing now?

They list him at 2m08, it's closer to 6'10" than 6'9" and I don't think it's the result of a mesurement they have done themselves.

Mahinmi is playing two compe ions now :
- The french league : they are still 3 regular season games left. Playoffs are up to 7 games long if Pau is qualified.
- The french cup : it's a single game elimination tournament. Pau is in quarter final.

So Mahinmi will play between 4 and 13 games with Pau this year.

[yavozerb]

The 76ers need a post-up player. They need another long-range shooter after they finished last in the NBA in 3-pointers. General manager Billy King could package a pick and a player to get an impact player. Or he could package two of the picks to move up in the draft. Or he could try to address the needs through the draft.

Wilmington News Journal

Another possible destination for Scola or barry to move up in draft