Splitter

[AFBlue]

Spurs are in a really comfortable situation to re-sign Splitter. They are in a great shape salary cape wise and Splitter will be a restricted free agent. I'm no saying it's a given Spurs will re-sign him but they are clearly in the driver's seat.

I didn't realize Splitter's free agency would be restricted. That certainly does improve the likelihood that he either returns or the Spurs receive value in a sign-and-trade scenario.

[AFBlue]

McGee would offer rim protection, quicker/more efficent close out on stretch PF and better rebounding.... McGee has the potential to be very good and even great in the precise role he would have with the Spurs.

Why do you continue to pimp McGee as if he's an impending free agent or being made remotely available by the Nuggets?

[TheSkeptic]

Trading him now makes no sense because he's clearly being integrated with Timmy and is the only productive big outside of Duncan. They're playing too well to shake it up by dealing a major piece.

And while a sign-and-trade is possible, it takes a bunch of factors to make it happen...team over cap, Splitter wanting to sign there, and assets the Spurs want in return. I actually think there will be more teams out there with cap space looking for centers than there will be quality centers. But, a sign-and-trade could happen.

This is pretty much what I'm thinking as well. David West (who isn't really a center imo) will probably be the marquee big man free agent this summer and as such teams will be more likely to overpay other bigs.

In Tiago's case, I think that what would make him more compelling to any team with a point guard that runs a decent pick and roll is how he plays without Tim. Games like versus Utah, Phoenix, and Houston last year and even Miami this year where he clearly showed that he can step up and that a team could be compe ive with him as one of its top bigs. The fact that he was able to perform while playing mostly with guards like De Colo, Patty Mills, and Gary Neal and "bigs" like Blair and Bonner would be very encouraging if I was a team who lost out on David West (or whoever) and I was still in the market for a decent big.

Worst-case scenario they'd be getting an efficient big who can defend the perimeter/the pick and roll, rotate, and rebound a bit for around 12-15/8-10 in a full 30 minutes.

Send him to a big man camp during the offseason where he can learn post fundamentals or develop a short jumpshot and suddenly you're looking at a player with quite a bit of upside to go along with that high floor. Not bad at all during a free agency period where there aren't too many quality bigs on the market.

This is all moot though since Splitter probably stays in SA.

[AFBlue]

I would rate the top FA centers like this...

1) Dwight Howard
2) Al Jefferson
3) Tiago Splitter

If we're including PFs, I'd probably slot Josh Smith ahead of Splitter with Millsap even and West just behind. But teams will prioritize a true center and Splitter will be high on someone's list for the exact reason you stated...experience and ability in the pick-and-roll game.

[Mel_13]

I would rate the top FA centers like this...

1) Dwight Howard
2) Al Jefferson
3) Tiago Splitter

If we're including PFs, I'd probably slot Josh Smith ahead of Splitter with Millsap even and West just behind. But teams will prioritize a true center and Splitter will be high on someone's list for the exact reason you stated...experience and ability in the pick-and-roll game.

Pekovic will be a restricted free agent this summer. He'll attract as much interest as Splitter, probably more.

[TheSkeptic]

For some reason I had completely forgotten about Dwight Howard and Al Jefferson.

Wow. So the crop isn't as bad as I thought.

I agree with you Mel. Pekovic is really good. Minnesota would be foolish to let him go imo. Out of those names I think Howard, Jefferson, and Smith are the most likely to change teams. West too.

Splitter I think stays in San Antonio but should be slotted somewhere in the 2nd or 3rd tier when it comes to available bigs I'd say.