What would be your long term strategy to get back in the le hunt?

[RC_Drunkford]

Middleton will also be too expensive, although I’d welcome him with open arms.

And Millsap, even though we’re only 5 games in, looks washed this season. Averaging 10 PPG on 37% shooting... yuck. Looked horrible against the Lakers the other night. Plus he’s almost 34. So maybe the Spurs will go after him

Middleton is gettable if we can get him for 20-25 million. Millsap is focusing on defense and should get better as the season progresses cause he was injured for a while. As long as he can play defense I'd love to have him on the team. His age should make him gettable. Plus both are great defenders, can shoot the 3 and are good passers. And they would fit culturally. Let the young guys make another leap and get a SF in the draft and that team could go far. There are plenty of high level role players out there, especially 3-and-D guys. Spurs would just have to get rid of Gasol, Mills, Bertans, Belinelli and go after those.

Murray/DeRozan/Middleton/Millsap/LA would have length, quickness, athleticism, defense, shooting, rebounding, passing and 4 players who can go for 30 when they get hot. You could perfectly stagger them with the bench.

[wildbill2u]

How about a modified hang-out all-out tank> We play what we have until the trade deadline. By that time LMA and DeRozen will be convinced that there is no future here and be ready to move on if given the chance. We ask them if they are ready to be traded and treat them right. We look for draft picks rather than players an trade them ==and throw in Patty and Gasol if anyone will take them, even if we have to pay part of their salary for the remainder of their contracts.

Teams with a current potential who need skilled vets at their positions might be induced to give up some stashed draft picks. Or is this all a dream?

It will be interesting to see if any of us come up with the actual strategy of the FO/

[daslicer]

I think a lot of people have a way too negative outlook. We have 2 All-Stars and some young guys. Derozan/Aldridge ain't enough to win a le, so if we can't get All-Stars we gotta get multiple players close to that level to build a supreme supporting cast and do it by committee while at the same time betting on internal improvement of our young guys. If we could get Middleton and Millsap, which is actually more realistic than signing a Jimmy Butler or Kyrie, our starting line up would be crazy good. Especially if Dejounte can improve. If Lonnie Walker can be anything close to Donovan Mitc there is your 6th man. The moves just have to be totally on point and all the dead weight has to get cut.

The season was going to be exciting up until the Spurs got ed over with injuries to their 3 young prospects. I don't think the Spurs are le contenders if their young prospects are healthy but they would have been much better overall.

[sasaint]

How about a modified hang-out all-out tank> We play what we have until the trade deadline. By that time LMA and DeRozen will be convinced that there is no future here and be ready to move on if given the chance. We ask them if they are ready to be traded and treat them right. We look for draft picks rather than players an trade them ==and throw in Patty and Gasol if anyone will take them, even if we have to pay part of their salary for the remainder of their contracts.

Teams with a current potential who need skilled vets at their positions might be induced to give up some stashed draft picks. Or is this all a dream?

It will be interesting to see if any of us come up with the actual strategy of the FO/

Yes, this is all a dream. Go back to sleep; we will awaken you in a few years. Personnel moves like you propose are not ever a possibility for PATFO.

[gambit1990]

ariza and mcgee are free agents next summer.

murray/demar/ariza/la/mcgee

[Millennial_Messiah]

Move to Seattle


Maybe that could save a lot on my grandma's taxes on her 2400 square foot house by Sea World

[dbestpro]

Move to Seattle


Maybe that could save a lot on my grandma's taxes on her 2400 square foot house by Sea World

Yeah, the could fill the empty seats with homeless people and have shared needle night in Seattle.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Yeah, the could fill the empty seats with homeless people and have shared needle night in Seattle.

At least they could fill two to a seat in Seattle instead of needing 7.3 seats per person to accomodate those big ol' women in SA...


... that's my theory on Seattle, CenturyLink and the Legion of Boom, & I'm sticking to it.

[JeffDuncan]

At least they could fill two to a seat in Seattle instead of needing 7.3 seats per person to accomodate those big ol' women in SA...

Hey c'mon, that's just more to love.

[Millennial_Messiah]

Hey c'mon, that's just more to love.

Enjoy the grief/funeral expenses when your mutant balloon wife dies at age 39 from "natural" causes, and taking care of defective children... nah, I'll take the fit chicks.

[siraulo23]

be bad for a couple of years or so, collect assets

get lucky and draft a franchise player, spurs aint gonna be a real contender for a while

[skin27]

If they really want to rebuild as in total rebuild..they should trade LMA and derozan for top 5 pick..

[Spurtacular]

The 5 Stages of Grief

1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

[Chinook]

Right. Especially not if the LeBron team is still the Los Angeles Dumpsters at that time.



I'd keep Forbes for the rest of the year because the nasty injury situation at guard has scared me. We need a defensive wing more than Beli or Bertans I think. Sure, it's a blistering year for scoring, but scores are already starting to come back down, and there are lots of complaints about the touchy touchy foul calling. I think D will be back, as a respectable thing, in the second half, if not even sooner.



Nah. It's that problem that he has a big red D with a diagonal line through it tattooed on his forehead. Gotta have some kind of defense from the 3 position.

Heck, I'd try DDR as the starting point guard long before I'd put him at the 3. Forbes at the starting 2.

Y'know, I'd almost try Murray at the 3 when he comes back, at least in one preseason game. He's way too light, but he plays tough D and he hits the boards like a maniac. As long as we're throwing ideas around.

Murray's a strong defender, and Walker should also be great. Get a strong defender at PF, and I don't see why DeRozan should have a huge defensive burden.

I think they'll keep all of those guys (Forbes, Beli and Bertans). But if I'm trying to win now, getting that max slot is more important than worry about the rotation this year. Plus they can always get bodies to play at guard, like Jerrad Bayless. We're talking about the Spurs getting a decent pick as part of this.

[Chinook]

I would do something like this:

• Trade Pau to the Bulls for Rob Lo's expiring (which makes a lot of sense for both teams tbh)
• Trade Mills and Bertans for Iman Shumpert and Yogi Ferrell expiring (attach Toronto pick if you have to)
• Trade Belinelli to Charlotte for Tony Parker and a 2nd rounder, waive Parker, then stretch his contract

It doesn't make sense for Chicago to take Pau's guarantee for free.

If Vlade is willing to take Mills for the Toronto pick, you do it whether you're trying to win or not. He's not, though. He might take on Bertans for free/give a small asset, but they aren't hurting for guards or shooters, so they probably wouldn't value Mills beyond his contract.

Parker's deal next year isn't guaranteed. I'd not stretching him at all. Charlotte probably intends to keep Parker anyway. If they are going to want Beli, they'll have to legit pay for him some other way.

let Rudy Gay walk
Trade both 1st rounders to move up in the draft and draft a SF.
Then sign Middleton, Millsap, Stanley Johnson. Might have to trade Forbes to sign Johnson, but it could also work while keeping him.
Fill out the rest of the roster with vets on minimum deals like Tyson Chandler, Dante Cunningham, etc.
If Huestis works out he's the 3rd PG, otherwise get a vet for the min

Rudy probably does have to walk.

I'm really not up on ditching the Toronto pick so lightly. It doesn't have a ton of value for moving up (maybe two or three spots), but it has decent value as a potential flier. Unless that one great player is available, I'm holding onto it or using it in a separate deal.

They definitely wouldn't be able to sign all three of those guys. That is a really low contract for Middleton, and if Millsap can be had for that little of an APY, the contract is a very big risk to be worse than Pau's or Mills'. Johnson may end up being available for that cheap, but I think Detroit would match that deal without thought.

They'll have to do the min route regardless. I don't mind the ones you picked.

Huestis is not anything like PG. Dude has worse handles than Green. He's a wing with very little offensive skill. They'll need a real PG to play third fiddle.

[JeffDuncan]

Murray's a strong defender, and Walker should also be great. Get a strong defender at PF, and I don't see why DeRozan should have a huge defensive burden.

And DDR suddenly shows us some D in the Laker game.

But no, we cannot move our star player out of his usual position. Certainly not just on some theory of roster building. He stays right where he is. Because we know for a fact that works.

We get somebody else to play the SF.

Ah, I look at the Wizards struggling, and I look at Otto Porter. Just no way to get him, I suppose. It would be worth every tradeable asset in the house if he could be snagged. The Wiz are not using him correctly, and don't even seem to be trying to. Porter can shoot the 3, and the Wiz will run plays where they get him wide open in the corner - and they don't throw him the ball! Stupid. Also, he's only 25.

I think they'll keep all of those guys (Forbes, Beli and Bertans). ...

I think Bertans is on his way out. He got the start against the Lakers and did nothing useful with it. He's quickly running out of chances.

I like Ferrari, in some ways, but when the injured guys come back he's superfluous. Even PATFO should see that. Call me an optimist.

I'm good with Forbes, as long as he just keeps doing what he's doing.

Why is that Purrtle cat even here??

[DAF86]

Just get a good SF.

[RC_Drunkford]

[/LIST]

It doesn't make sense for Chicago to take Pau's guarantee for free.

If Vlade is willing to take Mills for the Toronto pick, you do it whether you're trying to win or not. He's not, though. He might take on Bertans for free/give a small asset, but they aren't hurting for guards or shooters, so they probably wouldn't value Mills beyond his contract.

Parker's deal next year isn't guaranteed. I'd not stretching him at all. Charlotte probably intends to keep Parker anyway. If they are going to want Beli, they'll have to legit pay for him some other way.



Rudy probably does have to walk.

I'm really not up on ditching the Toronto pick so lightly. It doesn't have a ton of value for moving up (maybe two or three spots), but it has decent value as a potential flier. Unless that one great player is available, I'm holding onto it or using it in a separate deal.

They definitely wouldn't be able to sign all three of those guys. That is a really low contract for Middleton, and if Millsap can be had for that little of an APY, the contract is a very big risk to be worse than Pau's or Mills'. Johnson may end up being available for that cheap, but I think Detroit would match that deal without thought.

They'll have to do the min route regardless. I don't mind the ones you picked.

Huestis is not anything like PG. Dude has worse handles than Green. He's a wing with very little offensive skill. They'll need a real PG to play third fiddle.

Good points. I'd really like for them to go for Middleton. Besides being a good shooter and defender, he's also a good passer and great as an offball player so he should be the perfect fit next to Demar. How much do you think would he cost? The main problem I see with getting him is that the Spurs had to get under the cap and I don't really see them doing that tbh. Other options for the wing should be players like Demarre Carrol, Trevor Ariza, or getting Danny Green back, although I think he'd be expensive with the way that he's playing in Toronto. Maybe even Tobias Harris or Hezonja, but I don't think they would help on D. Cheaper versions could be Jeff Green, Wilson Chandler, Shumpert, KCP or Wes Matthews.

I really think Pop will try to get Stanley Johnson, as they have been really high on him for years. I guess they see a little Kawhi in him. Not the superstar, but more what he projected to be when they drafted him. If Chip can get him to improve his shot, he'd fit right in and he's still very young. Might cost around 6-8 million per year depending on how he plays this season.

Millsap would also fit in well. I don't know what his price will be, but he got paid, declined some what and is older now, so there should be a possibility of getting him, maybe with a longer deal. I just guessed he might be able to still get 15 million.

Pau and Mills have to go for sure. I'd also ship out Belinelli and Bertans, as I think 7 million is too much for him, and would try to sign 2 starter level 3-and-D wings to play with Demar/LA. A SF in the draft, Stanley Johnson and maybe one of Carroll/Ariza/Green would look promising. I think attaching Belinelli/Bertans to Pau/Mills should also make it easier to move them.

What I'm curious about is, which trades would make sense to get us long term rotation players. Carroll should be gettable with his expiring. Phoenix also seems to be a potential trade partner with their depth at SF, they are one of the teams who could actually use Mills. There are plenty of good rotation pieces in the upcoming free agency and a lot of players who would fit the Spurs culture, so going under the cap still seems like the best option to me.

[Fusternino]

I still think this team should pursue Harrell in two years. Should still be cheap and it looks like he's improved his shooting touch.

[Fusternino]

And DDR suddenly shows us some D in the Laker game.

But no, we cannot move our star player out of his usual position. Certainly not just on some theory of roster building. He stays right where he is. Because we know for a fact that works.

We get somebody else to play the SF.

Ah, I look at the Wizards struggling, and I look at Otto Porter. Just no way to get him, I suppose. It would be worth every tradeable asset in the house if he could be snagged. The Wiz are not using him correctly, and don't even seem to be trying to. Porter can shoot the 3, and the Wiz will run plays where they get him wide open in the corner - and they don't throw him the ball! Stupid. Also, he's only 25.



I think Bertans is on his way out. He got the start against the Lakers and did nothing useful with it. He's quickly running out of chances.

I like Ferrari, in some ways, but when the injured guys come back he's superfluous. Even PATFO should see that. Call me an optimist.

I'm good with Forbes, as long as he just keeps doing what he's doing.

Why is that Purrtle cat even here??

Grunfield is a bottom 5 GM. I'm sure a fleece could be possible.

[RC_Drunkford]

We get somebody else to play the SF.

Ah, I look at the Wizards struggling, and I look at Otto Porter. Just no way to get him, I suppose. It would be worth every tradeable asset in the house if he could be snagged. The Wiz are not using him correctly, and don't even seem to be trying to. Porter can shoot the 3, and the Wiz will run plays where they get him wide open in the corner - and they don't throw him the ball! Stupid. Also, he's only 25.

I'm all in on the Otto Porter hype train. Just not sure if we have enough to offer. My Top 3 targets for SF (not factoring in superstars like Butler, etc.):

1. Otto Porter
2. Middleton
3. Carroll

[RC_Drunkford]

Would this work if we attach some picks or throw in Poetl?

http://www.espn.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yd4elsfs

[Chinook]

And DDR suddenly shows us some D in the Laker game.

But no, we cannot move our star player out of his usual position. Certainly not just on some theory of roster building. He stays right where he is. Because we know for a fact that works.

DeRozan plays a ton of SF as it is, and that's without White and Walker and with counting Beli/DeRozan lineups as Beli playing the three. Once legit options at guard are available. he'll play the three more. He played the three plenty in Toronto. You don't arbitrarily bench Walker for the next two or three years simply because you don't want DeRozan to be the third-tallest player on the court for the Spurs. Lonnie is currently the team's best chance to dramatically increase their talent level. If he's playing well, he has to be in there as essentially the new Danny Green.

I think Bertans is on his way out. He got the start against the Lakers and did nothing useful with it. He's quickly running out of chances.

I like Ferrari, in some ways, but when the injured guys come back he's superfluous. Even PATFO should see that. Call me an optimist.

I'm good with Forbes, as long as he just keeps doing what he's doing.

Why is that Purrtle cat even here??

I don't think PATFO gave Bertans that much money with the idea that he was on thin ice. Again, they can't trade Davis until the middle of January. No reason to not use him if you're going to have him no matter what. If the Spurs plan to win, they won't move any of these three this year unless part of something like a Porter trade. They all provide spacing and scoring that you need to put around DMDR and LMA. I expect all three to remain in the rotation once White returns, though one of them would lose his spot if Walker can get a solid role. If we're specifically talking about flipping the team over to try to win as fast as possible, then moving role-players to free up cap and get an asset or two is a pretty solid step.

[Fusternino]

Talking with some Wizards fans now what they would want from us in terms of an OPJ trade.

[dbestpro]

DDR seems to be more the point forward. Better yet, go ahead and call him a PG. Forbes is SG. Less stress on Walker and White when they return. Still think some kind of trade with Mills, Pondexter and a pick for Carroll of NJ would work once he gets better after surgery.