But trading him for a pick or a player woudn't create as much room if, for example, you intended to use your MLE (or some part of it) in the near future. Getting back the functional equivalent of a trade exception (assuming they can get Spanoulis settled) might be sufficient to convince the Spurs to use the MLE.
Should have been, but at least the reports that I've read have suggested that the Spurs hadn't been able to do anything better than an offer of a 2nd round pick. Perhaps the market is aware that with Scola's upside you get the headaches of his contractual issues with Tau and the possiblity that he'll just remain in Europe for the foreseeable future.
Again, if they get to dump Spanoulis as you say they will, then they've rid themselves of some salary and opened a roster spot with an MLE still available.
Perhaps there's something else afoot -- I'm trying to remain positive and see this as a potentially strategic move. I might be wrong in that choice, but I can't believe that this management group would make what appears to be a boneheaded decision without some resaonable contingency to follow.
I'm going to withhold judgment, but I understand what you're saying. If this deal allows the Spurs to make an offer to a free agent who can potentially make a difference -- a young, athletic wing, for instance -- I can see the trade as proving to be beneficial.
It would certainly seem from afar that they could have gotten more.
