If Memphis is looking for cap space this summer.

[ThomasGranger]

I don't think they're moving Outlaw. He's been comming up big for them lately.

[DazedAndConfused]

You can bet your ass that the line of suitors for Miller is longer than it was for Pau. Miller is the kind of player that can fit right in on just about any team. Everyone would love to have him.

[E20]

And what does it say of the Grizzlies? Well, it says that they’re bleeding financial losses, desperate to strip payroll and make themselves more attractive for a potential buyer. They’re shopping guard Mike Miller throughout the league too, sources say, and it’s just a matter of time until they’ve stripped themselves to the core. Essentially, they’re the Vancouver Grizzlies again.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns

[MaNu4Tres]

Grizzlies would trade Miller for more cap relief next year, in that case only 5 teams can do that for them: Heat, Spurs and the 3 below.

Atlanta could but think about it. Do you really think Atlanta wants to add 8.3 million to a position they are stacked at with Marvin Williams, Josh Smith, Joe Johnson, and Josh Childress. Plus Josh Smith is about to get to get paid next year. I highly doubt Atlanta would like to add a player who would cut into those players minutes for 8.3 million the next 2 years.

Orlando could but they have over 23 + million a year tied up with Turkoglu and Lewis which play the same position. Plus with Howard and Nelson's contracts about to kick in. I doubt they want to add 8.3 for a player that plays is identical to Turkoglu and Lewis. If I were Orlando I'd look for a 2 guard that could put it on the floor and create or another big man that could help Howard inside with that 8.3 million.


Seattle could but again I really doubt they want to add Miller and his 8.3 million because they are in rebuilding mode, and he plays the same position as Durant and Jeff Green. They also have Wally at the same position who gets 13 million next year.


Spurs, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta, and the Sonics are the teams that could give Memphis expiring contracts.

[manufor3]

Barry and Elson for Juan Carlos and Darko works

oh gosh do that trade!!!

[ss1986v2]

The question is why would Seattle do a trade which does not help them.

yes, they wouldnt do it straight up. you would have to send pick(s) and maybe some cash to balance things out. say, 2 2nd round picks (2008 torontos and 2009 spurs) plus 500k (about the difference in pay between KT and barry+elson).

seattle nets a couple picks (which they could use, or package later for whatever), and it doesnt cost them a penny; only the loss of KTs production (which they seem more than willing to lose if it nets them any future assets).

[Mr. Body]

You can bet your ass that the line of suitors for Miller is longer than it was for Pau. Miller is the kind of player that can fit right in on just about any team. Everyone would love to have him.

Pau isn't?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

The other day timvp made a very good case for why Kurt Thomas wouldn't help SA much, and I agree with him:

"Plus Kurt Thomas and Tim Duncan would form a frontline that is too immobile. If a team went small against the Spurs, the Spurs would get killed. Oberto, Bonner, Horry and even Elson work well next to Duncan because they are mobile and are able to step out on the perimeter if needed. Thomas couldn't and then he's not able to take advantage of small defenders.

If this were 1998, then yeah Duncan and Thomas would be a nice frontline. But it's 2008 and with the rules how they currently are, teams will go small and destroy that pairing...

...Thomas gets blocks against players he's guarding. He doesn't block shots when playing help defense. If you are going for a shotblocker, you want a weakside shotblocker to play next to Duncan.

And again, Thomas is no shotblocker. Horry is more of a shotblocker."

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/sho...?t=85945&page=5

Elson+Finley/Barry+enticements for Miller and I'm all over it - don't want to give Splitter away though, nor Mahinmi if possible.

Miller is an all court player, does everything (although his D is not great) - at the moment he's grabbing 7 boards and dishing 4 asts to add to his 17pts as a 3rd option! And I'm not convinced that he'll disappear in the playoffs like Hedo.

As for Fin, he took a discount, got his ring, so trading him away for the 30-odd games left in his career is not a huge betrayal. HE GOT WHAT HE CAME FOR. Miller shores us up at the swing positions... Manu/Bowen/Miller/Udoka/Barry sounds pretty good to me! And then we only need to add one swing to replace Barry for next year.

[Mr. Body]

Yeah, I don't get the hard-ons for Kurt Thomas. What we need is scoring. Miller would help this team big time now and in the future.

Na ga happen, but can dream.

[MaNu4Tres]

The other day timvp made a very good case for why Kurt Thomas wouldn't help SA much, and I agree with him:

"Plus Kurt Thomas and Tim Duncan would form a frontline that is too immobile. If a team went small against the Spurs, the Spurs would get killed. Oberto, Bonner, Horry and even Elson work well next to Duncan because they are mobile and are able to step out on the perimeter if needed. Thomas couldn't and then he's not able to take advantage of small defenders.


...Thomas gets blocks against players he's guarding. He doesn't block shots when playing help defense. If you are going for a shotblocker, you want a weakside shotblocker to play next to Duncan.

And again, Thomas is no shotblocker. Horry is more of a shotblocker."

I'm pretty sure when teams go small against any of our current big guys, those guys get killed. You act like Pop never goes to Udoka or Bowen at the 4 when teams go small. We have that option. So if Kurt came in here and if a team were to go small, just like we do about every time, we would go to Bruce or Udoka at the 4. The only big that has the foot speed that has a remote chance of playing small ball is Elson. So saying Thomas would get killed against small ball is not fair. Thomas is just as slow as Oberto. I'll give you Horry, Elson and Bonner the edge in speed and Horry the edge in blocks in transition defense ( btw FYI..Bonner and Elson won't get any important playing time come April, May, and June so they can be taking out of this equation). Kurt Thomas on the other hand would be the best post defender we would have. It would let Duncan roam the weakside and it would allow our wings to stay at home with the shooters on the outside. Thomas is a of a post defender and hardly ever needs the help of the double team, he would challenge Amare, Gasol, KG, Sheed, Boozer, and even Dirk a lot more efficient than Oberto Elson and Horry thats for sure.

[T Park]

Yeah when other teams go small you just put Udoka at the 4. Pop seems finally totally confident in playing Udoka at that spot that I said back in November hes perfect for.

Kurt Thomas though would be a fantastic pickup in that he can rebound, he plays good post defense coughyaomingcough and he can knock down the outside shot quite regularly.

just watch the playoffs last year and see how huge he was for Phoenix and how much they miss him now.

[ChumpDumper]

There are up and downsides to Kurt Thomas. Im just frustrated that we can't find any consistency from our big men outside of Duncan and really bothered that Horry looks really, really done.

[MaNu4Tres]

It would have been nice if Splitter came in this year. He rebounds, he isn't afraid to jump and contests shots at the rim, he can run the floor, he plays really well off the pick and roll by putting it on the floor and finishing. To tell you the truth, he would probably be our best offensive threat next to Duncan at the post position as well.

[exstatic]

It would have been nice if Splitter came in this year. He rebounds, he isn't afraid to jump and contests shots at the rim, he can run the floor, he plays really well off the pick and roll by putting it on the floor and finishing. To tell you the truth, he would probably be our best offensive threat next to Duncan at the post position as well.

The HUGE 2007 buyout that kept him from coming this year was also one of the things that allowed him to fall to us a #28. His buyout next year is like $1M. With the Spurs kicking in their part, he can easily come over this summer.

[mountainballer]

Miller is great. beside the fact that he doesn't play much defense (still not a downgrade from Barry/Finley in this department) he is as much Spurs material as any SF in the league. he can shoot like few others, he is versatile, he can move the ball and has the ballhandling skills of a PG. he is smart and doesn't try to be the star of the team. he has nice size for a SF and is an above average rebounder. what's not to like?
and some think we will just get him for some expiring contracts? because they sold Pau for cheap? if they put Miller on the market, they will get some nice offers. expiring contracts plus some teasers.
there are some GM out there, who know that Miller is a very good player, who fits in many ways, thanks to his abilities and versatility.
no doubt, Spurs can get him, but it will need a package that isn't a joke.
people argue they won't include Udoka or Mahinmi or even Splitter's rights in such a package?? don't you want to win??? I would hate to lose Udoka, but Miller would be 10 times as valuable as Udoka. he is nice and showed some promising games, but Miller's impact would be so much greater. (I write this, because the grizzlies were interested in Ime last summer, so he might be the teaser necessary to make the deal work)
I would also hate not to see Splitter next season with the Spurs. but if he is the price, fine.
Spurs want a significant upgrade and Miller would definitly provide such an upgrade.
a package like Barry, Elson, Ime and a 1st rounder would still be a great deal for the Spurs. (I know, many think he could be had for Barry, a 2nd rounder and Scola's rights, but those should keep dreaming)

[ChumpDumper]

Miller is one of the few players I wouldn't mind trading Barry for. Ime? Probably not. Memphis' deals aren't really player-driven right now, so expiring contracts and one or two picks and some ready cash to help with this year's losses might be enough to do it.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Spurs want a significant upgrade and Miller would definitly provide such an upgrade.
a package like Barry, Elson, Ime and a 1st rounder would still be a great deal for the Spurs

[remingtonbo2001]

I just want everyone healthy. If we can get Miller for a couple of expiring contracts great, if not, that's fine. I doubt Barry or Finley will be traded. The Spurs FO is a very loyal group.