Duncan's 2008 All-Star Jersey

[Holt's Cat]

How much cap room in 2010 with the Big Three under contract?

See ex's post. It's a load.

[Ghost Writer]

But you yourself said the front office can't be counted on to replenish via a "star" free agent signing.

[exstatic]

See ex's post. It's a load.

Lot's of cap room, but only Tim and Tony signed. Manu will turn 33 during the FA period that summer, so your choice is to re-sign him for market, forget him and chase a franchise player (there is one available and unrestricted that year), or convince him to sign a min contract for one year, and revisit some sort of MCE deal in 2011.

[Holt's Cat]

But you yourself said the front office can't be counted on to replenish via a "star" free agent signing.

So what? That's 2010 and the Spurs would be able to keep the Big 3 together and go after a 'big' free agent. Why are the Spurs moving a star who will be 28 then to find another star?

[Ghost Writer]

What exactly is your plan? Deal Parker now for a player with two seasons left in his career and then try to replace him in free agency in 2009? Sticking with what has won you 3 les in 5 years through 2010 seems pretty good, considering the alternative you have argued for is moving the youngest member of that trio (currently 25 years of age) today.

I would consider it.

I don't think we lose much in the next two years going from Parker to Kidd (I'd say it was an improvement, but only NBA followers outside of S.A. would agree with me).

And because Parker is the Spurs' third best player, I think it's tempting to get Kidd for two years and then potentially bring in a young star like Arenas to play with Manu and Duncan in 2009 (or wait for 2010's crop, which is better).

[Holt's Cat]

How is Kidd today or Arenas in '09 an improvement over Parker?

Arenas?

Nevermind that's assuming you can even land Arenas in free agency.

[exstatic]

I think the Spurs are thinking beyond bringing in sidekicks for Duncan's last 4 years. They have those in place. They're going after a big fish in 2010, thinking post-Duncan.

[Ghost Writer]

How is Kidd today or Arenas in '09 an improvement over Parker?

Arenas?

Nevermind that's assuming you can even land Arenas in free agency.

Are you serious.

This is why we are having failure to communicate.

[Ghost Writer]

I think the Spurs are thinking beyond bringing in sidekicks for Duncan's last 4 years. They have those in place. They're going after a big fish in 2010, thinking post-Duncan.

Can we retain the current big 3 and go after a max free agent in 2010?

[Holt's Cat]

I think the Spurs are thinking beyond bringing in sidekicks for Duncan's last 4 years. They have those in place. They're going after a big fish in 2010, thinking post-Duncan.

Right, and if they aren't able to, then they will have the flexibility to replenish the supporting cast around the Big 3 for TD's last couple of seasons.

Why exactly are we worried about the 2012-13 season today? There are 5 playoffs before that. If anything, maximize the remainder of TD's career to win championships and blow it all up after he retires.

[Holt's Cat]

Are you serious.

This is why we are having failure to communicate.

Sure, you erroneously believe that 57 year old Jason Kidd and Gilbert Arenas are superior players to Tony Parker.

[Holt's Cat]

Can we retain the current big 3 and go after a max free agent in 2010?

Uh, I think that's what has been said about 5 times already.

[Ghost Writer]

But you have no faith in the front office to do so.

You're on the clock, pal...

[Holt's Cat]

But you have no faith in the front office to do so.

You're on the clock, pal...

No faith to do what? And who cares? You want the Spurs to punt on the last 5 years of TD's career because you are worried about 2012.

[Ghost Writer]

Right, and if they aren't able to, then they will have the flexibility to replenish the supporting cast around the Big 3 for TD's last couple of seasons.

Why exactly are we worried about the 2012-13 season today? There are 5 playoffs before that. If anything, maximize the remainder of TD's career to win championships and blow it all up after he retires.

I think that the Spurs have an excellent opportunity to leverage the success and reputation of Manu, Parker and Duncan to be successful five years from now (and not become a lottery team to be good again).

Many of you are brainwashed into thinking Parker is a stud. Perhaps other GMs will, too.

I am telling you right now that after Duncan retires, we'll need more than Parker and Manu.

In the coming years, we should be thinking of trades, opportunistic singings and clearing cap space to bring in at least one more franchise-level player as far as a succession strategy beyond Duncan is concerned.

Ignore this if you think Parker is a better player than Kidd or Arenas.

[Holt's Cat]

I think that the Spurs have an excellent opportunity to leverage the success and reputation of Manu, Parker and Duncan to be successful five years from now (and not become a lottery team to be good again).

So blow up what works to avoid becoming a lottery team 5 years from now? That's Popd@mn stupid.

Many of you are brainwashed into thinking Parker is a stud. Perhaps other GMs will, too.

You are incapable of understanding how good he is.

I am telling you right now that after Duncan retires, we'll need more than Parker and Manu.

1. 5 years from now.
2. The Spurs would probably build the team around Parker.

In the coming years, we should be thinking of trades, opportunistic singings and clearing cap space to bring in at least one more franchise-level player as far as a succession strategy beyond Duncan is concerned.

WHY? Win now, worry later. Screw 5 years from now.

Ignore this if you think Parker is a better player than Kidd or Arenas.

Yeah, ignoring your drivel is not a bad idea.

[Ghost Writer]

No faith to do what? And who cares? You want the Spurs to punt on the last 5 years of TD's career because you are worried about 2012.

Don't avoid the fact that you have cornered yourself.

You said that you would not trade Parker for an equal PG and max cap space in 2009.

But then you're turning around and saying you want to stand pat, because they'll be able to go after a max free agent in 2010.


What about the part where you asserted all this week that the Spurs front office can't sign star max players?

Question.

[exstatic]

I'm not sure about Ginobili. I'd love to keep him on a reduced deal, with the option to re-talk in 2011.

I think they're going after LeBron, and going hard. He'll be 25 in 2010. They'll offer him a place on a perennial champion, and the chance to be the man. He'll have the chance to play at least two years with Tim as sort of an apprenticeship, and maybe more if Tim is enjoying himself. I'm not saying he's coming, but I believe he's their target. He put Cleveland on notice by only re-upping for 3 years. There are other good players available, but no one else to turn the team over to in 2012. The rest of the players are #2s, not true franchise guys: Melo, Wade, Bosh.

[Holt's Cat]

Don't avoid the fact that you have cornered yourself.

How? I think you've cornered the 6th tail you've had today, that's about it.

You said that you would not trade Parker for an equal PG and max cap space in 2009.

I said I would not trade a 25 year old Tony Parker for a 36 year old Jason Kidd and having to count on 2009 to replace both.

But then you're turning around and saying you want to stand pat, because they'll be able to go after a max free agent in 2010.

Not what I said. I said they could keep their big 3 together and still have a significant amount of cap room to replenish the supporting cast around them. Under your 2009 scenario the Spurs will have to find a 3rd star in free agency and that will be a max free agent.

What about the part where you asserted all this week that the Spurs front office can't sign star max players?

Question.

What about it? With cap flexibility you don't necessarily have to sign someone, you can use it to absorb salaries in trades.

[Ghost Writer]

That sounds great, but what about the part where none of you think the front office can woo a star max player?

Question.

The only other alternatives are trading your assets for picks or potential talent or winning the lottery again.

I like the idea of creating your own luck.

[Holt's Cat]

I'm not sure about Ginobili. I'd love to keep him on a reduced deal, with the option to re-talk in 2011.

I think they're going after LeBron, and going hard. He'll be 25 in 2010. They'll offer him a place on a perennial champion, and the chance to be the man. He'll have the chance to play at least two years with Tim as sort of an apprenticeship, and maybe more if Tim is enjoying himself. I'm not saying he's coming, but I believe he's their target. He put Cleveland on notice by only re-upping for 3 years. There are other good players available, but no one else to turn the team over to in 2012. The rest of the players are #2s, not true franchise guys: Melo, Wade, Bosh.

Sure, might as well. You never know. Otherwise you blow it up and start over again in 2012, which leaves you with 5 years of TD's career to focus on winning more championships during.

[Ghost Writer]

How? I think you've cornered the 6th tail you've had today, that's about it.



I said I would not trade a 25 year old Tony Parker for a 36 year old Jason Kidd and having to count on 2009 to replace both.



Not what I said. I said they could keep their big 3 together and still have a significant amount of cap room to replenish the supporting cast around them. Under your 2009 scenario the Spurs will have to find a 3rd star in free agency and that will be a max free agent.



What about it? With cap flexibility you don't necessarily have to sign someone, you can use it to absorb salaries in trades.

You'd be trading PArker for Kidd for 2 years and then replacing Kidd with a franchise player for max money in 2009 who would be better than both Kidd and Parker before him.

You think Parker already is that star and that's where we disagree.

If the Spurs are intent on building the team around Parker, we're in trouble.

[Holt's Cat]

That sounds great, but what about the part where none of you think the front office can woo a star max player?

Question.

What about it? The Spurs then build around Parker and rebuild the team with draft picks and what not. When Duncan leaves the game the Spurs will take a hit. So get the most you can out of his time now.

The only other alternatives are trading your assets for picks or potential talent or winning the lottery again.

I like the idea of creating your own luck.

I don't like the idea of making moves today for something that could happen 5 years from now. Who gives a about 2012?

[Holt's Cat]

You'd be trading PArker for Kidd for 2 years and then replacing Kidd with a franchise player for max money in 2009 who would be better than both Kidd and Parker before him.

Who is that player?

You think Parker already is that star and that's where we disagree.

How is Parker not a legit 2nd or 3rd star in the NBA?

If the Spurs are intent on building the team around Parker, we're in trouble.

In 2012?

[Ghost Writer]

`Dude, when you are a fan of a franchise that has been at the top due to the sheer luck of two #1 draft picks that yielded all-franchise big men within the same decade of each other and have seen the front office whiff with max money in a free agent summer, you need to worry about the long term.

"Blow it up" in 2012 is what fool's do with house money.