He isn't a FA.
I'm a fan of Craig Smith. Would be on the cheap too.
The amount of negativism, despair and panic in this thread is unreal. We went from being 3 victories away from the Finals to being hard pressed to compete with the West's elite next year.
Are you kidding me ? Before the 'denial' remarks begin, here me out. We have a solid base of players that includes a Hall of Fame PF and 2-guard and an excellent point guard. We also have an excellent SF who is named to the ALL NBA defense team annually. These guys aren't going anywhere.
Had Manu been 100 % healthy, we would have won the Championship again. Manu's (Our leading scorer and most consistent performer all season) injuries played a bigger part of us not winning a Championship than our old age.
In this offseason, Pop and RC will try and fill the holes. That means finding people who can gives us quality minutes off the bench and maintain our leads or at least give our starters time to rest. Our most glaring needs are: Back-up PG, Back-up SF and Backup C/PF.
We don't need All Star caliber players. We need solid vets with enthusiasm and smarts. We know what we need to do to beat the other teams in our Division. I'm confident we'll find the right mix of players to do just that.
tmtcsc, as long as I have the privilege of seeing that fine backside you've thumbed, I'm down with all of your posts. In fact, you rule.
Denial.
J/k sorta.
What you're finding is people who have looked at the FA, trade, and draft options have seen and realized the second half of your post is seven kinds of nearly impossible.
'all we need' are backup PG, backup SF, and backup C/PF? Where are you getting this people? What brilliant ideas do you have that are escaping everybody else?
You don't think Diop would actually be a great defensive player in a system like SA instead of the free for all that was the Dallas D? Come on...
I agree offense is the order of the day. By the time the draft gets here, the Spurs should have a good idea about what perimeter players they can get in FA.
If that's not looking too hot, use the draft pick to get a perimeter scorer and spend the money on Diop.
Tiago mentioned for the last year he'd like to come to the NBA.
Big deal.
That's probably the best you can do. See if you can get Matt Barnes or somebody with the LLE after that.
The Spurs are already making the assumption that their marvelous 2-guard will have a down year next season due to fatigue being compounded by playing in the Olympics. The All-Defense SF is 37 years old and already demonstrated that he can't guard elite players as well as he used to.
Yes, and if Robert Horry was 25 years old, had superhuman strength, and the shooting touch of Kobe Bryant, the Spurs would have won the championship too. So?
Ginobili's injuries were not a surprise, There's a reason Pop has watched his minutes his entire career. During the season, there was a period where Manu had to log heavy minutes because the Spurs had no choice. Tony Parker was banged up, and the bench players were having their bedsores tended while playing bingo and watching "Murder, She Wrote" in the rec room. It was either burn down Manu's candle, or slip down to the 6th, 7th, or 8th seed. I wondered then if it would catch up to him. It did. 26-year-old Tony Parker was worn down too, though not so severely. Having elderly role players with nothing left in the tank has consequences. The Big 3 carried the team to 56 wins, but their lack of help had consequences. Don't delude yourself into thinking Manu's condition was a fluke.
Wow, that's so impressive that they're going to "try." Really? The general manager is going to attempt to acquire basketball players for the basketball team? Amazing! How unlike other general managers! The Spurs have a real advantage here.
The Spurs have several solid vets with enthusiasm and smarts. The problem is that most of them are over the age of 35 and their bodies don't respond as well to their enthusiastic smart brains anymore. They indeed have terrific knowledge about how to beat other teams; however, they physically are unable to do anything with that knowledge
In order to keep up in the West, the Spurs really need five new younger players, including two starters. Bruce Bowen at this point should be transitioning to the bench as a spot lockdown defender. Neither Oberto nor Thomas should be starting at center. Most likely, they only will get three new players: Mahinmi, a swingman like Mo Evans, and a scrub point guard. They will still have four guys over the age of 35 in their rotation. You probably will cheer the marginal moves they make as just what they needed and express confidence that the old guys somehow will stay healthy and contribute, and that Manu will magically shake off the Olympic fatigue.
I don't buy it. I'm grateful for the 2007 le that we got on the strength of the veterans, but I'm not pretending that they have the mileage left to support the Big 3 anymore. It's been plainly obvious that this reckoning day would come for several years now, and we all just expressed faith that sage R.C. would figure it out somehow. Well, he's struck out on most of his recent moves, and now he pretty much has to run the table: Ian Mahinmi has to be a stud, the two draft picks have to yield steals who are ready to contribute immediately, and the free agent acquisition has to suddenly blossom into a much better player than he has been for the price.
Alternately, the Spurs need those aliens from the movie 'Cocoon' to plant their pods in the swimming pool at the practice center.
tmtcsc, as long as I have the privilege of seeing that fine backside you've thumbed, I'm down with all of your posts. In fact, you rule.A fine ass indeed. And a lucky find on the net. Thank you.
On the net?
I thought it was a live picture of yours.
The biggest dream being posted is that some 25th pick is going to be much help in solving next years swing man need.
If Mahinmi doesn't surprise and step up a lot and Spurs don't land a good scoring swing man with the MLE they aren't real contenders.
Robert Horry as Wilfred Brimley:
"We won't get old and we won't ever die"
Robert Horry as Wilfred Brimley:
Robert Horry as Wilfred Brimley:
"We won't get old and we won't ever die"
"Diabeetus."
We could still buy him?He isn't a FA.
We can trade Duncan for him.
We can also trade Manu and Parker for Smodis, some caviar and some gallons of oil.
Agreed. Between Mahinmi and an athletic swingman pickup in the draft (there should be a few available at #26) the Spurs will take a pretty good step to rejuventating their supporting cast. The Spurs aren't that far off the top. Acting like they're going off the cliff is a bit much. But it's not surprising considering that it's the usual board suspects who are crying wolf.
TP-Barry-Bowen-TD-Thomas
FA/rookie-Manu-Udoka-Mahinmi-Oberto
JV-FA/rookie-FA/rookie-Bonner-FA/rookie
IS this about what you guys think or what?
^yup.
The starting lineup with 3 "over 36" players is amazing.
Ya but you counter with manu and mahinmi off the bench and it isn't that bad...Also, who knows maybe even a younger PG will be running this second group as well. Let all the old guys get the glory already.The starting lineup with 3 "over 36" players is amazing.
Really ? They've all but assumed that one of their best players won't be able to bring it every night because he is competing in the Olympics ? I thought it was pretty well understood that players play in summer leagues and informal scrimmages through out the summer to stay in shape. In fact, I clearly remember Pop saying that it was probably better that Manu play in a controlled environment to help with staying conditioned and healthy. He's going to be resting for the next 5 weeks before he starts preparing for the Olympics. Your assumption is pretty much bull .
Bruce Bowen at 37 is in better shape and condition than most of the players 10 years younger than him. He has been one of our most consistent players since he got to this team. He's improved almost every year. Name me someone besides Kobe that Bruce has failed to lock down ? Your list shouldn't go any further than maybe 2 or 3 names at best. I can live with that.
That's just stupid. Robert Horry had nothing to do with us not winning it this year. He had a terrible year from the start. What did he do for us last year when we won ? He played a big part in us beating New Orleans in Game 7 and Game 6. No one expects him to score 10 pts a game anymore.Yes, and if Robert Horry was 25 years old, had superhuman strength, and the shooting touch of Kobe Bryant, the Spurs would have won the championship too. So?
So you expected Manu to injure his ankle and strain his hip flexor ? Nice try, but I call bull again Nostradamus. He logged heavy minutes for about 5 games but he also sat out of about 5 games. The 5 games he logged heavy minutes was considered one of the greatest scoring stretches by a Spur in their history. If I recall correctly, he came out of it a little tired but uninjured. Don't delude yourself into thinking that Manu didn't take the ball to the basket in the playoffs because he was a little winded. He was playing with injuries.Ginobili's injuries were not a surprise, There's a reason Pop has watched his minutes his entire career. During the season, there was a period where Manu had to log heavy minutes because the Spurs had no choice. I wondered then if it would catch up to him. It did. 26-year-old Tony Parker was worn down too, though not so severely. Having elderly role players with nothing left in the tank has consequences. The Big 3 carried the team to 56 wins, but their lack of help had consequences. Don't delude yourself into thinking Manu's condition was a fluke.
A fluke ? No, happens.
Smartass, your just being a prick here. RC will either take the best player available in the draft or pursue a free agent to accomplish their goals.Wow, that's so impressive that they're going to "try." Really? The general manager is going to attempt to acquire basketball players for the basketball team? Amazing! How unlike other general managers! The Spurs have a real advantage here.
Heard the same thing after we got beat by Dallas 2 years ago.The Spurs have several solid vets with enthusiasm and smarts. The problem is that most of them are over the age of 35 and their bodies don't respond as well to their enthusiastic smart brains anymore. They indeed have terrific knowledge about how to beat other teams; however, they physically are unable to do anything with that knowledge
Mo Evans ?Most likely, they only will get three new players: Mahinmi, a swingman like Mo Evans, and a scrub point guard. They will still have four guys over the age of 35 in their rotation.You probably will cheer the marginal moves they make as just what they needed and express confidence that the old guys somehow will stay healthy and contribute, and that Manu will magically shake off the Olympic fatigue.You're a genius. Maybe the Spurs ought to hire you in the front office.
How the do you know what I'll cheer or not ? What I know is that they have more expertise and knowledge than I do when it comes to their profession. Go ask Golden State what all their youth and athleticism got them. They went from knocking out Dallas to not making the playoffs. Why is that ? Go ask Denver what happened to their promising season. We have problems that are fixable. It doesn't require a complete over-haul. An unproven rookie from Euro land wasn't going to be the "just what we needed" answer either. Neither is Ian Mahinmi.
Losing Scola for nothing sucked but even he wasn't good enough to get Houston out of the first round. Losing out on Splitter sucked too but I'm not about to say it was the last straw for RC and he should be whacked. Gawd damn, give the team a chance to fix what's broken. They've answered the call every time they have failed to reach the finals since '03.
Plainly obvious for several years that what ? In the last several years (5) We won 3 Championships and just lost in the West Finals. I guess we need to do a better job in drafting just like the Celtics right ? I mean, they drafted Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett and they're in the finals. Or maybe if we drafted as well as the Lakers. Look at them, they drafted Odom and Gasol..ooops. All 3 of our BIG 3 were drafted by us. How many teams can say that ? Draft picks can be crap shoots.It's been plainly obvious that this reckoning day would come for several years now, and we all just expressed faith that sage R.C. would figure it out somehow.
You can always get Jermaine O'Neal. I don't think he's too happy staying in Indiana. If he gets bought out...
I'm sure Indiana would love to get rid of him, his injuries and his bloated contract but he's too smart to move into FA as damaged goods.
I don't think the Spurs would be interested.
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