TMD's interview with Spurs G.M. RC Buford.

[IknowU]

Trade jefferson + bonner for beasley

As much of a nutcase beasley is, we cant afford to be picky anymore certainly better then what we have atm.

[objective]

The first player that Spurs put on the trading block this off-season is obviously RJ. He has a big contract and was o bad that he only played 10 minutes in the last playoffs game. We all see him as someone with a negative trade value but who knows ? Maybe there is a GM who thinks he can still be a good starting SF.

The only possible hope I could see is Jordan doing more idiocy with the Bobcats. Only Jordan could trade an expiring above average starting center (when healthy) for an extra 3 seasons of about 12 million in empty contracts like Matt Carroll and Eduardo Najera.

Jordan is our man.

RJ plus Hill and whatever to get Stephen Jackson.

----

Beyond that, I would with regards to Bruno's list of trade-list Spurs that Hill should be right up there. Mostly because his contract is small enough to trade on draft night with only taking back an unguaranteed scrub back that could be cut without much cost in exchange for a pick without having to wait out a new CBA that could hurt their trade opportunities.

This draft could be weak enough that Hill would be enough to move up to get Chris Singleton, freeing us from Jefferson's disgraceful displays.

[dbestpro]

There are some players who might have a higher value than the average Spur fan thinks.
Blair is young and can rebound. Hill has shown at times great defensive presence and the ability to score when given the minutes. Bonner presents himself as one of the best 3 point shooters in the NBA. RJ, well not everyone can be considered an asset.

Teams that value the qualities of the previous three may be inclined to take on RJ, which in turn would provide us with addition by subtraction.

[ohmwrecker]

If there's no good deal on the table for Tony then call Chicago and see if they'll take Hill for Taj Gibson. They are starting Keith Friggin Bogans.

That makes sense. They could then try to move Blair for a cheap, legit backup PG. I would like to see them strike a deal with Phoenix. Jefferson is an Arizona kid and he would do well with a PG like Nash. I would like to see a package that yields Grant Hill in return. McDyess' expiring might be enough to make it work. Phoenix could maybe give us back a big (Gortat, Lopez, Warrick, etc.) in the deal.
Wishful thinking for the most part.

[TJastal]

I can see a Darko,Webster and Ridnour for Mcdyess,Jefferson, and Neal/Blair...Spurs get 3 bad contracts, but fill some needs though....The Twolves can use RJ as there veteran, and see some value in there system and the triangle offense of someone who can just spot up, and shoot, and possibly move Wesley Johnson to the 2, and have Derrick Williams back up RJ, and I always like Websters game, guy is scorer, but doesn't have a great contract....They can get Mcdyess to get rid of Darko's contract, and Ridnour would be another bad contract they can give up to us, and the Spurs finally get a true backup point guard who's not that bad, and makes Hill expandable....Twolves would then have there choie of Blair or Neal, which I think they get Blair to make them have someone back up Beasley. Would be nice if Bonner could be included, and we get Tolliver back. Twolves can also tank another season to get Anthony Davis.

Twolves:
Love/Pekovic/Randolph
Beasley/Blair
RJ/Williams
Johnson/Ellington
Flynn/Rubio

Spurs:
Darko/Splitter/A free agent big man
Duncan/JaJuan Johnson /Tolliver or Bonner
Webster/Butler
Manu/Neal/Anderson
Parker/Hill/Ridnour

If there is a free agency we should go after a SF,Pf/C...Like a Cheap SF like Earl Clark, and maybe a Kwame Brown to back up Timmy .

1. No team is going to use Jefferson as their "veteran"
2. Kwame Brown really?
3. No team is going to use Blair to back up a small forward
4. lmao @ hoping they'll take Bonner after taking RJ & Blair

[spurs10]

Do you really think that RC is going to start naming names that he is interested in trading? Not sure how long you have been a Spurs fan, but the FO does not work that way...and besides if he did name names, that would drive the value of the players down...bad move.

Yeah, I wasn't insinuating he mentioned any names. The interview stopped in mid sentence and I was curious about what he said.

[spurs10]

full interview with the audio problem fixed:

http://www.ticket760.com/pages/TheMorningDrive.html

Thanks....

[Ditty]

1. No team is going to use Jefferson as their "veteran"
2. Kwame Brown really?
3. No team is going to use Blair to back up a small forward
4. lmao @ hoping they'll take Bonner after taking RJ & Blair

1.It's Kaun.
2. Jefferson is a veteran small forward has been whatever you want to call him, and isn't Rubio coming over last time I checked he's best at transition, who is going to run with him?
3. Kwame Brown is not a bad player, I guess you haven't seen much since his Lakers days, but it's not like there's alot of affordable back up PF free agents on the market, unless the Salary cap stays the same, and Duncan opts out which I doubt.
4. I never said Blair was going to be there back up Small Forward if so it was a typo, but he is a decent power forward if he has size next to him, and that's what Minnesota has.
5.Bonner was just an idea, that why I said "it would be nice", he is better shooter than Tolliver but you never know it was an idea I just threw in there.

[rasho8]

I would trade Tony for a stick of used chewing gum if RJ and Bonner were in the deal.

[TD 21]

Surprised no one picked up on this, but Buford pretty much ruled out Splitter starting next to Duncan. The usual nonsense about Splitter not being able to spread the floor (as if Mohammed or Oberto ever could, as if Blair can and as if Duncan is consistently doubled anymore) and about Duncan not being mobile enough to guard fours anymore. Which, for the most part, is true. But I don't understand why they don't think Splitter can guard fours. They act like he's a traditional five.

It's difficult to discern who they may be looking to acquire to be the starting four, but I can't imagine they want it to be Blair (since he brings neither shooting nor defense), who right now would be the starter by default. The Bobcats are a possibility, particularly if they draft Morris (Marcus). That would give them three rotation caliber fours. Diaw is more likely to be moved than Thomas, but I've got to think the Spurs would be more interested in Thomas. The only way I could see them taking on his contract is if they rid themselves of Jefferson, though. Other than that, I just don't see a lot of realistic possibilities, for one reason or another.

[objective]

Yeah, they might as well trade Splitter and just start Bonner like the Spurs want. They don't know what to do with him, might as well get some other scrub to go with their foundation pieces the next 3 seasons in Jefferson and Bonner.

Even with RC talking up how much of a factor he was against Memphis when he was finally allowed to play, he still didn't get too much time. 17 minutes a game? No point in keeping him chained up here, he should still have value on team's that are smart enough to not dump DNP-CDs on him.

[TJastal]

I would be willing to bet as well that if its the bobcats they're looking at Thomas, his contract is considerably longer than Diaw's and we we've all seen who cheap Jordan is, he makes Sterling look like a big spender.

Or perhaps a little French Connection is in the works (Parker & Diaw). Either one would be a good pickup, with Thomas you get a midrange J, athleticism & rim protection. With Diaw you get 3pt shooting, a post game, & a bigger body.

I have to think Thomas would be the better fit in the starting lineup. The spurs have to have one of the most un-athletic rosters in basketball, and bringing in one of the most athletic players in the league would be a good start at finding the cure.

[rascal]

Why blow up the team when you still have Manu & Tim? You really think the spurs are that finished, a team that won 62 games in the regular season with essentially garbage playing next to Tim Duncan the whole year? Put some legitimate size and shotblocking next to Duncan and let Manu run the offense while Hill learns the ropes, and you still have a contending team with a shot IMO.

Manu can't run the offense for extended periods of time. The spurs would need to add a legit pg because Hill is better suited for sg.

[ducks]

manu I think has more value then alot of spur fans think he does

he could provide a big punch off the bench for a team like the thunder if they move harden to a starter
I take durant for manu

[tdunk21]

manu I think has more value then alot of spur fans think he does

he could provide a big punch off the bench for a team like the thunder if they move harden to a starter
I take durant for manu

[Tyrone Jenkins]

Interesting lil blog discussion...

TP is really the only VALUABLE trade asset (ie. the only asset that can be expected to get something just as valuable - like a quality big man - in return).

I'm unlike many here in that I think Hill would be adequate at the point as his lack of penetrating ability is offset by his 3 pt shooting ability (which would stretch the floor). At least he'd be adequate enough to run things until next year's draft when the Spurs can use their 1st round pick on a potential starting PG.

This year, the priorities should be franchise C or PF w/ length and defensive capability and then a defensive SF. If TP is traded, acquiring another starting PG is still a distant third.

[Jace]

manu I think has more value then alot of spur fans think he does

he could provide a big punch off the bench for a team like the thunder if they move harden to a starter
I take durant for manu

There are a bunch of playoff teams who could use him, the Bulls needed someone who could score and Manu would have helped. Dallas could use another good scorer, he couldn't do worse than Kidd.

[elemento]

A lot of teams could use Manu

The problem here is: If we trade him, who starts? Hill ? It is a huge downgrade.

And do not expect teams to pay a lot for a 34 year old with injury concerns, even if it is Manu Ginobili. Trading him does not make any sense.

The only guy that can give us a really good player is Parker.

[Erick_CSF]

and what would you want back from the lakers?

How about this?
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=3u63clj
This trade works, but not sure if feasible. I wonder if spurs fans would accept this.

[TD 21]

I would be willing to bet as well that if its the bobcats they're looking at Thomas, his contract is considerably longer than Diaw's and we we've all seen who cheap Jordan is, he makes Sterling look like a big spender.

Or perhaps a little French Connection is in the works (Parker & Diaw). Either one would be a good pickup, with Thomas you get a midrange J, athleticism & rim protection. With Diaw you get 3pt shooting, a post game, & a bigger body.

I have to think Thomas would be the better fit in the starting lineup. The spurs have to have one of the most un-athletic rosters in basketball, and bringing in one of the most athletic players in the league would be a good start at finding the cure.

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced this is the most likely trade: Thomas for McDyess, Blair and Anderson.

For the Bobcats, it makes sense because: they not only slash salary -- which is their favorite thing to do -- but they also get two solid, young, inexpensive players. Considering they have the shallowest talent pool in the league, getting two of those for one isn't a bad idea. They desperately need wing depth and outside shooting, so Anderson would be a good fit. As for Blair, he's a positional replacement for Thomas and in terms of sheer production, they wouldn't be losing much, if any. Plus, there's a Thomas type player in this draft, in Biyombo, who could replace him, if they choose to do so. Even if they don't draft Morris or Biyombo, they have depth at PF: Diaw, White, Najera; plus they'd add Blair.

Thomas, from a personality standpoint, is not Spurs material. I don't recall any off court incidents, he's more just immature and he has a temper. But there were rumors at the '10 trade deadline that they had interest and the overall package is similar to what they seemingly want in a starting four (essentially, a young McDyess), so they may be willing to overlook that. He's got 4 years and roughly $33.2 million left on his contract, but makes "only" $7.3 million next season. So for next season, the Spurs wouldn't add salary in the trade.

Then, at 29, they could either go big, or, if Honeycutt is available, they could take him (potential to be a plus defender) to be the backup three. Failing that, they could just go with a combination of Green/Butler, or take a flier on another young, unestablished three to compete with them for minutes.

[ducks]

A lot of teams could use Manu

The problem here is: If we trade him, who starts? Hill ? It is a huge downgrade.

And do not expect teams to pay a lot for a 34 year old with injury concerns, even if it is Manu Ginobili. Trading him does not make any sense.

The only guy that can give us a really good player is Parker.

depends on what spurs get back

without manu would rj be more aggressive?

[Rick Von Braun]

How about this?
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=3u63clj
This trade works, but not sure if feasible. I wonder if spurs fans would accept this.

Hey, since we are just dreaming, how about this instead:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=63utn5u

Could you imagine Orlando doing this?

You could add Bonner and it would still work!

[Erick_CSF]

Hey, since we are just dreaming, how about this instead:

http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=63utn5u

Could you imagine Orlando doing this?

You could add Bonner and it would still work!

haha. Dude the league would be so pissed off if that trade went down. I would be happy, but alas I live in the fantasy world where the Spurs will always be le contenders / or win the lotto when There is a Super big man available. Heck maybe they could pull this off and once again get a franchise big star without missing a beat.

I only said fisher and gasol because all during the playoffs all you heard was how gasol didn't step up and how he may be traded to orlando for howard. I figured throw Tony in (star) and Jefferson (sucks with spurs, but just our luck becomes some ridiculous all-star role player for LA.) for an aging fisher and Gasol and perhaps throw some draft picks around to make it work. Oh well Im just in denial that the Spurs are back to the good ol days of first round playoff exits to the Jazz and Blazers. "Rod Strickland what are you doing?!!!!!"

[Erick_CSF]

Oh and In your trade, I would sweeten the deal for Orlando by releasing Turkey-glue so Orlando could resign him for less 30 days later. Turk blew dogs for quarters when he was with the Spurs. Just not the right system for him. It would also free up money for Spurs to sign a role player if available in the market. Cmon orlando Pull the trigger!

[TJastal]

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced this is the most likely trade: Thomas for McDyess, Blair and Anderson.

For the Bobcats, it makes sense because: they not only slash salary -- which is their favorite thing to do -- but they also get two solid, young, inexpensive players. Considering they have the shallowest talent pool in the league, getting two of those for one isn't a bad idea. They desperately need wing depth and outside shooting, so Anderson would be a good fit. As for Blair, he's a positional replacement for Thomas and in terms of sheer production, they wouldn't be losing much, if any. Plus, there's a Thomas type player in this draft, in Biyombo, who could replace him, if they choose to do so. Even if they don't draft Morris or Biyombo, they have depth at PF: Diaw, White, Najera; plus they'd add Blair.

Thomas, from a personality standpoint, is not Spurs material. I don't recall any off court incidents, he's more just immature and he has a temper. But there were rumors at the '10 trade deadline that they had interest and the overall package is similar to what they seemingly want in a starting four (essentially, a young McDyess), so they may be willing to overlook that. He's got 4 years and roughly $33.2 million left on his contract, but makes "only" $7.3 million next season. So for next season, the Spurs wouldn't add salary in the trade.

Then, at 29, they could either go big, or, if Honeycutt is available, they could take him (potential to be a plus defender) to be the backup three. Failing that, they could just go with a combination of Green/Butler, or take a flier on another young, unestablished three to compete with them for minutes.

Could you imagine the ST meltdown if your hunch is correct?