Tiago Splitter's future?

[Texas_Ranger]

Just go to another team Splitter, I won't be mad... LOL at can't play more than 20 minutes and can't play with Timmy.

[TheSkeptic]

He'll be a restricted free agent in the summer of 2013. The Spurs will be able to match any offer he receives.

Tiago's future is in San Antonio.

What's to stop him from telling the Spurs not to match though?

That and based on his production to date, he'll probably command significantly more on the market than he's currently making. If he's only playing 15 minutes (or less), then it doesn't make sense for the Spurs to pay him.

Also, the stuff I'm seeing in interviews reminds me a little bit about how last year he was able to swallow his feelings on sitting somewhat but this year he's made a few comments about how he wasn't really happy not playing.

I don't know. I mean he seems to like Manu and admire Tim a lot but I'm really not sure how he feels about the coach. Especially since he came over because he thought he'd get minutes. The few times I've seen any interaction, his body language has looked more professional around Pop than anything else to me.

Even if Tim and Manu could talk Tiago into re-signing, his agent would have to be fired if he didn't put up a fight in stopping him.

[angelbelow]

Here, I'll post on behalf of us gnsfs.

Splitter/SJax/Neal/Blair/2013 1st rd pick for Dwight Howard, who agrees to a full length extension. Done right after draft night so the Spurs can trade away that pick.

Let pretend for a second that this trade actually goes through. I would promise to never question Pop's coaching ever again (even though this is a management move.)

Until...

he closes the game with Duncan and Bonner and refuses to give the Duncan and Howard combination a try.

[z0sa]

If we got Dwight Pop would bench Tim and play him Splitter minutes.

[Mel_13]

What's to stop him from telling the Spurs not to match though?

He can ask, but the Spurs have the right to match. Unless someone offers to ridiculously overpay him, the Spurs will keep him.

That and based on his production to date, he'll probably command significantly more on the market than he's currently making. If he's only playing 15 minutes (or less), then it doesn't make sense for the Spurs to pay him.

Why assume that his role and playing time would be the same next year, and the following year, as it is this year? There has been a substantial change from last year to this one.

Also, the stuff I'm seeing in interviews reminds me a little bit about how last year he was able to swallow his feelings on sitting somewhat but this year he's made a few comments about how he wasn't really happy not playing.

I don't know. I mean he seems to like Manu and admire Tim a lot but I'm really not sure how he feels about the coach. Especially since he came over because he thought he'd get minutes. The few times I've seen any interaction, his body language has looked more professional around Pop than anything else to me.

Lots of folks around here made all sorts of predictions about whether or not Tiago would leave Spain. As now, people projected their own feelings and emotions onto the player.

Even if Tim and Manu could talk Tiago into re-signing, his agent would have to be fired if he didn't put up a fight in stopping him.

You're projecting.

[therealtruth]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/holli...3fposition%3dc

Everyone in the top 10 in PER is a starter except Splitter.

[Budkin]

We must trade him for a backup point guard. That is the only thing that makes sense.

[Splits]

Everyone in the top 10 in PER is a starter except Splitter.

Manu is 9th in the league in PER, doesn't start, and averages only 4+ more minutes per game than Splitter.

[TheSkeptic]

He can ask, but the Spurs have the right to match. Unless someone offers to ridiculously overpay him, the Spurs will keep him.

Wouldn't be the first time a big was offered a large contract. It seems like GMs love to overpay any almost 7 footer they can find that has basketball skills.

Although I suppose another tactic would be to frontload the offer sheet...

Why assume that his role and playing time would be the same next year, and the following year, as it is this year? There has been a substantial change from last year to this one.

Because Duncan's still on the team next year and Pop seems convinced that they can't play together.

Lots of folks around here made all sorts of predictions about whether or not Tiago would leave Spain. As now, people projected their own feelings and emotions onto the player.

For the record, I never doubted he was coming over.

And I did say that I didn't know how he felt about the Coach. I was just commenting that his body language seems professional around Pop which basically means that he could be going either way since we've seen him say the right things and be professional even while being unhappy. Yet at the same time he could love playing for Pop.

If we did know his true feelings with respect to Pop and this whole situation, it'd be easier to predict his actions in the offseason.

You're projecting.

I don't think so. Agents are about making as much money as they can. When you have a player that produces the way Tiago does, the best way to get that money is to have him play more. Being Duncan's back-up under Pop is just not good business sense for a player with his abilities since he'll probably only be able to get 1 long-term contract.

Short of a minutes clause and a significant raise in the next contract if I were his agent I would fight tooth and nail to get him out of here. Since Tiago seems to care about minutes and feeling like part of a team that's winning, I'm not sure it'd be that hard to talk him out of signing with the Spurs and joining some other team that's on the up and up with a coach that's willing to play him...

[TheSkeptic]

We must trade him for a backup point guard. That is the only thing that makes sense.

Kirk Hinrich anyone?

[Mel_13]

Wouldn't be the first time a big was offered a large contract. It seems like GMs love to overpay any almost 7 footer they can find that has basketball skills.

Although I suppose another tactic would be to frontload the offer sheet...

He's definitely going to get a big increase over his current contract and the Spurs will match anything remotely resembling market value.

Because Duncan's still on the team next year and Pop seems convinced that they can't play together.

Duncan was on the team last year and Tiago's minutes and role changed substantially from last year to this one.

For the record, I never doubted he was coming over.

And I did say that I didn't know how he felt about the Coach. I was just commenting that his body language seems professional around Pop which basically means that he could be going either way since we've seen him say the right things and be professional even while being unhappy. Yet at the same time he could love playing for Pop.

If we did know his true feelings with respect to Pop and this whole situation, it'd be easier to predict his actions in the offseason.

A report about Tiago's actions from the De Colo thread in the Think Tank:

http://www.lasprovincias.es/v/201202...-20120228.html

This report is a bit older (1 month ago), and its headline is "De Colo dreams about playing alongside Parker in San Antonio". In addition, it looks like Splitter gave him great references about Spurs' organization. If you want me to translate both reports, I'll do it

I don't think so. Agents are about making as much money as they can. When you have a player that produces the way Tiago does, the best way to get that money is to have him play more. Being Duncan's back-up under Pop is just not good business sense for a player with his abilities since he'll probably only be able to get 1 long-term contract.

Short of a minutes clause and a significant raise in the next contract if I were his agent I would fight tooth and nail to get him out here. Since Tiago seems to care about minutes and feeling like part of a team that's winning, I'm not sure it'd be that hard to talk him out of signing with the Spurs and joining some other team that's on the up and up with a coach that's willing to play him...

Are you suggesting that Tiago will direct his agent to demand a trade this summer? I believe that's extremely unlikely.

If you're not, then all that stuff about playing time beyond 2013 is irrelevant to how much he'll get in a contract next summer.

[acoelho1]

If his agent is not telling him that his role with the team could hurt his next contract then he should be fired.

[TheSkeptic]

He's definitely going to get a big increase over his current contract and the Spurs will match anything remotely resembling market value.

I'd hope so. I honestly don't want to see him go. (Blair on the other hand...)

Duncan was on the team last year and Tiago's minutes and role changed substantially from last year to this one.

Yeah. From end of the bench to Duncan's back-up (and at that playing less than Bonner). That's fine if his motivation is to learn and make money, but I'm pretty sure he came here for minutes. Short of a dramatic change next season Tiago shouldn't come back.

A report about Tiago's actions from the De Colo thread in the Think Tank:

See this also goes either way. It's possible to acknowledge that the Spurs are a first-rate organization while also understanding that it's not the right situation *for you*. As an example, I absolutely hated my high school but I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to other people if I thought they could benefit from going there.

If he doesn't hate the people in the Spurs and he can appreciate what they bring to the table as professionals why would he go out of his way to trash them to other players?

Are you suggesting that Tiago will direct his agent to demand a trade this summer? I believe that's extremely unlikely.

If you're not, then all that stuff about playing time beyond 2013 is irrelevant to how much he'll get in a contract next summer.

No. What I'm saying is that if I was his agent I wouldn't let him re-up. He could probably make more money and get more playing time somewhere else. At 27, he'll only get one long-term contract and likely a shorter deal after that point. He needs more playing time to establish his market value and he's not getting that here.

Besides there's at least one person here who's claiming sources:
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194813

Not sure about the quality of that poster's sources though.

[Mel_13]

No. What I'm saying is that if I was his agent I wouldn't let him re-up. He could probably make more money and get more playing time somewhere else. At 27, he'll only get one long-term contract and likely a shorter deal after that point. He needs more playing time to establish his market value.

As a restricted free agent, his agent will secure the best possible offer sheet if they can't come to an agreement with Spurs. Once he signs that offer sheet, the Spurs will have three days to decide whether or not to match. He'll get the same money in his next contract with either team.

I'm absolutely convinced his next contract will be with the Spurs.

We'll all know in July, 2013.

[Mel_13]

Besides there's at least one person here who's claiming sources:
http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194813

Not sure about the quality of that poster's sources though.

Yeah, I'd take that one to the bank.

[therealtruth]

Duncan was on the team last year and Tiago's minutes and role changed substantially from last year to this one.

It's hard to be convinced that wasn't just because they lost Dice and were down one big.

[Ocotillo]

I am not advocating a trade to the Clippers because I want him here but can you imagine a Chris Paul/Splitter pick and roll option. Throw in Blake Griffin and holy sheet!

Pop's head is like the stonecutter's rock...............hard.

[Mel_13]

It's hard to be convinced that wasn't just because they lost Dice and were down one big.

And if his minutes increase next year after they trade Blair and Diaw signs elsewhere, we won't know the precise reason either.

Thing is, it doesn't matter one little iota what's convincing to us. It matters what is convincing to Tiago, and for all the endless speculation and amateur psychology put forth here, not a single one of has the slightest clue what understandings exist between Tiago and Pop.

[SenorSpur]

The mere fact that we're having a thread about this should make everyone question the head coach. We should, in fact, be having discussion about how the Spurs can get bigger, younger and more athletic on the frontline (sans Blair and Bonner). Instead, we're having to question the future of the only other productive bigman not named Duncan.

[TheSkeptic]

The mere fact that we're having a thread about this should make everyone question the head coach. We should, in fact, be having discussion about how the Spurs can get bigger, younger and more athletic on the frontline (sans Blair and Bonner). Instead, we're having to question the future of the only other productive bigman not named Duncan.

Thanks Mel.


If I had to guess, I think that Pop thought Splitter could replace Dice and then locked in the rest of his rotation because he didn't realize that Tiago was this good. After already using terms like "unskilled" to describe him and not looking at the stats (or the game at times it seems), it's clear that he's reached his conclusion and that he's probably not going to evaluate it until the offseason if that because his rotations are still about the same as they were last year.

It's frightening to think about but I really think Pop has just been in the same position for too long and that he's started to decline a bit as a coach. He needs to stay in the office for a year or so and then come back. Sometimes a bird's eye view gives you a different perspective.

Ah well. At least the boys will have plenty of time to enjoy themselves in the offseason.

[Mel_13]

After already using terms like "unskilled"

Do you have a link to this?

I remember the "blue collar" interview, but don't recall Pop calling him "unskilled".

[Mel_13]

I cannot believe this site doesn't seem to have a golf clapping smiley.

[TheSkeptic]

As a restricted free agent, his agent will secure the best possible offer sheet if they can't come to an agreement with Spurs. Once he signs that offer sheet, the Spurs will have three days to decide whether or not to match. He'll get the same money in his next contract with either team.

I'm absolutely convinced his next contract will be with the Spurs.

We'll all know in July, 2013.

Well yeah, the money's the same but the minutes might not be. While it's obvious that Splitter likes being paid, he also clearly likes being on the court.

If both teams are offering the same amount of money but one is telling him he has a fair shot at getting 25+ minutes a game, then I suspect Tiago will go for the court time. Especially if the pieces are there for a playoff run imo. I think if his agent told the Spurs to back off or otherwise forced some kind of provisions into his contract, they'd respect that.

Yeah, I'd take that one to the bank.

Ah thanks. Close enough I guess.

[angelbelow]

After apprehensively participating in this thread last night, I started thinking about the ideal return for trading Splitter.

Unfortunately, the conclusion I came up with is that ideally, we would want an athletic, young, long, legit 6'11+, who is defensive minded but is not a stiff on offense. Kind of like Splitter.. although hes not exactly young (probably in the meat of the curve) or super athletic.

What do you guys think? If Tiago requests a trade and the Spurs do their best to honor it, what would be your ideal return package?

[Mel_13]

Well yeah, the money's the same but the minutes might not be. While it's obvious that Splitter likes being paid, he also clearly likes being on the court.

If both teams are offering the same amount of money but one is telling him he has a fair shot at getting 25+ minutes a game, then I suspect Tiago will go for the court time. Especially if the pieces are there for a playoff run imo. I think if his agent told the Spurs to back off or otherwise forced some kind of provisions into his contract, they'd respect that.

If it was his choice, and another team could really offer much more PT for the same money, then I suspect that he would.

The choice, however, will belong to the Spurs.