Robertas Javtokas NOT playing for spurs next year

[MannyIsGod]

Ehh....we'd have a tough time playing Miami, Houston, etc. with Butler, Elson, Oberto, and Horry.

Why? Duncan is about 7 foot. 1-2 inches don't make all that big of a difference.

RC Buford said they're going to have Duncan play more center this year, so thats what people can expect.

[strangeweather]

My gut feel: Butler is the real replacement for Javtokas, not Elson. From the looks of things, they were trying to sign one guy who they thought was steady if unspectacular (okay, maybe Elson qualifies as outright craptacular), and one guy with upside who isn't ready to come in to start.

Javtokas clearly has to be the upside guy, since he's coming here from overseas. But Butler probably has more upside, especially since he's so young.

Meanwhile, they need placeholder guy, but they don't want to throw much cash at him, since he may not keep the starting job (or even stay in the rotation) anyway. I would have thought they could do better than Elson, but maybe not.

Random question for people: would you rather have Wright or Jarron Collins by themselves (taking up a little more than half the midlevel) or Butler + Elson?

[picnroll]

I really get annoyed with Spurs fans and their panic modes. This team could walk in with Tpark at center and still compete for the 1st seed quite easily. It isn't as though we had an all start tandem in there for the past 2 years. Give me a damn break.

You're kidding, right? Is that with zero injuries and Duncan, Parker and Ginobili averaging 45 minutes a game?

[yavozerb]

I really get annoyed with Spurs fans and their panic modes. This team could walk in with Tpark at center and still compete for the 1st seed quite easily. It isn't as though we had an all start tandem in there for the past 2 years. Give me a damn break.

No !!!Damn you would have thought manu or duncan just got traded or something...Everybody calm down and see what happens.

[T Park]

This team could walk in with Tpark at center and still compete for the 1st seed quite easily

Lets not get hasty....

[MannyIsGod]

You're also saying Butler is starting material. We don't know that yet. By all appearances he's extremely foul prone, etc. For now, he's a glorified CBA player that had some success on a wretched Knicks team.

Something did happen with Javtokas. I can't feel good about SAS fouling up their international negotiations. From here, at least, it looks amateurish or something.

Actually, Elson will start. Butler will come off the Bench. Elson has been an NBA starter, and maybe thats one of the reasons they went after him.

And now you're calling the negotiations amatuerish? What exactly happened to make them seem that way? They broke down? They break down all the time.

The Spurs are hard barginers on the international scene because they hold these guys rights and they have a load of leverage. It isn't as though Mahimi gets to negotiate a damn thing either way.

[Please_dont_ban_me]

Tony Parker
Manu Ginobilli
Bruce Bowen
Tim Duncan
Francisco Elson




I'm lovin' it. You guys will love Elson when you see a few of his games as a Spurs. He brings toughness Rasho didn't bring, and unlike Nazr he won't fumble the ball around the rim. He's a nice athlete for a 7 footer, and will finish around the rim.


At some point during the seasons if Butler wins out the starting job, I don't think bringing Elson off the bench would be bad either. He did it all is career in Denver, he'll just do it again...but he'll get a lot more minutes here. Stop the hate on Elson!

[MI21]

Ridiculous to even make an offer to Elson.

Normally, I'd be excited over the potential of getting Butler. Young Big Man with talent isn't something the Spurs have always had over the years, but he would be exciting if he was a secondary acquisition, not the main one.

I refuse to believe this is all the Spurs are going to do. They must have something up there sleeves...I hope.

[G-Nob]

This news is about as shocking as our centers disappearing in the playoffs.

[MannyIsGod]

No !!!Damn you would have thought manu or duncan just got traded or something...Everybody calm down and see what happens.

A hobbled Duncan + Nazr and Rasho was enough for the 1st seed last year. A healthy Duncan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Duncan/Nazr/Rasho.

There were games last year when the Spurs played 3.5/5 and won. The center position isn't going to make or break this team, and thats a given.

[SenorSpur]

How does Javtokas get us over the hump?? Obviously, if he was as good as he's claimed to be on this site, he'd be here. Everyone needs to trust the Spurs front office decisions, they know more than we could ever possibly know.

Sorry. The Spurs FO doesn't get a pass on this one. While they've been very successful over the years, for the most part, they have made their fair share blunders. Many of which (pursuit of Kidd, passing on Josh Howard, signing Oberto) have been discussed in other threads.

Let's face it. They ed up and they've done nothing so far this offseason to earn anyone's trust . Of course, I'm sure they don't give a rats ass what we think.

[lakehorn]

New York already has 15 players under contract, i believe.

I believe you are correct, so they need to dump a player or two before they can sign anyone.

[Solid D]

I'm disappointed with the Javtokas decision.

Butler and Elson are two totally different 3rd-tier players. Butler is a gifted post scorer, almost magnetic at times, with a big backside to go with his upside. He's not an impressive defender. Elson is fairly quick for a Big and he can defend the paint but he's still a scrub as far as I'm concerned.

The only other good thing I can say is that neither one of these guys are soft and they SHOULD be cheap labor.

[leemajors]

I really get annoyed with Spurs fans and their panic modes. This team could walk in with Tpark at center and still compete for the 1st seed quite easily. It isn't as though we had an all start tandem in there for the past 2 years. Give me a damn break.

agreed there. things can be a lot different by november.

[venitian navigator]

Frankly, I don't understand the choices the spurs are making...
First Scola, now Javtokas...
In opinion of everybody (at least in Europe) two of the best european players and for sure two of the best "nba made" looking at their skils...expecialy for the spurs needs (Center that rebounds and block shots; Power forward that plays like inside option when Duncan is resting).
I really don't see the reasons to do not make them both play this year...if it was possible.
At least one of them.
I see no way the other free agents still in the market are comparable to them like actual and, more than all, future value...
However, the only thing I (and we all, I guess) can do is hoping in the ability of our scouts and management...maybe they see things I'm not capable of...and they surely know things we all don't!
But, at the moment, their decisions look terrible to me...

[GINNNNNNNNNNNNOBILI]

Sorry. The Spurs FO doesn't get a pass on this one. While they've been very successful over the years, for the most part, they have made their fair share blunders. Many of which (pursuit of Kidd, passing on Josh Howard, signing Oberto) have been discussed in other threads.

Let's face it. They ed up and they've done nothing so far this offseason to earn anyone's trust . Of course, I'm sure they don't give a rats ass what we think.

Signing of Oberto?? I believe the reaction from spurs fans much the same as it was for Javtokas?? How can you assure me that signing Javtokas wouldn't of been a blunder?

[td4mvp21]

Son of a , that is re ed.

[Mr. Body]

Manny, the season is very long. Players get battered for 82 games. You need depth, strong players, etc.

Going with Duncan only as your only good inside player is a bit crazy. He's gonna get killed.

I'm not saying Javtokas was the answer, but he seemed more the answer than Elson, who has shown so little in the league so far, and will show no more than he has at 30.

I'm happy with Butler - that looks good. But screwing up the Javtokas situation looks daft.

[Buddy Holly]

I think the Spurs are trying to sign both Butler and Elson, not either or.

Then they'll make a biiger move via a trade.

[leemajors]

Lets not get hasty....

suit up and foul dirk tpark. but before he shoots. please.

[Budkin]

in A this is disappointing....

[picnroll]

People are talking like Elson and Butler are already signed.

[ducks]

what good is the euro farm system if spurs do not use them

[ducks]

hopefully denver matches today!

[angel_luv]

I don't remember ever seeing either Butler or Elson play, so I don't know what to think.