Updates: Viktor Sanikidze

[oligarchy]

He doesn't look like he could bulk up enough to see any significant time at the 4 in the league. Depending on matchups he might be able to do so occasionally.

I agree, but it's needed even if he plays the 3. I think he's under 200.

[Darkwaters]

Since he signed his 2 yr contract in 2006, provided he doesn't sign another contract he is ours free and clear in 2008.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, if we bring him over this yr then there will be some type of buyout involved.

I believe you are correct. But a German team has been negotiating with him to buyout his contract with MMT Estudiantes and bring him to the fatherland.

While I like the idea of getting him more playing time, a contract in Germany likely will be more than a single season long and would have yet another potential buyout issue attached to it. Also, the German leagues aren't especially noted for their high level of compe ion. But I'd rather him being playing with inferior talent than simply watching higher levels.

[Darkwaters]

Sanikidze plays PF for the Georgian NT.
If he develops well, he could become in a couple of years the SF/PF Spurs need for a long time.

Definitely. He needs to put on some weight and get stronger (which seems to be a very common problem with Euros coming to the states) but the guy is long as can be, doesn't mind doing the dirty work, plays D and rebounds and has a developing 3 point shot.

Sounds like a Spurs type player to me.

[Bruno]

An interview of Ken Shields who is Georgian NT coach :
http://www.gbf.ge/news.php?m=news&lang=eng#

What he says about Sanikidze :

He works hard and slowly comes to the point, where he will become one of the stalwarts of this team.

[ChumpDumper]

If there is a reasonable buyout now, I'd pick Viktor up now and talk Williams into going to Europe. I'd rather have him playing in Austin than Germany.

[Darkwaters]

If there is a reasonable buyout now, I'd pick Viktor up now and talk Williams into going to Europe. I'd rather have him playing in Austin than Germany.

Seconded.

[timvp]

If there is a reasonable buyout now, I'd pick Viktor up now and talk Williams into going to Europe. I'd rather have him playing in Austin than Germany.

Thirded.

Williams needs a lot of work. And really, the D-League might be too tough for Williams next season, as sad as that is to say. His shot is so ugly now that a random D-Leaguer off the street may beat him out. Williams might be best suited to go to a second division European club where he can get a lot of touches and get his confidence back.

Sanikidze, on the other hand, needs to be put into a structured setting where he can learn how to play. He has the raw skills and athleticism but he needs better coaching. Putting him in the D-League would be an ideal fit because he'll have the chance to work on the nuances of the game and bulk up.

After Williams regains confidence, then he'll be worth putting in the D-League. Right now, he'd probably struggle in the D-League and most likely not even get that many minutes.

[ChumpDumper]

Oh, I think Williams would get minutes in the D-League, but there's just one roster spot left and I would prefer its going to Viktor. We'll have to see who comes back from last year's Toros team to see what their compe ion would be -- my guess is they will all be frontcourt players. Justin Bowen was making huge strides at SF the last two months of the season, and would give Viktor a good run for his money.

[Holt's Cat]

The Spurs don't have to sign Williams. Surely he would play somewhere instead of going a year without $ and playing time to reenter the draft on the hope that someone would pick him even after the Spurs thought him unworthy of a roster spot.

[timvp]

Oh, I think Williams would get minutes in the D-League

True, as long as the team is more into developing than winning. For example, BJ Elder > Marcus Williams on the D-League level currently.

[ChumpDumper]

I just took a look at the D-League's expansion draft list. The Toros got off totally easy. Two of the players were waived during the season due to injury, one joined the team a week before the end of the season and another is 30 years old.

And one is Brock Gillespe.

Bowen is the guy I was most interested in keeping.

Teams got to protect 10 players this time around. For some reason Tulsa didn't protect its best players -- maybe they all went to Europe.

[timvp]

I just took a look at the D-League's expansion draft list. The Toros got off totally easy. Two of the players were waived during the season due to injury, one joined the team a week before the end of the season and another is 30 years old.

And one is Brock Gillespe.

Bowen is the guy I was most interested in keeping.

Is it true that the D-League is going to be a lot worse this year talent wise? I've read that a lot of the D-League talent signed in Europe.

[ChumpDumper]

A lot of them did, but there are always players coming back from Europe as well. I imagine the talent level will be diluted a bit by the expansion more than a mass exodus.

We'll see what's left after the training camp cuts.

[yavozerb]

Is it true that the D-League is going to be a lot worse this year talent wise? I've read that a lot of the D-League talent signed in Europe.

What are the average salaries in the D-League?

[DR WU]

I thought he played well today. What is involved in bringing a player over to play for the Austin D-league team? It seems better than leaving them in Europe, because the Spurs own the team and will be teaching and playing the same system as the Spurs.

If he is under contract in Euro, he is "safe" as our property until we offer him a deal. If he is not on our roster, he is anybody's stake in the Dleague. Mahimni is right there, plus, he allows us a reserve big and still run a 14 man roster.

[Darkwaters]

If Marcus Williams never sees a Spurs jersey this season then who would we be interested in bringing in for that 15th roster spot on the cheap? Viktor Sanikidze seems like an excellent option, but the Spurs might prefer to stash him overseas. Who all would we like to see fight it out in camp?

Hassan Adams
Justin Bowen
Derrick Byars
Demetris Nichols
Pops Mensah Bonsu

Are there any decent PGs out there that could be gathered up for cheap?

[objective]

I'm praying that the Spurs sign Sanikidze after the eurobasket minor tourny qualifiers are over.

I'm surprised he's looked as good as he did in SL considering how much time he missed due to injury and the lack of playing time he got when he wasn't hurt over in France and Spain.

Please please please let Marcus Williams sign in Europe and have the Spurs bite the bullet on the luxury tax threshold by carrying 15 players.

[Holt's Cat]

If Marcus Williams never sees a Spurs jersey this season then who would we be interested in bringing in for that 15th roster spot on the cheap? Viktor Sanikidze seems like an excellent option, but the Spurs might prefer to stash him overseas. Who all would we like to see fight it out in camp?

Hassan Adams
Justin Bowen
Derrick Byars
Demetris Nichols
Pops Mensah Bonsu

Devin Brown
Earl Boykins
Jumaine Jones

[ChumpDumper]

There's no need to really care about anything other than tall SFs. Even backup point guard is pretty much a nonstarter since there isn't really anyone available and/or willing to join at this point. If it would be possible to get a bunch of SF projects in training camp, as many as possible, I'm for it.

If we don't sign Viktor, I'm content to wait until training camp. If someone really wows us there, sign him. If not, there will be plenty of players that get waived from other teams just like ! was last season.

[Phenomanul]

If Marcus Williams never sees a Spurs jersey this season then who would we be interested in bringing in for that 15th roster spot on the cheap? Viktor Sanikidze seems like an excellent option, but the Spurs might prefer to stash him overseas. Who all would we like to see fight it out in camp?

Hassan Adams
Justin Bowen
Derrick Byars
Demetris Nichols
Pops Mensah Bonsu

Are there any decent PGs out there that could be gathered up for cheap?

Romel Beck....

[TDMVPDPOY]

i say we bring him over, let him fight it out with marcus for that final roster spot....

[Darkwaters]

Early Boykins

Yea right. No thanks.

Devin Brown

If he were affordable I would sign him up in a heartbeat. The problem is that we can't offer him many minutes right now and I'm not sure the coaching staff would want him back anyways.

Romel Beck

He has looked decent playing for Mexico so far and hes 6'7. I haven't watched him much, but it sounds like he seriously frustrated Kobe when they played the US. If that is the case then I definitely think he warrants an invite to camp. I'm just not sure whether he would want to sit in the DLeague for a year or go to an inferior team and actually get on court though.

[Bruno]

Sanikidze only played in the first quarter of today's game against Iceland.
Injury or Doghouse ?
We will see but it bet on an injury. Sanikidze seems to be quite injury prone with his thin frame.

[Cant_Be_Mated]

chode.

hee hee

[SpursfaninGeorgia]

Sanikidze went down with that now familiar ankle injury at the end of the first quarter, as I recall. He actually looked great; strong on the glass and tough defense up to that point, but those fragile legs don't look too steady...he didn't move off the bench the rest of the game.

BTW, I'm a long-time reader of SpursTalk but first-time poster, been a Spurs fan for 18+ years and a GNT (Georgian National Team) fan for the last four years as I've been posted in Georgia. I was thrilled to see the Spurs take a chance on Sanikidze--the kid's a tenacious player who goes 100% all the time, a very energetic albeit raw talent. Shame to see him looking so injury-prone.

I may not be on this board much, but happy to contribute to the Sanikidze conversation as I have high hopes for this kid making the squad at some point and proving not all Georgian ballers are destined to fizzle out like Tskitishvili.