No Splitter?

[all_heart]

Splitter is not much of a shot blocker, but neither is a guy like Scola. Would you accept him on this team?

Hey, maybe we'll luck out and RC will send him an email telling him he doesn't block enough shots.

With TD in his prime, yes of course. But now we are at the point where we need a big body that can battle for boards, alter shots, etc.. Tim can be that guy on some nights, but we need that kind of player every night.

[Chieflion]

With TD in his prime, yes of course. But now we are at the point where we need a big body that can battle for boards, alter shots, etc.. Tim can be that guy on some nights, but we need that kind of player every night.

I am thinking beggars can't be choosers at this point. I would take whatever useful player that comes along.

[TimDunkem]

I am thinking beggars can't be choosers at this point. I would take whatever useful player that comes along.

So, he basically said no, he wouldn't take Scola. With the trash the Spurs put on the floor every night (Bogans, Bonner, RJ at PF), who wouldn't want Splitter, or Scola?


FYI people, just because a guy doesn't average 3 blocks a game doesn't mean they can't block at all, let a lone not contribute to a team that looks like they might not even make the playoffs.

[SenorSpur]

Even if Manu defects and Splitter declines, the Spurs still have TD and Parker. With Hill, Blair, first round pick, MLE and the possibility of additions through trade (RJ and Dice expiring) I'd say the Spurs can still put together a compe ive squad.

You and I actually may be speaking the same language (TD/Parker plus mostly young fillers), but you call that a "blow up". My definition of a "blow up" is the Spurs trading Parker for young talent, picks and expiring contracts...basically putting to rest any chance that Duncan has at another ring.

That's something I don't see as likely with Duncan still in a Spurs uni.

Gotcha. Sounds like we are saying the same thing.

Don't forget to add the word "inexpensive" to the "young fillers" part. The Spurs probably will be able to add at least one mid-priced free agent, but it's more likely they'll be forced into filling out the roster with young players.

The reason I called this a "rebuild" is because Pop would be forced to move away from his long-standing strategy of bringing in the over-the-hill, end-of-career, experienced veterans that he values so much. That would be a most difficult philosophy change for him.

IMHO, one reason his strategy hasn't worked so much lately is because the Spurs could ill afford the price tags of these veterans in their primes. When their skills declined and they were either released or were at the end of their contract, Pop, still holding them in high esteem for their past work, tended to get them a year or three too late. See Kurt Thomas, Michael Finley, Nick Van Exel, Damon Stoudamire.

[rascal]

Splitter is not much of a shot blocker, but neither is a guy like Scola. Would you accept him on this team?

Hey, maybe we'll luck out and RC will send him an email telling him he doesn't block enough shots.

Scola is not a 7' center.

[rascal]

A 7' center that doesn't block many shots shows a lack of athleticism. If he can't block many shots in the Euro leagues how can he protect the rim defensively in the NBA?

I never saw him play other than a couple of highlights. But he looked a bit awkward making a couple shots over smaller players. Not sure he is a slam dunk for a solid NBA player.

Not expecting him to be too athletic with quickness and jumping ability. Too much hype here for Splitter.

[TJastal]

Splitter is not much of a shot blocker, but neither is a guy like Scola. Would you accept him on this team?

Hey, maybe we'll luck out and RC will send him an email telling him he doesn't block enough shots.

Scola would have been perfect for the spurs a few years ago when Duncan still had some mobility, now not so much (but I'd still take him over Bonner for what he's getting paid).

If Splitter is in the same class as Scola (and that is a huge if at this point) his skillset won't be a great compliment to Duncan either.

[yavozerb]

A 7' center that doesn't block many shots shows a lack of athleticism. If he can't block many shots in the Euro leagues how can he protect the rim defensively in the NBA?

I never saw him play other than a couple of highlights. But he looked a bit awkward making a couple shots over smaller players. Not sure he is a slam dunk for a solid NBA player.

Not expecting him to be too athletic with quickness and jumping ability. Too much hype here for Splitter.

Seriously, you guys are taking this block stat as if it makes or breaks a good NBA center..
Nene = 0.89 bpg
Al Jefferson = 1.14 bpg
Anderson Verejao = 0.98 bpg

So because these guys (all 6'10 or greater) do not block alot of shots you would not want them at center for the spurs?
I understand you guys do not like splitter, but to keep to finding reasons why he will not become a legitimate NBA center is getting pretty ridiculous..

[portnoy1]

If he is a 7footer(see - blair) can move his feet well(see bonner) and isnt over 55years old (Dice) I'm all for him.

[The Franchise]

Let's trade his rights to Houston then... for cash.

[southerndownfan]

I have been over splitter for awhile now...he is never coming.

[Josepatches_]

Well,yesterday newspaper MARCA here say Real Madrid want Rudy Fernandez next year who isn't happy in portland right now.McMillan use him only as a 3point shooter when he is one of the players more similar to Manu that i have seen.Of course you can't play enough when you have Brandon Roy in your position.

So if it's true then Madrid isn't going to fight for Splitter.Of course Rudy is more popular here.Obviously he's not the Cristiano Ronaldo of the basketball either but he's more important than Splitter if we talk about fans and money and that's what Perez wants for the basketball team of Real Madrid like he did in soccer.

[Mel_13]

Splitter is a better defender than McDyess, I'd say much better because he can guard the pick & roll plus the post. He doesn't block that many shots in europe but he'd be better at it than McDyess or Bonner, just ask Amare from Americas tourny in Vegas.

--

It's been brought up on here, and posted about by me for awhile on this site, that the work-stoppage should be enough to make people pessimistic on Splitter. Talk all you want about how much next year's MLE would be vs a top 5-10 Euroleague, deal, even a full MLE can't compete if it's missing half or even an entire season due to a lockout.

Why is this guy going to miss out on money, when he's proven he won't the one time he faced the decision? But go ahead and blame a family medical situation if you want and not the many millions of dollars.

Splitter could just as easily finish his last 2 years with Tau or sign a 4 year with someone else with an NBA out after 2 years, while this summer announcing his goal to live his NBA dream in 2 years when the labor situation has been settled.

And by then the contracts under the new deal could be so restricted he might just stay in europe for the money anyway.

Objective, it may be time to talk to your lawyers. One of the guys at the local paper is using your ideas, except he attributes them to an unnamed NBA exec.

Apparently its OK for ESPN to excerpt huge chunks of these articles. Scroll down the page for the Splitter story. They use much more than two sentences, but here are the last two:

'That's why they're probably not going to get him, even for the full mid-level,' said one NBA executive. 'If you've got a nice, guaranteed deal over in Europe, why would you sign over here and face a lockout? I'm telling you, the full mid-level probably isn't going to get it done.' "

Hmmm...looks familiar.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop

[TimmehC]

'That's why they're probably not going to get him, even for the full mid-level,' said one NBA executive. 'If you've got a nice, guaranteed deal over in Europe, why would you sign over here and face a lockout? I'm telling you, the full mid-level probably isn't going to get it done.' "

Hmmm...looks familiar.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop

That quote was also in an article today from that newspaper which shall not be named.

[Mel_13]

That quote was also in an article today from that newspaper which shall not be named.

One of the guys at the local paper is using your ideas

[ElNono]

Objective the "NBA Executive". Who would've thought?

[TimmehC]

ahhh, my bad. Your link was to BSPN.

[Mel_13]

ahhh, my bad. Your link was to BSPN.

Exactly, no need to send anyone to the other site when they allow ESPN to excerpt huge chunks of their articles.

[Blackjack]

Exactly, no need to send anyone to the other site when they allow ESPN to excerpt huge chunks of their articles.

You're a better man than I, Mel. I would've copied the whole excerpt (chunk) and linked True Hoop.

Loopholes are fun.

Oh ... and it's nice to see Monroe finally getting up to speed and out in front of a story. I'm impressed he's been following 'Tau Ceramica'.

[Chieflion]

You're a better man than I, Mel. I would've copied the whole excerpt (chunk) and linked True Hoop.

Loopholes are fun.

Not as fun as writing your own articles.

[Blackjack]

THC is looking to add a full-time columnist, Chieflion.

[Spurs Brazil]

MLE is overpaid Tiago a lot. A deal starting at $3 million is fair

[Mel_13]

MLE is overpaid Tiago a lot. A deal starting at $3 million is fair

A deal starting at $3M has no chance of getting it done.

If the Spurs want Splitter, it won't be a question of what is fair but rather what it will take to get him to leave Europe.

[Spurs Brazil]

A deal starting at $3M has no chance of getting it done.

If the Spurs want Splitter, it won't be a question of what is fair but rather what it will take to get him to leave Europe.

I'd rather spend the full MLE on another player and not Tiago

[mountainballer]

A deal starting at $3M has no chance of getting it done.

If the Spurs want Splitter, it won't be a question of what is fair but rather what it will take to get him to leave Europe.

+1

and if "fair" was a category in the NBA, at least 50% of all NBA players would need to return half or all of their salary.