Yahoo: Spurs to use amnesty on RJ!

[CGD]

Didn't expect this. Assuming Bulter takes up the full MLE, what assets do we have left in the pursuit of a big man?

[TD 21]

I don't think Butler is going to be a great answer. I can see how his iso's are exactly what they wanted out of RJ. But, it's hard to ignore that Dallas did just fine without him. In fact, I think they did better when he got injured. If Pop can bamboozle him to be a real team leader, then that's great. But if Pop does inflate his ego with purpose, and then we find out he never fully recovered from his injury and basically is less than hoped for, I'm not sure what happens then.

In other words, I can't see us wooing Butler to come here to play defense and mentor Leonard and occasionally score when Manu and Tony are off the court. Hey, maybe it's possible. Pop is convincing. But I would think Butler has better options.

In addition: how many years are we offering him? Please no more than two, but good luck with that.

Me neither. It's nice that they're looking to add toughness, because it is a need, but he regularly over handles, is an erratic outside shooter and was slipping defensively before the injury. Throw in his lack of "corporate knowledge", the fact that the role he'd play on the Spurs, he's never really had to play and him coming off of a major knee injury and being in his 30's and I have a hard time believing he'll adapt well enough to be a marked upgrade.

I'd imagine it would take 3 or 4 years to have a realistic shot at him. The Spurs are already limited in what they can offer annually compared to the Clippers, which is why he's probably end up there.

In the end, I think the Spurs will end up with Howard, on a 1 year deal with maybe a team or player option for a 2nd, at less than the full MLE. He'd have the same issues as Butler, since he's essentially a less talented version. But at least they wouldn't be stuck with him for 3 or 4 years.

[mystargtr34]

Yeah the only upgrade i can see with Butler over Jefferson is some toughness... although even that word gets thrown around a bit too much. At the end of the day at this stage in his career Butler is a jump shooter.. who occassionaly drives the basketball. I would prefer someone like Battier tbh.. much cheaper and a better fit.

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

Butler would be an ok pickup. would rather go after Grant hill for a 1 year deal or battier for a 2 year deal.

[crc21209]

Butler would be an ok pickup. would rather go after Grant hill for a 1 year deal or battier for a 2 year deal.

A 38-39 year old Hill > A 31 year old Butler? I don't think so.....

[Brazil]

Unless he's moved, he's going to play, and frankly, I much rather he be a human traffic cone on the perimeter while having an extra rim protector next to Tim, than getting torched inside the paint.

I do think we all agree Bonner sucks, thats a fact, I just would prefer seeing him with the jersey of another team no matter what position is playing.

Nevertheless I do believe he would suck even more at SF than he is currently sucking at PF.

[SenorSpur]

After initial reports having the Blazers set to release Brandon Roy, it appears that the Spurs were actually the first NBA club to exercise the amnesty clause.

[ElNono]

I do think we all agree Bonner sucks, thats a fact, I just would prefer seeing him with the jersey of another team no matter what position is playing.

Nevertheless I do believe he would suck even more at SF than he is currently sucking at PF.

No doubt about it.

[tdunk21]

After initial reports having the Blazers set to release Brandon Roy, it appears that the Spurs were actually the first NBA club to exercise the amnesty clause.

so interest in butler was a smokescreen?

[Chomag]

Brandon Roy? Would be a great pick up but doesn't he have no knees?

[timtonymanu]

Blazers won't amnesty Roy.

[Spurs Brazil]

Though Butler has already visited the Los Angeles Clippers and still plans to visit the New Jersey Nets — two teams that can offer more than the $5 million mid-level exception that will be available to the Spurs after Jefferson is waived — one league source said the Spurs are now considered the front-runner to land him

Butler’s decision is expected to come not long after free agency opens Friday. Brothers said he hopes to have Butler in some team’s camp by the weekend.

“We’ve got one stop left (New Jersey),” Brothers said. “Then it will be time to make a decision.”

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/spursna...utler-up-next/

[Spurs Brazil]

Caron Butler has reportedly narrowed down the teams he'd like to play for next year, and the list includes the San Antonio Spurs, who are expected to waive Richard Jefferson when the collective bargaining agreement is ratified.

According to a report, Butler will decide between the Chicago Bulls, New Jersey Nets, or Los Angeles Clippers should he decide not to sign with San Antonio.

San Antonio and Chicago are offering Butler the $5 million mid-level exception, while the Nets and the Clippers are in the $7 million-a-year range.
Via ESPN.com

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap...#ixzz1ftOX8Tkv

[Spurs Brazil]

Reached after his meeting with the Spurs and moments after the report of the Spurs' decision to amnesty Jefferson, Butler said via text message: "I was flattered."
A source with knowledge of the situation said that Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is exceedingly high on Butler and made it known to him before Butler started his recruitment trip this week with stops at the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Clippers, before meeting with the Spurs.

http://espn.go.com/dallas/nba/story/...-jefferson-out

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

I do think we all agree Bonner sucks, thats a fact, I just would prefer seeing him with the jersey of another team no matter what position is playing.

Nevertheless I do believe he would suck even more at SF than he is currently sucking at PF.

but wouldnt it be great to see bonner standing still in front of Durant on the perimeter with his T-rex arms up in the air?

[xtremesteven33]

Butler would be a great fit in San Antonio. As I said before, he not only is an isolation player but is tremendous coming off of picks and creating offense for other teammates.

He does lack better catch and shoot from the 3 point line and maybe better defense but those areas can be worked on. If the Spurs can land Butler it would be a Fantastic addition. Ive always wanted him on the Spurs

[BlackSwordsMan]

waste of ing money
this asshole

[MR.SILVER&BLack]

A 38-39 year old Hill > A 31 year old Butler? I don't think so.....

dont have a problem with butler if hes signed for no more than 3 years. Spurs have to get Leonard ready to become a big piece of the rebuilding process they will go through in a couple of years. just think Hill or battier would be a better signing because they would demand less money, match productivity, & be better mentors.

[jiggy_55]

RJeff24 Richard Jefferson
@WojYahooNBA haven't heard anything

Not sure if anybody posted this.. Not sure if this really is Jefferson as the follower count is quite low and he's not verified but he did tweet to @Wojyahoonba saying he hasn't heard anything about them using amnesty on him..

In other news, Josh Howard seems to have had a good meeting also in SA.. Glad the Spurs are trying to make moves for more aggressive players..

Link to Josh Howard meeting in SAS and bumping into Manu today: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...ZLdO_blog.html

[crc21209]

I think Caron Butler may seem like a lateral move to some people. But some people underrate toughness. Butler brings a nasty-ness to a team that clearly needs some right now, and RJ is just too damn soft to provide that. I think Butler is better off the dribble as well, and his mid-range game is pretty good too....

[BlackSwordsMan]

RJeff24 Richard Jefferson
@WojYahooNBA haven't heard anything

Not sure if anybody posted this.. Not sure if this really is Jefferson as the follower count is quite low and he's not verified but he did tweet to @Wojyahoonba saying he hasn't heard anything about them using amnesty on him..

In other news, Josh Howard seems to have had a good meeting also in SA.. Glad the Spurs are trying to make moves for more aggressive players..

Link to Josh Howard meeting in SAS and bumping into Manu today: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/...ZLdO_blog.html

now hes heard
him

[NASpurs]

From jiggy_55's link:

Howard said Ginobili, whom he faced many times as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, stopped him to talk and said, “hey what a coincidence? We used to have a lot of battles. I said, ‘yeah and now we’re on the same team – maybe.’ ”

Noooooooooooooooo!

[Russo21]

Sweet decision. I can't believe Peter will be paying 30 million over the coming years for doing nothing. That's grand larceny Richard Jefferson you should be in prison.

[benefactor]

one league source said the Spurs are now considered the front-runner to land him

Kiss of death. The second they said this about Maggette the show was over.

[Mel_13]

“When I first got here, Tim Duncan told me, ‘Don’t suck. As long as you don’t suck, you’ll be helping the team.’ He basically told me that I wasn’t very good. Now, most nights, if I play okay, Tim says ‘Yo, you didn’t suck tonight.’ So for the most part, I try to not think about anything other than not sucking. It’s good to know that as long as I don’t suck, as long as I don’t hurt the team, as long as I’m neutral, I’m okay.”

http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.c...out-elephants/