Who is this Ian Mahinmi and why is Cuban trying to sign him?

[lurker23]

What is excessive is ridiculous and both Mahinmi's "haters" and "lovers" have been excessive in this thread.

Mahinmi hasn't played enough minutes in the NBA to know how good or bad he is. The best proof of this uncertainty about him is that Spurs' FO has given up on him while Mavs' FO will spend $4.3M on him.

While we all have an opinion about Ian, none of us have seen him enough play to be sure that our evaluation is the right one. You can continue to argue during dozens of pages of whether Ian sucks or rules but it will lead you nowhere. Spurs have given up on him. Future will tell if they were right or wrong. There is really nothing to add at that.

As usual, Bruno hits the nail on the head. All we can really do is wait and see what happens.

For the record, the thought of "What is excessive is ridiculous" applies to pretty much everything. For the sake of this board, it can be applied to players such as Matt Bonner and Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

That's more of an indictment against the current state of the league than anything else, but good point.

Still, if Mahinmi's peak is 10/10 (and thats a big IF), I still don't think it's that big of a loss.

Yeah, instead we're giving Bonner $16 mil to get us 7 and 4.

[sribb43]

If this guy does see the floor, he will be this version of DJ MbEnga from 4-5 years ago

[K-State Spur]

Yeah, instead we're giving Bonner $16 mil to get us 7 and 4.

Bonner is a playoff choker who serves no purpose on a team with championship aspirations - we all get this.

But can we quit comparing him to Ian 1:1 - they serve different roles on the team.

Yeah, I'd rather than Ian than MB, but Ian is utterly redundant with the roster for next year. We'd have to see multiple major injuries for him to get any significant PT. And if that happens, the team is screwed regardless of whether or not it is him or Bonner out there.

[DespЏrado]

What is excessive is ridiculous and both Mahinmi's "haters" and "lovers" have been excessive in this thread.

Mahinmi hasn't played enough minutes in the NBA to know how good or bad he is. The best proof of this uncertainty about him is that Spurs' FO has given up on him while Mavs' FO will spend $4.3M on him.

While we all have an opinion about Ian, none of us have seen him enough play to be sure that our evaluation is the right one. You can continue to argue during dozens of pages of whether Ian sucks or rules but it will lead you nowhere. Spurs have given up on him. Future will tell if they were right or wrong. There is really nothing to add at that.

The Spurs were desperate for Ian to develop into anything more than a bench warming scrub. Ian had all the opportunities in the world. The fact that he couldn't buy playing time is all the proof that we need that he isn't what spurs fans make him out to be.

[50 cent]

LOL....I've been telling you guys for years how much Ian sucks. Let him go.

[wildbill2u]

Who mentioned replacing him?

YOU and other always retort with that same ---who will take his place?

Why can't Pop simply be questioned--like it is done in every other NBA city?

I have seen other coaches, gm's, even owners---get pressured---or at least questioned by the media during post game conferences---except for Pop--he seems to have found a way to avoid that...

by being a complete intimidating asshole to anyone asking a tough question--this is where a good owner could look into things and see if his coach might be slipping, to see if his employee might be getting complacent or in senile.


I have always thought that Pop was one--if not the best--coach in the nba but in the last couple to three years---he has really changed IMO.

In the last few seasons there are more and more really peculiar bouts of strange behavior and coaching decisions, along with more frequent alienating of certain players and usually that is a sign of complacency, old/rigid ways and generally ---slippage.

The worrisome part it seems is that his job is NEVER questioned and he keeps getting MORE set in his ways, MORE prone to keep doing things only HIS way and the league has changed. It seems as though he has not ADAPTED at all and no-one is able to question him,etc...

as far as a replacement...ANY name I could post here will only be met with disdain, ridicule and a list of reasons why Pop is superior---but if it ever came to really replacing Pop---I believe that it would NOT be as important to find someone with a better resume' as it would be just to bring in a fresh at ude, a new outlook---a young coach who isn't set in his ways and STILL has that fire of wanting to win a championship---to still prove himself.

Along with Pop's awesome accomplishments , unfortunately, comes a bit of contentment, an at ude of---it is only basketball---it is unreasonable to expect a championship every season, that team is better than everyone else--no-one is on the lakers level---

all of those thing, IMO , are NOT a good sign---and although Pop should be commended for his straightforward honesty---it seems to me to also mean that he is not as hungry anymore, and this is just basketball--nothing to get too wound up about...


on the other hand---a young unproven coach would have NOTHING else on his mind except winning a le AT ALL COSTS---he would have the FIRE that POP seems to have lost long,long ago.

Remember that fire? Remember Pop's passion?

Now contrast it with the last coupla' years with Pop giving the message to his team that it is ok to loaf through the regular season---until the playoffs arrive...
or...

the at ude that once a team seems to be winning handily---just throw in the towel--because---well we just did not have it tonight...

etc...

You answered your own question. Pop can tear any media jerk a new one with his sarcasm. They simply aren't used to that kind of response and can't take looking foolish.

[Spurs Brazil]

Mahinmi, 23, averaged 3.9 points and 2.0 rebounds in 26 games for the San Antonio Spurs last season. The French center played briefly in two games against the Mavericks in their first-round playoff series. According to the source, the deal is believed to be for the bi-annual exception of about $2 million per season. The second year is a team option.

http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba...ory?id=5374037

[Bruno]

http://twitter.com/ArtGarcia_NBA/status/18385690557

Mavs agree to 2-year deal w/Spurs C Ian Mahinmi for vet's min (about $1.8m total). 2nd year team option. Signing pending physical.

That's a nice cheap gamble for Mavs.

[underdawg]

good for Ian

Doesn't matter what any nba talent scouts on here say - he lives on to get another chance. Hopefully, he'll finally get one.

[underdawg]

Anyone here will tell you practice means nothing and Pop is stupid.

why don't you admit you nothing about what goes on in practice and you're basically talking out of your ass when you say he's had chances in practice?

[Spurs Brazil]

http://twitter.com/ArtGarcia_NBA/status/18385690557


That's a nice cheap gamble for Mavs.

Minimum deal. That's good deal for the Mavs

[pablo3po]

Immediately after signing his contract with Mavs Ian fouled out of the entire season ...

[Dex]

Spent three years with the Spurs only to become a Mav for the vet min?

Somebody sounds bitter.

[Jace]

Ian still has a lot of potential, if the Mavs give him a shot he may prove the Spurs wrong

[Obstructed_View]

Spent three years with the Spurs only to become a Mav for the vet min?

Somebody sounds bitter.

If he thinks he can play, then the Mavs is a pretty good choice. Dampier's ripe for the picking at backup, and Brendan Haywood ain't exactly a world-beater.

[slick'81]

i wonder if dallas cuts ian loose and lets him take over the nba

[Obstructed_View]

I have yet to hear anyone say they're happy he's gone, they just continue to assert that he can't play in the hopes that he fails in Dallas. I hope he fails in Dallas just because it would be bad for the Mavs if he does.

[smrattler]

I have yet to hear anyone say they're happy he's gone...

Let me end the suspense for ya...

I'm happy he's gone. Yay!!!!!!

[Behrooz24]

Ian "MIP" Mahinmi
BOOK IT!

[Trill Clinton]

Good riddens

[J_Paco]

Do people realize that Ian signed for more than his option would've cost (1 yr./$1.7M to 2 yrs./4.3M)? I just don't understand why they held onto him all of last season, if they had no intention of re-signing him or making a offer?

Had his option been picked up he would've been an easy piece to add to a trade package. Now, we're stuck with Matt Bonner for another (possible) 4 years at an inflated rate. A situation where Bonner will likely move back into the rotation after this upcoming season.

Had he signed with any team other than the Mavericks, Lakers or Rockets I would've rooted for him. But, now I've gotta go against my optimism for him and hope he's nothing more than a Josh Boone/Aaron Gray-type player. We'll soon find out................

[BackHome]

Remember when we had Pops on our team and everyone ed when we let him go and the Raptors signed him? Can anyone tell me what NBA team he is playing on?

[Obstructed_View]

Remember when we had Pops on our team and everyone ed when we let him go and the Raptors signed him? Can anyone tell me what NBA team he is playing on?

Remember when the Spurs' front line was so ing bad that Pops was better than anyone not named Timmy?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

A real pity. I think he'll develop into a really nice rotation player if given 20-24 regular minutes a game, and it annoys me that Dallas will probably reap the rewards.

I was very surprised when the Spurs declined Mahinmi's option before last season, because the moment the FO did that he was gone - we could have had him dirt cheap for another year, giving him more time to develop. I would have signed his option, and then played him a lot early to rest Dice and Tim for later in the season and post-season.

I think this is a practice we should adopt - play the youngsters early in the season (for the first 2-3 months) to rest the vets' (esp. Tim, Manu, Dice) legs. Most teams are in disarray for the first 4-6 weeks of the season, and that would be a great time to blood our youngsters whilst using the vets sparingly. In other words, it's time we started using the true 15-man depth of the roster in a strategic sense across the entire season.

We are essentially a rebuilding team right now, at the same time as we are still trying to contend. It is time we realised that our older players don't need to play all 82 games (imagine how fresh their legs will be at the end if they've only played 60-65!).

Also, go and take a look at the rosters of the other teams around the league. The whole NBA is currently in a transition phase - many of the stalwart players of the last 15 years have disappeared and the league is now on average very young, inexperienced and athletic. How about we give our young crop of athletes experience early in the season when other teams are weak, and help rest our old blokes at the same time? Makes sense to me.