Spurs may be looking to trade Splitter

[james evans]

signing him to that bull deal was dumb as anyway.

[ElNono]

Sure, we're not going to agree on this. But pointing to the box score doesn't prove anything. I've made threads specifically to delve further into defense for that very reason.

What part of the boxscore says Boris scored 9 of of his 15 points in the 2nd half? How is "I watched the game" better than actual measurable impact? I watched the game too, and I just can't agree with Splitter taking anybody's cookie in that game.
Sorry, I generally agree with your takes, and I certainly appreciate those defense threads, but I just can't agree on this one.

Calling Splitter a "stout center" is like calling Z-Bo a post scorer. Sure, it's descriptive enough on its own, but it completely undersells the player. Splitter's D is not going to be easy to replace. There isn't a big in the league who can do all the things Tiago can on that end, and the ones who are close are making a lot more money than he is. Diaw when he's on is a match up nightmare. But at the same time, he's only necessary because the Spurs don't have a reliable offensive big. You don't need as much 'play-making' when you have bona fide offensive players to give the ball to. As far as the bench goes, the Spurs had an awesome one with Bonner playing next to Tiago a few years ago. Sure, that was with a younger Manu, but it's not like Diaw is going to be running PnRs either.

Tiago complements Timmy very well. I always credited him for giving Timmy a 2nd wind. He has everything Tim no longer has: he's mobile, he's an excellent P&R defender and he has allowed Tim not to have to bang with the other team's more physical players. He's a great fit for the Spurs (when healthy). I'm actually not sold he'll look anywhere near as good defensively playing on a different team. So in a 'fit' sense, I would agree it wouldn't be 'easy' to replace. But neither is Diaw. Your assessment that Aldrige would take away Boris' luster as a playmaker on this team is, IMO, misguided.

At the end of the day, the Spurs still won 55 games with a gimpy Tiago this season, still had a top 5 defense, and largely the biggest issue all season long was the offense.

I think you undersell how good of a bench big Tiago was. The dude used to eat teams alive as the role-man with Manu. Do the Spurs need to make sure they have play-making at the guard spots? Sure, I'd love to see more. But that's not all that hard to get. Look at DJ Augustin in OKC. The Spurs aren't going to go Boris-centric for the bench in any event. Also, Tiago is a great play-maker himself. He's not going to draw a much of doubles in the post, be he certainly can distribute extremely well, especially when he's already in a rhythm.

See, I think you're underselling Gino. He's the guy that made guys like DeJuan Blair look like an NBA player. As a matter of fact, it's hard to think anybody else Tiago had a good thing going on offense with in this team. But the biggest reason is that none of our other guards generally can even run a P&R with anybody. That's why having a versatile playmaker is crucial, especially if Manu does walk away.

Plus, again, he's just the guy with the contract that, IMO, can bring the better assets back. That's why I'm not surprised to hear rumors about the Spurs wanting to move him.

[DPG21920]

Nono, when Tiago is healthy, and in the SL, the Spurs had incredible offense and that was without Manu. Tiago was also great on the bench too, but he was very good with the SL and the offense worked once Pop finally committed to playing TnT together.

[ElNono]

Nono, when Tiago is healthy, and in the SL, the Spurs had incredible offense and that was without Manu. Tiago was also great on the bench too, but he was very good with the SL and the offense worked once Pop finally committed to playing TnT together.

Our better offensive and defensive players are in the SL... I don't deny Tiago's impact, especially defensively, on the SL... as I said, I thought he complements Tim extremely well, and IIRC, when you look at metrics, defensively, that SL is miles ahead of any other lineup.

Then again, I don't think that invalidates what I said: it's difficult to think Tiago having a good thing going offensively with anybody other than with Gino...

[DPG21920]

You mean off the bench? Because if he's in a SL without Gino and it's great, that shows he can be a part of a functioning offense without Manu.

[ElNono]

You mean off the bench? Because if he's in a SL without Gino and it's great, that shows he can be a part of a functioning offense without Manu.

I think him individually has very little to do with the offense in the SL... which is perfectly fine, as that lineup has at least two of our best offensive players (3 when Tony is playing at a high level too).

I actually think that's on purpose. The shot allocation in that lineup is pretty much taken.

[ezau]

Tiago is one of the best defensive players in the center position in the league today. He could check the likes of Z-Bo, Dirk, and Aldrige while anchoring the team's PNR defense. I really like Tiago as a player, but he always struggles offensively. He can't shoot a jumper to save his life, and even if he is brilliant off the PNR, he will most likely miss a layup. I do think Splitter regressed somewhat as far as offense goes, which is why the team is looking into trading him.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

If the options are tradeing Splitter or Bobo in order to create room for Aldridge I'd definitely prefer them trading Splitter. Bobo is much more versatile and the Spurs would definitely need more playmaking in the second unit. On the other hand Splitter's offensive value would be very low without Manu feeding him off of the PnR. Sure, they'll sacrifice on defense but having Aldridge will make up for it offensively. The increase in talent would be substantial.

Don't even want to address the idea of not trading Splitter to make room for Aldridge talent > fit

[Leetonidas]

Seriously, we're talking about the next 5 years here, and a player like Aldridge, even if he isn't top 5 in the league, is still a legit AS big man and him + Kawhi will at the very least keep the Spurs relevant. Splitter is one of my favorite players but he is a soft vagina and while he is great defensively is offensive game is pretty bad

[kobyz]

Spurs should have just win the le this year, let Duncan retire and call it an era and go rebuilding mode through the draft... Instead we are now in a mess... Why Pop why???

[spurraider21]

on the spurs as currently constructed, imo boris is more important. parker and manu aren't reliable playmakers anymore. kawhi is expanding his offensive ability, but he's not great at creating for others yet. Diaw makes things work for the team, he makes guys like Danny and Patty much better offensively.

but if the spurs were to bring in aldridge? i'd much rather let diaw go instead of splitter. you can play splitter and aldridge as a pair and they'd do well together on both ends. diaw and aldridge would get slaughtered on D. also, by bringing in a scorer like LMA, it sorta decreases the need for a playmaker like boris because defenses are already gravitating to LMA, opening up the floor for other players. look at guys like wes matthews on portland...

[Strange Love]

I hope this happens.

[Twisted_Dawg]

There's nowhere to go - Barnes came up Bigger than KL and put a stamp on the series game 1.

Splitter is anti-momentum.

Nothing you can say can validate Splitter, a consistently ty playoff performing starter who couldnt even find minutes in Finals series. WHY STICK WITH THAT

You forgot to mention that she is chronically injured.

[cd021]

They can't trade Splitter at the draft, because they won't know at that point whether Aldridge is signing with them or not.

I think the Hawks would be more interested in Diaw than Splitter. Budenholzer is obsessed with shooting to the point where he never plays Horford, an elite mid range shooter, as an offensive PF (rarely as a defensive one, too).

The Bucks appear to be the best fit. They not only need a starting center, but could send back an inexpensive backup, Plumlee. A secondary asset would obviously be needed, such as a future pick swap based on certain conditions.

I still think Diaw makes more sense and is more likely to be traded than Splitter, if Aldridge signs. But I see the argument for trading Splitter: He'd more than likely fetch a better asset(s) and he's less durable.

Toronto ,maybe, is another team that could be interested in him. They don't love/ trust Valanciunas and they were really bad defensively this season. They have two 1st rounders next season, one from the Knicks.


I hadn't considered Milwaukee. Miles Plumlee, Damien Inglis, and lottery protected 2016 1st round pick (probably in the 15-18 range) for Splitter, is a pretty good haul if the Spurs are looking to "dump" his deal if the Spurs can land Aldridge.

Inglis was the 31st pick last season and is an intriguing, young, prospect on a dirt cheap 4 year rookie deal ($885,000 next season). [http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/...-Inglis-6428/]


Its hard to gauge Diaws value. He has a rep. for checking out if the situation isn't to his liking. His contact is far from bad something like $15 million guaranteed over the next two seasons but Splitter is probably the easier of the two to be traded.

He is an above average big, elite defensively (when healthy) and is only 30 years old on a descending contract that only pays $8.5 million next off season where the cap jumps to almost $90 million.

Both would be good fits in Atlanta. I feel that Splitter makes more sense for that team though, but Bud does seem to favor bigs that can shoot. The Spurs couldn't actually make that trade until July, 1st because the Hawks are at the salary cap line.

[kobyz]

If we trade tiago or boris and after we get la, assuming duncan continue, i also hope we add darrell arthur, he is a perfect fourth big...

[-21-]

Trade Splitter, keep Green. KEEP DANNY GREEN.

[TD 21]

Toronto ,maybe, is another team that could be interested in him. They don't love/ trust Valanciunas and they were really bad defensively this season. They have two 1st rounders next season, one from the Knicks.


I hadn't considered Milwaukee. Miles Plumlee, Damien Inglis, and lottery protected 2016 1st round pick (probably in the 15-18 range) for Splitter, is a pretty good haul if the Spurs are looking to "dump" his deal if the Spurs can land Aldridge.

Inglis was the 31st pick last season and is an intriguing, young, prospect on a dirt cheap 4 year rookie deal ($885,000 next season). [http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/...-Inglis-6428/]


Its hard to gauge Diaws value. He has a rep. for checking out if the situation isn't to his liking. His contact is far from bad something like $15 million guaranteed over the next two seasons but Splitter is probably the easier of the two to be traded.

He is an above average big, elite defensively (when healthy) and is only 30 years old on a descending contract that only pays $8.5 million next off season where the cap jumps to almost $90 million.

Both would be good fits in Atlanta. I feel that Splitter makes more sense for that team though, but Bud does seem to favor bigs that can shoot. The Spurs couldn't actually make that trade until July, 1st because the Hawks are at the salary cap line.

True, but they're more interested in finding a starting PF and with Valanciunas likely to get Vucevic money, they can't afford for his backup to be pricey, unless it's someone who can also play alongside him, like Johnson.

Yeah, a lottery protected 1st should be the Spurs priority; not a pick swap. I'm pretty sure the Bucks are high on Inglis, given that it sounded unlikely last year that he'd come over immediately, yet they gave him well over the starting salary for a 2nd. Either way, he shouldn't be a deal breaker.

It is hard to gauge Diaw's value, but despite his reputation, he should be easy to move, just not for as much as Splitter.

Positionally, Splitter makes more sense for the Hawks, but I suspect they'd prefer Diaw. Even though they don't have a true starting C, as I alluded to, they prefer Horford as a C, plus have Antic as a rare stretch C, are developing Muscala to be the same and supposedly love Tavares.