Splinter Must Be A Spur Next Season
Hansbrough is returning to UNC.
Things will look even more scarce at the 26th slot when some of these underclassmen return to school before the final deadline. But since when have mock drafts mattered to the Spurs, anyway? There could be a Mahinmi lying in wait, or a promise given to someone like Casspi/de Colo, who are expected to drop to the second round.
It's looking more and more like another draft-and-stash year for the Spurs.
ya hansbrough is going back to unc
Do you have any video of this kid? At 6'6" he's a good sized gaurd.
Courtney LEE.
He is a 6'6 SG and is long enough to guard the 2 or 3. He is extremely athletic and is a natural scorer. He is the smoothest player I have ever watched, he makes everything look pretty and easy. He would be such a good fit here, He is great at defense and can score at will, but know's his place and will not take bad shots.
Oh well, with nothing to look forward to in the draft, we can hope that Splitter and Ian will be worth all the attention and speculation about their first season with the club. I know Ian spent a few days on the roster, but he really will be a rookie next year if they bring him up from the Toros.
The description of Ibaka on draftexpress makes him seem like a Mahinmi clone:
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Serge-Ibaka-1302/
I doubt the Spurs go that direction, though, unless they have reservations about whether or not Ian and/or Tiago will pan out.
Casspi is intriguing but it sounds like he has real at ude issues and may turn out to be a head case.
de Colo looks like a Barry type of player and I wouldn't be surprised to see the Spurs draft/stash him if he is still on the board.
Courtney Lee looks very interesting. Based purely on the scouting reports from Draftexpress he seems to be just what I think we need. But can he go from the Sun Belt to the NBA?
If thats the case then the tryouts will probably put him out of reach of the Spurs then. Hes already just barely within reach. Remember Rodney Stuckey last year. A player like that can shoot up the boards. And athleticism is always in high demand, something Lee seems to have plenty of.
One thing Lee is not is an athlete. He's fine in NBA terms, but he's by no means an exceptional one, not at a younger Finley level. Very average. What he is good at is a midrange shooting game, and a number of other things. He should hover around the end of the round or top of the second. Unless he gets a lot of press I'd expect the Spurs could take him if they wanted. He certainly seems a good prospect.
Is Lee a better prospect than Byars ?
Would we actually want to draft a rookie who would join us next year? We have Splitter and Ian joining already, unless we have quite a few retirements, I don't think we have the roster spots.
I'm sure somebody here knows more about our future plans than me, but what is the situation with the Old Brigade. Who's retiring?
I would say so. His performance in the LeBron James Skills Academy had scouts salivating a year ago, working against James himself. Even though Lee was expected to carry Western Kentucky, he could settle nicely into a smaller role off the bench as an energy/instant offense kind of player. A good complimentary player for a late first/early second round pick. And he could move up from there with workouts, a la Jared Dudley.
Lee is who I'm desperately hoping my Pistons get in the draft.
Expiring contracts: Kurt Thomas ($8,091,187), Robert Horry ($3,630,000), Michael Finley ($3,103,000), Damon Stoudamire ($609,795), Derrmarr Johnson ($42,872).
Speculation on my part, but I don't see Horry, Finley, or Stoudamire coming back. Thomas could re-sign, but there will be compe ion for his services. ESPN has Barry with a player option. As it pertains to rookies, you're right, it's likely the Spurs will draft and stash, and I think the target will end up being Omri Casspi, even with his at ude issues.
Don't you think Finley's coming back? He still has a role on the squad and is, after all, a starter. But it may depend on if they can get another SG they like. Barry can't start and is otherwise suspect for injuries, and Manu should come off the bench.
Even with Mahinmi and Splitter, I can see the Spurs taking a rookie swingman, SG, or full SF.
I get the feeling it's Finley's last year in a Spurs' uniform, but you're right, he could take the min and stick around to mentor whoever is brought in as a replacement. I'm also not sure I see the Spurs taking a domestic product from a smaller school like Lee. That was one thing Marcus Williams had going for him, the Arizona "pedigree." If anyone could attract their attention in that range at a need position domestically, I think it's Mario Chalmers; that's assuming a player of Rush's or Alexander's quality doesn't drop.
I agree with Chalmers over Lee, but with Collison returning to UCLA Chalmers is likely nabbed earlier in the round. I hadn't stated before but agree with your general idea. I cannot see the Spurs giving a guaranteed salary to an untested domestic product.
I hope they aren't going to get fiddly about "Guaranteed Salary". With the latest CBA, Rookie contracts are perhaps the biggest roster bargain possible... Rookie contracts are now only 2 years guaranteed, but up to 5 years of the team options.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRiuE...eature=related
Video means nothing, but hey. Mostly stills, this includes the Courtney Lee dunk posted earlier. One thing that stands out is the elevation he gets on his jump shot.
Video of some overseas non-bigs the Spurs could be looking at:
Goran Dragic
Omri Casspi
Joe Ingles
The Spurs are looking for a replacement for Tim and that is not too far off.
They are taking bigs and hoping that one of them pans out and the Ibaka kid is very raw, young and athletic with lots of potential. I think they take this kid if he's available and let him develop in the Euros a few years and then learn from Tim.
This is what I think they are hoping for in Mahimni and Splitter as well. Hopefully Ian and Tiago develop and stick with the team. They kinda remind me of Dave and Tim at a lesser skill level, Ian athletic and quick like Dave and Tiago more of a slower post player like Tim.
I'd be surprised to see them take a big man.
Splitter is pretty fast, anyway.
Chalmers is the only domestic pick that wouldn't surprise me. Of course, accurately predicting whom the Spurs will actually draft is the ultimate shot in the dark, so who knows
The early entry list is available :
http://www.nba.com/news/earlyentry_draft_080501.html
To me, the surprise name in this list is Victor Claver. He is a very interesting player and I can see Spurs taking him at 26th if eh stays in the draft.
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