Besides that, the comparison just doesn't hold water...
Drew Gooden is a PF and will be a PF for his entire career. Julian Wright may have played the majority of his minutes at PF (which is why it's understandable that his jumpshot is underdeveloped), but his long-term position in the NBA is SF.
Wright may be a project as a SF, but he's a smart player, hard worker, and incredible athlete with a bright future....I would love him on this team!
"Waiting for Manu" is a great article on Draft Express about the potential--and statistical reality--of International Draftees moving into the NBA.
They hold up Manu as the gold standard of all international picks. Nice.
http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2135
Scola rumors on Draft Express:
"Teams thinking about trading a draft pick on Wednesday for Luis Scola should know that he is mulling over a 5-year contract offer for a ridiculous sum of 10 million Euros. After calculating taxes and the exchange rate, we figure Scola will be essentially signing a deal for the mid-level Exception if he indeed decides to take it. That just gives you an idea of how much ground European teams have made up on the NBA in their ability to compete financially over the past few years. Scola reportedly loves playing in Spain and is a long-shot to ever make it over to the NBA."
Scola could give the Spurs the finger and tell the NBA to stuff it. I mentioned in a previus post that we are underestimating the ability of the European teams to financially compete for their star players against the NBA teams.
And it may be more compelling for a Euro to be a big frog in a smaller pond if he is a superstar there and may be nothing but a role player or bench rider in the NBA.
This is being discussed elsewhere on the site, but is good information nonetheless. Still, my guess is that Scola's preference is to play in the NBA and that he will assess his situation this off-season with the Spurs (or whatever team his draft rights are traded to, if that occurs) before negotiating a new deal overseas....
If he actually is mulling over it, we can end any of the talk about how he just wants to play in the NBA and that's all that matters. In that case, it's been/is/will be all about the $.
If the Nocioni trade looks like it is an unlikely occurance then I think our draft plans are ultimately changed. Assuming that Nocioni is out of the question and players like Morris Almond, Derrick Byars and the multi-talented Rudy Fernandez are off the board then I like this idea...
28) Gabe Pruitt
33) Either Marc Gasol, Stanko Barac or Kyrylo Fesenko
58) DJ Strawberry if hes on the board still or any random Euro
Sign James Posey as our SF of the future but plan on drafting a young prospect next season (Marcus Dove?). Look to trade Elson, Barry and Udrih and negotiate to bring Scola over. Perhaps Mahinmi too.
If the Spurs are high on Pruitt, drafting him at 28 may be a necessity, because Presti's sitting there at 31 with two over-priced PG's and may be looking to shore up that position for the future. If we're high on Koponen, I don't think he drops lower than Suns at 29. That of course changes if the Suns trade up, which looks more and more likely considering their workouts. Then either Koponen or Pruitt (not to mention Zowdell and Sessions) would be available at that 33 spot, and we can afford to look at a guy like Dudley or Williams at 28. Either can provide match-up difficulties for other teams and will work their asses off. I totally agree about Posey and Dove, that would be an ideal transition out of the Bowen era - limit his minutes with Posey, who can also rock a smallball lineup and guard Dirk, then train Dove up in the meantime.
Not true. The guy needs to take care of his future. If it's apparent the Spurs won't let him come over to the NBA, the best he can do is entrench himself where he is. Don't know why this means he's about the money.
I have to disagree with you. I don't think the Spurs' draft decisions will change based on the likelihood of an already-unlikely scenario involving a player that it appears the Spurs have not had discussions about (Nocioni). I think the Spurs will draft a combo guard prospect, and the other will be based on who they feel is best available...be it a G/F or a F/C, be they domestic or international.
Again, I don't think the Spurs will change based on what they think will happen with Nocioni, and may very ever so slightly, if at all, based on the hearsay with Scola.
Ultimately, I don't think Scola affects their draft day decisions, unless he's a part of those decisions via trade.
Not saying that there is anything wrong with that at all. Just saying that you can't say all you want to do is play in the NBA and then think about taking the money elsewhere. And, to the best of my knowledge, he hasn't said as much. My post was more directed at the posters who continually say that all Scola wants is the NBA.
I think the truth is probably somewhere in-between.
Scola has proven his ability to dominate in the Euroleague, so he has little left to prove. Unlike in the NBA, where many say that his skills don't translate as well and he's unlikely to be as dominant. I think he's a compe ive person and would like to prove himself on this level.
Having said that, I think he's got a good self-worth and doubt he will come to the NBA for "peanuts" and will be okay with riding the pine for a year....it was much easier for Oberto, who has always been a role player.
IMO, Scola will ask for $2-3M per year and the opportunity to play a signifiant role/be in the rotation for any team that he plays for stateside. Given his talent, I'd say those are not outrageous demands....but I'm also not sure the Spurs will be able to live up to them.
I think it is a given that we take a PG somewhere in the draft. Whether that be Dowdell, Pruitt, Petteri or someone else, I think it matters not. That hole could be filled with a succesful trade for Duhon or the signing of Chucky Atkins. The point is that there are many solutions to plugging that hole.
The situtation with our SFs is vastly different. Not only are SFs often a more expensive commodity but we have very specific requirement for this player. Whether it be a 6'0 or 6'7 PG we will accept either. But this team is searching for a long 3 that that can play quality defense as well and (hopefully) slow down Dirk. Those players are going to be difficult to find without paying far too much. Also, our hopes for a PG are rather simple. We want somebody that can operate our second team while playing decent defense. A young rookie or a past-his-prime vet can easily accomplish this task. Our hopes for a SF include the eventual starting job. This will require a special player and not just anybody.
That said, I don't think that the "Nocioni Trade" is what drives this offseason but rather the "pursuit of the SF". Nocioni is only one of many possible solutions, but he is a realistic solution and a largely ideal one. Scola will be used to fulfill this end. If it is not necessary to include Scola's rights in the acquisition of this SF then I feel that Scola might be brought over. But only once this need has been filled!
Anyone know if Nemanja Aleksandrov is in the draf this year?
If so, I can see the Spurs drafting Aleksandrov with either of the three picks.
He is the long and elusive SF the Spurs have been missing
And yes, I know Aleksandrov has not played in nearly a year due to injury.
I would love to take Nemanja. But I haven't seen anything on him in a while and I imagine that he isn't elligible. I'll have to look it up though.
I think he is elligible.
I thought I read somewhere that he was at some pre-draft camps.
A couple of years ago he was the sure-fire number 1.
He kept on pulling out and eventually got hurt.
The kid has it all though.
7'0....Fluid Jumpshot (nearly perfect mechanics), great ball handling, slashing ability to the basket, and can play defense.
Although, the fire in the first-step has probably diminished.
If he is in the draft....the Spurs should take him, and he should be available.
^Check out his player blog on DX. He was at the Nike Hoops Summit in April. Lost a great deal of athleticism due to injury and shot awkwardly from mid-range, but did two things well: shot the three and rebounded.
I love Nemanja Aleksandrov. But he would be a long-term project since he has to rehab his injury. But this guy had a ton of potential a couple of years ago. If we could snare him with the 58 it would be an absolute steal. Even if this guy never pans out, it is easily worth the gamble.
...I just didn't think he was in this year's draft.
Edit: He was born in 87. So unless hes an early entry candidate then hes not in this year's draft.
Nemanja Aleksandrov isn't automatically eligible until the 2009 draft. He'd have to declare early to be eligible before then.
I feel like I've been hearing about him since forever, and he's still 2 years from automatic eligibility? Wow.
I'm still trying to figure out what the Spurs have planned. I'm leaning more and more to the opinion that Koponen will be the man if he's on the board at 28. I don't think he will though.
Random observations after researching a lot of draft stuff over the last couple days:
--I've started to cool on Belinelli, Almond, Dudley, Tucker, McGuire and Chandler as fits on the Spurs. Belinelli is too much of a one dimensional gunner. Almond isn't a great athlete and not much on D. Dudley and Tucker are also not really athletic enough. McGuire and Chandler don't have the character.
--I've started to warm up to Byars and Fazekas. Byars would be a no-brainer at 28. Fazekas I never really liked but I watched him some more and his rebounding ability to go along with his shot making ability I think could make him an NBA player. If the Spurs think Bonner's asking price is too high, Fazekas could be a good replacement.
--The more I think about it, the more I think 28 is either going international or getting traded. Perhaps the Spurs would pick someone like Byars if he fell to them. But with the front office attempting to open up space next offseason, I don't think they want a first round contract on the books for a player who isn't a near lock to be solid. A game plan I can see the Spurs using would be to trade the pick unless Byars, Fernandez or Koponen falls to them.
--At 33, it's going to depend what happens at 28. If you land a domestic player like Byars, I think the Spurs go international. If the Spurs land Koponen and think that he needs a couple years in Europe, I think that opens the door for players like Almond and Afflalo. If the Spurs get a foreign prospect like Fernandez (or Stanko, Fesenko, Gasol, etc), I think the Spurs then go with a point guard. Dowdell, Pruitt and Green look like the three point guard worth a selection at 33.
--58 is either a trade or a foreign prospect. I see no way that the Spurs pick a domestic player ... unless that player agrees to play overseas a la Derrick Dial. Marko Tomas if he's on the board has to be looked at.
--Two players we never talk about that could come into the mix are Daequan Cook and Marcus Williams. Cook could slip to the Spurs and he has pretty nice potential. He'd be a worthwhile high risk/high reward gamble. He's a little too small for what they really need though. Marcus Williams is an odd prospect as he was once considered a lottery pick ... and now he's a second rounder. He actually fits a lot of what the Spurs need. I'm a little surprised that his name isn't mention more as a possibility at 33, but I can understand it since he'd be a pretty boring pick due to his limited upside.
I am more and more becoming convinced that the Spurs will follow something approaching the following strategy:
1. Draft a foreign prospect they like at 28
2. If no foreign prospect remains that they like, trade the pick for a couple of 2nd rounders or a future 1st.
3. At 33 select the best SG/SF remaining.
4. At 58, another foreigner (SF/PF combo) or trade for a future 2nd.
5. If in 2. the 28th pick was traded for at least one 2nd this year, then pick up a backup PG.
My reasoning behind this is as follows:
1. A domestic PG will not be picked at 28 as any backup PG is not getting any more than 10-12 minutes per night while Tony Parker is around. The high relative wage and loss of flexibility caused by picking a PG at this spot compromises the 2008 retooling plan. There are more than enough veterans around who are well aware what a year on the Spurs can do in increasing their value and extending their careers, not to talk about the possibility of winning a ring.
2. A foreign PG/SG/SF can be picked at 28 as they will not be playing for the Spurs next season, the 2008 plan is not compromised and any foreign backcourt player can play an important role from 2008 onwards.
3. James White is not enough youth at the SG/SF position. The Spurs need at least one more young player to try out next year but with no long-term financial commitment. If the 33rd pick works out, the player can be signed to a longer term contract after 2008, if not, he is cut/traded/etc.
The end results is that the Spurs end up with 1 or 2 new players on the roster next season. This is to replace Ely and/or Barry/Beno/Finley/Bonner.
Next year it is the definitive end for Horry/Finley/Barry/Beno and maybe Bowen. That means that at least 3-4 slots have to be filled next year. Thats when this year and previous foreign picks will have a chance. It is also the reason I think that Scola will never wear a Spurs uniform. If Scola does not come over this year, he is never going to be a Spur.
Disagree that it HAS to be an international prospect at #28 because it comprimises the '08 plan...
The two primary domestic PGs being looked at by the Spurs, Gabe Pruitt and Zabian Dowdell, are versatile enough to play both guard positions, so they actually fill two potential needs (one immediate need at PG and the other a future need at SG).
Also, while the money for a late first round pick is guaranteed, it is not decidedly much larger than an early second rounder would likely receive...especially in the first couple years.
My point is that if the Spurs are really sold on one of the two domestic point guards enough, they'll take them at 28 regardless of the future cap considerations.
agree. beside the point that IMO, that this "2008 plan" is just a myth, (the Spurs will never signe another big contract when they pay 40 million to the big 3), the money to pay a late 1st rounder is about the same as the veteran minimum.
as PT says, they will take a player they like. if all players on their list are gone at this point, they might think about some other strategies. but it would be stupid to decide by cap considerations in the fist place.
i've tried to keep tabs of this thread as best i can, so if this has been asked previously, i apologize. but...
anyone know if the spurs have the spurs worked out mario boggans from okla. state?
They might have but nobody has said anything. All of the known workouts are listed in the first post of this massive thread.
I seriously doubt that there is sufficient minutes for a rookie SG/PG on next year's squad. There are about 10 minutes backing up Tony Parker and for that Vaughn or a similar player suffices, especially if Beno stays for another year.
At SG you have Finley starting with Manu playing the bulk of the minutes and Barry also playing some and White needing minutes next year at the SG/SF spot. I just don't see where the playing time is coming from for a rookie, especially a first round rookie that if he stinks, you still have to live with a 4 year commitment.
Look at Beno, the Spurs would trade him for a 2nd rounder in an instant and if so, there is where I think the combo guard is picked. However, with Beno still on the squad and with 3 years experience of the Spurs system, I simply don't see the need for a combo guard.
Also, I do think the 2008 plan is valid issue. The Spurs won't be adding a marque free agent next year, but they could add a couple of pieces at SG/SF that would be starters but would not cost more 8-10 million combined. That should see the team through to the end of the Duncan era in 4-5 years.
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