Yahoo: Spurs front-runners in race for Maggette

[z0sa]

Because Maggette has been a sort of wet dream around the spurs FO - and here - for a while now.

[El Jefe]

Just jumping ahead -if we somehow sign Maggette for the MLE, and with Barry opting out, and with us needing to sign KT, doesn't it seem like Barry might not be back?

I'd try a sign and trade with Barry for Matt Barnes if that was somehow possible and within budget, though being within budget and possible probably cancel each other out.

It'd help to know what Barry was looking for. If he opted out to find more minutes somewhere, Maggette almost assuredly would send him packing.

Here's hoping someone at Express News has Barry's phone number....

[cnyc3]

It's not necessarily a pay cut to take less money with the spurs. Money in San Antonio goes a whole lot further than it does in LA or Philly. For example, Bruce bought a monster house here that would have cost him 3 to 5 times as much somewhere else. $5 mil in SA is like $10 mil in LA. Plus, no state income tax.

that may very well be true, but bruce is a spur for life, and he'll probably live in SA after he retires. Maggette however will probably live in Orlando so real estate prices are irrelevant

[Ronaldo McDonald]

And if it does happen re-signing Barry would probably be easier.

[Spur-Addict]

Bring it back!!!!!!!

[Marcus Bryant]

Just jumping ahead -if we somehow sign Maggette for the MLE, and with Barry opting out, and with us needing to sign KT, doesn't it seem like Barry might not be back?

I'd try a sign and trade with Barry for Matt Barnes if that was somehow possible and within budget, though being within budget and possible probably cancel each other out.

I'm not sure it would change that much for Barry. Maggette, if he joined, would essentially be taking Finley's role. The Spurs would still have their LLE to re-sign Barry, which apparently is what Houston has offered him. The Spurs have Thomas' Bird Rights, so from a cap perspective there shouldn't be a problem.

[Supergirl]

yeah, this would be sweet. fingers crossed.

[ShoogarBear]

Losing Barry, Finley, and Horry would might mean big changes in what the Spurs do offensively to set up 3s. Maggette shot 38% from the 3-line last year, but that was somewhat of a anomaly, and Hill is still an unknown. A lot will depend on whether Udoka's shot becomes more reliable and whether Pop wants to at least start out giving Bonner significant minutes.

[2centsworth]

that may very well be true, but bruce is a spur for life, and he'll probably live in SA after he retires. Maggette however will probably live in Orlando so real estate prices are irrelevant

investors are gobbling up real estate in san antonio. One of the top markets. Nevertheless, you have a point too.

[Ronaldo McDonald]

I'm not sure how all this cap works...If we sign Corey with the MLE, would we have enough cap room to re-sign Barry to contract he deserves? Would we have any cap room at all to make him an offer?

[oligarchy]

Once the sign and trade possibility vanished for Maggette, the Spurs became a legit suitor.

sign-and-trade didn't vanish. You can sign-and-trade a player who's rights have been renounced, but cannot when the player is signed using the Mid-Level, Bi-Annual or Disabled Player exceptions

I'd try a sign and trade with Barry for Matt Barnes if that was somehow possible and within budget, though being within budget and possible probably cancel each other out.

You can't sign-and-trade for a free agent.

[Manufan909]

Yeah, and how the Celtics have to do jack to get to the Finals. Hawks, Cavs, and Pistons!?! You've gotta be ing with me. If we'd gotten to the Finals, it would've meant Suns, NO, Lakers, and argueably all of those teams are superior to the Pistons(maybe not the Suns). ing unbalanced bs. We should've thrown the Utah game, and then swept them in the 1st round. But they wanted to lose, so it would've been the NBA version of suicide chess.

[Biggems]

Since I am in such a good mood over the Maggette hype....here is what I would love

Sign Maggette (MLE), Pecherov (Beno exception)
Sign Hill, Hairston
Re-sign Barry, Thomas, Horry
Trade Vaughn
Trade Bonner + 2nd for Matt Barnes

PG - Parker, Barry, Hill
SG - Maggette, Manu, Hairston
SF - Bowen, Barnes, Udoka
PF - Duncan, Horry, Thomas
C - Oberto, Mahimni, Pecherov

If we have to, we can move Udoka since he is in his last year and there would be a log jam on the wing......we could use the open slot for Gist or another very young player....McGuire, Brumbaugh, Daniels....

[Ronaldo McDonald]

I'm not sure it would change that much for Barry. Maggette, if he joined, would essentially be taking Finley's role. The Spurs would still have their LLE to re-sign Barry, which apparently is what Houston has offered him. The Spurs have Thomas' Bird Rights, so from a cap perspective there shouldn't be a problem.

Okay you answered my question n/m.

[tav1]

me! I was out all night and I came home to this. With Maggette the Spurs are every bit a championship squad. Man, I'm happy.

[Marcus Bryant]

sign-and-trade didn't vanish. You can sign-and-trade a player who's rights have been renounced, but cannot when the player is signed using the Mid-Level, Bi-Annual or Disabled Player exceptions

Can the Clippers sign and trade him after signing Davis and Brand to large contracts? Thanks.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I'm not setting myself up for a monstrous let down. I hope we can get him, but I doubt we will. The guy is worth more than the MLE and he knows and we know it. He'll "consider" the offer but it'll be nothing more than a facade - he knows he's got to superficially show some level appreciation, admiration, and consideration to a franchise that's deserving of all that. But, alas, in the end, it's small market San Antonio, and history shows that that weighs more in the minds of these guys.

Uh....yeah. Everyone knows he's worth more than the MLE, the problem is there are very few teams who can give it to them, and none of them may want him.

[oligarchy]

I'm not sure how all this cap works...If we sign Corey with the MLE, would we have enough cap room to re-sign Barry to contract he deserves? Would we have any cap room at all to make him an offer?

We can use what is called the Non-Qualifying Veteran Free Agent Exception (or non-bird exception) on Barry; which is up to 120% of his salary from last year (which was the minimum salary)

[Marcus Bryant]

Or you use the LLE, which is what Houston is offering him.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

that may very well be true, but bruce is a spur for life, and he'll probably live in SA after he retires. Maggette however will probably live in Orlando so real estate prices are irrelevant

The example of Bowen's crib was just that - an example. Cost of living is lower in SA than in Orlando or LA, so while here he'd be able to put away more for retirement.

[tav1]

If the Spurs put Maggette in the fold, then I'd rather they use the LLE on another big. Where do things stand with Kurt Thomas?

[Marcus Bryant]

If the Spurs put Maggette in the fold, then I'd rather they use the LLE on another big. Where do things stand with Kurt Thomas?

Spurs are probably letting him find his market price.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Or you use the LLE, which is what Houston is offering him.

Hopefully. I think we're still gonna need Barry.

[oligarchy]

Can the Clippers sign and trade him after signing Davis and Brand to large contracts? Thanks.

Did they sign both already? Thanks. They COULD sign-and-trade.

[CaptainLate]

Though the Sixers and GS (and Memphis) could offer more money, are we reducing the field of compe ion? I mean, there are other teams like us that only have the MLE to offer, so in that sense, other teams can try to sell him on their city and team for pretty much the same money, right?

For some reason, I imagine that Houston or Dallas and possibly Phoenix will find a way to butt their noses into this deal to try and jinx us, even if it is only talking through the media.

But no teams can sell the idea of le contenders year in and year out for the length of his contract. AND, the fact that in 2010 we'll be retooling around the Big 4 (Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, Maggette).

As for the Sixers and Josh Smith, here is what Mike Malone said about the Hawks and Josh Childress, Hawks, SG-SF: [ Outstanding sixth man, with great intangibles who had terrific playoff series against Celtics. Hawks are vulnerable to any team willing to give full mid-level to him. ]

Can we assume if the Sixers gave Smith the full MLE that the Hawks c/wouldn't match and that takes the Sixers out of the Maggette sweepstakes?