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Kurt Thomas and Nazr Mohammed for Malik Rose and Rasho Nesterovic? That sounds like a winner right there.
Spurs shed Rose, gain size: Forward, a fan favorite, goes to Knicks for Mohammed
Web Posted: 02/25/2005 12:00 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
In the end, after almost three years of rumors and speculation, after he nearly was sent to New York at last season's trade deadline, Malik Rose still was surprised.
Rose practiced with the Spurs on Thursday morning at the team's facility, then stayed to work out alone. He was joking around in the players' lounge and training room when someone said coach Gregg Popovich wanted to see him.
Only then did Rose sense something had happened. He met Popovich in his office. His coach of eight seasons told him he was being traded to the Knicks for center Nazr Mohammed.
"I was very shocked," Rose said late Thursday, about 90 minutes before he was to board a charter flight to New York. "The worst I've ever felt was when I lost my brother. But this is the worst I've felt since then. It just hurts."
The Spurs also sent New York a pair of first-round picks: the one Phoenix owed them this season as well as their own in the 2006 draft. In addition to Mohammed, they received point guard Jamison Brewer, who will be waived.
Though the 6-foot-10 Mohammed gives the Spurs the backup center they had been seeking, it also helps them shed more than $21 million in future payroll. Mohammed has only one year worth $5.5 million remaining on his contract after this season compared to the four years and $27.3 million Rose has left on his deal.
The Spurs agreed to pay the 10 percent trade kicker in Rose's contract for the Knicks. The trade bonus is worth almost $3million and must be paid within 30 days.
Rose signed his seven-year, $42million contract in the summer of 2002. Though the deal was considered market value at the time, the team since has handed longterm contracts to Tim Duncan ($120 million), Tony Parker ($66 million), Manu Ginobili ($52 million) and Rasho Nesterovic ($42 million). The flexibility the Spurs gain from Thursday's trade also could help them this summer if they try to sign one of their former draft picks, Argentine forward Luis Scola.
"We've been together a long time," Popovich said of Rose. "He doesn't want to go, and were it not for the business involved, we wouldn't want him to go."
To open a roster spot to complete the deal, the Spurs waived Romain Sato and placed Mike Wilks on the injured list. The team will evaluate its needs but will consider re-signing Sato if he clears waivers.
Mohammed, 27, is three inches taller than Rose, which should help the Spurs better measure up with Shaquille O'Neal and Miami if the teams meet in the NBA Finals. He had started all 54 games for the Knicks this season, averaging 10.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and .98 blocks in 28.1 minutes.
The Spurs had pursued Mohammed because of his size and potential. New York officials initially did not want to let him go unless they received Nesterovic in return. The Spurs were hesitant about parting with their starting center for Mohammed even in a package that would have included Rose and Knicks center Kurt Thomas.
On Wednesday night, Knicks officials said they didn't have any interest in doing a Rose-Mohammed deal. They changed their mind Thursday morning, perhaps because they also had agreed to acquire Houston forward Maurice Taylor.
The trade was not made official until almost five hours after Thursday's 2 p.m. deadline. Mohammed will fly to San Antonio today but is not expected to play Saturday against Memphis, Popovich said.
"If Nazr buys into the system, he might be able to really help us," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "What's also exciting is that he's improved every year of his career."
Buford admitted Mohammed's acquisition comes "at a huge expense."
"Malik is somebody we're all close to," Buford said, "and he's been a big part of our fiber and chemistry."
In his eight seasons with the Spurs, Rose played in 509 games, averaging 7.4 points and 4.7 rebounds. David Robinson, George Gervin, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson, Tim Duncan and Johnny Moore — who all already or will have their jersey numbers retired — are the only players to have appeared in more games with the franchise.
Rose signed with the Spurs before the 1997-98 season, the same season Duncan joined the team. The two became good friends, and Rose hired Lon Babby as his agent on Duncan's recommendation. Dallas' Michael Finley and Shawn Bradley are the only current teammates with a longer tenure together.
Though Duncan and several teammates called Thursday, Rose did not speak with them because "I'm just too upset right now."
Rose was a significant piece of the Spurs' 1999 and 2003 championship teams, though his minutes declined the past two seasons with the addition of Robert Horry. His sense of humor fit well in the locker room, and his work ethic and community involvement also made him a favorite of the fans.
"I'm so grateful for everything he's done for us, on and off the court," Popovich said. "But our responsibility is to the team as a whole, not one individual."
Rose and Popovich bickered in recent years — "They were like an old married couple," said one team source — but they continued to share respect for each other. Even in recent weeks, when Rose again was frustrated by his inconsistent role, he said he hoped to remain with the team.
"I'm upset, but I'm not angry," Rose said, his voice cracking. "Pop did what he had to do for the organization, and I'll always understand that.
"I didn't always agree with the things he did and he didn't always agree with the things I did, but we loved each other. There are so many things he taught me that I've adopted into my lifestyle."
The Spurs were minutes away from finalizing a deal last season that would have sent Rose to the Knicks for Thomas before New York president Steve Mills quashed the deal after learning how much money Rose had left on his contract. Even after that, Rose was hopeful he would survive another trade deadline.
The trade moves Rose closer to his native Philadelphia, but in the past two years most of his family — including his mother and two brothers — had moved to San Antonio. Rose also was in the process of opening his second restaurant in town.
Rose thinks his businesses will remain here. As will his family.
"They're Texans now," he said. "Not only has everybody here been so nice to me, they've been great to my family.
"What hurts so much is I had a place I called home. Now it's no more."
Kurt Thomas and Nazr Mohammed for Malik Rose and Rasho Nesterovic? That sounds like a winner right there.
So the only reason they made this trade was because of Holt Cat?"We've been together a long time," Popovich said of Rose. "He doesn't want to go, and were it not for the business involved, we wouldn't want him to go."
If that's true, it's a horrible trade. You don't make your team worse to save a few million.
Holt has a new arena, a championship level team, the media in his back pocket and players who are all better citizens then him and he still wants to trim a payroll that ranks in the bottom third?
Huh?
Damn, that would have been a REALLY nice deal. Guess we'll have to settle for the nice one we got.
Is that a laugh of sadness? You are the biggest Kurt Thomas supporter on this board.
You would have accepted that trade, correct?
If you plan on paying Scola to play the same position....If that's true, it's a horrible trade. You don't make your team worse to save a few million.
Scola is looking for $6M over three years.
That is borderline league minimum.
Why isn't he playing Saturday?
I'm laughing at the thought of your reaction had that trade actually gone through.Is that a laugh of sadness? You are the biggest Kurt Thomas supporter on this board.
You would have accepted that trade, correct?
I never thought of a 2 for 2 deal. I could see the logic but that's an enormous change for a 1st place team. Thomas' consistency wins me over though.
PM,
Probably has to pass his physical first, including blood tests, etc.
And if he plays many of Rose's minutes Rose's deal would be an even bigger waste of money. If Malik's deal = any combination of Scola/Brown/Nazr in the future, that's pretty much worth it. I guess if anyone can tell me the total profit the Spurs have made since Holt bought the team, I'll listen to the tractor arguments.Scola is looking for $6M over three years.
Houston we've got a problem.
Peter Holt is back to his old drunk ways and now we must pay the price with a trade because he wanted to save money.
damn it peter sell a couple more tractors.
I hope he fails it so that we get Malik back.
So what other starting players from suckass lottery teams should we trade franchise cornerstones and multiple #1 picks for to impove our championship contending team?
I personally am bummed out that we didn't try to get Antione Walker...
you and me both and with GOD's help we will se Malik back in a spurs uni next season .
Lets just pray now for Malik and hope we get him back
Please don't bring religion into it, God has bigger problems to worry about than role players.
I didn't realise he was a lock fore jersey retirement?? Is this just or mistake or did I miss this.David Robinson, George Gervin, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson, Tim Duncan and Johnny Moore — who all already or will have their jersey numbers retired
Damn, I feel like I did when they traded away Sean Elliott, like someone punched me in the stomach repeatedly. Hopefully, we will get Malik back someday like we did Sean. You know, maybe he wasn't the best player on the court at any time, but he brought heart and hustle and determination every time he stepped out on the floor. I always knew that when he was out there he was giving it his all. For that I will always admire and continue to follow his career. Best of luck Malik, hopefully we'll see you in a Spurs uniform sometime down the road. Fair winds and following seas!!
malik rose is a franchise cornerstone?franchise cornerstones
Good god.
Malik most definitely was a franchise cornerstone, spiritually, in the community, from the POV of leadership by example, and I am surprised you have such a weak grasp of the team.
Then again...you wanted to tank the season over a sprained ankle, so I shouldn't expect you to be able to notice the positive contributions of a never say die player like Malik.
He was traded, game is saturday, are all the NBA experts wrong like Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith wrong in saying this is a fantastic trade???
Guess so.
But you had Nazr in one of your dream teams there whottt, so hes here, but, they traded Malik. Whatever, go cry in your cheesesteak.
I gurantee you that Barkley and Smith don't spend as much time studying the Spurs as you and I do...
Mainstream journalists rarely have much insight as to the innermost workings of a team. I can understand them missing the subtle contributions of Malik...I can't understand so many Spurfans missing it.
I never had Nazr in one of my dream teams...W in TF are you talking about TPark?Guess so.
But you had Nazr in one of your dream teams there whottt, so hes here, but, they traded Malik. Whatever, go cry in your cheesesteak.
lol.
check the dream lineup thread Whottt, you typed it back in january, dont wiggle out now.
BTW, I would guess Charles Barkley or Kenny Smith would have a slight clue about the NBA or the Spurs god Whottt come on.
Team 77
Steve Francis
Manu Ginobili
Peja Stojakovic
Kenyon Martin
Nazr Mohammed
Bench
Stephon Marbury
Paul Pierce
Vince Carter
Tim Thomas
Jeff Foster
Thats your "Build your own NBA Lineup" Whottt on January 25th.
Nazr your starting center...
So I guess I DO know what Im talkin about.
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