For Bowen, it's a one-way ticket
Buck Harvey
I understand the affection for Bruce Bowen. I wrote something with similar sentiment in late April before the Mavericks eliminated the Spurs.
I called Game 5 an "Opening Farewell" for him. This trade, by all appearances, is the closing one.
Teams aren't built on popularity. If they were, George Gervin would still be starting at off-guard.
More to the point: Those who think the Spurs will bring back Bowen after Milwaukee buys out his contract are ignoring what is in front of them.
The Spurs, after all, tried to trade Bowen last winter. He fell out of Gregg Popovich's rotation, even when there were reasons to stick with him. He likely wouldn't have played at all at the end of the season had Manu Ginobili been healthy.
Now Richard Jefferson moves in to be the full-time starter and take the majority of the minutes at the three position. Bowen just turned 38, and most think Michael Finley will play another year, and he's just two years younger Bowen.
What about that suggests there is a place for Bowen on this roster?
One in the organization said as much. "It's time to find the next generation," he said.
_________
No one in the Spurs' locker room was as available to the media as Bowen was.
Now comes Jefferson. He says if he wasn't a professional basketball player, he would be interested in a career in media relations/public relations.
Said one Milwaukee writer: "He's a quote machine. He's always friendly, always ready to answer anything. I felt bad going to him so often. I figured he'd get tired of it. He never did."
This is why I think Bowen will be a Celtic when all is said and done. I dont see the Spurs bringing him back. Much like I dont think the Spurs keep Finley around if he picks up his option. And its also why I think the Spurs may still move Ginobili. Its a business.
I choose to remain in denial until he signs a contract with another NBA team.
exactly
That doesn't mean much. The Clippers or Nets or whoever else would have probably waived him and he could have come back to San Antonio.The Spurs, after all, tried to trade Bowen last winter.
We'll see. Hopefully this isn't the end of the Bowen era.
It could be CIA Pop again. Doesn't want to show the league his hand in poker. They can't really say they're bringing Bruce back right away, it would make the deal look fishy like the Stackhouse/J-Kidd "trade" from a few seasons ago.
it just makes too much sense to resign bowen if he is cut by the bucks. he wants to be here and would be more valuable to his team than any other team in the league. Plus he would still be the best perimeter defender this team has until george realizes his potential.
hes either going to retire or coming back.
hope its the latter.
Lakers fans with "Steeler" in their username talking about the Celtics shouldn't be allowed on this site, much less listened to. Goodness, go find some teams with a little more room on the bandwagon.
Isn't Buck in the know? I mean maybe isn't that the entire intent of this article? Softening the blow so to speak? Lowering the expectations if you will?
I don't agree with it either, I think Bowen has more value as a spot up shooter than Finley does. He's the guy that's lead the NBA in 3 shooting.
Bowen made more 3s in last playoffs than Finley. Bowen also still can play great D and guard the other team's best perimeter player.
Bowen is coming back.
Bruce is one of my favorite players so to see him in another uniform would be terrible. If he's lost it, still sign him for the veteran minimum, have him sit at the end of the bench and train Hill and let Bruce retire a Spur at the end of season.
Then bring him back as an assistant coach!
He'll be back. The will probably waive him and just keep Thomas.
Then again, no one really saw them dealing Oberto to the Pistons.
I wouldn't be surprised either way and I'm preparing myself for the worst. It would be one thing if Bowen wasn't demoted to a rotation afterthought at the end of last year.
All this means to me is that the local media is just playing the part in pretending that Bowen is gone so the league won't say anything..
Buck just doing his job of preparing fans for Bowen not being back.
Where did all the people go who want the Spurs to get younger? If you have Manu, RJ, Mason, and Finley, how does bringing Bowen back leave any room to develop a young guy? Sometimes, the old guy who contract happens to run out is the one to go- like Horry.
And maybe Bruce wants to do more than sit at the end of the bench and cheer? Even Pop said he only got to play because Manu got hurt.
even though I know I cant, I want it both ways dammit! Get younger AND keep Bowen!
Well, IMO, if Bowen doesn't come back to SA then it most likely means that the Spurs are going to bring Gist over.
I think when he gets let go he will be forced to retire like Horry. The Spurs let him go and after being available for a year no one was interested so he was forced to retire.
There’s no chance Bowen returns to the Spurs if the Bucks buy him out as well. His relationship with Gregg Popovich deteriorated with his dwindling role a year ago, and that partnership is over. …
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_yl...yhoo&type=lgns
Agree, it could be a CIA move.
In the case that Spurs don't want him, it will be damn sad not to see him with a Spurs jersey. I will wait to see who will play his minutes before saying if I find that it is a basketball mistake or not.
Straight-up deflection piece.
Me too
If that was Ludden, I might take that seriously.
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