Spurs interested in Bulls' Thomas?

[objective]

Mahinmi or even Ratliff can accomplish the same thing. And they know the Spurs system better than Thomas. I don't get how Thomas is going to make the Spurs better.

Mahinmi could, sure. Ratliff, for limited minutes.

But playing Ian would be like admitting what failures the staff and front office have been.

Better to lose with smallball.

[SouthTexasRancher]

Let's look at what the Spurs have on the frontline.

Ratliff can block shots, but is old, fragile and mysteriously doesn't play.

Blair can rebound with ferocity, but lacks size and isn't a polished defender yet.

McDyess is a good positional defender and rebounder, or at least he was last year, but can't really step out and guard people on the perimeter, can't block shots and looks very much his 35 years.

Bonner is just a shooter and hustle guy, who doesn't rebound, defend, block shots or anything else.

Mahinmi can run, rebound, block shot and looks to be competent offensively, but mysteriously has entered the Spurs witness protection program.

That leaves Duncan as the sole anchor of everything the Spurs do offensively and defensively on the frontline. At 33 years of age, the guy is working too hard and the load is just too much. We saw him wear down last year, and it appears to be happening again.

Let's face it, regardless of what you may think about Thomas, and despite the fact that he has fallen out of favor with his current team, the guy has all those tangible defensive skills that the Spurs have so very little of. He still needs to develop his offense, but he'd be an instant upgrade at the PF position.

Good one!!!

[ElNono]

I don't see what we have to lose if Ratliff plays for 17 mins or so a night and gives us a block or two and 3 or 4 rebounds. What's the big deal if he breaks? It's not like we're going anywhere right now... might aswell blow your wad now and see what you have.

I'm sorry, but I don't like Tyrus at all right now. When we go into rebuild mode, I'll take another look.

[Blackjack]

I don't understand, ElNono ...

You readily admit (as do I) they're not going anywhere, but you'd be content to have a guy like Ratliff out there playing significant minutes?

Why not give a look-see to a player that brings a very useful physical skillset and a guy that's been on the Spurs' radar for a while now?

This team still has one last shot next year with the right moves and some fortunate health, imo, I'd just assume they start building for next year before they enter the full-scale rebuild.

[slayermin]

I don't see what we have to lose if Ratliff plays for 17 mins or so a night and gives us a block or two and 3 or 4 rebounds. What's the big deal if he breaks? It's not like we're going anywhere right now... might aswell blow your wad now and see what you have.

I'm sorry, but I don't like Tyrus at all right now. When we go into rebuild mode, I'll take another look.

At this point, I say play the big three big minutes the rest of the way. Shorten up the rotation and let's get this done.

[objective]

I'm more with Nono but with Mahinmi instead of Ratliff.

If there was a deal, sure, I'd go with Thomas over Camby. If it was just a lotto-protected first that they had to dump . . . sure, I guess an extra year look at him is like a teenish first. So fine.

All in all though, I'm leaning towards them just burning out this year. Missing the playoffs wouldn't be too bad, more rest for the weary. Get a solid draft pick, don't F up with Splitter and expect him to come without kissing his ass and promising him minutes and a good role, dump RJ if able, buy him out if not.

It may feel like dying, but this is the grave RC and Pop dug for themselves. You don't get out by digging deeper with Camby.

[Blackjack]

Oh, this 's done alright.

[TJastal]

I don't understand, ElNono ...

You readily admit (as do I) they're not going anywhere, but you'd be content to have a guy like Ratliff out there playing significant minutes?

Why not give a look-see to a player that brings a very useful physical skillset and a guy that's been on the Spurs' radar for a while now?

This team still has one last shot next year with the right moves and some fortunate health, imo, I'd just assume they start building for next year before they enter the full-scale rebuild.

El Nono should just admit he likes Pop's current rotation featuring the Jefferson/Finley power forward combination that is just tearing the league up, there's really no other explanation...

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Tyrus Thomas is 6-8.25 with shoes on.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Tyrus-Thomas-511/

That surprises the out of me. I figured him for at least 6'10". He plays tall.

BTW, since we're going nowhere, why not give Ian 24mins a night and see what he does? If he plays well I'm sure we can work something out contract-wise.

[Blackjack]

I'm with you on Mahinmi, objective, but the ship's obviously sailed. And playing Ratliff or acquiring Camby just doesn't make much sense to me, at this point.

I don't think Thomas and Salmons is a cure-all and I've readily conceded they wouldn't be securing a le. But they've got the potential to be part of the solution for next year and I just can't see the harm in acquiring them for what it'd take.

There's just nothing to lose at this point.

[024]

i think i've seen a few people say this but tyrus thomas would only be a project. he'll help somewhat this year but just because everyone else sucks. thomas would not noticeably improve the spurs and there is a chance the spurs will break him in pop's system.

[Blackjack]

i think i've seen a few people say this but tyrus thomas would only be a project. he'll help somewhat this year but just because everyone else sucks. thomas would not noticeably improve the spurs and there is a chance the spurs will break him in pop's system.

If he breaks ...

He breaks

[TD 21]

That surprises the out of me. I figured him for at least 6'10". He plays tall.

BTW, since we're going nowhere, why not give Ian 24mins a night and see what he does? If he plays well I'm sure we can work something out contract-wise.

You'd think the Spurs would at least want to know what they have with Mahinmi before losing him for nothing as a free agent this summer; apparently not. That they're not in "why the heck not, what do we got to lose?" mode with Mahinmi (and Hairston) is beyond stupid.

Bonner is done for the year. If he's not included in a trade for Thomas or someone of that ilk, his usefulness in terms of playing is finished. As timvp said, he's a rhythm/confidence player. He's lost both and the Spurs don't have 20 mpg to hand to a limited, one-dimensional player, to get him going again, not when they're fighting for their playoff lives. Pop needs to drop him from the rotation immediately.

At this point, the Spurs are better off playing Mahinmi over Ratliff, in that scenario. But I wouldn't even care if they went Ratliff over Mahinmi; just put someone in the damn game who's long, at least relatively athletic and can block shots/protect the rim. I'm so sick and tired of seeing teams running a layup drill against the Spurs. It's gone past "teams don't fear them anymore" to teams smell blood and relentlessly attack them.

[ElNono]

I don't understand, ElNono ...

You readily admit (as do I) they're not going anywhere, but you'd be content to have a guy like Ratliff out there playing significant minutes?

I still have faith in this team, believe it or not. I think the biggest problem we have is our inconsistent lineups and specially going small all the time. I think if we're trading for Camby or Thomas, then the FO is basically admitting that small ball is out and we're going back to protecting the paint (among other things). Sure, plenty of other things have to align too. Tony has to get back up to speed and Manu needs to find his shooting touch. But as long as Duncan's knees don't look as shot as last season, I think we have a fighter's chance.

Now, if we're going back to putting size in the paint, then we're looking at a couple of guys, namely Camby and Thomas. Camby is really not much different than the Rattler, IMO. If you take him anywhere outside to the perimeter, he's lost. If it's about rotating towards the rim and blocking a shot, then we're looking at the same thing. Camby is definitely the better rebounder, but we've rebounded fairly well when we played big this season.
Getting Camby would basically mean that's all we're getting for our expirings. Ratliff would basically be redundant. Now, Tyrus Thomas is athletic, has a lot of potential, but he's a fairly dumb player at the moment. We have a lot of those already. I'd say way too many. Dumb players don't last long in Pop's rotation. Take a look at Gooden last season for a sample.

I would rather take Ratliff for a spin. I also would use our expirings to sign a true actual backup PG. I'd like Manu to play SG again. Hill has always been a SG. I want Pop to stop playing guys out of position. If we have enough left, maybe see if we can take a gamble on Raja Bell to help shoring up the perimeter just a bit. Go and give it all we have, but playing the type of basketball that gave us results over the years.

Why not give a look-see to a player that brings a very useful physical skillset and a guy that's been on the Spurs' radar for a while now?

This team still has one last shot next year with the right moves and some fortunate health, imo, I'd just assume they start building for next year before they enter the full-scale rebuild.

Starting to build now for next year is an admission of complete failure and I don't see this FO pulling the plug on this roster this early. If anything, just as a sign of respect to Duncan.

[ElNono]

El Nono should just admit he likes Pop's current rotation featuring the Jefferson/Finley power forward combination that is just tearing the league up, there's really no other explanation...

I just made a post explaining my position. I'm sorry I'm not wowed by your favorite savior that has a 9" standing reach right now. I think the fact he can't break the starting rotation and only manage to play 20 minutes per game should be telling you who he really is at this point in his career.

[ace3g]

I'll say it again, I think Salmons would be a great pick up for nothing else that he is a play maker, most times I check a Bulls' scoreboard, he has around 4 boards and 5 assists, which tells me that he likes to get others involved even if he is hot.

Another thing about Salmons he is one of those streaky shooters, but his jumpshot is more fluid then Jefferson's and would fit the Spurs style better.

[ElNono]

I'll say it again, I think Salmons would be a great pick up for nothing else that he is a play maker, most times I check a Bulls' scoreboard, he has around 4 boards and 5 assists, which tells me that he likes to get others involved even if he is hot.

Another thing about Salmons he is one of those streaky shooters, but his jumpshot is more fluid then Jefferson's and would fit the Spurs style better.

I used to like Salmons a lot. But his numbers this season are almost verbatim of what Jefferson is giving us now. He's just a just a tiny bit better 3 point shooter and free throw shooter, and that's it.

[HarlemHeat37]

Salmons is a better defender by a wide margin..he's an above average defender, while Jefferson is just a flat-out bad defender..he's on the same tier as Mason and Finley from a perimeter defense standpoint IMO..

[ElNono]

Salmons is a better defender by a wide margin..he's an above average defender, while Jefferson is just a flat-out bad defender..he's on the same tier as Mason and Finley from a perimeter defense standpoint IMO..

I don't entirely disagree. I'll just say that Jefferson's brain is a ing mystery. He has given us good defense and effort for small stretches out there. So it's not that he can't play much better defense. He's just unable to do so on a consistent basis somehow, which is what's completely frustrating.
That's exactly why I mentioned taking a flier with Bell and see if we get lucky.

Salmons has regressed from the player he was in Sacramento. I don't know if it's Del Negro's fault or what.

[TD 21]

Salmons is a better defender by a wide margin..he's an above average defender, while Jefferson is just a flat-out bad defender..he's on the same tier as Mason and Finley from a perimeter defense standpoint IMO..

Salmons is above average, but far from a stopper and let's face it, that's the role the Spurs would need him to play. That and fifth option offensively, which I doubt he'd be willing to play. He seems moody and clearly thinks he's better than he is because he's been a featured perimeter scorer on his past two teams. Could he go back to being strictly a role player? I doubt it.

The other thing with him is he's not overly quick laterally and is a mediocre athlete. He's now in his late twenties, so I'm wondering how many years he has left as a solid defender. He's also more of a wing than a true two.

If this trade with Thomas goes down, look for the Spurs to get Pargo, not Salmons, as the second player coming back.

[HarlemHeat37]

For the record, I only want Salmons if he comes with Tyrus Thomas..I'm just pointing out the positives of Salmons..I don't think he's a special player or anything..getting the 2 of them in a trade is definitely a good trade IMO..

I don't think any trade really makes a difference, I'm just saying I would like to have Thomas on this team if we make a trade..

I would be just as happy if the FO made no major trades and just let Mahinmi and Hairston in the rotation..this team isn't going anywhere this season anyways, you might as well see if you have some players in those 2..

[timvp]

Yay or nay?

RMJ, Finley, Bonner, Mahinmi and Splitter for Salmons and Thomas.

Splitter makes me think long and hard about that one. Especially since Thomas may be a rental and Salmons wouldn't be a huge improvement over someone like RMJ.

[HarlemHeat37]

Subs ute Splitter with a 1st round pick and I say yay..we would have Thomas' rights with the trade, right?..

[timvp]

Subs ute Splitter with a 1st round pick and I say yay..we would have Thomas' rights with the trade, right?..

What about as is?

[phxspurfan]

Yay or nay?

RMJ, Finley, Bonner, Mahinmi and Splitter for Salmons and Thomas.

Splitter makes me think long and hard about that one. Especially since Thomas may be a rental and Salmons wouldn't be a huge improvement over someone like RMJ.

That's a of a lot for rentals. Keep Splitter out of it...