McDonald: The search for No. 13

[duncan228]

The search for No. 13
By Jeff McDonald

Michael Finley is gone, and the Spurs' search for his roster replacement is on. Finley's departure -- he was bought out of his contract Monday, at his request -- leaves the Spurs with 12 players on their roster.

They will have two weeks to sign a free agent in order to bring that number up to the league-minimum 13.

Anyone hoping for the Spurs' 13th roster member to come riding in on a white horse to save the season should prepare to be sorely disappointed.

The handful of recently bought-out NBA veterans is a pupu platter of players unlikely to help. Zydrunas Ilgauskas is the only one still capable of contributing to a contender -- and all of the NBA is fairly certain he's headed back to Cleveland after the league-mandated 30-day vacation.

Mark Blount? Mike James? Larry Hughes? The Spurs are unlikely to pursue any of them.

So who gets the 13th spot? For the answer, look to Austin. The most likely scenario has the Spurs signing someone out of the Development League, just to satisfy the NBA's roster requirement, and leaving him there.

Put another way: There is a good chance whoever the Spurs wind up signing won't even make it to San Antonio.

Some candidates: Curtis Jerrells was in training camp with the Spurs; Alonzo Gee played with the Spurs' summer league entry; Dwyane Jones is another former Spurs training camper who has garnered a bit of buzz throughout the NBA of late.

As for Finley and his next NBA team, reports around the league have indicated that the Lakers and Celtics have some interest, while Utah coach Jerry Sloan told reporters there he wouldn't rule out the Jazz as a possible landing spot.

A savvy veteran and consummate pro, Finley is Sloan's kind of player. However, if playing time is really what Finley is after, Utah might not be the right fit. The Jazz traded Ronnie Brewer to Memphis at the trade deadline in part to alleviate a log-jam of perimeter players fighting for minutes.

[BillMc]

I admit I am an idiot but what happened to Williams? He played well and almost made the roster in camp. Where is he?

Fin can sign with Boston. They want more old guys just like the Spurs.

[spurtech09]

It would be nice if Ian had some mins.....

[Ryvin1]

hmmm I bet the Toros players will be playing hard tonight to grab that huge pay raise to sit on a roster spot, will be a fun game to watch.

[urunobili]

Dwayne Jones plz....

[MB20]

Chip Engelland knows how to shoot, right?

[Chomag]

There are a couple of players on the current roster that Pop wont give minutes too and there is concern over finding a 13th player?

[ChumpDumper]

Makes sense to give the spot to a Toro and keep him in Austin. Calling up Jones would keep another NBA team or a foreign team from taking him away. Gee is probably closer to being called up than Jerrells right now judging from recent call ups.

[PDXSpursFan]

I want Blount. No much IQ, but he's still an experienced athletic 7-footer.

[Libri]

They'll just throw a dart and see on what Toro it lands.

[peskypesky]

DRob!!

[spurtech09]

Blount wouldn't hurt.....pop is not going to use ian so might as well add another big

[Drachen]

I will do it. I just bought 2 suits last week, so I have all of the qualifications.

[ManuTastic]

I, also, have a suit and am willing to wear it to Spurs games. Plz call me.

[easy7]

I am also in like sin to ride the pine for the minimum.

[Obstructed_View]

I don't have a suit, but I promise to use some of my contract money to purchase one before coming to the arena on game night. Pst for contact info.

[baseline bum]

Finley replacement? I guess they could go sign Iverson if they need another no-D playing shot chucker who'll whine about playing time.

[SenorSpur]

This.

Still I am disapointed. I thought this would be about Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 points 48 years ago today.

Congrats to your boy on the anniversary of that stunning, record-setting acconmplishment 48 years ago.

I remember reading a basketball digest as a grade-school kid. Inside it, they reprinted the box score of that game. I thought it was a mistake. To a kid, it's hard to fathom the possibility of a player scoring that many points in a single game. Wilt was larger than life to me then - and now.

[scottspurs]

My vote goes to Dwayne Jones.

[duncan228]

...I thought this would be about Wilt Chamberlain scoring 100 points 48 years ago today.

Congrats to your boy on the anniversary of that stunning, record-setting acconmplishment 48 years ago.

I remember reading a basketball digest as a grade-school kid. Inside it, they reprinted the box score of that game. I thought it was a mistake. To a kid, it's hard to fathom the possibility of a player scoring that many points in a single game. Wilt was larger than life to me then - and now.

SI's reflections.

SI.com Roundtable: Reliving Wilt's feats

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/201...ilt/index.html

http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147935

[DPG21920]

Good. There is no one they could get that I would want to push Ian or Malik out of the active lineup.

[blkroadrunners]

Eww, Blount...RJ's a better rebounder than that cat.

[dbestpro]

Finley replacement? I guess they could go sign Iverson if they need another no-D playing shot chucker who'll whine about playing time.

Iveron did not get released until Tuesday. He needed to be released on Monday to be eligible for the playoffs.

[spursbird]

Luke Bonner!

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Why wait until 2016? The Spurs should got out and get Kyle Gordon. Pop could play him at PF