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Seems pretty reasonably. Millsap is cool. Jefferson is cooler.
Here's what I think their plan is: Keep Blair and Neal around up until the trade deadline or close to it, then package them, along with Jackson (no matter how washed up they are, do you really think they worked out McGrady and Howard just for the of it?) and other assets, for a true second big/fourth star. I suspect Millsap will be their primary target.
This is the best way to maximize value out of Blair and Neal. They'd have had them for well under market value for something like 95% of their contracts and just before having to decide between losing them for nothing or giving them significant raises (which is a lose-lose proposition, given that neither is in the plans going forward), they'd not only trade them, but turn them into a significant piece. In other words, they'd utilize them how they did Hill.
Yes, both will inevitably be disgruntled if they're not in the rotation, but that's a minor inconvenience for having two proven rotation players, who know the system, to turn to in the event of a rash of injuries occurring or players ahead of them struggling mightily. And it's far better than trading them individually for 2nd round picks and/or fringe players.
Seems pretty reasonably. Millsap is cool. Jefferson is cooler.
Jefferson is worse defensively than Bonner is. He's laterally immobile and really couldn't play with Tim, who is as laterally challenged as Al J.
I'd say Neal and Blair need to have VERY good camps, or they face the risk of being cut outright. Blair is unguaranteed until the season starts, and Neal is fully unguaranteed.
As for trade options, no one wanted Blair this summer. Not sure that's changed. I also strongly dislike the idea of trading our most clutch playoff performer right before the playoffs. The Spurs likely want his salary to roll off or be reduced next summer, not exchanged for another big contract.
Millsap is a "true second big/fourth star"?
big
I was thinking more of Josh Smith of Atlanta, Smith is an unreistected free agent they might want to get something in return than loosing him for nothing, By trading him for the Spurs trio of Blair, Neal and Jackson. they not only get playin bodies in return but get their expiring contracts as well (cap space)
ATL will be able to do MUCH better than "cap space" if they decide they want to trade Josh.
True. Unless this teams dominates through the regular season and show no real weakness against OKC, LA, Miami, etc I think we will head into the playoffs with atleast one addition to our rotation (ie we will add atleast one impact player through a trade)
ChuckD . . .
- There's no way they're cutting two inexpensive, rotation caliber players, no matter how bad they are in camp.
- It's not that "no on wanted Blair", it's that they didn't deem a 2nd round pick acceptable value for him. As a piece of a package, he should have more value.
- By dumping Jackson, Millsap is just replacing him as the fourth big contract. They'll likely have substantial cap space next summer anyway and Millsap is about the best realistic candidate in free agency.
I'm not talking about size, I'm talking about the caliber of player he is. On a really good team, he's a second big and on this team, he'd be their fourth star.
I'm not surprised that an idiot like benefactor failed to comprehend this, but you? I thought you were better than that.
For a variety of reasons, I don't see it happening with Smith. The team I think is most likely to prevent the Spurs from acquiring Millsap is the Nuggets, who could use a PF and blow away anything the Spurs would realistically offer.
Impact players are rarely available via trade. You're lucky if you can get a player that can do two things well.
I'm not talking about Neal's salary being reduced. That's impossible, since he's making league minimum. I'm talking about Jack back on a reduced deal.ChuckD . . .
- There's no way they're cutting two inexpensive, rotation caliber players, no matter how bad they are in camp.
- It's not that "no on wanted Blair", it's that they didn't deem a 2nd round pick acceptable value for him. As a piece of a package, he should have more value.
- By dumping Jackson, Millsap is just replacing him as the fourth big contract. They'll likely have substantial cap space next summer anyway and Millsap is about the best realistic candidate in free agency.
I'm not talking about size, I'm talking about the caliber of player he is. On a really good team, he's a second big and on this team, he'd be their fourth star.
I'm not surprised that an idiot like benefactor failed to comprehend this, but you? I thought you were better than that.
For a variety of reasons, I don't see it happening with Smith. The team I think is most likely to prevent the Spurs from acquiring Millsap is the Nuggets, who could use a PF and blow away anything the Spurs would realistically offer.
They could easily cut them both, because our rotation is almost TOO deep. We likely won't run 9-10 players deep this year, since there will not be the compressed schedule.
Bigs:
Tim
Tiago
Diaw
Wings:
Kawhi
Jack
Manu
Green
Guards:
Tony
Nando
Mills
That's ten players already, not including Bonner, who I hope falls out of the rotation, or Blair and Neal. Players who used to be in the rotation and are no longer are UNHAPPY players, and who needs that? Players like Brown and Wilkerson would be ELATED to ride the pine on a contender. Blair and Neal could easily just be cut.
Yeah, I know. After posting I realized you were talking about Jackson, which is why I edited that part out.
You don't give away assets for nothing just because they may not be in the rotation and will be disgruntled. Like I said, it's a minor inconvenience that they'll have to deal with in the interim. What if they have two-three of their top ten injured at once? Or What if two of their top ten are struggling mightily? For all their weaknesses, Blair and Neal are excellent 11th and 12th men.
The way this roster is constructed and given how much they ration minutes, there's no reason to expect anything less than a ten man rotation again. It's difficult enough to pare down to ten, let alone nine.
I don't think Millsap is really what we're looking for. He is really undersized and struggles against size. Millsap is basically what Blair could have been if he had work-ethic his whole career.
Millsap was embarrassed by Diaw in the playoffs and Boris was still out of shape. Call me a homer, but I prefer to keep S-Jax. Millsap won't change when SA plays against LA or OKC.
And I don' think SA will waive Neal or Blair. That doesn't make any sense considering their salary and production. We still don't know if Nando will be able to contribute and Cory will probably spend another season in Austin. SA has a thin front-court so cutting a cheap BIG like Blair makes little sense.
Anyway ..I'd like to see SA adding another quality BIG, but deep inside i don't think that's gonna happen.
Thank you. Millsap IS a very good player, but he's undersized and really does nothing to address their lack of size, toughness and physicality along the frontline. Besides that, his contract is a killer. It would be a ridiculous acquisition, but because Pop seems so committed toward fielding an undersized frontline, it's probably a likely scenario - even though it shouldn't be. I sincerely hope that's not who they are targeting.
Tbh we'd be better off spotting Kawhi/Jax/DBrown minutes at the 4 than trading for Millsap.
I guess we have different opinions on Millsap's game, that's why I was asking. I see him as tougher Malik Rose. Kinda like a developed Blair.I'm not talking about size, I'm talking about the caliber of player he is. On a really good team, he's a second big and on this team, he'd be their fourth star.
I'm not surprised that an idiot like benefactor failed to comprehend this, but you? I thought you were better than that.
Millsap probably can't be had for less than $10 million anyways, and while I know our big situation is kinda dire, I rather get size, tbh.
This is the way the league is trending. Chris Bosh is a center. LeBron is a PF.
It almost reminds me of what Bobby Bowden did at FSU. He recruited DBs, put them into the weight room for a year and turned them into LBs. He recruited LBs and did the same thing to make them DEs. He recruited DEs and made them DTs. His philosophy was to put more skill and speed into a position than it traditionally called for. The rules in the NBA now lend themselves to the same sort of thing.
keep jax. a 10 million dollar expiring contract, paired with Manu's 14 million expiring will give us the ability to resign those guys for cheap and make a play for a big name in free agency
Gary Neal will be in the NBA this season, regardless whether the Spurs pick him up or not. He's made too big of an impact to not get the attention of the league.
I'm not sure Neal is better than a guy like D. Cook who is third string on the Thunder. Yeah he can shoot but his defense is atrocious.
I think it's obvious to anyone that the writing is on the wall for Blair and Neal to be traded at some point this season. Will Jackson be included? Maybe, that portion of your scenario is debatable.
I would much rather the Spurs target a Dalembert (expiring) by offering Bonner's expiring (next year majority of his contract is un-guaranteed), Blair and Neal. With this route, they can have as much financial flexibility next summer, keep Jackson for another playoff run ( gives the Spurs the versatility to defend the Thunder's and Heat better), and it gives the Spurs better personnel to match-up against the Lakers. It's not like Spurs will have a lot of minutes to give at the 4/5 spot anyway if Diaw and Splitter continue there efficient play (especially in the playoffs). They just need a valuable 4th big that can produce on the defensive end/boards with the 15-20 minutes they'll see in the regular season (kind of like a valuable 03' Kevin Willis role who was vital in matching up against Shaq).
With a proposal as such, Spurs are able to keep one of the best playoff performers on the team (Jackson) and replace Bonner/Blair's 4th big spot with a defensive presence that's desperately needed.
Yeah it's debatable how Dalembert would fit into the rotation because he doesn't spread the floor, but with creativity, there's way's to make it work (not sure if Pop can figure it out though, tbh).
Last edited by MaNu4Tres; 10-01-2012 at 06:17 AM.
Blair eats minutes, and is productive a long as the other team doesn't have twin tower scorers like the Lakers. He's cheap too.
Neal is better fit as a reserve 2 than a 1, and green and Manu sort of have a monopoly on that position. Still he is cheap and is injury insurance at a couple of positions. He's a knockdown shooter, a clutch shooter, and can score off the dribble. Again, he's cheap. Unless de colo really shows something, Neal is valuable insurance
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