Horry, five other Spurs reserves free to go elsewhere
Web Posted: 07/01/2005 12:00 AM CDT
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....2437538d.html
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
When the clock struck midnight in New York City on Thursday night, six Spurs became free agents, including one of the team's playoff heroes.
Robert Horry, the backup power forward and clutch 3-point shooter, exercised an option in his contract to become a free agent. He played last season for the veteran minimum salary of $1.1million. His contract for 2005-06 also was to be $1.1 million.
Horry joined small forward Devin Brown, power forward Tony Massenburg, center Sean Marks, point guard Mike Wilks and small forward Glenn Robinson on the 2005 NBA champions' list of free agents.
Robert Bahr, who represents Horry, said he informed the Spurs on Thursday that Horry was opting out of the second season of the two-season deal he signed last summer.
Bahr stressed, however, that Horry wants to remain with the Spurs.
"Robert loves San Antonio," Bahr said. "That's No. 1 in his mind."
He said Horry had instructed him to make every effort to keep him in San Antonio.
Horry, 34, a 13-year NBA veteran who passed Michael Jordan as the career leader in 3-pointers made in the NBA Finals, said during the playoffs that he wants to play two more seasons before he retires and that he hoped to finish his career with the Spurs.
Gregg Popovich, the Spurs' coach and executive vice-president of basketball operations, last week acknowledged that Horry's proven value to the team, especially during the playoffs, merited "special consideration" this summer.
Brown, the small forward from San Antonio, also has made it clear he wants to return. He suffered a herniated disk late in the season and was used sparingly during the playoffs.
Brown is a restricted free agent, meaning the Spurs can match any offer he would receive from another team. He was under contract last season for $695,000 and was certain to attract interest from other teams, for a significant increase, before the injury clouded his future.
With the final details of a collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players' union being hammered out by lawyers — both sides still must ratify the agreement once it is in final form — the new salary-cap number won't be known for another few weeks. Teams can begin signing free agents on July 22.
The cap, which stood last season at $43.5 million, likely will increase because the new agreement calls for it to reflect an increase in the percentage of the league's basketball-related income, from 48 percent to 51 percent. One league executive said most teams are using $48 million to $48.5 million as a "working guess."
The Spurs figure to be over the new cap figure, even if it were to ease past $50 million. With Tony Parker's contract extension kicking in — his salary will rise from $1.545 million to $8.4 million — the Spurs already are committed to about $54 million in 2005-06 salaries.
Teams over the salary cap have several exceptions they can use to sign free agents. They can use all, or part, of the average salary exception, and the Spurs are expected to use it in an effort to sign Argentine power forward Luis Scola, a teammate of Manu Ginobili's on Argentina's gold medal-winning Olympic team. The Spurs selected Scola in the second round of the 2002 draft and retain, in perpetuity, his NBA rights.
Scola played last season for Tau Ceramica, of the Spanish professional league, and is considered one of the top forwards in European basketball. The Spurs can negotiate with him beginning today but won't be able to sign him before July 22. Signing Scola also would require buying out his contract with Tau Ceramica.
The Spurs have an option to pick up the final season of small forward Linton Johnson III's contract, at $695,000. They had until midnight to exercise the option but have been negotiating with Johnson's agent to extend the time frame for making that decision.
The Spurs also have the rights to three players they selected in the second round of past drafts, none of whom they are expected to try to sign this summer: Robertas Javtokas (2001), who played last season in the Lithuanian Basketball League; Sergei Karaulov (2004), who played last season in the Russian Superleague; and Viktor Sanakidze (2004), who played last season in the French Pro A League.
Looks like the Spurs are trying to put off their decision on Linton until they look around at others.The Spurs have an option to pick up the final season of small forward Linton Johnson III's contract, at $695,000. They had until midnight to exercise the option but have been negotiating with Johnson's agent to extend the time frame for making that decision.
Horry sounds like an all summer headache.
Scola better not try to milk the Spurs out of money. Hopefully he just takes a Manu type deal and is willing to work for his "real" contract.
Tha Third sounds like he's coming back. The Spurs must be checking out to make sure there's not a better option available.
Sanikidze is not coming for next season. I wonder where he will end up. A source told me earlier today he's leaning to signing with an Italian team.
There really only a handful of free agents that could possibly fit the Spurs' SF need for, at most, post-Scola MLE scraps. Linton is a good hedge, but putting off the option is tres cheap, and not overly fair to Linton - he must really want to stay.
Gregg Popovich, the Spurs' coach and executive vice-president of basketball operations, last week acknowledged that Horry's proven value to the team, especially during the playoffs, merited "special consideration" this summer.
Can someone translate that bit of Popspeak?
I know it means raise...but how much of one? And for how long...
And I think Pop definitely wants Horry back...
Ferry money.
At least two years at the full MLE -- team option or partial guarantee for year two.
Well technically...if he was getting the Ferry treatment the option year would be when he turns 38...which would mean 2@ the MLE with TO on a 3rd year..
If you offer Horry that he's signed...I don't think he wants to play 3 more years...I think he wants two full at the MLE...he earned it.
And what did Ferry do to merit special consideration anyway? Suck ass VS the Lakers?
Horry already did that too...
I think the Spurs would have a total amount in mind that is lower than the full MLE for two seasons and will frontload the deal so they won't have to worry about it affecting the tax situation in year two.
Pretty interesting. I'm guessing and hoping that we'll be able to sign Horry, Brown, and Massenburg for next season. Marks is a player that I would like to continue with us, but not a must like Horry and possibly Brown. Wilks is a toss up. I'm sure that there are other servicable PG out there. The Big Dog is a huge ? mark for me. Yeah, he's still a scorer and a good player, but will he accept comming off the bench for a whole season and possibly playing under 20 minutes a night. That's a big question.
The only must is Horry....at least for next year. Everyone else...including Scola...is secondary.
Marks is going to cash in over in Europe. I was thinking Padgett could replace him and actually hit those long jumpers.
Mass can come back if he wants.
Dog is gone.
I'd like to have Dogg back but he's definitely a luxury when it comes down to it....
For some reason I could see him landing in a place like Charlotte...that would give the Bobcats a very talented frontline...
I'd want Devon Brown, Robert Horry, and Glenn Robinson back.
Is that possible? I don't really understand the whole "cap" and all that very much. It seems like whatever this cap is...we're already above it...I don't know...
correct me if im wrong but if all goes well, isnt it:
nazr / rasho
tim / horry / scola
bowen
manu / barry
parker / beno
i'd love that lineup. but theres only 2 more beds at the inn. a solid 3 with the size and quickness at that spot and a vet backup point and we're in dynasty mode?
I think Horry, Brown and Massenberg will be back. Robinson will probably head on out elsewhere.
Good plan.correct me if im wrong but if all goes well, isnt it:
nazr / rasho
tim / horry / scola
bowen
manu / barry
parker / beno
i'd love that lineup. but theres only 2 more beds at the inn. a solid 3 with the size and quickness at that spot and a vet backup point and we're in dynasty mode?
Go ahead and pencil Brown in for my sake -- the Spurs would still need to sign 3 more players.
yeah i see that they're keeping their options open with linton... maybe he just needs solid playing time (regular season) but we need someone to reduce bowens mins in the regular season NOW. cause he's just getting older... and i'd think we'd want to do a "horry" with him next year and save his legs for late season and the playoffs. (where he'd really shine)
the backup point spot too... beno was solid i thought for a rookie, but in the playoffs, he did struggle a bit. not that anyone else wouldnt, but theres got to be a more solid option in back of him. everywhere else we're pretty deep. coca-scola can probably take horry's mins in the regular season (in spots) and give horry that rest he needs.
A b/u point isn't as important as a b/u sf. I can see brent and manu running a lot more point next year. I say resign Horry first, then bring over Scola, then look for a long 3 to back up Bruce. If you can't find one for the right price resign both The Third and Devin, and groom one of them.
when does the luxury tax kick in?
I didn't realize that our salary is really jumpin' up there (for a small market team). I'm starting to doubt that we can sign Scola
there is no way we are getting into the luxury tax... I don't think it's being cheap it's just reality
Don't forget the cap is going up by 7 mil
The $ will be there for Horry. Hopefully the Spurs just hand it over instead of dragging it out all summer and potentially creating some bad blood. They might as well s ch Horry's name on the 3rd championship banner because if it wasn't for him in Game 5, there wouldn't be one.
With pain I dare to say that if TAU CERAMICA ( Scola's team ) do not lower the buyout, I do not think it will be possible. The buy out is 2 Million. The tactic of the Spurs should be lower it or next year I will pick him free of charge. Just for info this club has been inflexible in the past.
Gus
Probably why the interest in Oberto is public. We'll bring in the other Argentine if you with us.
True that, I think he is crucial if we want to make a back to back run. The guy is money and he is worth it.
From what I've read about Tau they don't seem to play ball with anyone. They're taking a very hardline with everyone on Calderon and have said they wouldn't play ball with anyone on Splitter. I think keeping players is much more important to them that money they can make in buyouts.
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