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Aaron McKie.
NVE and Finley seem less likely to me as potential acquisitions than McKie. McKie also fits the Spurs' primary need (backup swing who can play and defend the 3) and system better than either NVE or Finley.
Not that the Spurs will get either but who would you like to see the front office make a primary target?
Aaron McKie.
NVE and Finley seem less likely to me as potential acquisitions than McKie. McKie also fits the Spurs' primary need (backup swing who can play and defend the 3) and system better than either NVE or Finley.
Why not both? They would both fill good roles for the Spurs. Its almost near impossible, but would be good for them and the Spurs. They could give the Spurs coaches some inside info on the Mavericks offense and defense. Wait a minute. They don't have a defense.
The thing is, if you sign either one of those guys then you will have to change your system somewhat. Finley is going to command heavy minutes and perhaps a starter's role. NVE might be a somewhat better fit, but would he be willing to take only 14 minutes or so a night off the bench and play team ball?
McKie fits the Spurs' system, he won't command heavy minutes, and he wouldn't force you to change your style at all, the style that has won 2 championships in the past 3 seasons (and that could've easily been 3 in a row).
Okay will add McKie
Pluses and minuses;
NVE
Pluses - Solves backup PG proble. Solves problem of scoring punch off the bench. Clutch player who you know is going to show up at playoff time.
Minuses - Health. How many minutes are left in those arthritic needs. Doesn't solve the problem, particularly defensively of a longer swing player.
Finley
Pluses - Good swing player. Very goog three point shooter. Can be that scorer off the bench. Solves the added swing player need if Brown isn't signed. Probably would be a pretty good defender still in Spurs system.
Minuses. Doesn't solve the backup PG problem. Up and down in terms of playoff cluthness. Getting a little injury prone. Still doesn't entirely solve the long SF needs.
McKie
Pluses -Solid defender. Some offensive game. Best long three solution. May be more available though I thin NJ is going after him.
Minuses - Doesn't solve PG or scorer off the bench problems. Age and injury as others.
My choice NVE
Just out of the 2 mentioned, I would take Van Exel. He is a complete killer at the end of games, can sub in and play bigger minutes when Parker is struggling, has playoff experience, can hit the long ball in bunches and has the type of killer instinct and annoying ability to hit momentum changing shots that few players have.
Defensively he is weak, but the Spurs system has been able to hide many an average defender in the past so there would be no reason why it couldn't with NVE. He is a pretty nifty passer and very creative with his headfakes, floaters and ball handling and could probably teach Tony a few crafty veteran type moves. Could also play the 2 guard effectively when other teams go small.
The problem with him has always been his at ude and locker room presense. If the Spurs could keep that in check, then he would a fantastic pickup. I don't really like seeing the growth of Beno stunted, because I do rate him, but when we are in the prime years of Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili's careers as well as Tony entering his soon, we don't need to be developing players out there, we need to be putting players out there who will be effective.
Nick the not so quick wasn't that clutch in the 02-03 dvd final quater vd the mavs. When they needed him to hit some shots he stunk it up. He was a primary reason they lost that game.
He was the reason they even got that far into the playoffs though.Nick the not so quick wasn't that clutch in the 02-03 dvd final quater vd the mavs. When they needed him to hit some shots he stunk it up. He was a primary reason they lost that game.
true. But in the most crucial of quaters.
Finley was worse, actually. 0-2 with 3 turnovers in the final quarter. NVE was 2-6, but he was also the only Maverick to hit a shot during that 10 minute span.When they needed him to hit some shots he stunk it up. He was a primary reason they lost that game.
Yeah, Finley couldn't even get an attempt at a high % shot against Steve Kerr of all people.Finley was worse, actually. 0-2 with 3 turnovers in the final quarter. NVE was 2-6, but he was also the only Maverick to hit a shot during that 10 minute span.
One other thing I like about NVE, assuming he can still do it, is he is a penetrator. That would give the Spurs three killer penetrators in Manu, Parker and Nick. With the new defensive rules penetrators are invaluable.
The Spurs have Parker, Udrih, Barry and Ginobili to handle the point. Sure, if NVE was willing to come to SA for what they have to offer in minutes and $ then yeah, they'd take him. But I think the PG "problem" isn't as critical as some Spurs fans seem to think it is.
Beno regressed as the season went on. After the all-star break and teams knew his game he was not very effective. Parker ended up playing so many minutes he got tendinitis which probably didn't help his playoff performance any. Wouldn't want to see a repeat of that and right now Beno's usefullness is a major question mark.
Rookie wall.Beno regressed as the season went on. After the all-star break and teams knew his game he was not very effective.
Please. He had one bad series as a rookie. The Spurs have plenty of players to cover that spot and frankly, that's where Barry can perhaps justify his paycheck.
If I had to choose between the two I'd take Van Exel. Given the situation he has the potential for a good pickup at best, or at worst an unhappy guy stuck at the end of the bench. Best case scenario the Spurs get a good shooter and vet PG who might be a mentor to Beno. Worst case scenario he gets y and gets benched or cut.
If you're looking for a back up point guard, Van Exel is probably the best FA option out there at the moment, but there are plenty of swingmen still available that I would take ahead of Finley.
I'd want NVE first and foremost because he is a postseason player.
That is the reason I want NVE.
Indeed. Put him, Ginobili and Horry on the floor to close out games and you have 3 clutch shooters with TD down low.
Van Exel was actually a great teammate by all accounts in Dallas. I think he just has to be in a winning situation.
I'm not sure there's a place for him here though. I see him as more of a backup 2 guard than a true point, and that's not really one of our needs. Plus, he's at his best when the reigns are loose and he's having to carry the scoring load... not a situation he'd likely see in San Antonio. He's not the spot-up shooter type who will be successful on outlets from Duncan or Manu.
The case for NVE would be that he's a clutch shooter and that the Spurs just won a le without much size on the perimeter. At the end of the bench it's better to have players than try to fit specific positions. With him, Ginobili and Horry together for the next couple of seasons the Spurs would have a great set of clutch postseason shooters.
Is he clutch, though? Or are we still attributing that to him because of his Laker seasons and the couple of seasons following?
One poster on MavTalk.com calculated Van Exel's clutch stats from the past 3 years... I can't validate them, but it's easier than calculating them myself. If he's right, Van Exel's "clutchness" seems to have passed him by.
http://www.mavtalk.com/cgi-bin/ultim...c;f=3;t=0012662005 - POR
FG% .318
EFG% .406
2004 - GSW
FG% .361
EFG% .393
2003 - DALL
FG% .324
EFG% .381
CLUTCH STATISTICS = (4th quarter or overtime, less than 5 minutes left, neither team ahead by more than 5 points)
What would Horry's 'clutch stats' look like if he didn't have a TD or Shaq down low?
Another minor point of interest...NVE would give the Spurs two players with dominant left hands.
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