Spurs' Brown signs Jazz's offer
Two deals: First Palacio, then the restricted free agent from San Antonio
By Lya Wodraska
The Salt Lake Tribune
http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2994926
After getting Milt Palacio all but signed on the dotted line Wednesday, Kevin O'Connor, Utah's vice president of basketball operations, said his attention would be on finding a solid swingman.
It didn't take him long to find his man.
Devin Brown, the San Antonio Spurs' restricted free agent, has signed an offer sheet for a two-year deal from the Jazz, a league source told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Earlier this summer, Brown's agent, Darrick Powell, met with the Jazz and said at the time that the meeting went well and that his client was "eager" to play for the Jazz.
The Spurs have seven days to match Utah's offer, but the Spurs may not feel the need to keep Brown because they were the winner in the Michael Finley popularity contest, although San Antonio general manager R.C. Buford told the San Antonio Express-News he would not rule out matching an offer from another team.
Finley, a two-time All-Star released by Dallas under the amnesty rule, was courted by Miami, Phoenix and Minnesota before he signed with San Antonio on Wednesday.
It was predicted that once Finley signed, other free agents would quickly follow suit. On Wednesday, O'Connor said Finley's signing would impact the Jazz.
"There is always a domino effect with a player like that that affects a lot of teams," O'Connor said of the Finley waiting game.
The 6-foot-5 Brown is considered one of the top swingmen still available after averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds for the Spurs last season.
Brown was passed over in the 2002 NBA draft, then signed by the Spurs as a free agent. He was cut a month later, then signed, and again waived in November. Brown changed uniforms in April 2003, signing a 10-day contract with Denver.
He was brought back to San Antonio in August 2003, finally remaining on the roster.
After a long quiet period, the Jazz have had a busy week, signing second-round pick Robert Whaley to a two-year contract Tuesday and Palacio on Thursday.
Utah is also expected to re-sign backup point guard Keith McLeod, which would give the Jazz three point guards going into training camp.
Palacio, an NBA journeyman who has averaged 4.5 points, 2.5 assists and 17.7 minutes in his career, is valued for his experience at the point guard position, complementing rookie Deron Williams and McLeod.
So the Spurs have seven days to match this two-year offer by the Jazz. I think the Spurs should really think about matching it. Of course I don't know how much it's for, but giving Devin two years to see how his back responds sounds ideal.
If the offer is for $4M or less, I think the Spurs should go ahead and match it.
Do the Spurs have the money to match the offer?
Anyway, we don't really need him anymore since Finley arrived..
^ agreed. I mean you have to keep the assets you have. I don't want to let him walk maybe we could swing a S+T for picks. I dunno
Yes, the Spurs can match the offer. They have his early bird right.
The Spurs are already looking at about $58 million in commited salaries for 2006-07, with the need to re-sign Nazr. There's no way this team can afford to do that unless Barry or Rasho is moved. If you mean $4 million per that would be a horrible move. $4 million total it's still too much when you have 6 better players locked up at the G/SF positions. There's no way Devin Brown is worth losing Mohammed.
I was thinkin up to 4m over the 2 years. 4mil per is way too much.
I meant $4M total.
I agree, it'll probably take a trade of Barry or Rasho to stay below the luxury threshold. The question then becomes if you'd rather have Barry at 3-years, $16M or Devin at 2-years, $2-4M.
Since NVE and Finley arrived, Barry will have a less important role from our bench comparing to last year..
Trading him and then sign Devin to get more cap room is not a bad idea, but which teams may be interested in Barry's acquisition?
The best of course is to send him in a loster team and not to one of our rivals!
If it was a basketball decision I'd rather have Barry. Factoring they badly need Mohammed makes it obvious Devin's the better choice if Barry can be moved without taking on salary beyond this year. Since I don't see that happening Devin's too expensive.
Why buy a Toyota when you've just had someone buy you a Benz?
i'd hate to lose Devin but if he's going to sloan's Utah it's fine with me.
Mohammed is a non-factor. I don't realistically believe that they will be able to pay him regardless, unless you're talking about dumping multiple players.
Aren't NVE and Finley's contract for one year?
Does that not have an impact o the final decision about Devin?
Finley will sign a muti-year deal. With Manu here for the long haul, and Bruce, Finley, and Brent for 2 or 3 years, there is no space for Devin for the next couple of years. Let him go somewhere and play and get his experience.
As to trading Brent, it's not like the Spurs haven't placed calls, but who wants to help the Spurs get under the tax threshold?
I was wondering if Utah waited out Finley's decision in order to set Devin's contract? Knowing that S.A. had Fin they might have offered less. I wonder.
And with Pop saying it was either or ....but then...he is CIA Pop....
DBrown is too good to let slip away over a couple of mil per season. Some posters have hit the nail on the head, NVE is a temporary acquisition. I don't see him playing in the league longer than 2 more seasons. Once he's gone then you can go back to having 5 swings with 2 points instead of basically 4 swings with 3 points.
But my gut reaction is that the Spurs are going to bluff in order to try to force the Jazz to give up something in a sign and trade.
I thught that once an offer sheet is signed, if a players original team resigns him that he can't be sign and traded to the team that signed the player to the offer sheet. Is this correct or not? If so, that means that they couldn't do what you're suggesting. I believe this to be the case. Does anyone know for sure? Thanks.
If the Spurs can afford to keep Devin and it won't hurt them next season, then the Spurs should match. R.C and Pop know what they're doing. However, what are the Spurs going to do with all the wings they have if they keep Devin. That will be hard. Players want to play. Devin wants to show what he can do. In my opinion, the only way the Spurs keep Devin is if a player or some players are moved.
Yeah, once he signs the offer then he can't be signed and traded. The only thing the Spurs could do is try to force Utah to rescind the offer sheet, but DBrown would have to agree to that too.
Maybe the Spurs just want to screw with the Jazz. Of course, the Spurs still have about $1.7 mil in cap flexibility they could use. Not sure how much cap room the Jazz have left, but if the Spurs and Jazz were interested in the same player, it might be worth the Spurs' time to drag out Devin's departure while pursuing whoever else they want.
Was Not The Jazz Offer Rumored To Be About 8 Million Before
The Spurs have no cap flexibility as far as avoiding paying the luxury tax at this time. The Spurs are right at the luxury tax threshold of $61.7mil. The Spurs can match any offer that Devin receives due to early bird rights but the question is are the Spurs willing to pay a $2mil salary to the 13th player on the roster and add $3mil in tax minimum on top of that.
LIsten, I'm glad we got mike fin, but I wanted to bring Dev back home to the Silver and Black.
I appreciate Finley's talent and history, but I am a much bigger Devin Brown Fan than Finley fan....
THE SPURS SHOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY WITH NICK VAN EXEL AND BROUGHT DEVIN BACK HOME....that's just my two cents....maybe the take is worth that, but that's how i feel....
Goodluck in Utah Devin, Hopefully one day you'll be back.
well, after reading Timvp's post more carefully, I now realize the ball is in the Spurs court. MATCH THE OFFER POP!
I'm not going to be glad to see the Spurs lose talent because Holt Cat can make a few extra bucks. What you failed to recognize is that the Spurs will continue to receive lux tax distributions, net of whatever they have to pay in tax.
I honestly think that Devin going to utah is what is best for Devin. There is not a much better coach in the leauge to grow under, and he will actually get substantial playing time. That is probably important to Him. He will not get much playing time in SA.
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