In other threads, I sense a growing sentiment that the Spurs will not attempt to resign Nazr after this season.
Aside from needing a hand transplant, his skills and contributions are well do ented and he should only get better with another year in the system.
While he isn't the second coming of "5-0", he seems to be more of a fit at the five than Rasho or anyone else. Thereofore, I can't understand why they would not want to retain his services? Especially in light of the fact they are desparately trying to move Rasho to gain more financial flexibility in the shorter term.
Sure he'll probably command a decent salary, but the Spurs have usually been good about not letting their "valued" free agents hit the open market, while convincing their own FAs to sign for less than market value.
I've got news for you folks. Take a look around the league. There aren't very many serviceable, defensive-minded, big men out there. Those that are serviceable are grossly overpaid (i.e. Foyle, Dampier, Chandler, Dalembert, et all).
Having said that, are we to assume the Spurs don't consider this guy valuable and they will indeed allow him to leave? Do they have their eye on someone else? I need some enlightenment.
his hands only sucked in clutch situations, but that could be due to the jitters of playing for an NBA championship for the 1st time. Otherwise, his hands are just fine.
Reason people believe he won't be resigned is because some idiotic team will offer nazr $11 mil per year and the spurs won't match it. However, if Nazr plays real well then I can see the spurs going as high as $8-$9 mil per if they're able to drop Rasho's salary.
that and if the Spurs repeat with him @ center it will help him leverage.
They will.
I have spoken.
[QUOTE=SenorSpur]
I've got news for you folks. Take a look around the league. There aren't very many serviceable, defensive-minded, big men out there. Those that are serviceable are grossly overpaid (i.e. Foyle, Dampier, Chandler, Dalembert, et all).
[QUOTE]
That's exactly why I don't think he'll be back. Teams are so willing to throw massive amounts of money at decent centers that I think the thought of getting a good one with one or two championships under his belt is going to put his price in the stratosphere.
There's a lot that could happen between now and the end of the year that could drive down his trade value like an injury or something but under the current cir stances I don't think Nazr will be back.
That fear has left me to argue repeatedly in this forum that the Spurs should not trade Rasho until they have secured Nazr's signature on an extension. It is better to have two serviceable centers (even if one is overpriced) than to have none. I wouldn't even think about dealing Rasho unless: (1) I had extended Mohmmed at a reasonable price; or (2) had made a deal that would send Rasho out for another center.
I also think that there's a good chance we'll see the very best of Rasho in 2005-06. The existence of some compe ion to push him, coupled with a sense that he would like to have his starting job back might actually force Rasho to be more assertive and more effective. He's clearly a much better defender than Nazr, and I don't think there's any doubt that Rasho has the more polished offensive game. The question with Rasho is intensity and effort. If Nazr's presence will bring out some better effort, Radoslav might not be as overpriced as some around here think.
Angel_luv will ask you to marry her becouse of this post Downtown!
If you project that there is a decent chance that the Spurs might play the Heat in the finals...who knows for sure? then going up against Shaq and Mourning would dictate a need for Nazr, Rasho, and Oberto in the middle. I wouldn't get rid of him right now unless you get size in return.
A lot can happen between now and the end of his contract. Lets just wait and see what happens.
Why would you word the question like that?
How bout "Will the Spurs resign Mohoammed?"
NO! Let's speculate wildly in the offseason prior to the actual final season of his current contract!
Ok, I'll speculate then that the Spurs will pull a "Manu" with Nazr and he won't be a starter after the first month of the season (if that long). It's not only because the Spurs would like to lower his value (they would) it's also because I think Oberto is a better player. Every game I've seen Oberto play he has impressed.
I'll throw this one out there too. I think there's a chance that Nazr will end up third string behind Oberto and Rasho because I'm not convinced that, overall, Nazr is better for the Spurs than Rasho. If Nazr had better hands and a killer 15 foot jump shot then yeah. But he doesn't and never will. You want someone to rebound and dunk the ball? Watch Oberto.
Yes, I am so convinced.
You should be able to see this coming from a mile away. The Spurs were just able to land Oberto for $2.5 mil a season....for 3 seasons. I would not be surprised if he is starting by the 20th game of the season. Wait, scratch that, I will not be surprised to see him be the Spurs' opening day starter.
A starting NBA center for $2.5 mil a season? Egads! Holt Cat must've been creaming his drawers when Oberto agreed to that deal. Think of the potential long-term salary and luxury tax savings!
Hence the reason why the Spurs were ready to dump Rasho for Tariq Abdul-Wahad and the reason why Nazr Mohammed will not be a Spur past the 2005-06 NBA season.
So who, might you ask, will back up TD & Oberto? Well, our good friend Luis Scola, of course. Oberto and Scola combined will cost less per season than either Radoslav or Nazr.
The tandem Duncan-Horry-Obert-Nazr-Rasho must be enough
I love your sig, this is probably the 5th time I've told you.
I just love it.
Nazr will be traded. I said it first and have been saying it all the way.
Good God, I hope you're wrong. I've not seen any highlights on Oberto. Maybe he'll start, maybe he won't. All I know is Nazr was a steal from the Knicks and I was under the impression they were set to install him as their future center.
If we want to stay a contender, Holt Cat (as you call him) is gonna have to s out some bucks.
Salaries go only one way UP!
The rate of progress of Mahinmi will probable influence their big man decsions in terms of long term contracts just as Manu's progress in Europe influenced their decsion on keeping swing players.
Anyone else remember that airball that Nazr snatched out of the air, brought it up over the rim and dunked it?
That's what I want to see more of.
Yeah, me too. It's not like the guy is a stiff. I'm just concerned they're giving up on a proven player that has served them well. I'd like to see them resign him, keep him for a while until Ian is ready to come over.
Again, it's not like this league is overflowing with serviceable big men. I see the logic of developing one in house. However, he's not ready.
Luxury tax be damned if it means keeping the core group together for several more championships.
I think the Spurs have recognized long ago that big men are being consistently overpaid in the NBA, and have actively tried to bring in quality talent at a way cheaper price from overseas .. this could be one of the factors that enables us to contend even when Holt focuses on the bottom-line which he has always done..
Actually, the biggest adjustment that has happened is the Spurs' FO has adjusted to Holt's tight pursestrings
I also think the Spurs will let Nazr go when his contract ends. Sure the Spurs could get a good player in a trade, but that doesn't help their lux tax fears.
It will be quite interesting to see who will start as our center on opening night. The Spurs basically have three "starting" caliber centers on their roster. Even though Oberto hasn't played a minute in the NBA, he still has played professionally for years and he isn't a 19 year old rookie with no experience.
I'll admit that I liked what I saw from Nazr in the playoffs. He had some nice games. Rasho never really had any chance of getting some big minutes because of his ankle injury and with the play of Nazr. I think that Nazr will demand more then Rasho's salary and I know the Spurs won't be interested in that.
What I would do is:
Entertain offers for Nazr Mohammed this off-season. If we can't find anything interesting this off-season, then the Spurs should wait and see if they could get a couple of first-round picks for him next off-season.
"It even took Manu a couple of seasons to get going."
False, around the ASB 03, Manu's first year, when Manu's ankle permitted, Manu was "going" well, and closing plenty of games, above all in the playoffs.
I expect Pop will let Farbricio get plenty of PT before Christmas to see how he does, and I bet Farbricio is fully NBA-ready.
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