Spurs' offseason begins: Mohammed or Nesterovic likely to exit
Web Posted: 05/24/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....17874593.html
Gregg Popovich leaned against the wall just outside his office at the AT&T Center and smiled. Though the Spurs and Dallas Mavericks were an hour away from meeting in Monday's seventh and decisive game, he already had seen enough to be impressed.
Never had Popovich been involved in a playoff series where the margin between victory and defeat was so thin and the compe iveness so fierce.
"Whoever loses," Popovich said, "will still feel like they have a of a basketball team, that's for sure."
A day later, the Spurs' championship reign having ended beneath the frustration of a Game 7 loss, Popovich felt the same. Even more so after watching his team erase a 20-point deficit before fading in overtime.
"We're a of a basketball team, and Dallas is a of a basketball team," Popovich said. "They get to go forward this year. But I've never been more proud of a team and the way they competed."
In that sense, Popovich is glad the Spurs don't need to change their core this summer. Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili are returning and judging from the 32.3 points Duncan averaged in the Western Conference semifinals all appear to be near their prime or, in Parker's case, approaching it.
The Spurs also figure to surround their three stars with more than a few familiar faces. Of the 14 players on the team's roster, only four are free agents: Nazr Mohammed, Nick Van Exel, Sean Marks and Melvin Sanders.
Van Exel is retiring, and there's a good chance Mohammed, who turned down a contract extension before the season and played sparingly in the playoffs, also won't be back. If the Spurs do re-sign Mohammed, then Rasho Nesterovic probably would be traded. Investing $14 million in two centers in the league's small-ball era is unlikely.
"We have to figure out what we want to do, as far as bigs are concerned," Popovich said. "Do we want (power forwards) or do we want (centers)? How small do we want to play, or how big do we want to play? Do we want to try to be big, even if somebody else is small?"
The NBA free-agent pool this summer isn't deep compared to other years, and the Spurs don't have a first-round pick in next month's draft. But they will explore signing two previous selections: Argentine forward Luis Scola and Lithuanian forward/center Robertas Javtokas.
Depending on how much of the Spurs' $5.1 million midlevel exception Scola seeks the team also has a $1.75 million exception available Javtokas might be more cost effective. Trading Scola's rights or working a sign-and-trade deal with Mohammed are other options.
The Spurs nearly traded Brent Barry midway through the season, and they still would like to get younger and more athletic on the perimeter. Sooner rather than later, they need to start grooming someone to succeed Bruce Bowen.
Popovich, however, isn't ready to declare the team eligible for AARP benefits just yet. Versatility, he said, is almost as important as athleticism.
"I listen to how athletic Dallas was and how we couldn't handle it, and it just makes me smile," Popovich said. "If you win, there's all kinds of things you did well. If you lose, there's got to be reasons why you lost.
"So if they're more athletic, I need to figure out how much more to win by a point. How much more athletic is that?"
Robert Horry, who declared himself a "dinosaur" a week ago after watching the Mavericks zip by him, told his teammates during Tuesday's season-ending meeting they could help themselves by arriving at training camp in shape.
"For a guy who's been around the block a long time to say he's going to get himself physically ready to compete next year means a lot," Michael Finley said. "Hopefully, everybody took that to heart and that's our motto going into the summer."
The Spurs expect to have six players compete in this summer's World Championships, including three starters. Duncan, however, isn't among them. He will rest his right foot, even though it didn't seem to trouble him much, if at all, during the playoffs.
"I think what Timmy will probably do, No. 1, is continue with a regimen about what he puts in his body," Popovich said. "His body was the trimmest it's ever been. He'll do what he has to do to stay in shape but not aggravate the foot."
Duncan's renaissance "He's unbelievable and unguardable," Dirk Nowitzki said after watching him score 41 points Monday gives the Spurs optimism for next season. So does the development of Parker, whose next step, Popovich said, is to improve his decision-making and sharpen his leadership.
The Spurs' first concern is making sure Ginobili doesn't dwell on Monday's loss. After giving the Spurs a 104-101 lead on a 3-pointer with 32.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter, he helped Dallas tie the game by fouling Nowitzki on a layup.
"We would have two less championships here if it wasn't for Manu Ginobili," Popovich said. "In my book, Manu Ginobili is the stud of the world.
"There's nobody that's a better compe or. I'd jump in a fox hole with him or go anywhere he wanted to go any time."
Ginobili naturally hopes to take the Spurs back to the top. Being eliminated by their biggest rival in a series where two losses came in overtime and another was by a single point adds to the motivation.
"When I first came here, coach preached about how other teams have that cir stantial fuel," Finley said. "Like a Detroit, being beat by San Antonio last year; by Dallas not being able to overcome San Antonio over the years.
"Now we have that cir stantial fuel."
Bowen thought the sting the Spurs felt from Derek Fisher's .4 shot two years ago a shot that led to the end of their previous reign was worse than that from Monday's loss.
"Maybe it's Dallas' year," Parker said. "I don't know."
As for the notion the Spurs have passed the torch to the Mavericks? Bowen shook his head.
"I don't think," he said, "we're old and decrepit quite yet."
boy, i think losing both would be a big call but maybe a necesity, getting someone that is more cost effective and out to earn themself a paycheck in the future might be a good kickstart for the team next season.
the reliance on the center position really is a dying trade, get someone that can crash the boards and get out of tim's way when they need to and im sure we will all be happy
I heard that Mohammed exited the AT&T Center at breakneck speed Monday night - came up and out of the tunnel really fast and everyone pretty much just had to get out of his way.
i really wanna see duncan play in his prime, but thats if pop changes the offensive system back to td as the first option, gino second.
i dont think any team in the league would want tpwouldnt mind chris paul+howard wake forest argentina spurs
That article makes me feel better. I'm ready for next year!!!!!
Nazr is gone because there is no way to unload Rasho.
i say they are both gone, but spurs will probably wait with Rasho till after the WC, in hope that Rasho will increase his trade value playing for slovenian NT.
He did a couple postgame interviews in the locker room and I saw him in the hallway talking with other players well after the game.
I hope we have a rock solid plan if we lose either of them. As much as I complain about them, there does not seem to be many available options that are much better. But considering that we are a team that is built for the playoffs (win or lose), and the fact that they averaged 30 seconds each in the playoffs, they might both be gone. I can't see any other way to justify them being here other than them helping us win 60 games in the regular season.
P.S.
Can't say I've seen Angel_Luv round here lately.
Mohammed should be the first to go.
Duncan just might be the Center for the Spurs if the evolution of the game continues the way it is. PF's may serve more servicable next year and with Shaq playing in his later years the need for a big rock in the middle of the lane won't be the priority anymore. I do believe that defense wins the chip but defenders are getting shorter and more athletic so now might be the time to look at that. One true center on the team with a smaller contract will still be needed but not the way it used to be. I would love to see a rebounding 3 in a S. Marion form. I still hope to see James White from Cincy in a Spurs uniform to go along with the likes of J.R. Smith and a serviceble PF to keep up with Dirk.
Can someone enlighten me? I am not very proficient in free agency, so cut me some slack if I am totally off.
I have seen several posts about trying to deal Nazr in a sign and trade, my understanding is that he is a free agent, and we do not own his bird rights. So what motivation does Nazr have, and what leverage do we have to try to get that to happen? Is it even possible?
going another direction, if van exel does retire and the spurs can manage to get a backup PG, do you cut your losses and ship beno to try get some value back or do you hang onto him as IL fodder in case of injury?
personally i'd be inclined to move him. if worst comes to worst and we need a PG there are always FA's out there that can be signed, especially if we get a backup that can play and be effective for a good amount of mins
Nazr is gone because he SUCKS!!!!!!!!
It doesn't mean Rasho will stay, but if I had to keep one, it would not be Nazr!
No F...g way!!!!
Sign and trade would be good for Nazr because that way he could have a longer contract with higher raises. If he's signed by the Spurs (or signandtraded by the Spurs) then he can sign up to a 6 year deal/10.5% raises. If he's signed outright as a free agent by another team, then he can sign 5 year/8% raises. (Someone can correct me if I'm wrong but that's how I understand it)
^^^ Who will pay that amount to Nazr? Sign and trade mean SPURS need to take back a suck contract. I don't want to see another Steve Smith anymore.
I can't even think of any team that will be interested in Nazr. So I'm not sure.
Who would trade for Rasho?
Last edited by Please_dont_ban_me; 05-24-2006 at 04:44 AM.
One of them has to go, Nazr seems the more obvious because he's a free agent, but if we can sign and trade him for a good power forward that would be ideal.
Follow that trade up with the Brent Barry trade we tried earlier this season and we'll have a good start...
Barry came to life this postseason.
I still wouldn't mind seeing him go though. Assuming we get a JR Smith type player.
We should keep none.
Nazr can't learn how to defend.
Rasho can be usefull but only against a limited number of players, but nba is a business and money isn't unlimited. A $7M/year we can get a player way more usefull than Rasho. If we can do a deal with rasho that isn't too bad, we should do it.
The question is: How is spurs system and play will look like next season.
Who is gonna play for the spurs? Beno's minutes and what string?
Tough questions to answer and then try to make the answers happen in the offseason. Maybe the best solution will be giving up Nazr for a high pick? I don't know.
"I listen to how athletic Dallas was and how we couldn't handle it, and it just makes me smile," Popovich said. "If you win, there's all kinds of things you did well. If you lose, there's got to be reasons why you lost.
"So if they're more athletic, I need to figure out how much more to win by a point. How much more athletic is that?"
It is true with this winning and losing. But Pop you have to admitt that the athleticism was what killed you. IF the spurs won you would overcome that athleticism and that's a big accomplishement.
How much more athletic was a Sacto team?
I'm sure you realize your le is a little misleading. The article implies that Nazr is the most likely one to be gone.
He mentions trading Rasho if Nazr does re-sign because the Spurs won't invest that much in both of them. I thought his number was interesting. Is he assuming someone will play Nazr $7M?there's a good chance Mohammed, who turned down a contract extension before the season and played sparingly in the playoffs, also won't be back.
You still need smeone who can play in a traditional center spot because Tim will never do it full-time. While people figure Rasho makes too much for that role, he is needed against certain teams and very useful against more than people realize. I think he is the more likely to be kept because he is the only one who fills a certain role that does need to be filled on this team. Nazr, on the other hand is replaceable for the most part by Robertas- who can rebound, block shots, and bang inside.
Question: If Miami wins the le are people more inclined to think we need to keep Rasho??
Not much new in the article. I had forgotten that they had the $1.75 mil exception. That should come in handy.
Reading between the lines, I think Javtokas will be a Spur and Scola's rights will be traded. They can probably sign Javtokas using the $1.75 mil exception while Scola would have to get a healthy chunk of the MLE to make up for his buyout. If they move Scola they'll likely end up with a draft pick, which would be nice considering that they had given up two of their 1st rounders between last year and this one in the Mohammed trade.
Then they can use the MLE to split between a backup point and a small forward.
Maybe they can move Barry for Smith again and work out a S&T involving Mohammed to get back someone and/or something of value.
I think it's likely that Mahinmi will spend one more season in Europe. Sanikidze is a wild card, though if he joins the Spurs next season he will likely spend his first season on IR.
Last edited by SPARKY; 05-24-2006 at 07:27 AM.
That seems to be the gist. NVE gone-- Nazr gone-- Scola's rights traded- Robertas here. I mentioned giving Robertas the LLE a few days ago.
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