Spurs tinkering on the run

[SenorSpur]

Here's an article, courtesy of Mitch Lawrence from the New York Daily News. He's talking about how, despite the Mavs breakthrough, that the top teams in the West aren't going away.

He also discusses in detail some the prospective moves the Spurs will attempt to make to contend with the changes in the NBA - including revisting that Barry for Smith trade with New Orleans and attempting to trade Scola's rights.

Don't let the le of the article fool you.

End of the Road
Mitch Lawrence - NY Daily News

Mavs' run probably over

After Dwyane Wade did to Cuban's team what Michael Jordan used to do to Pat Riley's teams and others in the '90s, there was much talk in Dallas about how the Mavs would be right back playing in the championship next season. As if Tim Duncan is retiring, or as if the Suns aren't getting Amare Stoudemire back, or as if the Mavs are built to last.

"I don't look at it is if as we're definitely coming back," said Dallas' Jerry Stackhouse, a few days before he took out Shaquille O'Neal. "One play, here or there, one shot, here or there, and we're not even here. That's how you have to look at it."

As it turns out, the defining play of the playoffs occured 29 days before the Finals ended. On May 22, the NBA world turned on Manu Ginobili's foul on Dirk Nowitzki at the end of regulation in Game 7 of the Mavs-Spurs Western Conference semifinals. That's how close the Mavs came to going home.

"There are a lot of good teams at home who are looking at the Finals and thinking, if we had done one thing differently, if we had made a play here or there, we'd be in the Finals," Stackhouse said. "I think there are a few teams thinking that way. The league is very compe ive. There are a lot of good teams and there isn't a lot separating us from them."

What separates Dallas from San Antonio is Nowitzki, a 7-footer with quickness who gives the Spurs matchup problems on the perimeter. While it might seem like an overreaction to their playoff loss, the Spurs feel as if they have to change with the times and find an answer for Nowitzki.

So they began to adjust to the new-world NBA this past week when they traded center Rasho Nesterovic to Toronto. Now, they can play Duncan more in the middle. As for a power forward, they're like a lot of teams who see Phoenix's Boris Diaw as the new big thing. The Spurs think they drafted such a player last June in 6-10 Ian Mahinmi, also of France. But they believe he's still at least a year away.

The Spurs also want to get more athletic on the wing. So they're looking to revive a deal for the Hornets' J.R. Smith, who had problems with coach Byron Scott in his rookie season. The deal for Smith, a Newark product who came right in from high school, fell through at the last minute at the trading deadline. But now, Brent Barry could be on his way to the Hornets.

The Spurs are also trying to use Luis Scola, a 6-7 Argentinian, as trade bait. They drafted Ginobili's national teammate in 2002, thinking he'd one day join Duncan up front. But in the new age NBA, where quickness is becoming a bigger priority up front than traditional power players, they think Scola's rugged low-post game is only going to get in Duncan's way.

[SPARKY]

While the Hornets' reported offering of Smith to move up in Wednesday's draft may be one of the reasons the deal that fell through has not been revived as of yet, what if the Spurs have other plans for Barry? If Claxton wanted to be a Spur, it certainly would be nice to be able to land him and keep the MLE available for other free agent signings.

As for Scola, is it necessarily a bad thing that he's used to playing inside? Sure, the 4 man with the 3 point range works well, but it doesn't hurt to have another big who works the glass and plays inside alongside TD. DRob wasn't a perimeter dweller.

[SenorSpur]

As for Scola, is it necessarily a bad thing that he's used to playing inside? Sure, the 4 man with the 3 point range works well, but it doesn't hurt to have another big who works the glass and plays inside alongside TD. DRob wasn't a perimeter dweller.

I thought that was the reason the Spurs signed Oberto - to have another big who could work the glass. Personally, I think the decision to shop Scola's rights is the perfect thing to do. Especially if they can turn those rights into a first round draft pick.

[exstatic]

While the Hornets' reported offering of Smith to move up in Wednesday's draft may be one of the reasons the deal that fell through has not been revived as of yet, what if the Spurs have other plans for Barry? If Claxton wanted to be a Spur, it certainly would be nice to be able to land him and keep the MLE available for other free agent signings.

As for Scola, is it necessarily a bad thing that he's used to playing inside? Sure, the 4 man with the 3 point range works well, but it doesn't hurt to have another big who works the glass and plays inside alongside TD. DRob wasn't a perimeter dweller.

JR Smith made about 1.3M last year, and Barry made about 4.6M. Plenty of room for Speedy in between. We can throw in some cash so they can buy out Macijauskas, who wants to go back to Europe anyway, allegedly. If they're talking about Speedy, that'll have to wait until July 12th, and may also be the reason nothing has happened yet.

[SPARKY]

You need someone up front who can hit the glass. Far too often this team was outworked on the glass last season. The Mavs series only highlighted that issue. If one thinks back to the Twin Towers era, the Spurs were able to go with any style. DRob was still quite athletic for a bigman even after the back injury. The Spurs also had Rose to play against smaller lineups. I think it best going forward to find a platoon of guys so that you can play any style. Small ball seems to be on everyone's mind but you still have to be able to play a traditional halfcourt game against a traditional lineup in this league (the Heat are the champs, after all).

Maybe Javtokas can be that rebounding freak up front. If not, Reggie Evans still seems like a great pickup for this team.

[SPARKY]

JR Smith made about 1.3M last year, and Barry made about 4.6M. Plenty of room for Speedy in between. We can throw in some cash so they can buy out Macijauskas, who wants to go back to Europe anyway, allegedly. If they're talking about Speedy, that'll have to wait until July 12th, and may also be the reason nothing has happened yet.

The cap figure will be rather important for the Hornets (released next month). If you are looking at an expanded trade of Smith+Claxton then you are probably looking at Barry+Beno+pick sent out. Such a deal would make sense for both clubs, all things considered.

[clubalien]

what happened to the thread about tim thpomas an d shawn marion trade rumor it dissapeared so i guess it was fake? I didn't get a chance to read it

[SenorSpur]

You need someone up front who can hit the glass. Far too often this team was outworked on the glass last season. The Mavs series only highlighted that issue. If one thinks back to the Twin Towers era, the Spurs were able to go with any style. DRob was still quite athletic for a bigman even after the back injury. The Spurs also had Rose to play against smaller lineups. I think it best going forward to find a platoon of guys so that you can play any style. Small ball seems to be on everyone's mind but you still have to be able to play a traditional halfcourt game against a traditional lineup in this league (the Heat are the champs, after all).

Maybe Javtokas can be that rebounding freak up front. If not, Reggie Evans still seems like a great pickup for this team.

I see your point. After all, Miami did to Dallas what Dallas had done to everybody else during the playoffs - they pounded them on the glass. Miami outrebounded Dallas in 4 of the 6 games played. They did it the ol' fashioned way.

The question is where would the Spurs find another big banger that they can afford? Evans would be way too expensive. Resigning Nazr becomes a good option, along with having Javtokas.

[SenorSpur]

JR Smith made about 1.3M last year, and Barry made about 4.6M. Plenty of room for Speedy in between. We can throw in some cash so they can buy out Macijauskas, who wants to go back to Europe anyway, allegedly. If they're talking about Speedy, that'll have to wait until July 12th, and may also be the reason nothing has happened yet.

It'd be real sweet if the Spurs could come away with both Smith and Speedy.

[boutons_]

"Resigning Nazr becomes a good option"

no. He's ing useless, and Pop agrees by limiting Nazr's minutes since the ASB.

[SPARKY]

I see your point. After all, Miami did to Dallas what Dallas had done to everybody else during the playoffs - they pounded them on the glass. Miami outrebounded Dallas in 4 of the 6 games played. They did it the ol' fashioned way.

The question is where would the Spurs find another big banger that they can afford? Evans would be way too expensive. Resigning Nazr becomes a good option, along with having Javtokas.

The problem last season was that the frontcourt rotation couldn't handle every style. The DRob/Rose duo made that a non-issue from 1999-2003.

The Spurs will be best served by having a platoon of players who ensure that you can defend and rebound against any type of frontcourt.

[SPARKY]

"Resigning Nazr becomes a good option"

no. He's ing useless, and Pop agrees by limiting Nazr's minutes since the ASB.

Mohammed isn't totally useless. At $40 mil/5 years or whatever, he is. At $20 mil/4 years, he isn't. The Spurs still need to have a traditional bigman/shotblocker type available to put alongside TD. Maybe that's Javtokas. Let us hope so.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

nevermind.

[SPARKY]

Nevermind indeed.

[SenorSpur]

"Resigning Nazr becomes a good option"

no. He's ing useless, and Pop agrees by limiting Nazr's minutes since the ASB.

Useless? How about his 30 and 15 against the Suns. We'll never know how a traditional lineup would have fared against the Mavs because Pop resorted to small ball.

It's funny how the Heat won with their traditional lineup (and D-Wade's greatness). They never doubled Dirk. They simply sicced Haslem, Posey and others on him, along with knocking him around when he came into the lane.

As has been stated here, the Spurs are gonna need a platoon of bigs that will enable them to adjust to any style. TD cannot play the 5 against guys like Yao and Shaq.

[spurschick]

Sign Nazr, then package him and Scola to the Bulls for their first round pick (if it's Bargnani or Aldridge) + ???.

[SPARKY]

Sign Nazr, then package him and Scola to the Bulls for their first round pick (if it's Bargnani or Aldridge) + ???.

Would love to, but they can sign Mohammed outright.

[SPARKY]

The question becomes...who can't sign Mohammed outright? The Spurs do have the tradeable assets to put together to perhaps make a run at a substantial player...

[boutons_]

"need a platoon of bigs"

I'm all for that. Spurs line front right now is just Tim, horrible situation.

But Pvt. Mohammed needs to be shipped out. His sporadic good games don't make up for the all his noshow games, that gave him an season avg of 6 and 5 in 17 MPG, with 1 BS. Totally ing useless, without even mentioning how many points he gave up on defense.

Tim, Roberto, Robertas, maybe Scola or Reggie Evans. No Nazr. I have NO hopes for Robert after his noshow last season and playoffs.

[Mr. Body]

Resigning Nazr might be the best idea right now, not knowing how Javtokas is going to be. I hate the idea a bit, but you can't lose Nesterovic and Nazr in the same year with no other stable plans.

[beirmeistr]

They also need to consider hetting bigs that can get physical with their fouls, like Shaq and Zo did. Dallas seems to wither away from physical play.

[Mr. Body]

They also need to consider hetting bigs that can get physical with their fouls, like Shaq and Zo did. Dallas seems to wither away from physical play.

I kind of agree. The Spurs' philosophy is to avoid confrontations and enforcer-type players, but getting some beef in there to be physical seems a good notion.

[Louie Vega]

J.R. Smith looks like he can be an asshole. I don't think he would fit well with the Spurs.

[Mr. Body]

J.R. Smith looks like he can be an asshole. I don't think he would fit well with the Spurs.

I'm against the Smith acquisition and am convinced the Spurs were gonna take a flier on him more than anything. Losing Barry's salary was the real prize there.

All for Claxton. No thanks on a mental case like J.R. Smith. As a throw-in, why not? But don't chase him.

[SPARKY]

At this point, the primary reason JR Smith is a "mental case" is due to Byron Scott. The Spurs have benefitted from a young player clashing with Scott before...