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SO SCOLA wants 4 million a year
the number one draft pick is making 4.3 million a year
hummmm....
Johnny Ludden: Spurs dip into free-agent market for big man
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...er.16d674f.html
Spurs dip into free-agent market for big man
Web Posted: 07/01/2006 12:00 AM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
The Spurs began the NBA's free-agency period late Friday with 11 players on their roster, another on the way and one sizeable hole to fill in the middle of their starting lineup.
With Rasho Nesterovic traded and Nazr Mohammed beginning his free-agent adventure, the Spurs' primary need this off-season is size. That could come in the form of a center — possibly even Mohammed himself — or a forward long and versatile enough to allow Tim Duncan to move over and play center.
The Spurs expect to finalize an agreement with 6-foot-10 Lithuanian Robertas Javtokas, a 2001 second-round draft pick of the team, and sign him once the league's moratorium ends July 12. While Javtokas will compete for a consistent role in the rotation, team officials don't view him as a starter.
Mohammed could re-inherit that job, depending on what offers he receives. But the Spurs also will explore other free-agent and trade options.
Mohammed made $5.5 million last season, and the Spurs discussed with him in training camp a four-year extension averaging about the same. He tabled the talks hoping to secure a five-year deal in free agency — either from the Spurs or another team.
The Spurs are allowed to re-sign Mohammed up to the league's maximum salary, but it remains to be seen whether they're even willing to put their previous offer back on the table.
Mohammed started the final 30 games of the regular season, averaging 7.8 points and 6.0 rebounds in 21.6 minutes. The Spurs went 23-7 during that time.
But when the Spurs' coaches decided to go small to match up with Dallas in the Western Conference semifinals, he totaled 15 minutes in the seven-game series.
Mohammed's poor hands made him turnover-prone, particularly when trying to catch dump-off passes from Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. He also sometimes tested coach Gregg Popovich's patience by being out of position defensively.
Still, when given consistent minutes, Mohammed usually produced. He's an effective rebounder and underrated scorer. In an important late-season game against Phoenix, he scored a career-high 30 points and took 16 rebounds. He also improved his free-throw shooting to a career-best 78.5 percent. Among the Spurs, only Michael Finley shot better from the line.
Despite his lack of playing time in the playoffs, Mohammed said at the end of the season he was open to returning. Nesterovic's trade to Toronto last week may have increased the Spurs' attractiveness.
Of the five teams with salary-cap room, Mohammed's hometown Chicago Bulls are expected to have the most interest in him. The Bulls, however, are expected to first explore signing either Detroit's Ben Wallace or Portland's Joel Przybilla, generally considered the top two centers in a weak free-agent market.
Though Wallace is out of the Spurs' price range — they have only cap exceptions of $5million and $1.75million to spend — they likely will talk to Pryzbilla. A 26-year-old, 7-foot-1 shot blocker, Przybilla would probably fit well in the Spurs' defensive scheme playing next to Duncan.
The Spurs are limited to offering Przybilla a five-year contract worth $29 million, slightly less than the most he can receive from Portland in a sign-and-trade deal. Przybilla complained publicly about the lack of effort from some of his Trail Blazers' teammates late last season but hasn't ruled out re-signing with the team. Chicago's cap room, along with its close proximity to Przybilla's home in Milwaukee, seem to give the Bulls the advantage.
The Spurs also will explore trading for a center. Milwaukee's Jamaal Magloire is on the market, and Philadelphia and Chicago could entertain trades, respectively, for Samuel Dalembert and Tyson Chandler. Dalembert and Chandler would fit well with the Spurs. Both are young, run the floor well and block shots. Both, however, also have significant contracts: Dalembert has five years and $55.7million remaining; Chandler, five years and $54million.
The Spurs have looked into trading Brent Barry and the rights to Argentine forward Luis Scola, but they also may need Mohammed's cooperation in a sign-and-trade to pull off a deal. Interest in Scola, so far, has been lukewarm.
If the Spurs don't trade Scola, they would likely leave him overseas. Because Scola has a $3.5million buyout with his Spanish team, he is expected to seek a contract averaging about $4million annually, a figure the Spurs — for now — don't appear willing to pay given they already have four power forwards under contract. That doesn't include Javtokas, who also can play the position.
Another option for the Spurs would be to try to sign an athletic forward such as Washington's Jared Jeffries, the Los Angeles Clippers' Vladimir Radmanovic or Phoenix's Tim Thomas and move Duncan to center. Radmanovic, who the Spurs once tried to acquire in a proposed trade for Malik Rose, and Thomas can space the floor with their shooting, but neither defends well. Jeffries is a restricted free agent, allowing the Wizards to match any offer he receives.
The Spurs also hope to find a third point guard — Popovich seems content with using Beno Udrih to back up Parker — and an athletic swingman, but they probably won't invest much money in either.
"What we want," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said, "is to remain versatile."
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SO SCOLA wants 4 million a year
the number one draft pick is making 4.3 million a year
hummmm....
So i guess no speedyThe Spurs also hope to find a third point guard — Popovich seems content with using Beno Udrih to back up Parker — and an athletic swingman, but they probably won't invest much money in either.
very unfortuniteInterest in Scola, so far, has been lukewarm.
is scola worth 4 million?
Good luck, Luis.
scola could be plan d and by then might settle for 3 million a year
if we get both jeffries and Joel (which doesn't seem possible at all...that would ease some of the post-season heartbreak. but i perfer Joel...dude is a beast. he blocks everything and rebounds well.
From the article it seems like the spurs will go after a center or athletic foward not both, that is unless we can somehow trade for Magloire and then sign either Jeffries or Radmanovic.
No way in the Spurs pay Scola 4 mil per. Thats pretty damn outrageous. I doubt we will ever see Luis in a Spurs uni. I'm not dissapointed with that because it is on Scola and his contract, not the Spurs. Hopefully they can move him for something worthwhile.
Swapped Nesterovic for Javtokas. Good.
Maybe sign Przbylla. Not a lot of other options for the MLE here that fill a need.
Looks like another year of flawed Nazr Mohammed and Beno Udrih.
A good chance of trading Brent Barry for dreck (JR Smith type).
Very likely our starting lineup does not change from the end of the season, with the bench gaining no game-changing talent and staying as old and ineffectual as it was in the playoffs.
Luis Scola stays in Europe until the end of his contract. This is his fault and the fault of TAU, who obviously does not reward good behavior or good soldiers with helping them attain their dreams.
Id rather have Tim Thomas than The Pryz.
I'd rather have Bonzi Wells than Tim Thomas.
I'd love to have Tim Thomas here
so Beno remains a Spur next season.The Spurs also hope to find a third point guard — Popovich seems content with using Beno Udrih to back up Parker — and an athletic swingman, but they probably won't invest much money in either.
SA needs length and athleticism (not to mention a big). Wells is a two, the Spurs are stacked there. Thomas would be perfect. An athletic four who can play the three as well.
For the MILLIONTH TIME, MIKE GANSEY!!!!!!!!!!!The Spurs also hope to find a third point guard — Popovich seems content with using Beno Udrih to back up Parker — and an athletic swingman, but they probably won't invest much money in either.
Tim Thomas hasn't cared about the game of basketball in his life. At least Bonzi Wells has.
Not the Thomas I saw in the playoffs. Plus, playing under Pop would be great for him as well. He is a perfect fit.
One would think it necessary to be versatile in order to remain versatile."What we want," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said, "is to remain versatile."
Hey RC, did you say versatile? As in a guy who can fill multiple positions? Like a Tim Thomas?
good chance of trading Brent Barry for dreck (JR Smith type).
Very likely our starting lineup does not change from the end of the season, with the bench gaining no game-changing talent and staying as old and ineffectual as it was in the playoffs
No wait.
They trade Barry for Smith, a younger player, and the bench stays old?
How does that work exactly.....
Not going for a Speedy and settling on the slovenian turnover is a huge mistake.
I said he was dreck, didn't I? JR Smith on the bench might as well not even be there.
The Spurs just don't have much to work with, but I agree that Speedy is the game-changing type of player we vitally need.Not going for a Speedy and settling on the slovenian turnover is a huge mistake.
He showed up this postseason I"ll give him that.
But honestly, he was that one 3 in the Lakers series away from being a career choke artist who perpetually underachieved. The guy just isn't someone you want on your team...his defense and at ude is suspect. He found a good fit in Phoenix, but the spurs are not Phoenix.
This article didn't have a lot of new information. It basically lists the players that they might go after as the same ones we always discuss here.
However, the Scola part is enlightening. It's interesting that he wants $4M per year and that interest in him around the league has been "lukewarm".
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