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Spurs find center in Elson after Nuggets fail to match
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SALT LAKE CITY — Thursday came and went, leaving behind another 7-foot center and ending the Spurs' tense-yet-successful venture into restricted free agency.
After trading Rasho Nesterovic, watching Nazr Mohammed take more money — and, presumably, more minutes — from Detroit and a thanks-but-no-thanks from Alonzo Mourning, the Spurs filled their remaining lineup hole when Denver declined to match a two-year, $6 million offer to Francisco Elson.
Elson, 30, is the second center in as many days to join the Spurs. New York said Wednesday it wasn't keeping Jackie Butler, who received a three-year, $7 million contract from the Spurs.
The Spurs hope Elson and Butler, 21, can give them production at center at less than half the combined $12.5 million Mohammed and Nesterovic will make next season.
The third year of Butler's contract also is at the Spurs' option, so the team could conceivably have only Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili under contract after the 2007-08 season, allowing them significant salary-cap room to reshape the roster.
The Nuggets informed Elson's agent, Calvin Andrews, late Thursday afternoon they didn't plan to match the Spurs' offer unless an unexpected trade allowed the team to move another of its frontcourt players. When one didn't materialize, Denver simply allowed the 11:59 p.m. deadline to lapse.
The Nuggets re-signed forward/center Nene to a $60million contract Thursday and have $72 million invested in forward Kenyon Martin and another $42million in center Marcus Camby. Keeping Elson would have moved their payroll close to the luxury-tax threshold and likely ended their efforts to re-sign forward Reggie Evans.
The Spurs also front-loaded each year of Elson's contract, making a substantial percentage of it payable in one lump sum before the start of the season. Carmelo Anthony's contract extension, which doesn't begin until the 2007-08 season, is structured similarly.
Though Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't guarantee minutes or roles, Elson appears to be the leading candidate to start next to Duncan, given his experience and size. The Spurs think Elson's ability to run the floor could allow him to play with their small lineup while Duncan rests.
Nesterovic and Mohammed were plodders, a large reason why both spent much of the Spurs' second-round playoff loss to Dallas on the bench.
In a January victory over the Spurs last season, Elson often beat Duncan and the rest of the Spurs' big men down the floor while totaling 13 points, six rebounds and two steals.
"When we played them he got a lot of layups because he can run," Bruce Bowen said. "That's something David (Robinson) used to do real well. Not to say he is Dave now, but he does have that running quality."
The Spurs don't have plans to put Elson's jersey next to Robinson's in the AT&T Center rafters anytime soon. Elson is an adequate shot-blocker and has a decent mid-range shot, which should help him fit in the Spurs' system. Neither skill, however, is in Robinson's class. Scouts also don't like his hands and say he sometimes is slow to react.
Elson played in 72 games last season. The Nuggets went 32-22 in the 54 he started. He averaged 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24.7 minutes as a starter.
Born in The Netherlands, Elson attended Kilgore Junior College in Texas before transferring to the University of California, where he was a teammate of former Spurs forward Sean Marks. (Marks, who spent three seasons with the Spurs, is expected to sign with Phoenix.)
The Nuggets drafted Elson in the second round in 1999, but he played four years in Spain before joining them.
"I think Francisco will fit well with us," Bowen said. "The thing about the Spurs is we don't ask a lot of our bigs other than to just go out and give their best effort. He will be able to do that."
The burden on the Spurs' centers will be lessened with Duncan expected to average 15-plus minutes at the position. Fabricio Oberto also will have a better opportunity next season to carve out minutes for himself.
The Spurs hope Butler progresses enough to provide some muscle at the position. But they also concede they might miss Nesterovic's defense, forcing them to double-team Houston's Yao Ming more often.
The addition of Elson gives the Spurs 14 players with guaranteed contracts. Guard Melvin Sanders and forwards Rich Melzer and Jamar Smith, each of whom has a non-guaranteed deal, could compete for the final roster spot in training camp.
Notebook: The Spurs suffered their third consecutive loss at the Rocky Mountain Revue on Thursday, falling 90-81 to Dallas. Ian Mahinmi, the team's first-round pick from a year ago, played better than he did Tuesday but still finished with seven fouls, five points and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
Rookie guard Maurice Ager looked like another late first-round steal for the Mavericks. He scored 24 points and had a vicious dunk over Mahinmi.
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Don't forget our bet, homeboy.
Spurs find center in Elson after Nuggets fail to match
Web Posted: 07/20/2006 11:55 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer
SALT LAKE CITY — Thursday came and went, leaving behind another 7-foot center and ending the Spurs' tense-yet-successful venture into restricted free agency.
After trading Rasho Nesterovic, watching Nazr Mohammed take more money — and, presumably, more minutes — from Detroit and a thanks-but-no-thanks from Alonzo Mourning, the Spurs filled their remaining lineup hole when Denver declined to match a two-year, $6 million offer to Francisco Elson.
Elson, 30, is the second center in as many days to join the Spurs. New York said Wednesday it wasn't keeping Jackie Butler, who received a three-year, $7 million contract from the Spurs.
The Spurs hope Elson and Butler, 21, can give them production at center at less than half the combined $12.5 million Mohammed and Nesterovic will make next season.
The third year of Butler's contract also is at the Spurs' option, so the team could conceivably have only Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili under contract after the 2007-08 season, allowing them significant salary-cap room to reshape the roster.
The Nuggets informed Elson's agent, Calvin Andrews, late Thursday afternoon they didn't plan to match the Spurs' offer unless an unexpected trade allowed the team to move another of its frontcourt players. When one didn't materialize, Denver simply allowed the 11:59 p.m. deadline to lapse.
The Nuggets re-signed forward/center Nene to a $60million contract Thursday and have $72 million invested in forward Kenyon Martin and another $42million in center Marcus Camby. Keeping Elson would have moved their payroll close to the luxury-tax threshold and likely ended their efforts to re-sign forward Reggie Evans.
The Spurs also front-loaded each year of Elson's contract, making a substantial percentage of it payable in one lump sum before the start of the season. Carmelo Anthony's contract extension, which doesn't begin until the 2007-08 season, is structured similarly.
Though Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't guarantee minutes or roles, Elson appears to be the leading candidate to start next to Duncan, given his experience and size. The Spurs think Elson's ability to run the floor could allow him to play with their small lineup while Duncan rests.
Nesterovic and Mohammed were plodders, a large reason why both spent much of the Spurs' second-round playoff loss to Dallas on the bench.
In a January victory over the Spurs last season, Elson often beat Duncan and the rest of the Spurs' big men down the floor while totaling 13 points, six rebounds and two steals.
"When we played them he got a lot of layups because he can run," Bruce Bowen said. "That's something David (Robinson) used to do real well. Not to say he is Dave now, but he does have that running quality."
The Spurs don't have plans to put Elson's jersey next to Robinson's in the AT&T Center rafters anytime soon. Elson is an adequate shot-blocker and has a decent mid-range shot, which should help him fit in the Spurs' system. Neither skill, however, is in Robinson's class. Scouts also don't like his hands and say he sometimes is slow to react.
Elson played in 72 games last season. The Nuggets went 32-22 in the 54 he started. He averaged 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24.7 minutes as a starter.
Born in The Netherlands, Elson attended Kilgore Junior College in Texas before transferring to the University of California, where he was a teammate of former Spurs forward Sean Marks. (Marks, who spent three seasons with the Spurs, is expected to sign with Phoenix.)
The Nuggets drafted Elson in the second round in 1999, but he played four years in Spain before joining them.
"I think Francisco will fit well with us," Bowen said. "The thing about the Spurs is we don't ask a lot of our bigs other than to just go out and give their best effort. He will be able to do that."
The burden on the Spurs' centers will be lessened with Duncan expected to average 15-plus minutes at the position. Fabricio Oberto also will have a better opportunity next season to carve out minutes for himself.
The Spurs hope Butler progresses enough to provide some muscle at the position. But they also concede they might miss Nesterovic's defense, forcing them to double-team Houston's Yao Ming more often.
The addition of Elson gives the Spurs 14 players with guaranteed contracts. Guard Melvin Sanders and forwards Rich Melzer and Jamar Smith, each of whom has a non-guaranteed deal, could compete for the final roster spot in training camp.
Notebook: The Spurs suffered their third consecutive loss at the Rocky Mountain Revue on Thursday, falling 90-81 to Dallas. Ian Mahinmi, the team's first-round pick from a year ago, played better than he did Tuesday but still finished with seven fouls, five points and three rebounds in 27 minutes.
Rookie guard Maurice Ager looked like another late first-round steal for the Mavericks. He scored 24 points and had a vicious dunk over Mahinmi.
[email protected]
Staff Writer Mike Monroe contributed to this report.
Keyword:
damn...
I can't figure out what's worse about this article. The fact that we're actually getting Elson or the fact that the Spurs are still considering Melvin Sanders for a roster spot.
$50
Elson gets 8 ppg and 6 bpg. Timvp took the under.
Is Melzer the next Melvin? Whoopty doo...look at me. I'm excited.
Elson and David Robinson in the same article? I will never read another Ludden article again.
Be sure to never listen to or read a Bowen interview.
Oh well, one more deal for the Spurs FO. I just hope this is isn't the end of our "wheeling and dealing". I would have still preferred Javtokas over Elson, but I think the signing of Butler makes the signing of Elson bearable. I can't pass judgment on Elson until I have seen him play in a Spurs uniform. Can't wait for the season to start!
should i laugh or cry?
You know, we shouldn't be hating on someone whose on our team that HASN'T PLAYED A FREAKING GAME WITH US YET!!! Let's wait until at least mid November before for the Elson bashing.
I for one am giving this guy a chance.
Our new Kevin Willis.
Oh well.
Hopefully Elson proves timvp wrong. I sincerely wish him well and I hope he can play as well as the Spurs think he can.
All we can do now is hope for the best...
ill give hime a chance... maybe...
Minus 10 years, and plus a few inches on the wing span.
The quotes that stand out:
What did some of us try to tell you- they would sign guys to two year deals this summer, following the pattern set a couple of years ago for them all to expire at the same time.The third year of Butler's contract also is at the Spurs' option, so the team could conceivably have only Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili under contract after the 2007-08 season, allowing them significant salary-cap room to reshape the roster.
For those who don't believe that Bruce has become a mouth piece for the front office."When we played them he got a lot of layups because he can run," Bruce Bowen said. "That's something David (Robinson) used to do real well. Not to say he is Dave now, but he does have that running quality."
"I think Francisco will fit well with us," Bowen said. "The thing about the Spurs is we don't ask a lot of our bigs other than to just go out and give their best effort. He will be able to do that."
He's already been doing this when he plays alongside Horry.The burden on the Spurs' centers will be lessened with Duncan expected to average 15-plus minutes at the position.
Like it or not- Elson is who the Spurs want to be their starting center. They got who they wanted for what they were willing to spend in $$ and length of contract.
Nazr IIScouts also don't like his hands and say he sometimes is slow to react.
Right or wrong, this seems like the key to the Spurs thinking.
Two things that stand out in the article:
1) Look for more small ball. Elson is a good small ball center, according to the article.
2) Spurs ripped off Butler. 3-year/$7M with the last year as a team option? That's the free agent signing of the decade.
i have mixed emotions...or lol
let's see what this player can do. hope it's for the BETTER!
damn, they make that dunk of the a Mav rookie on Mahinmi a big deal...grrr!
But the New York media called it "staggering."
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