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Nemanja Aleksandrov isn't automatically eligible until the 2009 draft. He'd have to declare early to be eligible before then.
I love Nemanja Aleksandrov. But he would be a long-term project since he has to rehab his injury. But this guy had a ton of potential a couple of years ago. If we could snare him with the 58 it would be an absolute steal. Even if this guy never pans out, it is easily worth the gamble.
...I just didn't think he was in this year's draft.
Edit: He was born in 87. So unless hes an early entry candidate then hes not in this year's draft.
Nemanja Aleksandrov isn't automatically eligible until the 2009 draft. He'd have to declare early to be eligible before then.
I feel like I've been hearing about him since forever, and he's still 2 years from automatic eligibility? Wow.
I'm still trying to figure out what the Spurs have planned. I'm leaning more and more to the opinion that Koponen will be the man if he's on the board at 28. I don't think he will though.
Random observations after researching a lot of draft stuff over the last couple days:
--I've started to cool on Belinelli, Almond, Dudley, Tucker, McGuire and Chandler as fits on the Spurs. Belinelli is too much of a one dimensional gunner. Almond isn't a great athlete and not much on D. Dudley and Tucker are also not really athletic enough. McGuire and Chandler don't have the character.
--I've started to warm up to Byars and Fazekas. Byars would be a no-brainer at 28. Fazekas I never really liked but I watched him some more and his rebounding ability to go along with his shot making ability I think could make him an NBA player. If the Spurs think Bonner's asking price is too high, Fazekas could be a good replacement.
--The more I think about it, the more I think 28 is either going international or getting traded. Perhaps the Spurs would pick someone like Byars if he fell to them. But with the front office attempting to open up space next offseason, I don't think they want a first round contract on the books for a player who isn't a near lock to be solid. A game plan I can see the Spurs using would be to trade the pick unless Byars, Fernandez or Koponen falls to them.
--At 33, it's going to depend what happens at 28. If you land a domestic player like Byars, I think the Spurs go international. If the Spurs land Koponen and think that he needs a couple years in Europe, I think that opens the door for players like Almond and Afflalo. If the Spurs get a foreign prospect like Fernandez (or Stanko, Fesenko, Gasol, etc), I think the Spurs then go with a point guard. Dowdell, Pruitt and Green look like the three point guard worth a selection at 33.
--58 is either a trade or a foreign prospect. I see no way that the Spurs pick a domestic player ... unless that player agrees to play overseas a la Derrick Dial. Marko Tomas if he's on the board has to be looked at.
--Two players we never talk about that could come into the mix are Daequan Cook and Marcus Williams. Cook could slip to the Spurs and he has pretty nice potential. He'd be a worthwhile high risk/high reward gamble. He's a little too small for what they really need though. Marcus Williams is an odd prospect as he was once considered a lottery pick ... and now he's a second rounder. He actually fits a lot of what the Spurs need. I'm a little surprised that his name isn't mention more as a possibility at 33, but I can understand it since he'd be a pretty boring pick due to his limited upside.
I am more and more becoming convinced that the Spurs will follow something approaching the following strategy:
1. Draft a foreign prospect they like at 28
2. If no foreign prospect remains that they like, trade the pick for a couple of 2nd rounders or a future 1st.
3. At 33 select the best SG/SF remaining.
4. At 58, another foreigner (SF/PF combo) or trade for a future 2nd.
5. If in 2. the 28th pick was traded for at least one 2nd this year, then pick up a backup PG.
My reasoning behind this is as follows:
1. A domestic PG will not be picked at 28 as any backup PG is not getting any more than 10-12 minutes per night while Tony Parker is around. The high relative wage and loss of flexibility caused by picking a PG at this spot compromises the 2008 retooling plan. There are more than enough veterans around who are well aware what a year on the Spurs can do in increasing their value and extending their careers, not to talk about the possibility of winning a ring.
2. A foreign PG/SG/SF can be picked at 28 as they will not be playing for the Spurs next season, the 2008 plan is not compromised and any foreign backcourt player can play an important role from 2008 onwards.
3. James White is not enough youth at the SG/SF position. The Spurs need at least one more young player to try out next year but with no long-term financial commitment. If the 33rd pick works out, the player can be signed to a longer term contract after 2008, if not, he is cut/traded/etc.
The end results is that the Spurs end up with 1 or 2 new players on the roster next season. This is to replace Ely and/or Barry/Beno/Finley/Bonner.
Next year it is the definitive end for Horry/Finley/Barry/Beno and maybe Bowen. That means that at least 3-4 slots have to be filled next year. Thats when this year and previous foreign picks will have a chance. It is also the reason I think that Scola will never wear a Spurs uniform. If Scola does not come over this year, he is never going to be a Spur.
Disagree that it HAS to be an international prospect at #28 because it comprimises the '08 plan...
The two primary domestic PGs being looked at by the Spurs, Gabe Pruitt and Zabian Dowdell, are versatile enough to play both guard positions, so they actually fill two potential needs (one immediate need at PG and the other a future need at SG).
Also, while the money for a late first round pick is guaranteed, it is not decidedly much larger than an early second rounder would likely receive...especially in the first couple years.
My point is that if the Spurs are really sold on one of the two domestic point guards enough, they'll take them at 28 regardless of the future cap considerations.
agree. beside the point that IMO, that this "2008 plan" is just a myth, (the Spurs will never signe another big contract when they pay 40 million to the big 3), the money to pay a late 1st rounder is about the same as the veteran minimum.
as PT says, they will take a player they like. if all players on their list are gone at this point, they might think about some other strategies. but it would be stupid to decide by cap considerations in the fist place.
i've tried to keep tabs of this thread as best i can, so if this has been asked previously, i apologize. but...
anyone know if the spurs have the spurs worked out mario boggans from okla. state?
They might have but nobody has said anything. All of the known workouts are listed in the first post of this massive thread.
I seriously doubt that there is sufficient minutes for a rookie SG/PG on next year's squad. There are about 10 minutes backing up Tony Parker and for that Vaughn or a similar player suffices, especially if Beno stays for another year.
At SG you have Finley starting with Manu playing the bulk of the minutes and Barry also playing some and White needing minutes next year at the SG/SF spot. I just don't see where the playing time is coming from for a rookie, especially a first round rookie that if he stinks, you still have to live with a 4 year commitment.
Look at Beno, the Spurs would trade him for a 2nd rounder in an instant and if so, there is where I think the combo guard is picked. However, with Beno still on the squad and with 3 years experience of the Spurs system, I simply don't see the need for a combo guard.
Also, I do think the 2008 plan is valid issue. The Spurs won't be adding a marque free agent next year, but they could add a couple of pieces at SG/SF that would be starters but would not cost more 8-10 million combined. That should see the team through to the end of the Duncan era in 4-5 years.
Rusty - Beno's time on the Spurs is done. It's a matter of where the Spurs dump him at this point.
A rookie PG, combo or otherwise, is needed for a future back-up. Whether he starts stealing time from Vaughn next year or plays more the year after, it's a priority. Vaughn was always intended as a third stringer, in any case, but Beno's fecklessness got in the way of plans.
Is Beno's deal for next year a team option or not? If so, I can see the possibility of the Spurs dumping him, however, the Spurs are a pretty frugal organization and if they cannot get anyone to play the 2nd/3rd PG for Beno money, I think they keep him.
Also, if Beno has a guaranteed contract for next year, I think it is almost a certainty the Spurs don't cut him. They may do all in their power to trade him for a bag of nuts but they are unlikely to swallow his salary and get nothing in return. Just my 2 cents.
Next year is guaranteed. They sweated the decision before last season, when they had to pick it up. In retrospect I'm sure they regret it, but they may get something for him yet. I'm pretty sure they will; otherwise, yeah, they have a tough decision whether to cut him or let him tag along for another year, wasting a roster spot.
sorry, no insult, but this calculation is just wrong.
no team plays exclusivly either the starting PG, or his back-up instead of him.
neither do the Spurs.
it's a question of rotations. so you can't claim, that there are only 10 minutes to give to this back-up, whoever he is.
the perfect back-up (who the Spurs didn't have for....can't remember) will open additional options about rotations and line ups (play also alongside Tony who moves to SG, or play some SG himself...), he would be a 20 minutes player. just take Beno's minutes and reduce Barry's to 15 and you've got the missing playing time.
the fact that the Spurs have won it all this year, doesn't tell that there isn't still room for improvement. and the back-up PG area is obviously such an improvement area.
Like it or not Rusty, it's clear that the Spurs are targeting a PG in the upcoming draft. Whether that player is international (Koponen) or domestic (Pruitt, Dowdell, etc.), it is more than likely they will be drafting a PG in the draft on Thursday.
That means they're not sold on Beno being on this team, and I think he'll be gone by training camp.
I hope he's gone on draft night.
(as a part of a package we use to either trade up, or part of a package of one of our picks for a decent player)
The Cavs has shown interest in Beno, He could be shopped for a 2nd round pick
And as Tony Phat said the Spurs Will probably draft a PG during this draft , they did a lot of workouts with some pg's and twice with some of them.
Rusty if we look now the spurs roster , they will not be a lot a roster spot available but the FO might know who will go and who will stay and it will also depends on oberto , scola situations and mahinmi's situation with his injury...
so nothing done yet
A lot of options for this draft.......
Wright's going to be used more as a light PF in this league once teams accept that his range and and handle are worse than many centers.
I agree, I think the 2008 Master Plan is a fairy tale. So this is a crucial off-season where they need to bring in some new talent to replace all the pieces that will be missing next year. Hopefully they can add a piece or 2 of that puzzle during the draft.
yes. and they won't want to repleace 5 or 6 regular rotation players next summer, they will be smart enough to stretch the rebuilding process of the supporting cast over two summers. tha's why I'm sure we will see some new (younger) faces this year.
Spoken like a true K-State fan. I think Julian Wright is the third best player in this draft. His basketball IQ is off the charts and he's an outstanding passer. He's the type of guy who makes his teammates better with his passing and vision, and there aren't a lot of them at his size. There's nothing wrong with his handle. Dude played point guard in high school. Once his range improves, he's going to be an All-Star.
Nothing to do with being a KSU fan (except that I may have seen him play more than many on this board). He is a great passer, good shot blocker, decent rebounder, and a solid defender. But his handle does suck and his range literally ends at 5 feet out.
And people talking about Affalo not coming to play in some games, that's nothing compared to Wright. Wright had ELEVEN (11!) games this past year where he totaled less than 8 pts AND less than 7 rebounds.
In the 2 biggest games of the year:
vs. SIU - 7 pts, 3 boards, 1 assist
vs. UCLA - 8 pts, 5 boards, 4 assists, and a couple blown layups
I'm going to respectfully disagree with your opinion on his handle. I know that I'm in the minority with my high opinion of him. I just think he's the type of guy that the numbers don't bear out how good he is and how he can impact the game. He also played on a team where he didn't have to be the man scoring every night, and could defer to his teammates and do other things to help his team win. You can teach someone to be a better shooter. You can't teach someone how to anticipate how a defender is going to move and hit a cutter in stride. It's difficult to teach guys who are used to dominating the ball how to be a good teammate and move without the ball. Wright just knows how to play the game. The only real shortcomings that he has are his strength and jumpshot. I don't see any reason why they both won't improve with time.
Flatly stated, Julian Wright is the long 3 we've so badly needed.
Not that he'd be available.
I think Durant is the long 3 that we so badly need.
I would prefer Brewer to Wright. Not that it matters in the least bit.
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