Scola for Nocioni Picking Up Steam?

[Marcus Bryant]

The Spurs are in a rather unique position. Their tradeable asset in a would be S&T deal for Nocioni is himself not under contract and if they reached an agreement with him then he would be untradeable for some period of time. But as far as I know another team cannot reach an agreement with Scola until his rights are officially dealt, not simply when an agreement is reached to consummate a sign and trade when the moratorium on free agent signings ends.

[Bruno]

Nothing is sure until Nocioni sign a contract but it seems very unlikely that Spurs get Nocioni now.
If Bulls are fine with him playing mainly PF, re-signing him makes sense for them.

Spurs main weakness is the lack of a SF/PF. If Spurs don't get Nocioni, they must try to get another SF/PF this summer or at the deadline. Nocioni isn't the only player in the league able to help them. Without a SF/PF, I can't be optismistic about a Spurs' repeat.

I really have the feeling that it's the last summer to do something with Scola. I think he will sign a big extension with Tau after July 15th if he doesn't sign a nba contract. If Spurs can get a future first round pick for him, they shouldn't hesitate to trade him for that. This pick will allow them to offer an attractive package at the deadline with 2 first round picks and tons of expirings.

[mountainballer]

But do the Spurs want Nocioni in the first place? Is there any evidence pointing to that?

IMO you have to ask this question differently.
at what price do the Spurs still want Chapu?
I would claim that any number up to the MLE would be a no-brainer.
(you must sign a player like him for a number like 30 and 5, just because even if he doesn't fit for whatever reason, you still would have a great trade asset for other deals. it would just not be smart business not to sign him at such a number)
but above this number? are they willing to hand out 40 for 5 years? that's the point IMO.

[AFBlue]

IMO you have to ask this question differently.
at what price do the Spurs still want Chapu?
I would claim that any number up to the MLE would be a no-brainer.
(you must sign a player like him for a number like 30 and 5, just because even if he doesn't fit for whatever reason, you still would have a great trade asset for other deals. it would just not be smart business not to sign him at such a number)
but above this number? are they willing to hand out 40 for 5 years? that's the point IMO.

Put nicely, the Spurs are fiscally conservative. Put plainly, the Spurs are cheap!

If Noc gets traded at the 5yr $40-46M, he'll likely be making as much, if not more, as one of the big 3 (Manu). It would seem that he has been priced out of the Spurs' range.

Having said that...

The Spurs may have roughly $8M in cap space next year, and if they choose to spend that $8M on one free agent, why not just grab Nocioni for nearly that amount this summer?

I could see a scenario where the Spurs go either way...

[kyleo]

Put nicely, the Spurs are fiscally conservative. Put plainly, the Spurs are cheap!

If Noc gets traded at the 5yr $40-46M, he'll likely be making as much, if not more, as one of the big 3 (Manu). It would seem that he has been priced out of the Spurs' range.

Having said that...

The Spurs may have roughly $8M in cap space next year, and if they choose to spend that $8M on one free agent, why not just grab Nocioni for nearly that amount this summer?

I could see a scenario where the Spurs go either way...

That's what I thought - as a complimentary piece for the big three, does it get much better than Nocioni? I don't foresee anyone on the market who would fit so flawlessly under the Spurs' system and with the players we have.

[Ariel]

IMO you have to ask this question differently.
at what price do the Spurs still want Chapu?
I would claim that any number up to the MLE would be a no-brainer.
(you must sign a player like him for a number like 30 and 5, just because even if he doesn't fit for whatever reason, you still would have a great trade asset for other deals. it would just not be smart business not to sign him at such a number)
but above this number? are they willing to hand out 40 for 5 years? that's the point IMO.

It's precisely because of that you mention that I need not ask that question; it's implicitly understood. Of course that at the right price the Spurs want Chapu. At the right price, any team wants any player who can contribute. So when I say "do the Spurs want him?", I'm saying "do they want him at the price he'd cost?". It goes without saying.

[AFBlue]

That's what I thought - as a complimentary piece for the big three, does it get much better than Nocioni? I don't foresee anyone on the market who would fit so flawlessly under the Spurs' system and with the players we have.

Trevor Ariza has a player option in '08 and he's likely to pass on it and become a restricted FA. If the Spurs threw $6-7M a year at him, I think they might be able to grab him.

He's a 22yr old, super-athletic, slashing combo forward...

[mountainballer]

Trevor Ariza has a player option in '08 and he's likely to pass on it and become a restricted FA. If the Spurs threw $6-7M a year at him, I think they might be able to grab him.

He's a 22yr old, super-athletic, slashing combo forward...

I like Ariza and I would love to see him at the Spurs, but if I have to choose between paying Ariza 6-7 million a year or Nocioni 7-8 a year, I don't have to think about it for half a second.
Nocioni is a far better player than Ariza. it's not even close IMO.
the choice would have to be like Ariza for 4 million, or Nocioni for 8. that's something to think about.

[AFBlue]

I like Ariza and I would love to see him at the Spurs, but if I have to choose between paying Ariza 6-7 million a year or Nocioni 7-8 a year, I don't have to think about it for half a second.
Nocioni is a far better player than Ariza. it's not even close IMO.
the choice would have to be like Ariza for 4 million, or Nocioni for 8. that's something to think about.

Agreed.

Just throwing out a name that's likely to be heard around the league next summer.

You might also hear Corey Maggette.

[AFBlue]

And the Saga continues....

New life is breathed into the possibility of the Spurs acquiring Chapu, as the Argentinian report is refuted stateside!

Chicago likely will retain Nocioni

E-mail this story | Print
Wallace indicates report of $46 million deal unfounded
By Ronald Tillery
Contact
July 6, 2007

Once a full-scale pursuit, the Grizzlies' attempt to acquire restricted free agent Andres Nocioni now appears dead in the water.

Nocioni likely will re-sign with the Chicago Bulls because the Grizzlies verbally indicated an offer that is in the same neighborhood as what the Bulls are ready to pay in order to keep the 6-7 forward.


Chicago's offer on the table is a five-year, $38 million deal. It is believed the Griz came in lower -- closer to a figure starting at about the mid-level exception ($5.5 million).
Typically, teams would wait before deciding whether to match an official offer tendered to its free agent. Because of Nocioni's restricted status, the Bulls could match an offer from another team within seven days.

The proactive move by Bulls general manager John Paxson indicates how much he values Nocioni.

Griz general manager Chris Wallace insisted Wednesday that the Griz hadn't tendered an offer to any free agents, contradicting an Argentinian newspaper report that said Memphis offered Nocioni a $46 million deal.

The Griz are expected to have up to $9 million in salary cap room to spend on a free agent. Milwaukee and Charlotte are the only other teams with money to spend that is more than the mid-level exception.

The Griz have also expressed interest in Cleveland restricted free agent Anderson Varejao, and are said to be working on contingency plans now that a Nocioni deal is unlikely.

Wallace, though, traveled to Argentina earlier this week to meet with Nocioni. Griz coach Marc Iavaroni and franchise player Pau Gasol phoned in to help sell Nocioni on Memphis.

Although teams can't sign free agents until Wednesday, Nocioni can re-sign with his current team (Chicago) at any time.

In 53 games last season, Nocioni averaged 14.1 points and 5.7 rebounds.

http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/...617355,00.html

[AFBlue]

So, the good news is that the price range is back to "affordable" for the Spurs.

The bad news is that the Bulls extended the offer, so that means they're willing to retain him for that amount and do not necessarily have to trade him.

I still say the Spurs could throw out a Barry-Scola-Udrih for Nocioni-Duhon deal...but it's likely the Bulls wouldn't take it.

[Switchman]

just raise S.A. tax for a year or two and let's pay Nocioni for that fifth ring.


Can you imagine how crazy it would be for the Spurs to WIN AGAIN. No one could argue their greatness.

[Darkwaters]

just raise S.A. tax for a year or two and let's pay Nocioni for that fifth ring.

I believe the issue is more a salary cap one rather than actually getting the money together to pay the man. If that were the case PHAT TONY and I would be having a bake sale right now in front of HEB with a "Free Chapu" banner and everything.

[Switchman]

hahaha

Let the citizens pay the luxury tax. I'll bake some cookies.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

But that's the whole deal. You -along with many others, myself included- believe the Spurs are interested in Nocioni. There's at least some proof to pretty much every assumption we've made so far, except from that one. No paper has ever reported anything different. In fact, it's been reported the Spurs intend on standing pat, keeping the roster as is. So again, I'm not saying it can't happen. Only that we're going crazy searching for news from all angles, when we're missing the most important one: that of the Spurs.

It's never been reported what the Spurs are doing before they do it. What is so hard to understand about that?

As to Noc, there's only been one front office firing in the Spurs front office in the last 6 years, and it was the guy who screwed up on Noc's birthdate and eligibility status for the draft.

[Ariel]

It's never been reported what the Spurs are doing before they do it. What is so hard to understand about that?

It's not hard to understand at all. Just as it shouldn't be any difficult to understand that most of the times there are no indications something is going to happen, it's because it actually isn't going to happen.

As to Noc, there's only been one front office firing in the Spurs front office in the last 6 years, and it was the guy who screwed up on Noc's birthdate and eligibility status for the draft.

I'm perfectly aware of that. But surely you also realize that just because the front office drafts a FIBA player, it doesn't mean they will sign him eventually... Right? *cough* Scola *cough*. Let's not forget that, though the Spurs did have an interest in him at one point, they didn't try to sign him when he was out there for anyone to take, which was the case for a couple of years. It took John Paxson and the Bulls to make him a concrete offer to get him to the NBA. In fact, the only other team that had a serious intention of signing him was Memphis, i.e., not San Antonio.

So, as I've said quite a few times so far, this is a scenario that makes sense. However, the emotional investment in the matter seems way to high in relation to the factual basis. All in all, by raising the question I was merely trying to figure out if there was actually some kind of solid evidence that had escaped me pointing in this direction, or it was just a collective wishful expression. To this moment, it's my opinion that's mostly the latter. Hopefully it does materialize, but I wouldn't put my hopes up.

[Bruno]

http://chicagosports.chicagotribune....ulls-headlines

Nocioni back with the Bulls

By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter
July 6, 2007, 12:17 PM CDT

The Bulls will make a Friday afternoon announcement that Andres Nocioni has re-signed with the team, the Tribune has learned.

The deal is for five years, with a team option for a sixth season.


Earlier Friday, Bulls general manager John Paxson confirmed that the team was optimistic about their chances.

"We've made progress," Paxson said at the Berto Center. "We're pretty confident. I'm hopeful that in the next day or so we can hammer this thing out with him."

The Tribune and Memphis Commercial Appeal reported in their Friday editions that Grizzlies general manager Chris Wallace isn't willing to increase a verbal offer that is in the same neighborhood as the Bulls' offer.

The Tribune reported Paxson has offered a five-year deal worth approximately $38 million. It's rare for teams to make a proactive offer for a restricted free agent instead of letting the market dictate his price.

"I felt the area we started talking about was a legitimate, fair offer," Paxson said. "So I never have problems throwing that out there. We're at the stage where we know our young players have value. I just felt it was appropriate to try to work something out. We want him here. He fits in with what we're trying to do."

Indeed, Nocioni, 27, has become a Bulls fan favorite with his manic intensity and floor-burn style.

"He's one of those guys who have helped change a lot of things around here in terms of how we go about business," Paxson said.

The Grizzlies flew to Nocioni's native Argentina to personally woo him. That they didn't follow with a bold offer raised eyebrows.

But Nocioni, who is resting the plantar fasciitis in his right foot, always stated his No. 1 priority was to return to the Bulls.

He got his wish.

[timvp]

[AFBlue]

And the dream dies.....

For now....

[Ariel]

Well then, it seems that the Spurs' plan was so secret, they forgot to let Nocioni in on it.

[AFBlue]

It still appears that the Bulls have interest in Scola, so there's still potential for a deal with the Bulls. Not sure whether that deal includes Nocioni...but it could, right?

Man I'm desperately grasping at straws.....

[BacktoBasics]

I still haven't figured out why people think Scola's rights have value. l hope they do but I'm just not seeing it.

[Bruno]

It still appears that the Bulls have interest in Scola, so there's still potential for a deal with the Bulls. Not sure whether that deal includes Nocioni...but it could, right?

Man I'm desperately grasping at straws.....

Scola to Bulls is still a posibility but Spurs won't get Nocioni.
A trade like Scola for a future first round pick could happen.
Spurs don't really need draft picks but this pick can be used package with expiring contracts in a trade later this summer or at the deadline.

[Hemotivo]

I remember this:
-Wich coincidences have the Spurs and the Argentinian NT?

Pop: Many. Half of the players (laught). I know their game, their coach, and we take some things about his offensive plays. The fact of having Manu and Fabricio favors it. We talk about it. I always liked their style, and his players spirit. Even we wanted bring here several of them, like Alejandro Montecchia.

-Well, now Nocioni is without contract.

Pop: But he is very expensive, right? Anyway we can't talk about this things until 1st of july.

[Marcus Bryant]

Bring in Scola.