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Perfect fit, personality wise.
Hill on Spurs' radar, but focus is at home
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The NBA's free-agent market opened today, and, surprisingly enough, Spurs officials insisted they didn't hit the snooze button and roll over.
While the Spurs don't figure to be major players in free agency, they will have some work to do. The team hopes to re-sign its top three free agents — Fabricio Oberto, Jacque Vaughn and Matt Bonner — and all three have indicated they would like to return.
If the Spurs accomplish that goal, they will have 14 players under contract, not including Thursday's second-round pick, Marcus Williams. Teams are limited to carrying 15 once the season begins.
Bruce Bowen and Robert Horry both had their contracts become fully guaranteed today.
The Spurs will still look for ways to enhance their crowded roster and plan to speak with veteran free-agent forward Grant Hill. Hill, who will turn 35 near the start of training camp, hasn't ruled out returning to Orlando, but also has made it clear he would like to play for a championship contender.
Hill averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 30.9 minutes while shooting 51.8 percent in 65 games last season. He has been significantly limited by injuries, playing fewer than 30 games in four of the past six seasons, but likely wouldn't be overworked on a veteran-heavy roster.
Hill is represented by Lon Babby, who also counts Tim Duncan and Bowen among his clients. Hill's longtime shooting coach, Chip Engelland, is on the Spurs' staff.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford made a brief attempt at signing Hill in the summer of 2000 when both he and Duncan were contemplating going to Orlando.
Hill's interest in the Spurs is unclear. The Detroit Pistons, for whom he played for during the first six seasons of his career, and Phoenix Suns will be among his biggest suitors. In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Hill reportedly said he considered the Suns a better fit for him than the Spurs.
The Spurs have the $5 million midlevel exception available to spend on free agents, but they might not want to use all of it considering their payroll could be bumping up against the luxury-tax threshold if they re-sign Oberto, Vaughn and Bonner.
Teams could begin negotiating with free agents at 11 p.m. Saturday, but can't sign them until July 12.
The Spurs have long had interest in Chicago free-agent forward Andres Nocioni, but likely would need a sign-and-trade deal to land him, and the Bulls appear intent on trying to keep him. Golden State swingman Mickael Pietrus could become another target, but the Warriors have the right to match any offer he receives.
The Spurs could open roster spots if they decide to waive James White and trade Beno Udrih or Jackie Butler. Butler and White, whose contract guarantees him only $300,000 if he is on the roster opening night, will have a chance to prove themselves on the Spurs' summer-league team, which begins play Friday in Las Vegas.
Udrih is due $1.7 million in the final season of his contract, and the Spurs tried to trade him at last season's trade deadline and again during Thursday's draft. The team also has continued to solicit offers for the rights to Argentine forward Luis Scola.
Scola is one of the best players in Europe, but the Spurs won't have room for him if they re-sign Oberto. French forward Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' first-round pick in 2005, will accompany the summer-league team to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, but won't play after recently injuring his right shoulder in mini-camp. Unless the Spurs lighten their roster, he, too, could be facing another season in Europe.
Williams is expected to play in Las Vegas. But even if the Spurs sign him just to send him to Austin to play in the developmental league, he will count against one of their 15 roster spots. Melvin Ely, the Spurs' lone remaining free agent, is expected to sign elsewhere.
Notebook: Spurs assistant coach P.J. Carlesimo met with Seattle officials, including owner Clay Bennett, on Friday night regarding the team's head-coaching job. The meeting was Carlesimo's second with the team.
Former Sonics assistant coach Dwane Casey also met with Bennett on Friday. With the Sonics having traded Ray Allen on Thursday — making the core of their roster noticeably younger — Casey may be a more viable candidate than Carlesimo for the job.
The team is expected to make a decision early this week.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...s.3556078.html
Perfect fit, personality wise.
NiceBruce Bowen and Robert Horry both had their contracts become fully guaranteed today.
Eh, I guess Hill wouldn't be horrible. But seeing as there's probably a 90% chance he breaks down by the playoffs, I don't know if it'd be an overly smart move.The Spurs will still look for ways to enhance their crowded roster and plan to speak with veteran free-agent forward Grant Hill.
As expected.The Spurs have the $5 million midlevel exception available to spend on free agents, but they might not want to use all of it considering their payroll could be bumping up against the luxury-tax threshold if they re-sign Oberto, Vaughn and Bonner.
Spurs like Nocioni. Also not a shock.The Spurs have long had interest in Chicago free-agent forward Andres Nocioni, but likely would need a sign-and-trade deal to land him, and the Bulls appear intent on trying to keep him.And they'd probably match what the Spurs would likely offer.Golden State swingman Mickael Pietrus could become another target, but the Warriors have the right to match any offer he receives.
Waive James White? That'd kinda suck, considering how well he played last year after sitting on the bench all season.The Spurs could open roster spots if they decide to waive James White and trade Beno Udrih or Jackie Butler.
Nice to know Butler is officially going to play in summer league. This is setting up to be a nice summer league roster.Butler and White, whose contract guarantees him only $300,000 if he is on the roster opening night, will have a chance to prove themselves on the Spurs' summer-league team, which begins play Friday in Las Vegas.
I wonder if he was part of the package that almost netted them the 16th pick.Udrih is due $1.7 million in the final season of his contract, and the Spurs tried to trade him at last season's trade deadline and again during Thursday's draft.
Nice. Excuses already for not signing Scola. Ludden should just say the Spurs aren't going to pay his buyout.The team also has continued to solicit offers for the rights to Argentine forward Luis Scola. Scola is one of the best players in Europe, but the Spurs won't have room for him if they re-sign Oberto.
Too bad he got injured. Butler, White, Williams and Mahinmi would have been a mean summer league team. The way the roster is shaping up, it looks like it's another year in Europe for Mahinmi.French forward Ian Mahinmi, the Spurs' first-round pick in 2005, will accompany the summer-league team to Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, but won't play after recently injuring his right shoulder in mini-camp. Unless the Spurs lighten their roster, he, too, could be facing another season in Europe.
Yeah that's what I thought. So much for the Toros loophole.Williams is expected to play in Las Vegas. But even if the Spurs sign him just to send him to Austin to play in the developmental league, he will count against one of their 15 roster spots.
He sounds like he's too interested in Detroit and Phoenix to have much attention for San Antonio.
Yeah I'd think that he'd be great on San Antonio. I'm not sure why Phoenix is pursuing him, he'd be awful in our system.
Beno needs to play in summer league. What the could he be up to that'd do more for him than get some exposure in summer league? Vegas and even Salt Lake City have night clubs too, so that shouldn't hold him back.
The Spurs summer league team needs a point guard. I guess Beno thinks he's too good for summer league.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little bit.The Spurs will still look for ways to enhance their crowded roster and plan to speak with veteran free-agent forward Grant Hill. Hill, who will turn 35 near the start of training camp, hasn't ruled out returning to Orlando, but also has made it clear he would like to play for a championship contender.
We need youth and athleticism, we need a Bowen apprentice/future replacement, so let's go out and sign an old er who gets hurt/runs out of gas by the time the regular season is over.
Pop is getting to be as bad as Larry Brown when it comes to veterans vis a vis rookies/young guys. How many more times do we have to watch the Spurs get punked while trying to repeat before they will get a clue?
I'm not too excided about Grant, to say the least.
In a recent interview with ESPN Radio, Hill reportedly said he considered the Suns a better fit for him than the Spurs.The Suns? How does Hill expect to run and gun for 81 regular season games on his ankles?
He's also a bad fit for the Spurs as well, they don't really need another veteran shooter or leader in the locker room....they have Michael Finley for that. Hill also isn't that super of a rebounder or defender so he couldn't be helpful in that area. Detroit is actually a great location for him, seeing as how they desperately need quality leadership there as well as another shooter.
I vaguely remember a qoute about how Hill liked Phoenix due to the relaxed practice schedule. Anyone recall that?
He's also a bad fit for the Spurs as well, they don't really need another veteran shooter or leader in the locker room....they have Michael Finley for that. Hill also isn't that super of a rebounder or defender so he couldn't be helpful in that area. Detroit is actually a great location for him, seeing as how they desperately need quality leadership there as well as another shooter.
Phoenix is only able to offer the veteran minimum.
It says in the article that Grant had said that he prefers Suns, not Spurs. So I'd say that it's unlikely that he'd want to play in San Antonio anyway. So no need for anyone to get too worked up...
Does that apply to draft picks? White technically wasn't a Spurs draft pick. Seems like the NBA would give teams some time to develop some of their drafted prospects in D-League...to make the D-League something they would be inclined to use often...and as a way to get upscale talent in the D-league.
How does Phoenix not have the MLE??
I would not mind signing him if we already did not have 4 or 5 overaged players taking less money to have a limited role and win championships.
People should be getting worked up when this team has some needs to address and instead of doing that they're chasing after a geriatric swing man.
It pretty much says what we have all heard:
If they re-sign the 3 FA's they are at the luxury tax, so anyone they bring in costs double basically. I don't really see the Spurs active much in free agency because they really don't want to spend more money. Apparently this season Scola isn't coming because there is no roster spot for him.
The Spurs really have no assets to trade for anyone valuable if they are dangling Beno and Butler who make a combined $3.7M. One name noticeably absent in this article was Brent.
The one asset they do have they overvalue in trade talks (Scola's rights).
The very good RFA's out there are pretty much all expected to be matched.
I'm still happy we got rid of Rasho.
Yeah, because Rasho being gone means the Spurs will spend lots of money this off-season.
No, don't be silly, it's because he is a stiff
Because, like, the Spurs totally like tell everyone what they're going to do and who they have out for trade offers in the pressIt pretty much says what we have all heard:
If they re-sign the 3 FA's they are at the luxury tax, so anyone they bring in costs double basically. I don't really see the Spurs active much in free agency because they really don't want to spend more money. Apparently this season Scola isn't coming because there is no roster spot for him.
The Spurs really have no assets to trade for anyone valuable if they are dangling Beno and Butler who make a combined $3.7M. One name noticeably absent in this article was Brent.
The one asset they do have they overvalue in trade talks (Scola's rights).
The very good RFA's out there are pretty much all expected to be matched.
Probably has more to do with the fact Rasho sucks.
Im kind of iffy with the Robert Horry thing.... The man is a legend... but still.... Just my personal feeling going into next year. I will need to see that killer instinct "Im going to drive a dagger into you and your going to like it" mentality from robert Horry before I commit to him again. He does it just ONCE and I will be satisfied. I just got a gut feeling he wont do it, I really hope Im wrong.
The guy was a huge reason the Spurs won the ring this year, and you "need to see more"Im kind of iffy with the Robert Horry thing.... The man is a legend... but still.... Just my personal feeling going into next year. I will need to see that killer instinct "Im going to drive a dagger into you and your going to like it" mentality from robert Horry before I commit to him again. He does it just ONCE and I will be satisfied. I just got a gut feeling he wont do it, I really hope Im wrong.
ing unreal.
BTW, Im correct on Nocioni, the Spurs don't give a about him cause they don't want to spend the money.
Great job Spurs
Good news, I hope Spurs and Bulls will be able to get a deal done.The Spurs have long had interest in Chicago free-agent forward Andres Nocioni, but likely would need a sign-and-trade deal to land him
Bad news.and the Bulls appear intent on trying to keep him.
Last edited by Bruno; 07-01-2007 at 02:41 AM.
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