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I wonder if the Spurs made that 3 year, $12 mil offer to Udoka.
Thanks be to God that they didn't land Johnson for more than 3 years, $11 mil. At least it doesn't get any worse.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...e.35d9aa1.html
Spurs find spot for Scola, Butler — Houston
Web Posted: 07/12/2007 10:51 PM CDT
Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News
Ending a five-year relationship with Luis Scola, during which his agent once famously declared the Argentine forward was being held prisoner in the "country of liberty," the Spurs finally found a home for him, about 200 miles from their own.
The Spurs traded Scola's draft rights and center Jackie Butler to the Houston Rockets on Thursday evening for guard Vassilis Spanoulis, a 2009 second-round pick and cash.
A 2002 second-round draft pick of the Spurs, Scola has been playing for Spanish team Tau Ceramica, where he is generally regarded as one of the best players in Europe. The Spurs had hoped to sign him two years ago, but his buyout was too large, so they instead opted to bring over his friend and countryman, center Fabricio Oberto.
The Spurs had since fielded offers for Scola, but didn't find anything to their liking until this week. A year ago, Scola's agent accused the Spurs of preventing his client from reaching the NBA, saying "in the country of liberty, he is being held prisoner."
"As an organization, we felt responsible to allow Luis to pursue his dream of the NBA," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said, "and this was the best opportunity to realize his value."
While the trade potentially landed Houston a starting power forward, it did little for the Spurs other than reduce their payroll and open up a roster spot. The trade removed the $2.4 million Butler was due to make this season, and the Spurs also might not have to pay Spanoulis the $1.9 million he is slated to earn.
After playing sparingly last season, Spanoulis had already told the Rockets he wanted to return to Greece. The trade isn't expected to make him change his mind: Two weeks ago, his agent, Miodrag Raznatovic, said, "They could trade him to San Antonio and he could be the starting point guard, and he would say, 'No, I cannot.'"
If the Spurs have to pay all or part of Spanoulis' salary, it will be offset by the cash the Rockets included in the deal.
The Spurs didn't think they would have room for Scola even after next season because they plan on signing one of his teammates on Tau Ceramica, forward Tiago Splitter, their first-round draft pick in June. They also are re-signing Oberto.
Butler signed with the Spurs a year ago, but rarely played after reporting out of shape. Though he has shown improvement and is just 22 years old, team officials questioned whether he would ever be successful playing in their defensive system, which requires their big men to make reads and communicate with teammates.
"With our roster intact, it would appear unlikely that neither (Butler nor Scola) would impact our rotation," Buford said.
The Spurs had hoped to trade Scola outside their division and were close to sending him to Cleveland, but a three-team deal that would have sent Butler to Sacramento fell apart. A potential trade to send Butler to New Jersey also didn't materialize, so the Spurs decided to package Scola with him.
The Spurs re-signed two of their own free agents Thursday, solidifying deals with forward Matt Bonner (three years, $9 million) and Jacque Vaughn (two years, $2.5 million). They had hoped to also sign Detroit forward Amir Johnson to an offer sheet, but he agreed to take less money (three years, $11 million) to stay with the Pistons.
Buford wouldn't comment on whether trading Butler increased the odds the Spurs will sign Ian Mahinmi, their 2005 first-round pick, except to say, the trade "gives us roster options."
With Johnson off the market, the Spurs could turn their attention to Portland free-agent swingman Ime Udoka. Udoka, who turns 30 in August, averaged 8.4 points and 3.7 rebounds while starting 75 games for Trail Blazers.
Udoka is a rugged defender and a dependable 3-point shooter, skills he shares in common with Bruce Bowen, the player he would most likely back up.
Last edited by Marcus Bryant; 07-12-2007 at 11:15 PM.
I wonder if the Spurs made that 3 year, $12 mil offer to Udoka.
Thanks be to God that they didn't land Johnson for more than 3 years, $11 mil. At least it doesn't get any worse.
They better have.
That would have been another awful move. Udoka at that kind of money will also be a bad move.
Do you really believe what it says about Johnson- after the fact.
Nah, has played a full season and fits in very well with the Spurs' defensive scheme.
Even the Spurs have trouble twisting this trade in their favor
Props to Kori for the Amir Johnson call. That's who she wanted the Spurs to go after and I guess the Spurs did.
My realistic first option this summer was Udoka. We'll see if that goes anywhere.
Still a horrible trade but the Spurs can make it palatable if they go out and bring in another player.
All in all I had the spirit of the article right...
Spurs take advantage of Houston desperation, pick up future picks for bench fodder
by Johnny Ludden
San Antonio - Just two days after another lackluster summer league performance, Jackie Butler was packaged with the rights to Luis Scola in an I-10 deal that netted the Spurs what will undoubtedly be a high future second round draft pick and monetary considerations with the Houston Rockets.
Butler, whose offense in the Las Vegas Summer League overshadowed his poor defensive showings and lack of defense and certainly bulging waist line, willl serve as a backup to the slow-footed Yao Ming. It also rids the Spurs of what some insiders considered a locker room problem that manifested itself in complaints of not enough playing time in favor of his Spanish speaking front court compadres.
Scola's insistence on a long term deal starting at the mid-level exception, and stubborn refusal to join the Spurs for off-season workouts in San Antonio in favor of a relaxed off-season at home in Argentina, cemented his place in the deal.
In exchange, the Spurs receive a 2009 future draft pick and Vincent Spanoullis from the Houston Rockets. Spanoullis isn't expected to return to the states to play in the NBA, and the Spurs hope to negotiate a buyout of his contract in order to create enough cap room to use their midlevel exception.
With the exception, the Spurs hope to acquire the rights to one of Golden State's plethora of available wings - Mickael Petrus or Matt Barnes - though both are expected to command contracts above what the Spurs are able to offer.
If those opportunities fall through, look for the Spurs to sign 2006 first round pick Ian Mahimi and bring him over to work with their newly acquired Toros NBDL franchise, or call it an off-season and prepare to defend their crown with the same lineup that dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers 4-0 while earning the franchise le number four.
I'd be okay with Udoka, but he doesn't fill a need, he's way too small for a solution SF, and he's too old for a long contract.
3 years isn't too long for a 30 year old. Height isn't everything. Bowen's the same height and that hasn't held him back. Udoka would at least salvage something out of this offseason.
But why do we need Udoka? Where does he play? Whose minutes does he take?
Because Bowen is 47 years old and not under contract after the 2007-08 season.
Swingman rotation. Takes the opponents' best perimeter option on the floor on D. Corner 3. You know the drill.Where does he play?
Barry's. A little of Finley's. Manu's at 27.5 minutes a night and Bowen's at 30. That leaves 40 minutes a night at the 2/3 for someone else.Whose minutes does he take?
Bringing in Udoka would hopefully be followed by trading Barry somewhere for even more help.
Um, okay. I find it hard to believe the Spurs will go out and sign Udoka since they piss themselves with fear at the luxury tax so much.
If the Spurs have any hope of keeping the current defensive system in place they need a guy like Udoka to pick up the reigns after Bowen goes to the place where DRob went.
Barry? Hopefully the Spurs don't pass on a possible Bowen successor for Barry.
Udoka would be nice. But then again, the Spurs always love to put out that glimmer of hope to throw you off the fact that they just made a move for purely monetary reasons. I doubt they went after Amir Johnson. I doubt they really go after Udoka.
They just shedded Butler's salary and if they can at least scare a Greek then they will have pocketed his salary in cash too.
I've realized this is all prelude to signing Elton Brand next summer. Without this deal it wouldn't have happened, so now I'm pretty stoked about it. Don't ask me to explain how it works.
UDOKA , hmmm
maybe
Udoka is pretty much the perfect Bowen replacement (with the caveat being you have to spend $3-4M on the player).
He's the same age Bowen was when Bowen came to the Spurs. Shoots most of his shots from the corner and is good at doing so. He's shorter than Bowen, but he's also thicker. He's a better scorer and rebounder, but obviously isn't as good of a defender.
It is almost scary how much Udoka's situation looks like Bowen's situation before Bowen joined the Spurs.
'
Elton Brand as a spurs would be amazing next to Duncan wow.
How does it work?
Yep, they're running this one by the Spurs front office off-season playbook.
The Spurs must know that Scola isn't NBA material, or this deal doesn't make much sense, does it? Wouldn't it be better to just hang on to him, since we got close to zilch in return?While the trade potentially landed Houston a starting power forward...
Kinda dissappointing to say the least.
The Holt Cat 2007-08 San Antonio Spurs
1st Team.. 2nd Team .. Sport Coat Rotation
Oberto..........Elson........Mahinmi
Duncan.........Horry........Bonner
Bowen...........Barry.........? ? ?
Finley............Ginobili.......Barry
Parker...........Vaughn......Udrih
Udoka is only 6'5, hardly Bowen's replacement. He cant play the 3 unless the other 3 is small.
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