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I think Nichols has the potential to become a prolific scorer, but haven't heard much about his D. If he gets waived I wouldn't mind seeing the Spurs use that 15th roster spot to see what he can do.
This guy seems pretty popular around here...my question is if we could, should we take a flyer on him, or is it more realistic that he wont get any playing time & we should keep our roster at 14 in case of a trade?
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CLEVELAND - Will Demetris Nichols wind up being the one that got away from the Knicks?
Yes, according to the former Syracuse star, who was cut by the Knicks last week and picked up by the Cavaliers earlier this week.
"I'm not showing it right now, but I have a lot of fire in me," said Nichols, who was on the inactive list for Friday's game. "I know when I do get my chance, you're definitely going to remember my name."
Nichols, a second-round pick by Portland, was acquired by the Knicks on draft night with the intention of sending him to Europe for a year to develop while they retained his rights. But he had no interest in going overseas and the Knicks had no room on their veteran-laden roster for another rookie.
Nichols, who saw very little time in preseason games, asked the Knicks several times to release him so he could try out with another NBA team. But the Knicks held on to him until the final week of camp. "They could have released me earlier," Nichols said.
He said he still has respect for Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, but some disappointment was evident in his voice. "I could have been that guy that can make a difference," Nichols said, "but I guess he saw differently. Whatever."
Though the Cavs desperately need offensive help on their weak bench, this might not be Nichols' final stop. GM Danny Ferry still is negotiating with holdout Anderson Varejao; once he's signed, they'll need to waive a player to fit him in the 15-man roster.
I think Nichols has the potential to become a prolific scorer, but haven't heard much about his D. If he gets waived I wouldn't mind seeing the Spurs use that 15th roster spot to see what he can do.
Last I heard, the Cavs and Sideshow Bob were millions apart...per year. I'm not thinking this will be resolved any time soon.
I don't think a trade is very likely at this point. Granted we're just 3 games into the season, but barring an injury - who would we want to pick up? A young wing is the only thing I can think of, so skipping the middle man and signing Demtrius Nichols makes sense to me. I'm sure the Spurs scouted him pretty thoroughly so if they don't at least try to sign him that probably means they don't like what they see.
It would be nice to have him on the team though. Training up a young center, PG, and wing while having one of the deepest teams would be nice.
Varejao won't get his dream contract no doubt about it. He's gonna either have to go back to Europe or accept the Cavs' offer.
Sideshow Bob will cave in shortly, like Pavlovic just did...he will realize that he will NEVER get a $50-60 mil. contract & he will have to settle for something like a 3 year $5-6 mil per deal...which means they will have to make room & the two most likely to go will be Nichols & Shannon Brown(the Cavs didn't pick up his option).
Our team is starting to shape up quite well for the future now. With installments of youth in the post (Splitter, Mahinmi, Bonner) and at the point (Washington) we look formidable moving forward. However, the average age on the wings is not promising down the line. Finley and Barry will most likely be gone at the end of the season. While we will retain Ginobili, Bowen and Udoka we are losing two of our most prolific shooters.
So, while we might argue Nichols' defensive capabilities, I tend to think that they don't matter as much as we attest. Nichols can shoot, and that is what we need to replace is shooting. Finley is not a good defender, and Barry is horrible. If Nichols is better than either of these players then his defensive ability is probably adequate. If hes better....then we do quite well indeed. But what matters is his shooting. We will need it to space the floor for Duncan and to keep defenses honest; daring them to either double off of our players (leaving them open for wide open 3 pointers usually) or take Duncan one on one. Pick your poison.
So if Nichols can shoot lights out (as I've heard he does but cannot personally comment on) and plays defense better than your average Phoenix Sun then I say sign him up.
Addngn Nichols as the 15th would be a definite plus to give him a whirl. My understanding is that he'd push us over the lux tax.
The way I look at it is this: the guy probably signed a non-guaranteed contract. If he is waived then we simply pick him up on waivers and give him a look. If we give it the old college try and he sucks then we waive him in a few months and save cash. But if we think he could be worth keeping and worth the lux tax then we pay it. But if the guy could fill a need down the line then hes probably worth a couple extra mil this season. While he will cost us some extra jack this year, his cheap contract will likely save us money next year.
Of course, if we bring him in and he sucks then we need to cut our ties. And if the front office already thinks that he'll suck then I defer to their judgement in the manner. But from the scouting reports he looks to be a solid prospect.
I think Nichols is a little too one-dimensional for the Spurs to think about busting the tax threshold again for a guy like him at this point. 23 teams passed him up on the waiver wire before the Cavs, and the Cavs were desperate. Maybe Utah was hoping he'd fall to them, but I don't think anyone else had the room or the inclination. Nichols might have to prove himself in the D-League if he gets waived again.
While I'd like to find a nice wing prospect to allocate to that 15th spot, I also like the flexibility its vacancy affords us. With an obvious interest in the D-League going forward we are positioned nicely to pluck out the rising stars of that system. Considering this team has 4 undrafted players in the rotation (2 of which are starting) it not only seems plausible but downright likely. It fits our work-man culture like a glove.
If the front office thinks Nichols is a quality prospect that fits our specific needs then I think we should scoop him up regardless of the lux tax implications. But if they don't think so highly of him and would rather bide their time and wait for a standout D-League player then I can wait as well. The way Chump tells it we might have one in Austin already in Justin Bowen.
So do your thing front office. I won't get upset...at least not until march or april if we still haven't filled the spot.
I don't have great illusions that Nichols is the answer but if he didn't cost the luxury tax, it'd be worth a short look. But Chump is right - he literally does nothing else in terms of stats other than hit shots.
He's also said some dumb things about getting cut by New York. 'I'll make them pay' kinds of stuff. Son, it's a business and so far you're nobody. No one owes you a damn thing.
Well, if anyone comes up on the D-League radar, the Spurs will be all over it. They are very keen to make the Toros work for them. They've pretty much tripled Austin's basketball operations personnel, and you can bet they were behind the rule change that allowed teams to put waived second rounders on their D-League affiliates.
Too bad they didn't buy the team two years ago and could've had Aubuike onto the team.They've pretty much tripled Austin's basketball operations personnel
D League graduate who dropped 31 last night
33 actually.Too bad they didn't buy the team two years ago and could've had Aubuike onto the team.
D League graduate who dropped 31 last night
FG: 12-17
3pt: 2-3
FT: 7-7
Pts: 33
Rbd: 8
Asst: 2
Stl: 1
Blk: 1
And his name is Kelenna Azubuike
Spurs can claim Nichols from waivers and stay under the tax threshold. Nichols has signed as a draft pick with Knicks and if you claim him from waivers he is still considered as a draft pick signing and cost less against the luxury tax than a free agent signing.
That must be right.
Still don't see it happening though.
Yeah. Doesn't seem to fit. Just a shooter - we got those - and this at ude thing. Too bad Knicks didn't draft Dom McGuire and then cut him instead.
I don't mind guys with chips on their shoulders. I guess the big question is whether the Spurs think he is trainable to be something other than just a shooter. Obviously they think Pittsnogle could be, but they are paying him like $20,000 -- not $400,000. They did pass on Nichols once -- it would be interesting to know who their choice if Williams hadn't been on the board.
Probably like Mustafa Shakur. Lute Olsen: "Oh, him? Yeah, um, he's also really great..."
If he's not good enough to make the New York freakin' Knicks, I sure as don't like his chances here.
NY had like 20 people on their roster before making cuts, more than 15 of them were on guaranteed money..Nichols did not have a guaranteed contract, he was not owed any money, it was a no brainer to cut him for NY.
Well, he just got cut too. Of course, he was cut so that they could claim Beno Udrih...so that doesn't look so worthwhile.
Hes probobly better than Beno, Sacramento is just stupid.
Exactly, my point there. If Williams wasn't available, they probably would have drafted another player who didn't work out.Well, he just got cut too. Of course, he was cut so that they could claim Beno Udrih...so that doesn't look so worthwhile.
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