Pro basketball: Stoudamire had eye on Spurs all along
Web Posted: 02/01/2008 12:03 AM CST
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
PHOENIX — Before he had heard the news that Tony Parker's injury would keep the Spurs' two-time All-Star point guard out of action for the next three weeks, Damon Stoudamire had made up his mind: The 13-year veteran would sign a free-agent contract with the Spurs, rather than the Celtics, Raptors or Suns.
Stoudamire, a 5-foot-10 point guard with 13 years in the NBA, will fly to San Antonio today. He said he will sign the contract before the team's practice Saturday, and then work out with his new teammates.
The deal is believed to be a veteran minimum deal, worth a pro-rated portion of $1.219 million for the remainder of the season.
“I'd already decided to sign with the Spurs,” Stoudamire said Thursday, “and then I saw the news about Tony flicker across the bottom of the TV screen on the ticker.”
Stoudamire negotiated a buyout of the remaining two years of his deal with the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday, becoming a free agent after he cleared waivers Thursday.
Nicknamed “Mighty Mouse,” Stoudamire said throughout his career he never dreamed he would have an opportunity to play for the Spurs.
“I always thought how good it would be to play for them,” he said. “No. 1, they're a class organization. No. 2, it's an opportunity for me to kind of help them get back where they had been. It's seldom you get an opportunity to play with an organization that always has a chance to win it all.
“I played a lot of games against them and, from afar, I always felt they were the best.”
Injury report: An MRI exam on Spurs point guard Parker's left ankle revealed no structural damage, ruling out surgery.
Nevertheless, the inflammation in the joint remains a big enough problem that Parker will not make the next phase of the team's long road trip, missing at least six more games, beginning with Tuesday's game at Indiana.
On Thursday, Parker received anti-inflammatory shots designed to decrease the swelling in his ankle.
The pain in the ankle joint first flared up in early December. He missed three games in mid-December, hoping the rest would reduce the inflammation. After he struggled in recent games, Spurs coach Gregg Popovich ordered him to sit out.
No timetable has been set for Parker's return. With the NBA All-Star weekend following the conclusion of the six-game trip Parker will miss, he would have rested the ankle for 22 days if he made his return when the Spurs play the Charlotte Bobcats at AT&T Center on Feb. 19.
“He wants to play, but I don't care,” Popovich said before Thursday's game against the Phoenix Suns. “It's bothering him too much. He's about 60, 70 percent, and that's not good enough. It's not getting better, so he needs to get off of it.”
“There's nothing structural. He doesn't need an operation, or anything like that, but there's stuff going on down there and he needs to rest it.”
No more stars: Neither Parker nor Manu Ginobili was added to the Western Conference All-Star team by the coaches.
“This is the NBA, the Western Conference,” Ginobili said. “I don't have any complaints. The four days off probably will help me.”
It's hard not to like Stoudamire at this point. He's wanted to be a Spur for a long time. Sure he went a bit far in bashing AJ -- but I gotta think he said what he did to try to get on the team, not bash AJ. I'm not sure if he has anything left in the tank but I'll give him a clean slate.
Welcome aboard
Welcome to the Spurs, Stoudamire!
I hope Pop will give him a good amount of minutes.
This Board needs a few more Might Mouse threads. I think I'm gonna start 8.
Why are you so envy, Vinny?
All in all you was not a solution back in a days ...
I've got the same problem."...there's stuff going on down there and he needs to rest it.”
I ing hate Staudamire, he's the guy who ripped AJ, said no team with AJ would ever win the le
rippin AJ....welcome aboard.
Did he really say "i saw it flicker on the ticker"?
I don't really like him either, as a player, and just...he's just blah.I ing hate Staudamire, he's the guy who ripped AJ, said no team with AJ would ever win the le
And it's a no brainer to pick the Spurs over all the other teams in contention. If there was a poll among NBA players, Spurs would probably win by a landslide.
BUT, if he can help us out this season. then fine.
At this point, him getting a ring isn't something I care to celebrate though (if we end up going all the way). It's not like he's Finley or anything.
But who knows, maybe he'll grow on us, and become well-liked.
as long as he contributes to the team in a good way.
I think this is a really big signing for the Spurs. He is gonna be a major contributor.
i wonder if he be in a HEB commercial with the mango trees???
Stoudamire will have some practice time before playing his first game with Spurs. It will help him.
Stoudamire could really help Spurs while Parker is out. If he has still something left in the tank, he will be able to create scoring opportunities for him or for his teammates.
It they can get Avery Johnson a ring, they can damn sure get me one - Damon Stoudamire
Just kidding...although he probably is thinking something along those lines.
I like how he said he's always wanted to play for the Spurs and thought they were the best...except for when he thought that no team with Avery Johnson as it's PG would ever win a le.
Coattailer. Period!
Last edited by whottt; 02-01-2008 at 06:17 AM.
No...I think he legitimately believed no team with Avery Johnson as it's PG would ever win an NBA le. It's not like it took a huge leap of faith to think that....
Welcome aboard
Damon, timvp always loves the new FA...he'll turn on you if you suck though. In fact he'll be the one at the head of the line carrying the pitchfork and lantern.
Might even turn on you if you don't.
You should love him then.
Although you were both wrong . . .
You were the one whining this summer that timvp had become too negative and all timvp did was bash the Spurs and the players. Now you are saying I always love the new FA? Classic.
And yeah, I really loved Francisco Elson, Rasho Nesterovic and your man-crush Shane Heal, among others. When I don't like a new free agent, they end up sucking. Always. When you don't like a new free agent, they win championships.
Oops.
It was about time the Spurs got younger. DS is gonna bring some freshness into the rotation.
Are you being sarcastic? or just wanna be funny?
well, the whole of spursdom are crossing their collective fingers he'll be a good enough stop gap while tony is out.
God...this reminds me of the NVE thing too damned much.
I never liked NVE either.
do you guys think Parker should be shut down until mid march or more if mighty mouse proves he can run the show?
Get over the past......The only people who seem to care what he said years ago are the pansies in here.
Sure, If we get great guard play from EITHER JV or MM, then shelf him and get him healed.
A.S. = physically gifted and mentally challenged.
D.S. = exactly what Spurs need.
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