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Who is David Thorpe and has he actually seen the two players?
Cash IZ Clay (S.A.): Give us Spurs fans some information on our future, what do you think of Spur prospects Ian Manihimi and Tiago Splitter? Are these guys rotation players next season? I am hopeful that they are ready to take a role similiar to what Detroit is doing this season with Jason Maxiwell and Amir Johnson. What do you think Thorpe?
David Thorpe: Ian looks like he has mega-talent. Not as high on Tiago.
Who is David Thorpe and has he actually seen the two players?
lol mega-talent
Thorpe is a good guy and shouldn't be dismissed. It's encouraging to hear his high praise of Ian.
He coaches players in the off-season...
Basically sounds like he hasnt ever seen Splitter....
Ian looks like he has mega-talent. Not as high on Tiago.
Actually, I would think that Tiago is considered more talented basketball-wise while Ian is more athletic.
and you know this because you seen tiago play ?
I'm guessing Thorpe couldn't pick Mahinmi out of a photo lineup. I'd be pretty surprised if he's seen him play. Hopefully I'm wrong. Although, I've never been too impressed with his scouting reports on players. He was hyping up Joakim Noah as the second coming of Wilt Chamberlain before the draft. He also said Zabian Dowdell or whatever his name was would be picked in the first round.
I'm guessing Thorpe couldn't pick Mahinmi out of a photo lineup.
thorpe's a good guy, but he's clearly biased towards the guys he's worked with, plus you get the feeling that he doesn't really do much research regarding the guys he hasn't.
ploto is right for once... Tiago is far more skilled but i guess physical gifts count as talent also.
Ian looks like hes grown to about 7'0" in Bruno's photo of him with Bruce.
Tiago is also 7'0" in shoes ... so that combination with his skills and IQ should translate well in the league i would think
LOL OVERHYPED HOAKIE
-Mars
HAHA yes. But hey Mahinmi probably is a mega-talent...at chess or something.
Mahinmi will be good, tiago better.
Simple as that.
Ian definitely has an NBA body and serious raw athleticism. I love his potential. I love Splitter's at ude and scrappiness and love him on the Brazilian national team. How he will translate into an NBA talent is another story. I'm holding high hopes, obviously, but really have no clue if he'll be good or bad. I think his will to win and work ethic will give him a good shot. Also, being young with some size helps. One thing to take into consideration is that he's been playing pro ball since he was 15, so I'm wondering if he might have some wear and tear, but then I temper that comment with the fact that no league imposes wear and tear like the 82 game NBA grind, not including playoffs.
if only ian had the mental capacity like d12, working your ass off in the offseason, putting on muscle = MONSTA
So can we expect to see these guys on the team next year, or one of them at least. It be nice to infuse some young talent now that can learn from our veterans.
I think Tiago could be a real contributor next season. Ian will take a couple more years but ultimately has a higher ceiling.
When I see his improvment rate, I am convinced Ian has this mental capacity (but I am not sure Ian should try to emulate D12).
This picture is old (summer 2005).
Mahinmi was 6'10.3" without shoes last year.
Splitter has been measured at 6'10.25" without shoes in 2004 (6'11.75" in shoes). Maybe he has has grown a little since that.
Unlike most athletic seven footer, Mahinmi has some nice skills. When you consider Mahinmi's size, freakish athleticism, skills, improvements and at ude, you can be really optimistic about him. Saying that, it's "only" the D-League and the road is still long.
I Agree.
Tiago could put a Scola next year, taking a starting job by the end of the season if he gets the system.
I'd also take next year to put Ian in the roster and make him learn the NBA.
The good thing is that spurs have two young promising big men at the same time.
It could create emulation and stimulation between them and take some pressure off if one is struggling. Hopefully, both won't.
Shouldn't "mega-talent" be reserved for those players that are at least capable of coming right out of high school into the... D-League? I mean, a couple of years of Euro-pro ball, then the D-league. I'd call him a mega-project.
Ian came right into the NBA and had the best efficiency/min
Hollinger could probably make a case for Ian as 2008 MVP
This thread is much ado about nothing, but I had an exchange with Thorpe a few months back. He has seen Mahinmi play and he rated him alongside or in front of notable guys with whom he has/is working.
Thorpe typically categorizes guys in terms of talent (raw ability), skills (applied, refined talent) intelligence and intangibles (heart, work ethic, decent citizen, etc...). He'll often say something along the line of "so and so is very talented, but not very skilled..." So when he says that Mahinmi is a "mega-talent" this does not necessarily mean that he has arrived. It just means that he has the giftedness needed to succeed.
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