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I think the management is willing to gamble ...
that the Thunder won't shoot that well.
They did target Lorbek, he was simply too good this year and commanding money they couldn't offer him.
Looking retrospectively, the year to bring in Lorbek was 2011. Time to move on.
I think the management is willing to gamble ...
that the Thunder won't shoot that well.
But it's the same thing either way, really. Until they find a trade they can make, they have to keep the team together and move forward. If there is no trade to make, they have to play out the string with what they have.
I can't imagine that RC was under any illusions last year about RJ, yet they went through the season with RJ because he's who they had. When a deal was a possibility, they traded him. I expect things with Bonner will go the same way until/unless an opportunity presents itself.
They didn't want Lorbek. If they wanted him bad enough he would be on the team.
They flat out told him that they were looking in another direction for a different type of frontline player. That holds more credibility than what RC said, that the team is all set with the frontline as it is.
That gamble worked out quite well in the WCF's.
Great read. Thanks timvp
Great read.
The best part is Tim's.
Legendary.
Agreed. In addition, even if Blair has actually asked for a trade, the Spurs probably wouldn't say that publicly, and would tell Blair to keep it under his hat so that they could have some negotiating leverage. Point out how great Bonner and Blair are, and someone might want to throw money at them.
First of all, they're not a team with needs, at least not positionally. Second of all, no offense, but this is cliche nonsense. The reality is, every team around the league is acutely aware of all of the other teams situations. You don't think the other 29 teams don't know that the Spurs would like to move Blair and that Blair wouldn't mind being moved, but that they're not exactly desperate to move him? I realize they would never admit to this, but even if they did, it wouldn't change a thing.
timvp, I disagree about room for internal improvement. Not that there's none, but in short order, this team has quickly shifted more towards older and athletically deficient again. They're not back to '08 levels in those respects, but the rotation does consist of six players on the wrong side of 30 and of the four under 30, only Leonard would seem to have the potential for significant improvement. Splitter, Green and Mills, could improve, but probably no more than incrementally. Joseph and Denmon are irrelevant, as neither has a shot at being in the rotation (barring injuries, of course). Blair is 50/50 to return, but again, barring injury, won't be in the rotation either way and Neal is a virtual lock to be traded.
This is not like the past few summers, when significant internal improvement was a strong possibility. Hoping for/expecting that is akin to thinking the defense will significantly improve with more practice time. As we saw in the playoffs and have seen time and time again in recent seasons, that's fools gold. Teams that defend well are teams that either have an elite defensive anchor who can log major minutes, a lot of plus defenders or both. This team has neither. The same logic applies here. Teams with room for significant internal improvement either underachieved for whatever reason(s) the previous season, have a lot of young players with a lot of room for growth or both. Again, this team has neither.
Speaking of Bonner and amnesty, today would be the day to do it if the Spurs were going to pull the trigger. If they waited any longer, the teams looking to claim a cheap bigman will have already used their money on Brand, Scola, Darko or Haywood.
Too bad it's a pipe dream, though.
If I've well understood the amnesty process ( http://www.cbafaq.com/salarycap.htm#Q67 ) saying money through a Bonner amnesty will be hard to do for Spurs.
The last year of Bonner's contract is only $1M guaranteed with a $4M salary. If a team claim Bonner for $4M ($2M per year), then amnestying Bonner will only save $1M to Spurs.
Unless Spurs do a trade that push them above the tax, there are very little financial incentives of amnestying Bonner now. Even if Pop hated him, keeping him would be the right move to do because his contract could eb a nice trade asset next June.
again bonner doesnt make enough to be worth cutting not gonna happen
We have a good team but to win the ring we need a tough center and someone who can score by either taking the ball to the rim or making a three pointer....The opposite of Boner....
Look for Bonner to be used in a midseason trade some time in January.
tbh, if they were really looking at Lorbek and shopping Blair, I can't think they're necessarily happy with the frontcourt... I don't expect RC to go out there and say it either...
It's not like the Spurs have no time to make trades.
Bonner is good in the regular season but shrinks in the playoffs, as we all know. That means Pop has time to make him produce threes to win season games while at the same time tracking prospect bigs to replace him.
I also think that the Spurs might see Ajinca as that surprise player that can get signed for the minimum.
I learned he is still on the juice just from that.
Great read, thanks. I'm somewhat thinking he's speaking in GM talk and has different motives in a CIA sense.. We will see, but shopping the bargain bin seems to be the ultimate plan in terms of adding any more depth to this team. We think KL played a big role as a rookie this season, just wait.. This team should be hungry and ready to go back to war.
Sounds like the fat cat is full.
God Damn, that was enjoyable to read Timvp!!!
My opinion is, if the Spurs are to have any shot whatsoever at a le, they have to give Splitter about 30 minutes a game. Like him, hate him, whatever. We are only going as far as our big men can take us. We know what Tim, Diaw, and Blair can offer. We don't really know all Splitter can bring. He has room to grow and if Pop is wise he will explore his abilities more and pair him with Duncan.
#6 ..in other words, we can't afford another good player at PF or Center so were stuck with the average bench players we have now so let's have fun making the 2nd round of the playoffs this year, maybe even the WCF, before we are sent home again. Oh well.
Last edited by BatManu20; 07-12-2012 at 11:16 PM.
The thing with RJ is that the previous summer there were rumors that the Spurs were trying hard to package him with offers they received for Parker. So you knew they were looking to get rid of him. After the amnesty was announced in the new CBA, the Spurs using it on RJ was another rumor ongoing until the season started.
Other than shopping Blair, you don't really hear anything about the Spurs trying to move Bonner. I really think they're in love with him. Carcass of Michael Finley kind of love.
Well done, LJ! Having seen the video prior to reading this recap, it matches up well quite accurately.
Possibility? Matt has been anesthetized since May.
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