Report: Spurs send Rose to Knicks for Nazr Mohammed

[picnroll]

I could care less about Holt Cat et al's wallet

Buy the team and make the moves you want.

[Solid D]

I'm going to miss Malik.

I like the Spurs getting a bigger guy in the pivot. Mohammed is tough and he hits the offensive boards (3+/game). I like the trade. It makes the Spurs better inside. As long as chemistry isn't goofed up, I agree with this trade.

This opens the door for Luis Scola. Scola will be an awesome energy player for the Spurs next season and he won't have to play out of position. The Spurs will be even better, not to mention deeper next season.

The only thing I'm not sure about is Nazr's hands. I just don't know if they are much better than Malik's hands. On this team of passers, good hands and alert players are important attributes.

[TwoHandJam]

I have been saying that to LJ for weeks.

Rasho and Duncan's games don't complement each other. Rasho gets in Duncan's way and defers to him too much. I was trying to think of a way to bring Rasho off the bench. This might be the answer.

I posted a topic devoted to this at least a couple of months ago but it didn't get too much interest.

At the time I said Pop should have even tried Horry starting next to Tim so Rasho could come off the bench. Rasho could still have logged more minutes than Horry but Horry would start and finish games with Tim and he spreads the floor better for Tim.

Now that we have Nazr who can log heavy minutes and plays center, Pop should definitely try this experiment - but not this year as there's no time to integrate him properly as a starter. I'm pretty sure that if Nazr thrives, Pop could give him more time on the floor than Rasho even though Rasho remains a starter for the rest of the season.

[spurster]

Will Scola pan out? I suppose the Spurs are betting that he will, and the Spurs have done pretty well so far bringing in interational players.

[RobinsontoDuncan]

Is Mohammad going to touch the floor once scola gets here?

[ChumpDumper]

Shotblockers can always get minutes on the Spurs.

[whottt]

Shotblockers can always get minutes on the Spurs.

Yeah, and nothing says "shotblocking" like a career average of .66 blocks per game...

Horry is a better shotblocker.

[ChumpDumper]

Horry is a better shotblocker.

Than Malik too. This should explain some things to you.

Are you saying Nazr is not a shotblocker or just being a contrarian pussy as always?

And it's never about the numbers with you, right?

[Solid D]

Shot blocking isn't what is impressive with Mohammed. It is Offensive rebounds...but then again, that was Malik's forte also. They rank almost dead even per 48 minutes.

Mohammed is just taller on opposing centers and a more imposing lane presence.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Nazr's avering .98 blocks per game this year. Rose is avering .14. The math isn't very difficult on that one.

[ChumpDumper]

Anyone capable of an 8-block game this season is a shotblocker in my book, especially in the Spurs defense.

But it's just a number.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

I like this trade if for no other reason than Nazr is athletic and he's an honest 6'10", instead of our "Texas 6'8" " Rose (who is really more like 6'4" or so).

[whottt]

Than Malik too. This should explain some things to you.

I don't recall ever claiming Malik was a shotblocker...although I have seen him get blocks against both Yao and Bradley.

Are you saying Nazr is not a shotblocker or just being a contrarian pussy as always?

He's not that good of a shotblocker...and I'm not being contrarian, I'm telling the truth.

He's not that good of a shotblocker...he's better than Malik but not as good as Rasho.

And it's never about the numbers with you, right?

Not true, ...the numbers do matter, just not all the time, and it depends on the players, and some numbers matter more than others, and the way and situation in which they are attained is just as important...

Blocked shots are a pretty honest stat...and they tend to be an accurate indicator of ability regardless of surrounding cast.

Rebounding and PPG are not really honest stats...they are heavily influenced by supporting cast and coaching philosophy, etc.

It's best to leave this sort of thing up to the experts...I don't talk to you about the cap now do I?

I'll let you know when the numbers matter.

In this case they do.

[ChumpDumper]

He's not that good of a shotblocker.

So you saying he's a shotblocker.

the numbers do matter, just not all the time

Only when you want them to, you hypocritical twerp. I'll tell you when they matter.

It's best to leave this sort of thing up to the experts

"the Spurs pick up a shot-blocker"

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ers/index.html

[dcole50]

Mohammed is a ing scrub, nothing more than lethargically gained stats. Malik was much more than that and his feistiness will be missed in the playoffs.

I see why the Spurs did it, but it's not really a good trade for the purposes of winning a le. Malik would have helped us more.

Mohammed does nothing, absolutely nothing to improve our le chances this year.

There's a reason the Knicks suck...

it's not mohammed's fault. the problem is their "star" is marbury who is a shoot first point guard that shoots a low percentage and is horribly overrated.

[whottt]

So you saying he's a shotblocker.

Just barely. He's not the second coming of Mark Eaton or anything. Rasho is better and IMO Horry would be better if getting the same minutes.

He's averaged 2 tenths of a block more for his career than Malik, in 2 more minutes per game.

Only when you want them to, you hypocritical twerp.

No...PPG and RBG usually don't matter as much as people try and make them matter...they really don't matter when those numbers are put up on ty teams.

Someone is going to put up numbers on a ty team...a guy can be a very substandard player and still put up what appear to be good rebounding and PPG totals, if he is starting or getting minutes on a ty team.

I'll tell you right now...this guy is not as good of a center as Rasho.

I'll tell you when they matter.

You'd best not...Hedo...Charlie.

[ChumpDumper]

Just barely. He's not the second coming of Mark Eaton or anything.

Not my claim.

I'll tell you right now...this guy is not as good of a center as Rasho.

Beat you to that one.

You'd best not...Hedo...Charlie.

Heal.

[whottt]

I like this trade if for no other reason than Nazr is athletic and he's an honest 6'10", instead of our "Texas 6'8" " Rose (who is really more like 6'4" or so).

Aggie...you'd like this trade if it was for Alfedrick Hughes as long as Malik was the one getting run.

Who do you think you're kidding?

[whottt]

Not my claim.Beat you to that one. Heal.

Hedo - got a chance and choked
Charlie - got a chance and sucked and choked
Heal - got no chance and was waived

Note the difference.

[ChumpDumper]

Heal got all the chance he deserved. He wouldn't have made it through preseason if not for the injuries. Period. You can now argue in reverse for the rest of your life about Malik now too.

Be happy.

[RobinsontoDuncan]

Um....Rasho is going to start for the rest of the season if for no other reason than he knows Pop's system, we're getting way ahead of ourselves to say Nazr is better. I think T Park might be right when he says that Rasho off the bench will play better because raho always plays better without duncan in the line up, but no i dont think Nazr is better because I think Rasho is an excellent defensive big.

[ChumpDumper]

we're getting way ahead of ourselves to say Nazr is better.

we would if anyone actually said it.

[RobinsontoDuncan]

my mistake i misread your reply to whottt

[indianspur]

We should trust pop and rc......then made SA into a genuine franchise.....nazr now plays on a chaimpionship team.....winning is the greatest motivation of all.....
Rasho - Nazr
TD - Horry - Tmass
Bowen - Brown
Manu - Barry
Parker - Beno - Wilks

This looks like a great team to me.....

SA is all about winning

[Supergirl]

I'd like to hear Duncan's comments about this trade if he makes any publicly. Kori, will you post them if you hear anything? He might be too classy to say anything, as much as he loves Malik he's also loyal to Pop.

I think the trade is good for us in some ways - Nazr is taller and a a good rebounder and shot blocker. He'll fill in nicely for Malik, provided he settles in OK. I worry about this. The Spurs don't make midseason trades much, and they were playing so well I worry their chemistry will be disrupted.

Mostly though, I'm sad. Like a lot of people have said, Malik was a great guy. Personally, he and Manu have been my favorite players the last few years. I will miss him. Maybe he'll wind up back here somehow, someday. I hope he tears it up in NY.

[Spurs_rock05]

this go to my man our best friend Malik J. Rose whom i love very much

Thank you for these great 7 1/2 years
thank you for being our friend for being there for you ex-team
i will never forget the dunk you did over DM and the block you did over him last night atleast you left a winner with last night i will miss you very much i will watch your every game with the knicks
if i could turn back time Malik i would just to make sure that the phone call never would be recieved today
i cried with you on tv and since i saw the news
Malik you are the best and i hope you return next season as a spur
the next time i go to the sbc center i will miss you not being there
and Malik i just bought tickets for the march 21 game in NYC i will have to fly but i don't care.
Oh Malik if i could hug you now and tell you i will love you and the spurs i would you brought laughter to the game you were a spiritual leader with a gift from God
and i know that God will bring you back to SA as a player again because i know he listens
Malik i will miss you cheering on the team from the bench
i wiil miss alot of things you did with the spurs
i remember in june i was there on the river walk you were smiling and so happy
and it breaks my heart to see you leave like this.
and i hope that everything goes well for but don't forget us.
Malik i love and will miss you but i know deep down inside you're still a spur
and i just hope that you remember us daily like i will remember you.