2010 Free Agent: Ian Mahinmi

[xellos88330]

I want the Spurs to sign Mahinmi again. Then I want Pop to tell him to go with chip and develop a consistent 10-15 ft jumper. If he can develop that, he will be able to face up stronger bigs, and then put weaker/smaller bigs on the block.

This would create all sorts of options for him in the rotation. He would also be able to play with Duncan/Blair/Splitter? without causing overcrowding under the basket.

[AFBlue]

Trading McDyess won't be easy at all. With his 2010-2011 salary, the guaranteed part of his 2011-2012 salary and his trade kicker, he will cost $8.25M to the other team. $8.25M for one year of a 36 year old McDyess is a lot of money. I don't see a lot of teams ready to spend that.

And if Spurs trade McDyess, they will have to take back contracts. If Spurs trade McDyess and re-sign Bonner, it will push Spurs deeper in the luxury tax area and cost a lot of money to Spurs.

All in all, a McDyess trade is unlikely to happen.

See your point...and completely agree. I also didn't know about the trade kicker. Thanks Bruno!

[objective]

I was always a big proponent of giving Mahinmi time just to see what they had.

At the close of the season, I have to say I'm convinced he's an NBA player, not just an NBA caliber athlete. He gets it. Yes he has foul problems, but that's common with big men short on NBA minutes. Just watch the way he seals guys to open layup lanes for his teammates. He did it for Temple after Temples block and even though Temple missed the gimme, he had it because of Mahinmi. Ian did the same thing in the Houston game freeing up Jefferson for two layups and I remember being so happy.

Because it's the little things like that which make an NBA player legit. That's beyond Stromile. The help defense, how he plays pick-n-rolls, everything, he's actually a guy with at least a decent basketabll IQ.

If a GM out there is smart enough he'll sign Ian and make sure he gets legit opportunities to play. He absolutely is legit starting-material big-man if he overcomes the fouls and turnovers, something that's reasonable.

I'm reminded with Ian how Robin Lopez has pretty much become the key to the Suns season. He was a foul-monster who couldn't get any court time, wasn't trusted, looked awkward, looked stiff, etc etc. But he had a coach who saw that it was worth the risk to give him the time, and now he's progressed so much that PHX area media don't think the Suns can make it out of the first round without a healthy Lopez. He's that important to their defense and rebounding. Yes, they had a decent record with Frye starting, but their team chances went way up with Lopez.

I hope Ian finds a team that will give him that chance, because I believe he'll deliver.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

He's gonna find his place in the league. He has all the tools, and he showed off his talent in the little times that he received. Hopefully it's with the Spurs.

[exstatic]

I also don't think the shooting big is a dogma for Pop. Pop's dogma rather is to have as many players as possible, who can shoot a 3 on a somehow efficient ratio. so a big, who can hit the 3 might get some Brownie points on Pop's scale another coach wouldn't count, but if the price is to high (or the minus points to many) they go without the shooting big.
however, agree that interior defense (including defending bigs who step out to the perimeter) looks more urgent right now. Blair will get better, but there is no guarantee that he develops significantly in this area over the summer (although this will be the priority for his coaching plan). Splitter is a question mark, none can tell how he will do against NBA bigs. (IMO he will be at least a decent interior defender in the NBA once he acclimated)
but Ian also wouldn't change this outlook.

We signed Robert Horry in the summer of 2003, and have had a 3 point shooting big ever since getting rotation if not starting minutes. The downward trending of Spurs defense began in 2000 with the hand check rules, and picked up speed when DRob retired in 2003. I think that Pop realized that our offense had to be SUPER efficient, and that meant spacing the floor with all other players, including the other big. It's not enough to JUST space the floor, however. You have to punish the other teams for straying into the paint. The way that you do that is efficient 3 point shooting. If you get someone like Bonner shooting 40% beyond the arc, that makes his EFFECTIVE FG% 60%, since he scores 120 points on 100 shots, just like a big banging in the paint shooting a 60% FG rate. Bonner draws the other big WAY out of the paint, leaving just one big to guard the rim against Tim, Tony, AND Manu.

I think they'll re-sign Bonner. If they sign Splitter, Ian is history.

[SPURSCHAMP]

i like ian and want the FO to resign, i think he's productive when he gets minutes, one question though, how come commentators prononce his name yawn and not eeeeean

[angelbelow]

What are the chances of us keeping Ian? What type of contract do you guys think he deserves and what type of contract to you think he can pony up given his potential?

[lurker23]

My guess is that the Spurs make a small offer. He rejects. Spurs sign Gist and Splitter, so their front line looks like

Duncan/McDyess/Blair/Gist/Splitter

More likely to re-sign with the Spurs is Matt Bonner. So unless Ian takes the cheap contract it seems he will be lost in the numbers game.

First part sounds right; I'm guessing even if he has to sign for the minimum, Ian would much rather do it with a team where he can get more playing time.

As far as Gist goes, I think the Spurs will sign someone LIKE Gist (a young, developable big man), but I think it will be a major compe ion in training camp to see who gets that spot. I like Gist, but one has to wonder if the Spurs got a better version of Gist in Blair. They both have a nose for the rebound and can bring high energy; Blair has the bulk advantage and Gist has the speed/athleticism advantage. One still wonders if they can co-exist, though.

As for the rest of the bigman rotation, I'll just quote myself from a Bonner thread:

I think a lot of it depends on the Spurs' opinion of McDyess. If they feel he can be a solid rotational big for all of next year, they might let Bonner walk, knowing that they have their top 4 in Duncan/Dice/Splitter/Blair, and they can fill holes around that, probably with one youngster in his 20s and one typical-Spurs vet in his 30s.

[Darkwaters]

First part sounds right; I'm guessing even if he has to sign for the minimum, Ian would much rather do it with a team where he can get more playing time.

As far as Gist goes, I think the Spurs will sign someone LIKE Gist (a young, developable big man), but I think it will be a major compe ion in training camp to see who gets that spot. I like Gist, but one has to wonder if the Spurs got a better version of Gist in Blair. They both have a nose for the rebound and can bring high energy; Blair has the bulk advantage and Gist has the speed/athleticism advantage. One still wonders if they can co-exist, though.

As for the rest of the bigman rotation, I'll just quote myself from a Bonner thread:

I don't think Blair and Gist are at all alike. I consider Gist an undersized big who is trying to convert to the 3. There was never any talk of converting Blair. Sure, they're both the same height - but their bodies are completely different as well as their games. Bad comparison.

I'm not sure that Gist is in the mix anymore at all. But I wouldn't mind the Spurs scooping up a developmental big with D-League eligibility that they can tinker with.

[hsxvvd]

Gist was a failure.

Mahinmi may linger on the roster for a few more years before blossoming. I don't imagine he'll receive much from other teams, but it's worth a wait and see.

[lurker23]

I don't think Blair and Gist are at all alike. I consider Gist an undersized big who is trying to convert to the 3. There was never any talk of converting Blair. Sure, they're both the same height - but their bodies are completely different as well as their games. Bad comparison.

I'm not sure that Gist is in the mix anymore at all. But I wouldn't mind the Spurs scooping up a developmental big with D-League eligibility that they can tinker with.

I agree that Gist's best shot at making the NBA is as a 3, and that there was never any talk of converting Blair. I guess I should clarify.

Blair and Gist are not very similar players; they have completely different builds and athletic ability. However, there is one major similarity that I feels connects them: rebounding. When I've seen James Gist play, rebounding is the trait that shined the brightest and, of his current skill set, the one that would be his potential ticket into the NBA. His nose for the ball and ap ude at rebounding is uncanny.

If James never truly builds a perimeter skill set, then rebounding is the only real reason you put him on the court (he has some nice athleticism and jumping ability, but so does a deer). However, why would you do that when you have another rebounding beast like Blair on your team? I think DeJuan's emergence killed 95% of Gist's shot of making this team without some SF skills to go along with it (and honestly, he was going to need that crossover ability anyway).

[Darkwaters]

Gist was a failure.

Mahinmi may linger on the roster for a few more years before blossoming. I don't imagine he'll receive much from other teams, but it's worth a wait and see.

Gist was the 57th pick in the draft. I find it hard to call that pick a "failure".

[mountainballer]

personally I believe the Spurs will neither re sign Ian, nor sign Gist.
(assuming they bring in Splitter)
having a front court of Tim-Dice-Splitter and Blair, I would guess they sign a veteran as their 5th big, a defensive specialist in the Ratliff mold, or the shooting PF. (maybe Bonner, hopefully not). the 6th big more likely is a player, who is eligible for the d-league.
if they use the #20 pick for a long SF, as most of us think, to sign Gist makes even less sense. they still might look for a combo forward with the ability to defend perimeter bigs, but I don't think they see a player like Gist come in and immediately take this role and defend Dirk, Odom etc.
so or so, can't see Gist in the Spurs plans.

[yavozerb]

Gist was the 57th pick in the draft. I find it hard to call that pick a "failure".

What would you call it then? It is either a success or failure, and since he is not in the NBA I would agree that is was a failure at the moment..

[BronxCowboy]

Not in the NBA is exactly where you expect a 57th pick to be. It's only a failure if that guys DOES end up playing in the NBA, for someone else, and owns your team.

[hsxvvd]

Failure in the sense that he has and will "fail" to do anything meaningful for the Spurs.

As a 57th pick, it certainly is by no means a "failure" of a pick, but he is certainly a failure as an NBA player.

[BronxCowboy]

Fair 'nuff.

[Redshadows]

I can't see the spurs would let ian go away

[scottspurs]

I think the spurs would of gotten rid of Ian over Theo Ratliff if they had no intentions at all of bringing him back.

That being said I think some team will offer Ian more than the spurs are willing to pay and he will no longer be on the Spurs next season.

[yavozerb]

I disagree. I think there is more postion potential for Gist. Unlike Ian and DeJuan who should stay at the 4/5, Gist could play a little 3. I bet Gist is a decent rebounder, but he is a far superior athlete. Gist Runs the floor well and can keep up with other long 3s like a Ariza, Gay or Gallenari, but at the same time he has the size and length to guard players like Zach Randolph or LaMarcus Aldrige. Plus Gist has the IQ and quickness to come over for weakside blocks, then the athletic ability to run the floor and dunk the ball. Gist would be closer to a Tyrus Thomas in my opinon.

The number 1 thing that Gist has going for him though is that he doesn't mind not being involved in the offense. He likes to defend, run the floor and rebound. The Spurs will have to extend a tender offer to Gist and at this point I fully expect Gist to except. If I were the Spurs GM I would make this my off-season:

Sign Gist and Tiago, draft Paul George and maybe Fran Vasquez out of MD. Find a way to fill void at the 2 spot with remaining MLE (Like that will happen) and this is what the line up will look like:

Starters
Hill
Manu
RJ
Duncan
Splitter

Bench
Parker
Fanny V/steal in 2010 free agency or draft
Paul George
McDyess/Gist (likely to go to Austin a little bit)
Blair/(either Ian or Bonner)


Now if I had it my way, while keeping it semi realistic, I would do a sign and trade of Parker for Wade, move Hill or Manu to the bench and start Wade. Use the LLE to possibly sign Scola and do all the other moves I mentioned. Plus sign a couple insurence guards, or keep Temple/bring De Colo over.

Wow I just realized I don't think I would want to be RC. This hurt my head just by thinking of a to-do list.


Also, just a side note, I fully expect Splitter to take the full MLE, and from the people I've talked to, he is worth it and good enough to be a starter in the NBA.

Hopefully we will see Gist in the summer and that will help with the decision if he can help out next season or not. I think you meant Greivis Vasquez out of maryland, right? I think I would rather prefer de colo over vasquez though.

[kobyz]

bring Splitter and De Colo - split the MLE on them.
draft Paul George.
sign Raja Bell for the LLE.
keep Ian Mahinmi.

PG: Parker/Hill/De Colo
SG: Manu/Raja Bell/De Colo
SF: RJ/Paul George/Raja Bell
PF: Duncan/Blair/Ian Mahinmi
C: McDyess/Splitter

use the two spot remaining on our youngs like Hairston, Temple, Gee or some second rounded from this year.

[Bruno]

bring Splitter and De Colo - split the MLE on them.
draft Paul George.
sign Raja Bell for the LLE.
keep Ian Mahinmi.

It would be a damn great offseason. I'm still not sure what is the best for De Colo development between staying one year in Europe to play the Euroleague or come in the NBA right away.

For Spurs' bigmen, a scenario that would make some senses is to sign Splitter and Mahinmi.
Limiting Duncan and Dice regular season minutes would be damn important next year. Dice will be 36 and Duncan's knees need rest. During the 2010-2011 regular season, Pop could give a lot of minutes to Splitter, Mahinmi and Blair. In 2011-2012, Dice will be gone and Spurs could roll with a Duncan/Blair/Splitter/Mahinmi rotation.

6 months ago, I was sure at 99.9% that Ian was gone. Now, I gave him a 60% odd of being re-signed by Spurs this summer.

[coyotes_geek]

Given the number of roster spots the Spurs will be looking to fill, I won't be surprised if the Spurs bring Ian back on a league min deal. Probably just 1 year plus a TO for a second. At this point I'm not expecting Ian to ever amount to much, but given that the Spurs did use a 1st round pick on the guy I can understand if they feel like they owe it to themselves to give him another year.

[Big P]

I can't see the spurs would let ian go away

They did not pick up his option...that's kind of a big deal when you want to keep a player.

[biziofromdowntown]

Gist will sign with an italian team next season.