Whats the story on that? What year, how much cap needed for his max, what teams will have the cap space, or sign and trade contracts/picks to be in contention? Can the Rockets play sign and trade? I'm just guessing he'll be done with San Antonio when his contract's up. It's not like Webber and the Kings. SA is done, and the cupboard is bare.
WHAT? Don't forget that the Spurs have Christ as their future point guard. The Spurs are going to have to make some big moves to show Duncan that they are willing to continue building around him, otherwise, I think he may bolt for the East Coast. Why stay in the West and get your head handed to you by Shaq when you could move to the East and easily dominate?
Frankly, I see Dallas as the front runner for Duncan now. They've got the talent to do a sign & trade for him. Something like a resigned LaFrentz/Van Exel or Abdul-Wahad/AJ for Duncan/spare parts/draft picks. This would give Dallas a starting lineup of: C: Duncan PF: Nowitzki SF: Finley SG: Van Exel or Abdul-Wahad PG: Nash D*mn! Is it too late to get the league to look into voiding the Dallas/Denver trade for being too lopsided?
San Antonio will have major cap room capabilities the same year Duncan becomes a free agent. They will be able to sign him and bring in another superstar. Kidd has already stated that he would love to play with Timmy.
When they had Howard, they were planning to offer the money that would be cleared by his free agency to Duncan. This trade nixed that plan, since they now have longer contracts. Mike Fisher says, "What about that Tim Duncan Sweepstakes? It's dead. Cuban says to view the acqusition of Van Exel and LaFrentz as the consolation prize in the sweepstakes. And when LaFrentz re-ups this summer, it is hoped he can develop into a near-elite-level center. Not Duncan-level, mind you. But near-elite." Then again, Cuban also said they probably wouldn't do any deadline deals and, if they did, it would be minor.
There is no way SA could afford to re-sign Duncan and bring in Kidd, assuming Kidd gets the max. SA would have to do a sign and trade, but who the hell do they have to trade? Parker I guess? The Spurs will need to add like 7-8 guys to the team, AFTER re-signing Duncan. I don't think the Spurs would rely on Duncan, Kidd, and about 8 minimum-salary scrubs to go along with a couple holdovers.
Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, and 10 scrubs versus Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Mike Miller, and 9 scrubs - not including Grant Hill Hard choice, huh? San Antonio has to do more than clear cap room to keep Duncan - they've got to make the moves now to get younger. Middling in the west isn't going to do it.
I think you are underestimating a lot of the Magic players. They have Darrell Armstrong who isn't a scrub...
Armstrong won't be under contract by the time Duncan is a FA. Last I checked (before Real GM took away the salary info) Hill, Miller (I think) and McGrady were the only Magic players under contract for the 2003-2004 season, which would be Duncan's first year in a new contract.
Some teams have been gearing for the Duncan sweepstakes since he signed his last contract two years ago. Sometimes I think the NBA is in a sad state of affairs. Believe it or not, there are other players out there and Tim Duncan does not guarantee 10 years of championships, no matter who else you have on your team. As for the Rockets, they have greater concerns.
JayZ: This is still a big mans league and if you have a chance to pick up one of the best big men in the league then why wouldn't you? If we had to gut this team to get him I would do it with the exception of Francis and Griffin.
Here's a couple of things to think about ... 1. The year Duncan is a free agent (2003) San Antonio will only 1 player under contract, and that's Tony Parker. They will have enough cap space to sign Duncan to the Max which will be similar to the one Webber signed. No one can offer more. They will also have the cap space to land another big time free agent. Possibly Kidd or (here's another one to think about) McDysse. Right now San Antonio has the best shot at resigning Duncan. 2. After San Antonio, Dallas still has a strong chance at landing Duncan. Reaf is a Restricted Free Agent this year which means that Dallas can match any offer he gets. They can either sign him to a one year deal which would free up a ton of cap room after that year is up. Add the fact that Van Excel can be traded for a player that San Antonio would covet, and you have the perfect setting for a sign & trade. Now that's only if Duncan wants to come to Dallas. The main factor is going to be what Duncan actually wants. Does he want to stay in San Antonio where they could actually rebuild pretty fast or would he want to take the chance, and go to another team where he doesn't really know what he's getting into. My bet is that he stays where he's at because he will know the situation better than anywhere else.
Thats fine right now, as you have to structure contracts now for 2 offseasons away. But take a team like Orlando. They've been working contracts out so that they can make a run at Duncan ever since he turned them down the first time. All its got them thus far is a first round exit and an even worse record this year because they have generally scrubs (no matter how good Darrel Amrstrong is). Second, Duncan is only one player. Only one team would get him, and I dont see why that team would be the Rockets right now. We suck - he doesnt want suckiness. We may be better next year, but even then why would he choose us, or Rockets mgmt him - remeber we technically could have gone after CWebb this offseason but didnt. The smartest move for any franchise: Try and win all the time, every year. Don't sunstitute this year for next year (or at the very least multiple years for the possibility of a good year/player in teh future). Structure your contracts so that you're paying value for value. Don't pay the Kelvin Cato's off the world megabucks. This should be successful assuming you can evaluate talent.
No, he's not - I'm as big of an Armstrong fan as there is. But, I was making a point with that comparison, just based on the top players there. San Antonio has to do something besides hope Tony Parker can hold the fort or else Duncan will be gone.
That's fine. But, SA will need to find a way to fill in the rest of the roster using about 15-20 mill. I don't know if there are enough quality FA's to bring in for 15-20 mill to split between 10 guys. Which of the Spurs FA's do you project SA to re-sign? Remember, the Spurs will need to make a decision on their own FA's (renounce them or re-sign them) before they can pursue a Kidd.
Ok first off if Grant Hill doesn't get injured the Magic are in the top three in the East. 2nd the Magic did if I am not mistaken attempt to sign Antonio Davis to a big contract in the offseason which didn't get done because Davis decided to sign with Toronto. The Magic suck right now because of Grant Hills injury not because they got rid of Chucky Atkins and Bo Outlaw. As far as signing Duncan its a no brainer. You have to attempt to get him. If he doesn't want to come here you will know about it. If there is a 20% that you can get him you still have to roll out the red carpet. I can't see a team of Francis/Mobley/Griffin winning it all. There still needs to be a superstar big man on this team. This team sucks right now, BUT its not a matter of us being the Cincinatti Bengals or the G.S. Warriors we have talent but we have one significant whole which is preventing us from being a major player. The orginization is determined to win, its not like we are the Warriors trading away players just to avoid the luxury tax. This team will return to the playoffs very soon if not next year then surely the year after.
I think Duncan is moving to Orlando. A couple of years ago that was also an option (right??). But back then SA was better then they are now. I think Orlando is a good team for him, and that makes Orlando a new championship team with Hill, McGrady, Miller, Armstrong (maybe if he stays) and Duncan. I don't know if Orlando can pay those contracts, but it would be great i think.
I really think Duncan wants to stay in San Antonio. He said hes hoping to get a superstar to come and play with him in S. A. Jason Kidd has been rumored but I doubt he runs back to the West. The Spurs second best young player is Tony Parker and he plays PG already. Kidd is good on a running team with guys like (Jefferson, Kittles, Marion, Hardaway, Martin) not Bruce Bowen and Steve Smith. Plus it doesn't make sense for him, hes on the top team in the East, MVP candidate, big market (wife's a TV reporter), and they might play in Madison Square Garden soon. I doubt Jermaine O'neal, Antonio Mcydess run to S. A to become the 2nd post option. The Spurs better pray for Jason Kidd, or hope they can swing a trade for Rashard Lewis this summer. It doesn't look good for them. 2. Orlando is the favorite to get him. Even Duncan said he was real close to signing with Orlando. Many say that if contracts could have been signed in July, that he would of signed, too bad you had to wait till August. Its ok we can live with Tracy McGrady In 2003 who knows how good Tracy McGrady is gonna be, hes top 5 already at the age of 22. Steven Hunter(20) and Mike Miller(21) both have a lot of upside Troy Hudson, Pat Garrity are good young role players. Darrell Armstrong, Don Reid will probably sign for cheap. Grant Hill is expected to be back next season, and if he plays the year injury free..bye bye Duncan. P.S Orlando is 2 games behind the 2nd seed in the East, this w/o Grant Hill, and injuries to Miller, McGrady, Ewing, Grant, and Garrity. Amazing how weak the East is.
