....., I say screw Kidd & O'Neal. I've got what is considered one of, if not the, best players in the NBA in Duncan & a very good, young PG in Parker. Why should I burn the majority of my cap space on one player, when I can go after some of the lesser players & add quality depth to my team? My first move would be to get a starting center, so Duncan can stay at the PF spot (his preferred position). I'd make an offer to Brad Miller & Zo (assuming he passes his physical) of about $6-7 million for the first year & possibly as high as $8 million, if necessary. The first one to bite, I sign him & reduce the offer for the other one (they're not likely to accept the reduced offer, but it doesn't hurt to ask). My second move would be to offer Odom a 6 year deal starting at about $8 million. Let's see if Sterling is willing to pony up the cash. If he matches the offer, & I would expect him to, I go hard after Posey for $3-5 million & resign Stephen Jackson for the minimum. My third move would be to go after either Piatkowski or Jon Barry as my backup SG & Armstrong or Lue as my backup PG. Next, I'd pursue a backup PF, such as Derrick Coleman, Laphonso Ellis, Popeye Jones, Walter McCarty, or Tyrone Hill & a backup center, such as Drobnjak (restricted FA), Elden Campbell, Stepania, or DeClercq for the veteran's minimum to round out my roster. If all goes well, I'd have a new roster of: C: Miller/Campbell/Bateer(IL) PF: Duncan/Coleman/Rose SF: Posey/Jackson/Bowen SG: Ginobili/Piatkowski/Kerr or Smith (IL) PG: Parker/Armstrong or Lue I think that team would be ready to make another run at the title.
If I were Stephen Jackson's agent, I would say HELL NO and go to somewhere who pays more than the minimum....or maybe Stephen Jackson likes San Antonio and will be willing to take only the minimum. Ginobili starting? Other than that...their team would be very deep with a lot of good quality players....too many. I agree. They don't need Kidd or O'Neal. They got the money to get all those players.
If they can sign Brad Miller and Lamar Odom, then add a little bit of depth, that would would be great for them.
Yeah, to hell with Kidd. I would look into signing Brad Miller or Olowakandi, seeing how much either would cost; if I could sign one or the other, I'd go after a Corey Maggette type. All they need is quality depth. Parker and Claxton can hold down the PG spot.
Most of the players listed above could be obtained with the mid level exception meaning that if the team is over the cap, the Spurs would not be taxed for that player's salary. I'm guessing Spurs will be over the cap in the future expecially with Duncan's max signing and bringing in another max player.
That is a good plan, but its all for nothing if Payton and Malone. IF they add those 2, no one else will win the title no matter who they have.
I could be wrong, but I believe that with all those egos, the Lakers will implode at some point during the season.
I believe in some part, but i think Payton and mailman will do whatever it takes to get a ring. Just like Clyde was a different Clyde after he got his ring. In 95 he was starving and wasn't going to let anyone stop him. I think mailman and Payton know that this will be thier last chance at a ring so they will do whatever it takes. I also think that Kobe the strong willed one will accept passing a little more and scoring a little less because of the new support player. I don't believe they will have 4 20ppg scorer's , but i do believe with the triangle, malone and payton could co exist with Shaq and Kobe. I believe winning cures all and they're adding quality veterans, not some of the jailhouse members portland likes to bring in.
This is SA's last shot to make a major move during Duncan's prime...especially one that doesn't require shipping out talent. While Miller, Odom, or whoever would make for a decent summer, I don't think that's preferable to adding a Jermaine O'Neal or Kidd. Stephen Jackson is likely to experience a significant increase in his compensation. Given his Early Bird status the Spurs can pay him up to the average NBA salary (~$4.9 mil or the MLE) after they use their cap room on other free agents. Until then he will count at 130% of last season's salary ($900K).
They should sign Karl Malone to a one year deal, sign Zo to a one year deal, let Karl come off the bench or move Duncan to center. Sign a shooter or two, and bring back Jackson. C-Duncan PF-Malone SF-Bowen SG-Jackson PG-Parker 6th man-Ginobili Zo can back up Malone and Duncan no reason why they could not make and other run for the title again, and have cap space again next year to sign more players to make an other run for the title.
The problem with the "reserving the cap space" idea is that should they retain Jackson then that will take up some cap flexibility next summer. Plus Claxton would walk outright or else he takes up more cap space. Also, all of the contracts the Spurs have next season will be increasing from the 2003-04 to 2004-05 season by about 10 to 12.5%...thus eating up more cap space in 2004-05. As for Garnett that is a very unlikely possibility given Garnett's grandfathered status under the cap. The Spurs wouldn't have the cap room to sign him outright. They would have to work out some kind of sign & trade with Minnesota and I don't see that at all.
I'm not a cap expert... but I think if Garnet leaves as a free agent, his "grandfathered status" won't apply to another another team unless the Wolves do a sign & trade...
The only thing that could possibly work would be the Spurs signing some younger free agents this summer and then making a run at Garnett next summer. But they wouldn't have any cap flexibility. They would be able to offer Minnesota a package of talent in return. And this is a big stretch unless the Spurs are willing to sign Garnett to a contract that Minnesota is unwilling to do...and Minnesota feels like giving a division rival the opportunity to pair Tim Duncan with Kevin Garnett for the rest of their careers.
The cap flexibility for next year is really up to what they do this year... Spurs this year can sign a max-player "plus" a Brad Miller or Lamar Odom type of contract ... if they decides to pursue Garnet next year... surely they can sign some veterean for 1 year contract & still have the cap to sign a max player next year. Garnet already makes enough money with his current contract... does earning a few more millions matters to him more than a Championship? He should know better that the wolves won't win a championship anytime soon... so he better start exploring his options...
No- KG can still sign for the same base with another team (105% of his salary for the last year of the deal), but it's even more difficult for an outside team to do so because his "max" contract will start at practically twice of an ordinary "max" contract. IMO, if KG wants to leave the Wolves he'll HAVE TO take a price cut (and even if he stays, he may have to)...I can't see a team under the cap spending half the salary cap to sign him, and I find it extremely unlikely that a team could put together a 20 mill package of players that Minn. would be willing to take in return, rather than just clear space off the books. I think KG stays there, though- with the Cassell move, and reportedly Howard, and if they trade Brandon for a guy like Eddie Jones, the Wolves are looking to add pieces around KG.
I'd offer silly money to Kidd, but not O'Neill. O'Neill is a very good player, but I have trouble believing he'd be as successful in the West. Also, he's a bit redundant w/Duncan. Twin Towers are nice, but I think they're something you have to luck into. I think it's better to have a more balanced team, if you have to pick and choose. Kidd is a Top 10 NBA player. You can find Odom's and Miller's in the draft and in good trades (unless Odom gets his head on straight, then he's a star, too...). You can't find Kidds. I'd keep Parker, though. It's not like the Spurs have a great player starting at the 2. Kidd's big enough to defend the 2. Let him play the 1, and defend the 2. Parker's quickness would cause all sorts of match-up problems.
Stephen Jackson, no matter how imperfect he is, already has a battle proven tag on him, showing the capabilty & BALLS to take the BIG shots at the highest most crucial moment in one's NBA carreer ( playoff & Final ). Has the size to play either swingman position, a capable scorer that complement his superstar teammate perfectly. And you make him looking like a SCRUB by suggesting league min salary would be enough to make him stay. No knock on Posey, but the man is still searching for his identity, i really doubt that the Spurs front office would weigh him more compare to what SJax can bring to the table.
