SA Express-News reports that the deal is $42 mil for 6 years. That works out to a $5.6 million starting salary. For Nesterovic that is not "overpaying." That leaves the Spurs with roughly $10.7 million in cap room.
Rasho is mediocre: 2002 11.2 PPG, 52.5% from the field, 6.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 blocks per game in 30.4 minutes per game. And that is easily his best season. But, the Spurs just need another big body. I guess they had no choice.
Mr. Clutch - for a 3rd option center, in the Western Conference, not more than 27 or so years old, that's not all that bad. Not worth that much money, not by a longshot, but there are very few centers who are - yet alone very few centers who approach those numbers.
If true that is a fine deal for the Spurs (note the agent says $45 mil for 6)--see next point. Than he has decent company, look at this-- 2002 13.1 PPG, 49.3% from the field, 8.3 rebounds per game, .6 blocks per game in 31.1 minutes per game. 2002 12.3 PPG, 42.7% from the field, 7.5 rebounds per game, 2.2 blocks per game in 38.0 minutes per game. The first line is Brad Miller and the 2nd one Kandi--though Kandi played less than half the games. Rasha is also the youngest of the bunch--about a year less than Kandi and a couple months younger than Miller. In short, Rasha at an average contract at 7 mil is a better deal than Kandi at 8 or 9 or Miller at 9 or 10. He certainly doesn't have the talent of Kandi, but Rasha's offense is much better, Kandi missed more than half his games, and I would have a whole let character/team oriented questions about Kandi than Rasha. Miller, yes, is more of a presence than Rasha overall-but Rasha is more of a shot blocking presence and probably came much cheaper. One other not to be overlooked benifit. Honestly the Wolves were closing in on the Spurs in capability before this move--this spreads the gap again. Wolves really screwed up by not offering Rasha 6/48 from day one. Maybe they created a Cato market for themselves Maybe Odom, forget Brand. You said yourself SA only has 10 mil left. The Clips would love to match a Brand contract starting a 10 mil. They could probably get Odom starting at 10--but I wouldn't do it. The only way he doesn't start is if Rose (or someone they trade Rose+ for) starts at the 4 and TD at the 5. There is no way they bring in a another FA 4/5 who could beat Rasha or Rose of a starting job. Also, rules prevent them trading Rasha for a while. I see TD and Rasha pretty locked in for the 4/5. Clips will match for Brand, that just would have waisted the Spurs time while their options are dwindling. Kandi has pluses and minuses relative Rasha and more overall risk involved--given what the Spurs have I think they did the right thing in getting the more offensively effective, younger, and better ethic vene if less talented Rasha, especially if Kandi would cost a couple mil more. PJ Brown will be old as dirt when he finishes his contract and doesn't even get 10PPG--talk about a way to blow a long term oppertunity. The Spurs don't need a playmaking PG without much range/consistency on his J (Dre). KT can't play center--plus IMO Rasha is just as good of an overall player and more valuable because of the dearth of above average centers. Sure it was plan C for the Spurs--but at a reasonable contract for a player who does fit and from a division rival to boot that move does not smell desperate at all. If the Spurs do indeed get Rasha (looks solid) if I were them I take the 10 mil and throw it all at Hamilton. I do that before Odom, and it seems Arenas, Maggette and other young guards or SFs with high potential and a jump shot are gone.
In my opionion, that was a GREAT pickup by San Anton. Nesterovic will bring just a tad bit more to the championship mix than DRob offensively, though I dunno if he'll be the defensive presence DRob was. However, he's younger & has more athletic ability than an aging DRob running on his last legs. I think if they were to add a superstar type ala Brand, they'd have really messed with their team chemistry, so I say well played, Spurs, well played. Um, Go Rockets!
So what.................. Rasho Doesn't exactly...."Strike Fear in my Heart" Yao will dog this guy.......... Not much of a upgrade than the admiral if you ask me............... Rasho a third tier player ala howard, and Kandi I don't care where these guys sign Now Payton, Malone, Zo, Brand or maybe even Odom thats another story.........and the Spurs got none of them
The Spurs have the cap room to make a max offer to Brand. As an article in the LA Daily News indicates, the Spurs are indeed looking to structure an offer to Brand that Sterling wouldn't match. They aren't going to stop pursuing Brand just because they landed Nesterovic. It is correct to assume that if they did somehow pull off a Brand signing that there would be a trade of one of the Spurs' bench bigs. Rose is indeed a candidate for that. Odom is definitely of interest and while the conservative Spurs may not seem the type to make a run at him, I wouldn't be so sure now. Here's an interesting lineup... PG Parker SG Ginobili SF Odom PF Duncan C Nesterovic Best offensive Spurs team ever.
The Spurs will not sign Lamar Odom. The Rockets will get him! (sigh) And the Spurs have nothing the Clips want, contract-wise. But I know Brand and Falk are doing what they can.
If I were the Spurs I'd go for Hamilton before Odom. Detriot not matching Hamilton at 10mil starting over 6 is much more likely (though Detriot would probably match--worth a shot) than the Clips not matching 12.5 starting over 6 for Brand. I would not rush to sign Odom--not that good of an outside shooter, not much of a defender, and not that effective off the ball.
The Spurs could always price Odom out of Sterling's range. Let's not forget that the largest financial commitment Sterling has ever made to a free agent was $15 mil or whatever to Eric Piatkowski. DS, Hamilton would definitely be an interesting player. Odom's skills would complement Duncan's and the rest of the team quite well.
ESPN says that Rasho Nesterovic, who had been the center for the Minnesota Timberwolves, will sign a six year deal at around $45 million with the San Antonio Spurs.
http://www.startribune.com/stories/511/3989124.html SAN ANTONIO -- Free-agent center Rasho Nesterovic has agreed to a six-year, $42 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs, spurning an offer to remain with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Nesterovic, who will likely replace retired David Robinson in the defending NBA champions' starting lineup, made his decision late Monday night, agent Bill Duffy said. ``This was a difficult decision because of Rasho's fondness for (Timberwolves owner) Glen Taylor and (general manager) Kevin McHale, but he chose to go with a new challenge,'' Duffy said. A Spurs spokesman wouldn't comment on the deal. Wednesday is the first day NBA clubs can begin signing players. Nesterovic had reportedly been considering a seven-year, $50 million offer to stay with the Timberwolves, his team for his first five NBA seasons. The deal with Nesterovic still leaves the Spurs with more than $8 million in salary cap space to pursue other players. San Antonio originally set its sights on Jason Kidd and Alonzo Mourning, but both players instead decided to sign with New Jersey. Nesterovic averaged 11.2 points and 6.5 rebounds last season, the best numbers of his career. The loss of the 7-footer from Slovenia leaves the Timberwolves with only Ervin Johnson and Loren Woods as their centers.
Unless you're talking about a different Nestrovic than the one that played for the T'Wolves - yeah, it is. Especially for a 6 year deal.
Why did both the Spurs and Wolves pursue Nesterovic and offer those terms to him before Olowokandi? There's a reason. And it certainly isn't that Olowokandi is the "better player." On top of that his knee isn't 100%.
