We all want to see some type of performance to brand any big guy a prospect but sometimes when they play for a shiiity team the no heart disease spreads amongst these guys and in the process diamonds in the rough are easily forsaken. I'm not saying go out there and pick up some more Jordan Hills but there's got to be a couple guys available we can research differently and put deals together to get.
They aren't so easy to be found. Morey was able to find some close, but they are no diamonds. Not many teams are stupid enough to give those players up easily (except Spurs on Scola)
Are you still falling for that? Papovich plays on ignorant people like you. I know Parker, Manu and the rest of the Spurs don't have the best defensive instincts but I know the Spurs passed up on Scola for a reason. And that reason sir is the man does not understand the concept of Legal NBA defense. The Spurs deceivingly public denounce giving up Scola but it's clear as day they don't want him for a reason. Spurs are a defensive-minded team mind you.
So bascially Hasheem Thabeet? He needs to get out of Memphis BADLY, he could essentially be Kwame Brown or he could end up being Roy Hibbert but unless the guy plays, we may never find out.
I think it's safe to say that Popovich dearly regrets letting Scola go. The quote was something like "I want to vomit every time I see him play." Doubtful that Scola's defense makes Pop want to barf. More likely the thought of what he could have had.
As intelligent as the Spurs organization is do you think Scola would have been let go just like that? Scola was a Fiba, Euro international star and got plenty of footage. BesideTs Duncan, most of the Spurs have average to above average D in timing and performance that is compatible with NBA reffing. They were insightful enough to see that Scola would not be able to adjust and thus as good offensively as he is he would give out an astounding amount of points because of his defense. They play the "what could have been" as a publicity to throw people off to the sophistication of their organization when scouting players and thus being able to gain future pieces and using overhyped prospects as pawns. Scola is overall a pawn. He was 27 when he came into the league and his defensive liability is just as bad then as it is now. He will never get over the hump with NBA defense.
Not saying Scola's defense is not lacking; but the facts were pretty clear concerning the Spurs decision at the time. They were in a corner, as Luis was about to sign a large contract extension with Tau Ceramica. Scola needed to start at the 4, Duncan did not want to play the 5, and the Spurs felt some degree of comfort that Splitter was waiting in the wings. Since that time Pop has been pretty clear about regretting that move. True, Scola's defense is a liability, and true, the Spurs typically make great decisions; but you can't seriously think Pop wouldn't love to have Luis in a Spurs uniform. Pop's disappointment is well documented, while your assumptions are simply delusional. Stick to your point about Scola playing poor defense and try not to introduce speculation as fact.
Actually Scola's defense would fit right in with this year's version of the Spurs. Their defense is not even close to what it used to be and Scola would be a tremendous addition to their front line adding scoring punch that Blair can not.
Sorry — Here's the actual Popovich quote. Please excuse my earlier paraphrase. “It kills me to have him on that team,” Popovich said. “Enough to make you spit.” http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=120455
If we want a decent big, we're going to have to draft them, and it might be the 2012 or 2013 lottery before we're in a position to select that type of player. Patience and draft position is the key.
Well, you could watch him play. Diamond in the rough guys typically at least look capable in the limited time they have. Thabeet doesn't look like he "belongs" but for a lack of PT. He looks over-matched, athletically...imo.
His playing time is so limited with Gasol that in the few minutes he gets it's hard to gauge what he COULD become. I admit, he has a huge bustablity factor about him but put him in the right coaching staff, get him in the right mindset and he could develop into something. Look at Roy Hibbert, dude looked lost out there and after a good offseason, Hibbert now looks like an above average center.
And so they gave him to a division rival for........ a bag of chips. Unless you're willing to argue the Rockets are somehow worse off due to that trade.
