Jefferson to the Spurs (updated: confirmed by Chad Ford)

I agree. San Antonio picked up a former all-star for expiring contracts. What would an expiring contract of a former all-star garner? Especially if we were willing to take back salary?

I think we should be able to acquire some bad contracts and a top 6 pick in this draft. And if we give up one talented player and another expiring like Cook, along with one talented player (Landry), some cash, and maybe a future pick, we should be able to move into the top 3.

 

i thought tmac's contract is being paid by insurance, until he plays?? if so
this would equate to an instant savings, a team could just put him on the IR and save money??

 

So, Oberto and Bowen'll resign with the Spurs?

 

That was a great trade for the Spurs and a horrible trade for the Rockets. Jefferson is someone we could have used so the Spurs killed two birds with one stone. They get younger, more athletic, and generally get someone who really fits on their team while keeping him away from us. On top of that they might get the guys they traded away back. Man, the Spurs really made a stroke of genius.

 

A couple of things:

(1) There is no longer such a thing as the IR. Teams may carry up to 15 players but only suit up 12 players for each game. The other 3 players are "Inactive" for a particular game. Teams can have a different 12-player game roster from game to game. It just so happens that players with injuries are Inactive for long stretches while they recover from their injuries.

(2) Even if T-Mac's contract is being paid by insurance, the other team would still either need to (a) make the salaries match by forking over half its roster or (b) have enough cap room to absorb T-Mac's $23M salary (in which case, why are they even trading for T-Mac?). Also, even if insurance covers T-Mac's salary, it won't change the luxury tax implications for that team, which may end up having to pay a 100% tax (plus losing out on any shared league revenues by going over the tax threshold by even $1) for every dollar that T-Mac's salary (again, paid by insurance or not) causes the team's total payroll to go over the luxury tax threshold.

I think people on this board SERIOUSLY overvalue T-Mac's expiring contract. If I were any financially strapped team looking purely for financial relief (again, assuming zero production from T-Mac as a player next season), I would MUCH rather have either (i) Jerry Stackhouse's $7M expiring contract (partially guaranteed for only $2M) from the Mavericks or (ii) Cuttino Mobley's (smaller) $8.9M expiring contract (80% of which is definitely being covered by insurance due to his heart condition and "retirement"), instead of T-Mac's deal. That's why we will likely see any actual T-Mac (if one happens) also include either Aaron Brooks or Carl Landry to sweeten the pot.

 

Butler would be great for the Rockets, I just think we have to see first how the Spurs do on the court rather than on paper. But if the Spurs sign Marcin Gortat or Rasheed Wallace then we should be worried


But if we trade TMAC for Butler, Kevin Martin, VC, or any other good player. I put the Rockets up against anyone. There's one thing I can say, The West will be BRUTAL next year.

 

Man the spurs have a great front office. They are the model for how to construct and keep a sucessful franchise.

 

Not necessarily. The Spurs immediately took on a lot more salary for next season by trading for Jefferson. They are likely getting close to (if not over) the luxury tax threshold. If Bowen and/or Oberto want anything above the league minimum next season, the Spurs may not be too willing to give it to them. Remember, it's not like Bowen and Oberto will be bought out for only slightly less than their fully guaranteed salaries. They will be waived, receiving only a fraction of their salaries.

I am in agreement with those who want Morey to take a long look at Fabricio Oberto as a backup to Yao. I wrote as much in a prior thread about backup center options (since I had a feeling his partially guaranteed contract would get traded and he would subsequently be waived). He is tall (6-10), a pretty good defender and understands the game of basketball (which is more than you can say about most tall backup big men in this league). He and Scola have a history with the Argentinian National Team. He will not command a large salary (perhaps $2M out of the MLE?).

Once the Rockets resolve the free agent status of Ron Artest (hopefully by re-signing him), they should strongly consider Oberto as an option for a portion of the MLE. That just might be a better offer than the (now more financially strapped) Spurs may be willing to offer.

 

Richard Jefferson is a good player, but the fact that he's traded twice in the last two summers for basically crap tells you how valuable people around the league think he is. RJ is an expensive 3rd option at this point in his career. That's basically it. The Spurs do get better with this trade, but not by as much as it might look on paper. And they lose financial flexibility for the forseeable future.

 

Whew, at first I thought it was Al Jefferson. I was about to say that the NBA should just give them the tophy ahead of time if it was Al J.

 

Seems like we say that every offseason, don't we?

 

It is only a 2 year contract. The spurs might resign all the guys they traded. Man this was a GREAT trade by the spurs.

 

yea I know

 

thank you BimaThug for being the voice of reason in this thread. people are complaining about morey not performing this trade not realizing that bowen + oberto + thomas > t-mac (from a purely financial standpoint, the motive for the trade).

 

On the 5pm news, one of the SA sportscasters said that at least 1 of the 3 would probably resign with the Spurs.

This is a great trade for them.

 

This takes the Spurs out of the 2010 sweepstakes and now they are in luxury tax land. I think Jefferson is overpaid and overrated. He will improve the Spurs, but I don't think this makes them some kind of unstoppable juggernaut. I see why they did it, but if I'm Morey, I wouldn't freak out about this move. This is not a Pau Gasol deal.

 

Don't think so. They need to resign Charlie V. and Sessions now. Tmac would only add to their payroll instead of reducing it.

 

Umm, if I remember correctly, the Spurs did great this season even though:

-Ginobili was injured most of the season
-Duncan played injured towards the end of the season
-Parker was injured earlier in the season
-Their bench was mostly dog ****, bunch of old fools.

Their rookie George Hill showed great improvement throughout the season and he is a great back up. Long arms, good defensive fundamentals, can slash, and has size. Ginobili will probably be healthy this go around and Parker is now entering his prime. Duncan is on the tail end of his prime but he doesn't use much hops or quickness to get to the basket, rather he relies on patience, skill, and an excellent system that Popovich has built down there to help him stay effective and still dominant (although not like years passed).

SA will get help in their frontcourt, I don't doubt this, plus RJ gives them another scorer to go to. They were truly lacking in the scoring department in the past season and someone of RJ's caliber is truly what they need. He will fit right into their system.

 

Well, is Manu going to magically stay healthy? Is Tim Duncan going revert back to an all-NBA player? They aren't getting any younger. How much luxury tax will they pay to add to their front court? I mean, the Spurs were an elite team, but I don't see it anymore. Will they win 50+ games? Sure. I just don't see them as a team that can challenge the Lakers with this bunch.

 

This is not good.