With Yao coming back, I really think Budinger is going to be a bigger role player on this team than many think. Give him an off season with Shane to work on his D and this kid could be a pale stud.
Look, I hate to burst any Manu-lovers' bubble here, but c'mon now be reasonable. Manu is loved in Spursland. He is one of Pops' most beloved players. If he can be resigned for the cheap why would the Spurs let go of him even if he's injury prone? If you're RC Buford and Manu says I'm willing to sign for the LLC if you let me play on the National team, would you turn that down? LOL The reasoning you guys give out is that Manu won't stop playing for the National team. Well then if that's the case why will we tie ourselves down with someone like that? Why tie your MLE on someone who will be injured in the summer? If the Spurs are letting him go, then there's a good reason for it (too much money, health issues etc). IMHO whatever that good reason is, its good enough for us as well
I'd rather spend 12mil elsewhere. If we're going to trade assets for a 10-15mil player, I'd rather we grab a big man.
We've got the assets to trade for a lot of guys. I think Iggy's a possibility, but unlikely due to his contract. I think they'll only be willing to pay that amount for a top tier guy.
The Scola factor is not overrated, but if you don't offer Manu a chance to win the Championship, the guy won't come for all the gold in the world. Plain simple. If you show him that you are going to stack the team with winners and not stat fillers (Brooks - Martin) guys that doesn't play defense or for the team, then you are going no-where. That's why i think the team with most chances to sign Manu, is the one that signs LeBron, because LeBron demands to the GM the same things Manu would like to demand if he was in position to do so. If we somehow manage to add winners to our team, Manu will come, and maybe for the cheap, because fo the chance to win a championship with Scola. But if the offer is to play with Scola and a bunch of players not really aware of what it takes to win a championship, then he is just a dream.
I agree that he has the chance to be, but I'm worried that he won't be getting enough PT to develop and improve. Realistically he will only be backing up Martin at SG, and Martin will probably be on the floor 35-38 minutes per game. That only leaves 10-13 minutes for Bud. The minutes at SF will be stretched as it is between Battier and Ariza, so there isn't anything for him there either.
You are plain wrong, the reason the Spurs "might" let Manu go, is Richard Jefferson's Bust. If Jefferson played like he was suppoused to, Manu would be already resigned for the cheap. They took this shoot: "we will get Jefferson, and offer Manu to play for the cheap on a contender" That was indeed a risky move, because Manu would have to ignore the fact that he is the better player, and Jefferson would be making 3 times his money, but to play with his old teammates, have the chance to win a championship, and play for the NT, he would do it. Now, Jefferson was a bust, Spurs are no contender, and their only leverage, that was, "sign for the cheap to play for a contender and still play for argentina" is, "please, can you sign for what you deserve to play with a mid level team and skip playing for argentina?".
Let's bring in Dalembert and then S&T for stoudemire,with our 2012 draft pick, Aaron Brooks and JT throw in Dragic from the suns.
I liked Iggy alot more before we got Martin. He doesnt really mesh with what we seem to be doing now.
Why do you think Manu will want to play with James? In crunch time, the ball will be always in James' hands. Manu would lose his identity in that situation. Manu needs the ball to be effective. You know Manu plays very well without Parker recently because Manu has the ball. Manu has 3 rings. He doesn't need to ride anyone's cocktail. In addition, I think nothing is wrong for Manu or any player to go for money at this stage of his career. He also needs to raise his family.
Now that we have Martin, we don't need Iguodala. Ariza hopefully will settle in to more of a defensive presence and spot up shooter, complimenting Martin's liabilities on defense. Andre makes to much money and may have been a target because there was little else. I like his game but not for the price, he is just not a need. I want to see the Rockets add a 4/5 that can run the floor play some D to compliment Yao. Bosh? Maybe, maybe not.
Andre would be worth it if he could hit a jumper consistently. Love his D and intangibles, just would eat up top much capspace IMHO.
Without looking at the numbers, he would probably strap us financially and prevent us from going after a big name in 2011 free agency should Yao not return to 100% next year and/or get hurt again next season. Without knowing for sure what we have in Yao from here on, I'm not making that deal.
