i know this is ambiguous, but take it for what it's worth: friday, i talked to a good friend of mine who is close friends with many of the spurs players and some of the management. according to him, tony parker will definitely not be a spur next year. according to him, coach popovich has never liked tony parker, but was forced to play him by upper management. this, according to him, is the main reason the spurs are allegedly hot for jason kidd. it makes much more sense to replace robinson with another "big" like jermaine o'neal, but pop is so wants kidd instead of parker. that said, if parker is available, the rockets would be well served to look at acquiring him at the point guard position.
Not trying to discredit your story or anything, but Popavich (on numerous occasions) had his arm around Tony Parker during yesterdays game. Was always smiling and explaining something to Jesus. Sure didn't seem like Poopoovich hates him.
i noticed that, too. i also noticed that he cusses parker out more than any other player on the team. 101 6 7, MrSpur, gunawanspur, Gooooo Spurs, etc.: i assume you guys go to the games, as well. have you noticed this, too?
one more thing, R0cket03: imo, it would really be stupid for the spurs to get rid of parker...especially when you have a quality big guy like j o'neal available. verrrrrry stupid. and it's very hard for me to see them doing something so stupid. but, that's the story that i'm hearing... btw, this guy has been right on a couple of other occasions in the past. specifically, he nailed the antonio daniels trade before it happened. antonio and pop were at each others throats quite a few times, and it was a given that he would not stick around for long. word is that pop runs a very tight ship, and if you decide to mouth off to him, you will not stay a spur for long...
I don't know either why Spers would want Kidd. Parker is obviously nowhere close to Kidd, but he is pretty good and still very young. Besides, he schools Francis left and right. They would be much better off going after Oneal or even Kandiman. Stinkin Pacers gettin their ass kicked is not going to help Oneal stick around in Indiana I think. I am hoping Nets go all the way (even though I hate that wife-beater) and Kidd stays in NJ. And I am somehow hoping Spers lose in six and Duncan decides to go East somewhere. If SA gets Jermaine Oneal the rest of the league is screwed.
spurs should go for j oneal.. and also pick up sabonis if they have some cash left over.. sabonis can actually box out shaq...
I don't know, honestly if I am the Spurs I would go for Kidd or an elite, dynamic, deadeye 2/3. J Oneal is a fine player, but he really is TD lite. TD does what Jermain does, only better--thus you don't get the full benefit (drawing doubles, being that low-post dominant player) most teams would get from a J. Oneal because Jermain would be off the ball. The Spurs are better off getting better guards or a better swingman--that is where they are average or worse. TD with Kandi or DR back plus Rose off the bench is a great 3 deep power position trifecta. Sure Oneal is better than Kandi or DR or Rose--but what he would by them is not in the league a Kidd, Pierce, Ray Allen, Mashburn or Peja or some other great shooting and dynamic wing player like that would buy for the Spurs. It is the limitations of Parker, Manu, Jackson, Bowen, Ferry and Smith that limit how good the Spurs are much more than what they get from the 5 spot or 4 spot when TD is not manning it. Now Parker and Manu could keep on getting better--but right now none of the Spurs guys in the 1-2-3 spots are close to elite status or even borderline all-stars. To assume Parker or Manu will get there is a big assumption--they are not close to that level yet--I would not rest my future on them if I could get one of the sure fire players I mentioned.
The Spurs are well positioned to upgrade twice. Either two top FAs or Kidd and the trade of Parker. If Parker were traded it could be for someone else's bigger guy. Indiana, Atlanta, Jersey (if Kidd were to leave), Boston (Batite), Wiz (Kwame), Miami all could create frameworks for Parker deals. A lot would depend on Duncan 'willing' to move to the 5. Campbell might fit into SA. SA promises to be a load and a half post-David. I just don't see SA calling Rox and suggesting a deal to include Cato/Parker.
Or even Scarier, what if instead of one max contract, they pay 5-6 million to Karl Malone and 5-6 million to Gary Payton. Payton Parker Jackson Ginobili Bowen Ferry Malone Duncan Duncan Willis That team would be deadly. They could sign them both for a year to get a championship then go after Lamar Odom, Elton Brand or others out of the stellar Steve Francis class. Who could beat a Spurs team like that? I think both GP and Karl would do it to get a championship.
Malone is likely to bring all the Barkley baggage. I am not convinced Karl will be beneficial to SA or LAL. Stay in SLC, KM, it is where you belong. It is the right thing to do.
there is absolutely no way karl ever goes to the spurs. think about it. the spurs' organization prides itself on the character of their players. and you think they're going to add karl malone? the same karl malone that did a 360 degree spin-and-elbow to the back of david robison's head, knocking him unconscious? there's a better chance of them trading duncan for moochie than karl becoming a spur...
The Spurs have to think long term. This is IT for MAJOR moves--as they will not have good draft picks and won't be under the cap after they sign who they can +TD this year. Thus I think Kidd, with at least 4+ great years left-- is as short-term move as they will do. No Malone, no GP--unless all the outstanding younger players are gone and they go with GP. Also, another thing to consider is they may not be able to sign Manu after next year. So even if Manu turns into the SG they think he can then they may not be able to keep him. In sum, if I am them I go for Kidd 1st with a max FA contract, than perhaps a half/two-thirds max worth C/PF (Kandi, Miller). Then you have Parker/Manu/Jackson to man the Kidd opposite guard spot the next year with only Manu shaky going into 05.
If they do get Jason Kidd, I wonder if we could get Parker by trading Cato. With that kind of trade though this team would get younger again. And therefore would be slow to develop into a great team. And then you will have to listen to another season of whining from almost everyone of this board.
It does not matter who we get short of Duncan, Shaq, Garnett or Kobe, we aren't getting much better with our current offensive *plan* and three no defense players starting.
Spurs would be dumb to trade him now. His value has never been lower since people had started to notice his game.
Popovich gave the GM job to a new person by his own request only this season because he wanted to focus on the coaching job. Popovich was the coach AND the GM of the Spurs for the past years. And he still owns some part shares of the Spurs. Just please where this "never liked Tony Parker" and "forced to play him by upper management" just was coming from when Popovich actually IS part of the upper management and he WAS the GM who drafted Tony Parker.
