if true, then I have to give Pops a hell of a lot of credit for being better at bluffing than I thought. It always seemed to me that he was just as much in love with him as the announcers were. I guess we'll see what happens in the offseason.
i never knew that greg popovich was the same person as peter holt, russ bookbinder, etc. ...interesting...
like i said, i'm not sure what to make of it either. i think parker should be retained at all costs...including the cost of NOT signing jason kidd. but, i can see how this could be true, and for the rockets' sake i hope it is!
verse, what do you think the Rocks can offer that the Spurs would take for Parker? I don't see anything. I agree with you, I think they should keep Parker for their long term future.
Moonbus, unfortunately, i don't see anything on the rockets roster that the spurs would want (except the obvious - yao ming/steve francis). and i don't think anyone here would entertain a parker/ginobili switch for francis. they wouldn't mind glen rice, but have nothing to give in return for that 9,000,000 salary hit. draft picks? yes. they'd love to have some more picks. however, they'd still want a decent player in return for parker and i don't see any *cheap* good players on the rockets.
Manu will soon to be 26 and is a very experienced professional and international player. They also may have trouble resigning him after next season. If they could get a good player for him or upgrade their 2 spot they would be foolish not to trade him. If I were the Spurs I would try to add a consistent superstar guard (Kidd) and then work offers for either Manu or Parker while their stock is high.
No problems between Parker and Popovich. The Spurs are understandably interested about the possibility of adding Kidd or JO'Neal this summer. Sure, the Spurs don't "need" a point guard but passing on a Kidd and Duncan tandem during the prime of Duncan's career would be somewhat questionable. As for Ginobili he is definitely in the Spurs' long term plans.
Coach Pop hates Tony ? What a JOKE ! The coach who scout him and then decide to draft him. Guy who fearlessly decided to put a 18yrs old ROOKIE 4 games into the season LAST YEAR, and sticking with him ? The young man does make mistake, and at times playing inconsistently, but he's the friggin SECOND SCORER on the best record team of the league this year, as requested by HIS coach himself. What more coach Pop could ask for ? Taking over the game in the playoff all the time ? For next year scenario, IF the Spurs do sign Kidd, they won't release Parker for cheap, if they would at all. They've been entertaining the idea of two PG's backcourt, as Kidd is more of Playmaker and passer, while TP is more of a scorer. Defensively, Kidd is not too shabby as he has the size and the fact that he's an ALL NBA DEFENSIVE PLAYER TEAM. Jermaine O'Neal ? Why not ? That would create a total domination on the paint for the Spurs. TD commands the low post, while O'Neal roams the high post. Some Hi-Lo frenzy ? It's all good for Spurs fan going into this summer, either taking home the ring or not. Days of greatness are still ahead !
I know many people here are high on T.P. and how he has a High BB IQ, but in the playoffs he's sure takes some bonehead shots and at times has had cruicial unforced turnovers.
Agreed! I personally have been less than impressed with his play in the post season. Marbury was a tough cover for him, I admit that. But Fisher should be someone that he lights up. Laker "PG defense" is one of the biggest holes in the Laker defense. Teams on a nightly basis take advantage of this. Parker should be no exception.
Pop is a great big Parker guy; AND Poppovich IS upper management; the only person above him is P. Holt - but he is a hands off owner. That being said, I have thought for a while that, depending on his trade value, packaging Parker w/Malik Rose (who has a +-$4 mil/per contract for a good/very good big while signing Kidd would be the most cost effective move the Spurs could make. They get the best PG in the league, Manu & Jax at the 2, Duncan, Bowen, Scola (a Malik sized energy 4 they drafted last year) and a good center (sign and trade for Nesterovich for example). If it happens, it will be done for basketball/economic reasons only, not because Pop doesn't like Parker. In other words don't think: "Spurs don't need Kidd, they need a big". Think: "Spurs sign Kidd, therefore Spurs don't need Parker, they need a big".
Yeah, I'm sure the Spurs could get a good "big" for Parker and Rosey. Like a Danny Fortson or a Christian Laettner.
I am a big fan of Tony Parker but make no mistake the guy has stunk it up in the postseason. Tony Parker has shot 39% from the field in the playoffs and a measly 14% from the arc. That being said, I would still be interested in Parker if I am the Rockets. The kid is just about to turn 21 so what exactly do you expect of him in the playoffs? This isnt Magic Johnson we are talking about. Its pretty clear, though, that Parker works very hard on his game; just look at the improvement from yr 1 to yr 2. 46% from the field and 34% from the arc in only his second season as a 20 yr old is very good. After watching the playoffs thus far, I think verse's info is probably very accurate. When the season ended, I wouldve though that the Spurs hang on to Parker and pursue Jermaine O'Neal. However, after watching the disastrous performance by Parker and his backcourt mate Stephen Jackson in the postseason, I think Popp will look long and hard at changing the mix in the backcourt. I would offer the Spurs their choice of either Mobley or Griffin in exchange for Parker. A backcourt of Kidd and Mobley with a third guard guard of the caliber of Ginnobilli could potentially be extremely tough esp with Ginnobilli's size to be able to play a 3 guard set, but I would still take the risk. I believe in the long run, Parker can become a Mike Bibby type PG who is very good at running the pnr. In addition, can you imagine matching an extremely fast PG like Parker with Steve Francis in the backcourt? That would give teams fits. I think its worth the risk.
You don't think they could get someone better than that for Parker+Rose? I mean...Laettner...I wouldn't think that guy has any trade value. Very, very average benchwarmer with a pretty good-sized contract. I'm sure that they could get Laettner for Rose, straight up.
Yeah, I was joking though. It just wont be anyone that great is all. They wont get a good big man for that combo. No Brand, no JOneal. Maybe a young guy, like a Zach Randolph or a Kwame, maybe if they're lucky.
When you start Kidd and Duncan, also have Ginobilli & Claxton - you don't really need an O'Neal, do you? A "good" big in this day and age is one who can rebound and get put-backs - and block the occasional shot; also note: true point guards are not a dime a dozen these days; don't ever underestimate how much some NBA GM might covet Parker. Also, Malik would put up nice numbers in the East.
