Not that surprising to me, the Spurs are going to soon go 0-2 for the gem URFAs. Meanwhile the Lakers, Wolves and Nets made major moves, and Dallas and Sac have tradable commodities. It is a far cry from a Spurs dynasty as many pundits were proclaiming. Where does this leave the Spurs? Best of rest (pipedream) A) offer J Oneal the 6 year max--not going to happen--Indiana has another 20-30 mil they can offer, but try anyway, what the hell. B) offer Brand the max (the last of the 3 FAs worth the max)--of course the Clips will likely match, but this serves a purpose too (see below). Realistic possibilities: A) get a center. Remember DR is retired and TD would rather play there. But don't go for an old fart like PJ. Take half their cap space and go for Miller, than Kandi, than Rasha. All these guys are around TD's age and would be nice bookends for many years. B) get another guard or SF. Take the other half of cap space and go for Arenas or Maggette. These guys are very young, shoot well from the field and 3 line while being on bad teams (they shoot better than Parker, Jackson or Manu--think what they would do with those guys Duncan created looks). By making the Clips eat a full Brand deal just maybe Maggette can be had for 7 mil or so. Arenas would be great for them too--he is about the same age of Parker and simply more consistent, bigger, and more versital. This would also free up to trade Parker for other position needs. (Note: forget Odom--I think Maggette is a much better fot around TD--they need a shooter and off the ball slasher more than a guy who is most effective with the ball in hand, plus Odom is older and has more health and character questions) In sum, the Spurs now need to think young. If I were them I'd try to get in a position to be the lead team in like 3 years. I hope they do something desperate instead (sign PJ, the overrated Odom, or old farts while they do have cap space) and misue their chances to add major young pieces via FA--but we will see.
O'Neal has already committed to the Pacers, and Maggette to the Nuggets. Spurs are likely to offer a large chunk to Nesterovic; where they go from there is anyone's guess. Maybe even Richard Hamilton...he's still a RFA and a large offer may bring him to SA.
Ah, great time to be a spur fan, eh? Strike 1: no Kidd Strike 2: no JOneal What will strike 3 be? Overpaying for a scrub big man, of course. Like a Rasho, PJ, or Kandi. I doubt they'll go after and get Maggoty. I doubt they'll get or pursue Odom. Ditto with Dre and Gilbert. If they just walk out of fagency with an overpaid David replacement they wont repeat, barring a bunch of injury fortune++ like this year. Spurs don't scare me one bit. Dynasty my ass.
Yep, looks like Maggette is off the market, and Kidd and Jermaine are gone. Zo is not available, either. First, San Antonio should throw everything at Brand, but LAC will likely match. Next. Then, San Antonio should go for Brad Miller. He's a really good complement for Duncan. I don't think they go for Gilbert (and definitely not Dre Miller). That's too small of a backcourt for them, and just pisses off Parker. They really could have used Maggette. Perhaps they take a look at Odom, but Pops and Lamar Odom working out well? Yeah, right. Keep in mind, Manu will be a RFA next year and if he breaks out, they could end up in an Arenas-like situation (RFA, but someone can offer over MLE). It will take some money to resign Stephen Jackson. Utah, Miami, San Antonio, and Denver all have 10+ mill in free agent money, and the only team that seems to have anything set is Denver with Maggette.
Well there's some options: 1. sign Nesterovic or B. Miller to replace Robinson. Resign Speedy Claxton or another capable PG. Bring in another shooter. This will hold them well since caproom will be generous but not plenty like this summer. Then wait til '04 and bring in some players. Players like Mercer, Q. Rich, Brent Barry, Mo Pete will give them capable shooting as well as speed. They would have to bring in a back up PF as well. 2. Or wait til '04. a playoff berth is very reasonable and expected. a finals appearance? maybe not. but getting out of the first round would be more than good (with their lineup) IMO. Then hopefully capspace will be enough (again) to sign some big names. Brand (if he signs a 1 year deal or become unrestricted), KG, Wallace, Stromile Swift, and maybe even Kobe Bryant. But honestly, I think the only thing that they can do now is just sign players that can fit their need...and who wants to go to SA. Signing a center is a must so a Nesterovic or a Brad Miller would be a good signing. Another shooter might be needed if Kerr and Ferry retires. They rely on too many threes NOT to have a good to very good shooter. A backup PG might be needed if Speedy leaves town. 1. Good Starting Center 2. Shooter 3. Backup PG Fill those holes and they should be able to still compete in the west...although knocking off the Fakers next year is pretty ugly looking right now.
Like I have been saying Do whatever you can to get LAMAR ODOM, then after hes commited make sure you get one of the top 3 centers, Brad Miller, Kandi man and Rasha, preferibly Miller. With the money they got, Im pretty sure they can afford Odom and Miller so they gotta act quick and make it happen. They should resign Jackson too, hes the only one who would shoot in the playoffs besides Duncan. I think Clipps will be worried about Brand and let Odom slip away. Spurs will prolly end up with Rasha at center tho. I dont like the Spurs, but if they get Odom, they will move up on my list. Doubt they will tho...
The problem is Odom loves LA and *shockingly* Donald Sterling. Sterling also loves Odom. I think if he had to only sign 2 players, Sterling would sign Odom and Brand. And isn't Odom a restricted FA? so basically if he signs any offer sheet SA gives him, Sterling can just match it. BUT i do like the idea of getting Odom....although I'm pretty sure Pops will run him to the ground because he's not a 'disciplined player'
SA's reasoning: because he fits within their system. Anyone else: I concur with you. He's not worth huge money...some money, yeah, but not huge amounts.
How would Odom fit into the spurs system? he handles the ball a lot and isn't really known as a great outside shooter. that and he's always injured.
I hope my post is in there . But seriously, if management are smart, and i BELIEVE that they are, they're not going to blow all their money on anything less than 1st tier stars right now. They'll either spread it all around accordingly and fill in the gaps intelligently or just add what they REALLY need right now (starting center, maybe backup PG) and just wait for next summer and try to entice KG, Kobe, or even other FAs. Because really, if you can add Rasho right now, resign Jackson to a 3 year deal and Claxton to a longer deal you're set. Then summer 04 hits, you got the 1st tier and then you got Rasheed Wallace, Brent Barry, Stromile Swift. But if they blow all that cap room just to say 'oh we didn't get malone,payton, kidd, or o'neal but we DID sign players'....well sucks to be the spurs.
What do the Spurs do now? Get ready to handover their championship trophy next year to someone else... i.e. The Rock...err ... Lakers
Athletically, he can fit in. I am pretty sure Pops can incorporate him in like how he did with Jackson. But the 'character' issue might make him less attractive to the spurs.
Jackson only fits in because he can hit the three. He can't dribble, and turns it over a lot. The outside shooting is his biggest asset at this point. Odom brings athleticism, but little else the spurs need.
The Spurs need Brad Miller. That guy is so underrated it's not even funny. He is certainly a hell of a lot better than those POS's kandi and rasho.
The good thing about having cap space is they can absorb contracts without giving anything back. Say ATL wants to get rid of SAR and Nazr, the spurs could take botho of those without giving anything back. Say Seattle wanted to get rid of Jerome James and his 5 mill, Sa could do that also without giving up anything. Any team that wants to get ridof a big salary without getting anything back Sa, could do it. Actually if they were really smart and wanted solid young players, they could give st jean a call and tell them they'll take Foyle,Fortson, and Dunleavy off their hands for a future 1st rd pick. All 3 combined =12mill in salaries. Foyle comes off the books this season and Fortson in 2 yrs. Dunleavy could be the sf of the future and it would give GS enoug money to give Arenas 7m a season and clears a log jam at certain spots. I think their in good position personally.
