Why would either of these guys go to San Antonio? This is just not a team players just WANT to go play for (ala the Lakers, Rockets & others). For whatever reason.
But most of these players are either pretty much scrub players or good but still overpriced players (say SAR). I think the Spurs have much higher hopes than eating bad contracts for less than spectacular contracts. I agree Brad Miller would largely save a disastrous shaping offseason. But Kandi and Rasha are near as far off as you think in overall abilities--and taking Rasha might be a little cheaper plus hurt a division rival that is only getting better and better. So Miller is the best, but any of the 3 at reasonable cost (Miller up to 9 mil, Kandi up to like 8, or Rasha up to like 7.5) will do--you have a bookend around TD for the next 6 years either way. They only way the Spurs can do this is totally mail in next season and be like 5th in the West at best. By even signing Miller, Kandi or Rasha--they are not going to be able offer max contracts in the future. Remember, Duncan's contract hits, they need money for Jackson and Claxton or another gaurd, Manu will be a FA next year, and all their core guys get raises each year. So they would have to totally give up (sign nobody relatively young with any proven game at all) to get in a position to offer a future max contract--and then they might get screwed again when KG or Kobe are offered like 30 mil more by their home squads--which also happen to be better teams by then. Sure they could try to get Wallace, Barry or Swift--but honestly any of Miller, Kanid, Rasha, Maggette or Arenas are better fits if they can get them now. Final thoughts: I think LAC will match Maggette if they have any brains. This might not be bad for the Spurs. In 3 months the Spurs could trade Maggette for Manu--salary match is a non-issue, good deal for both teams. Maggette is younger and is the better player who now the Spurs have locked away for 6 years (Manu will be a RFA next year and the Spurs can only offer what the their caproom is--thus his future is more uncertain), and in Manu the LAC get a cheap player next year who does many of the things Maggette does. Further, it gets them back to the lovely RFA situation next year they like to get themselves in (lowball or match or pass). Again Maggette or Arenas are the two non C's I most don't want to land in SA. They are a whole lot more consistent than what the Spurs have and are only going to get better and better. Arenas is just as young as Parker--but taller and more efficient offensively despite not having a TD to work off of. Free's up the whiney full of himself Parker to trade too while his stock is high, that is what I would do.
DesertScar- Their situation isn't as bad as people might think considering how bad teams want to get rid of players and contracts. Seeing that GSW drafted Pietrus even though they have Richardson and drafted Dunleavy eventhough they have Jamison, Sa could propose a offer like i did. Fortson(5m),Foyle(4.5m), and Dunleavy jr(3m) for maybe a future 1st rd pick. How does thishelp both teams? For GSW it clears cap space and player log jams. Dunleavy plays the same position as their best player,Jamison, Fortson didn't play at all and Foyle splits time with Dampier. By eliminating 12m in salary, the Warriors could then offer Arenas 7m to resign. For Sa, you get active big players and a lotto pick, plus a chance to resign Manu next season. They get Dunleavy Jr, the lotto pick for the 3 spot. A do it all, heady 3 man who should be better but don't have a place in gsw. They get a rugged rebounder in fortson who fell out of favor in gsw and is wasting away and they get Foyle a rebounding shot blocking big man who comes off the books after this season. How does that help sa? The team soon to be crowned in the west,la, you get some help containing the monster in Shaq and the other power player Malone. Foyle at center takes the load off Duncan to have to expend all his energy on Shaq or other good offensive 4's in the west. Fortson and Rose also help rebounding and defense while their playing with Duncan also. Many will not register this as groundbreaking , but it would help them as much as getting Rasho or Miller. We all saw how Shaq punked Rasho in the playoffs last summer. Foyle,Rose and Fortson would at least give him more of a battle and Dunleavy Jr could be that stud playing with Duncan for the next 7 or 8 yrs.
In any business plan you have to prioritize you options and plan for contingencies. I'd say Priority 1 now is is to replace The Admiral. So you rate the possible options (Miller, Kandi, Nessy) and pursue them one, two three. After that is settled, no matter what the outcome, you reevaluate your new postion to determine you new priorities, rate the possible options etc. etc. I'm not quite sure why they thought Kidd was their first priority, well he is a top 10 player, but that's water under the bridge , don't look back. Look forward, move on because it depends on who you get and how much money you have left before you can evaluate your next priority. I always want the Rockets to beat the Spurs but I'd rather have the Spurs win than the Lakers. They are good guys and they are from Texas.
leebigz, personally, I do not think Dunleavy is that good or promising. Maggette or Odom is less than a year younger than him, have a lot more talent, and have proven much more in the NBA if SA could somehow get them. Dunleavy for the #3 pick when guys like Amare, Nene, Butler and Gooden were on the board has to be one of the biggest snow jobs in recent memory. Similarly, Foyle and Fortson are OK as back-ups, but neither as close to as good as Miller, Kandi or Rasha. They could always add Gary Trent as a FA if they want another (besides) Rose ht challeged but strong 4 body. In short, there are only 3 real quality players/prospects from the Warriors--Arenas, Jamison or JR--I can't see any other Warrior really helping SA. Well maybe Dampier a little too--simply because the Spurs have to be awefully desperate for a C--but Miller, Kandi or Rasha are all younger, much better and much healthier. Unless taking on contracts included at least 1 talent like one of those 3 Warriors (or say SAR)--I think it is a bad move for them.
The key is over payment and availiability. Rasho,Kandi are only worth about 7m but will probably ask for 8m and Miller about the same. Every team knows that Sa missed and will try to hold them ransom, but they don't want to get severly screwed. Of course Odom and Maggette are better talents, but why wait 15 days to see if Clipps will match? Believe me they will wait 15 whole days and then make a decision like GS did with Jackson. Getting Foyle a guy who avg 2.5 blocks in 20 mins is pretty good. Getting a lotto player like Dunleavy who seems to be improving is good also. Getting a frontline player rebounder like Fortson can't do anythingbut help Sa also. The thing is , even with taking those salaries, Sa still has cap space for next yr for Manu or any othe free agent. Rasho,Kandi and Miller are all capable, but I'm thinking that Rasho and Miller will go back to their teams , while Kandi will take the money and run from some team like Miami to be a center in the east. Sa has lost enough time and shouldn't waste any more on waiting 15 days to sign players.
