SPLITTER 4YRS TAU SIGNED

[Blame Rasho]

“When he agreed to come, he didn’t know they were going to offer him so much (in Spain),” Popovich said. “With the way the economy is, he would have had to be an idiot to come here next year.”

[Genjuro]

I think many of you guys don't quite understand the kind of paycut Splitter was facing coming into the NBA.

He still had to get free of his contract with Tau, paying one million euros (the Spurs could only contribute with half million dollars), and with the current euro/dollar exchange rate, the final net money is ridiculously low. According my estimations, he would make around 100,000 euros net with the guaranteed part of his rookie contract (that's the first two years combined).

So, in the end, he will be making from 20 to 50 times more money in Europe in those two guaranteed years (I expect him to be signed somewhere in the range of 1 to 2.5 million euro net).

Now, if you guys step in here and claim that you would throw the money away and go to the NBA to basically play for free, you would be either lying or extremely naive. It's not like Splitter is filthy rich; the guy has been playing until this year under the contract he signed with Tau when he was 15 years old.

And I honestly believe his dream was/is the NBA. He's from Brazil, where the Euroleague doesn't draw barely any attention, and he always voiced his interesterst in going to the NBA. But the situation in the last year has changed a lot: Scola left the team and now he's the leader and he loves his new role; his excellent performance level has raised his value in Europe; and the dollar has continued losing value against the euro.

If we talk about other guys, Rudy Fernández doesn't have to pay that much of a buyout (indeed I would say the Blazers can cover it all) and he gets a bigger contract having been picked higher. And still, he's sacrifying huge money to make his dream true. I only know a comparable example to Splitter had he decided to come over: Raul Lopez having to pay Real Madrid a huge buyout to play for the Jazz, so he ended up playing almost for free. That's just one player.

But the fact that some guys give up large sums of money to play in the NBA is no reason to trash those who prefer to secure their future, particularly in such a loopsided example as Splitter's. On the contrary, the European players that make so big sacrifices to be in the league should get more recognition from the NBA in general (teams, fans and media).

But of course, it's much more comfortable to sit behind the screen at your home and call things a proffesional who is just trying to take the best decision for his future.

[lukeridenour]

the bottom line is, if he didn't promise us he would come, and screw us over by wasting our first round pick, then i would pat him on the back because he made a great financial decision. but he did promise us, and he did waste our draft pick. we have ever right to be bitter, as he has every right to be celebrating his millions.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

When his career is all said and done he will be looked down by San Antonio as King Douche.

[ss1986v2]

no ill will here. he made the correct decision. cant fault a man for making the right move.

[Black_Jack21]

I don't think it's all done and dusted.
I think this could be a way of easing the financial issues he will have about paying the buyout.
He's still a young player, he gets paid for a few years, pays the buyout and it has less of an impact, because of the money he's earned and then comes over.
I still am bitter we don't get him this year, but all is not lost, our front office is a good one and after the scola fiasco they won't be wanting to make the same mistake again.
It might be naive but I'm still hopeful to see Splitter in black and silver

[Ryoga Hibiki]

the bottom line is, if he didn't promise us he would come, and screw us over by wasting our first round pick, then i would pat him on the back because he made a great financial decision. but he did promise us, and he did waste our draft pick. we have ever right to be bitter, as he has every right to be celebrating his millions.

I doubt he's really promised anything to the Spurs.
Likely he just said what were his intentions at the time, but there wasn't any kind of agreement, also because the Spurs had obbigations to him either.

To make things clear: what is he supposed to owe the Spurs?
They picked him in a horrible spot forcing him to take a huge paycut instead of letting him slip to the 2nd round, they've given him no money yet and all they sacrificed was a very low pick for lottery talent.

[SMRattler]

the bottom line is, if he didn't promise us he would come, and screw us over by wasting our first round pick, then i would pat him on the back because he made a great financial decision. but he did promise us, and he did waste our draft pick. we have ever right to be bitter, as he has every right to be celebrating his millions.

I doubt he's really promised anything to the Spurs.
Likely he just said what were his intentions at the time, but there wasn't any kind of agreement, also because the Spurs had obbigations to him either.

To make things clear: what is he supposed to owe the Spurs?
They picked him in a horrible spot forcing him to take a huge paycut instead of letting him slip to the 2nd round, they've given him no money yet and all they sacrificed was a very low pick for lottery talent.

Let him slip to the second? Why?

Why is it our fault he slipped so low, why not blame the other teams in the draft?

Why is it a "horrible spot" for him to be picked but not horrible for the guys drafted after him in the first round? Or a few picks before him? Do you want everyone to admit he's got talent and deserves to be paid more so, nobody pick him if he doesn't go in the top 5?

Where do you draw the line?

Bottom line is slipped because people had some concerns. Valid or not. He was obviously not considered a sure thing by everyone or not worth the risk. Maybe it was THIS risk of "he's not ready today... and when he is ready, he might get offered more money elsewhere". Most teams weren't willing to risk that. Spurs were because he indicated his "intentions" and they thought they had a good shot. It backfired. Spurs lost, he got his money though, so, don't try to make it sound like he was some kind of victim being picked in the first round by the defending champs.

[Genjuro]

the bottom line is, if he didn't promise us he would come, and screw us over by wasting our first round pick, then i would pat him on the back because he made a great financial decision. but he did promise us, and he did waste our draft pick. we have ever right to be bitter, as he has every right to be celebrating his millions.

I doubt he's really promised anything to the Spurs.
Likely he just said what were his intentions at the time, but there wasn't any kind of agreement, also because the Spurs had obbigations to him either.

To make things clear: what is he supposed to owe the Spurs?
They picked him in a horrible spot forcing him to take a huge paycut instead of letting him slip to the 2nd round, they've given him no money yet and all they sacrificed was a very low pick for lottery talent.

Let him slip to the second? Why?

Why is it our fault he slipped so low, why not blame the other teams in the draft?

Why is it a "horrible spot" for him to be picked but not horrible for the guys drafted after him in the first round? Or a few picks before him? Do you want everyone to admit he's got talent and deserves to be paid more so, nobody pick him if he doesn't go in the top 5?

Where do you draw the line?

Bottom line is slipped because people had some concerns. Valid or not. He was obviously not considered a sure thing by everyone or not worth the risk. Maybe it was THIS risk of "he's not ready today... and when he is ready, he might get offered more money elsewhere". Most teams weren't willing to risk that. Spurs were because he indicated his "intentions" and they thought they had a good shot. It backfired. Spurs lost, he got his money though, so, don't try to make it sound like he was some kind of victim being picked in the first round by the defending champs.

I don't see Ryoga trying to picture Splitter like a victim. But he's naither to blame for not coming to the NBA given the situation. If you pick a foreign guy so low in the first round while having a one-million-euros buyout, you might struggle adding him to your roster. It has happened.

[johnnyjohnnyjohnny]

He owed us when he entered the draft and got drafted.

Is it Ok for every Euro player who enters the draft and ends up slipping to later decide they don't want to play? That's no better than entering a draft and telling a team 'don't pick me' I want to play for the Lakers.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

Let him slip to the second? Why?
Why is it our fault he slipped so low, why not blame the other teams in the draft?
Why is it a "horrible spot" for him to be picked but not horrible for the guys drafted after him in the first round? Or a few picks before him? Do you want everyone to admit he's got talent and deserves to be paid more so, nobody pick him if he doesn't go in the top 5?
Where do you draw the line?

the Spurs did what they felt was better for them, it was their right to do it, no need to blame them.
At the same time Splitter has to do what's better for himself, because not only legally but even morally he has no reason to feel in debt to them, as someone in this this thread seems to think.
The NBA has its own rules to limit the money being thrown to the newcomers, but once you say "my way or the highway" don't be surprised if someone doesn't accept the rules.

[Blame Rasho]

If you want something that stings.... read this by the ESPN stat guru...

Sadly for Spurs fans, Tiago Splitter is one example of the dollar's weakness keeping a prized player on the other side of the Atlantic. His projected NBA numbers are outstanding -- 18.5 points and 10.3 boards, 54.4 percent shooting, 18.11 PER -- and it's unfortunate that such a wise draft choice has to be wasted because of a silly thing like currency fluctuations.

[Black_Jack21]

Holy Damn!
Man I wonder how they predict something like that but those are fantastic numbers, I wonder if they are taking into account that he isn't the no.1 option in the post like at Tau?
Come on Tiago, earn you dough then come play with the big boys we need you!

[Genjuro]

He owed us when he entered the draft and got drafted.

Is it Ok for every Euro player who enters the draft and ends up slipping to later decide they don't want to play? That's no better than entering a draft and telling a team 'don't pick me' I want to play for the Lakers.

He didn't enter the draft; he was automatically eligible.

Actually, nobody asks the players if they want to be selected the year they turn 22; NBA teams just pick them. Therefore, I think it's extremely fair if players just decide at will about their future, of course.

I'm still not sure if your message is ironic. This seems so obvious to me that it results akward to have to explain it.

[johnnyjohnnyjohnny]

Nope, not being 'sarcastic'. I was actually unaware that at 22 players are automatically eligible. However, it would seem odd to me that the Spurs would draft him without having been given an impression by Splitter that he intended to come to the NBA. Assuming that is the case, then fine... Splitter owed us nothing. If he did tell us that he wanted to come over, allowed us to waste a draft pick on him and later backed out then I reserve my right to be upset.

[PeTBuLL]

Talking about other stuff´s, Splitter played for Team Brazil yesterday, and man, he turned himself in something like unbelivable, i never saw Splitter playing like he is playing right now...

For me, there is not a single prospect in this draft (playing at PF or C) who matches what Splitter is bringing to the table...

http://www.cbb.com.br/vivo.asp?e=1012&j=10647&t=3 = Box Score!

Translate the info.

20 pts (7/10 FG) (6/8 FT) / 10 (6 offensive) rebounds / 2 blks / 2 assists / 1 stl in 20 minutes of action

Ahhh, and a sweet reverse jam!

[SMRattler]

the Spurs did what they felt was better for them, it was their right to do it, no need to blame them.
At the same time Splitter has to do what's better for himself, because not only legally but even morally he has no reason to feel in debt to them, as someone in this this thread seems to think.
The NBA has its own rules to limit the money being thrown to the newcomers, but once you say "my way or the highway" don't be surprised if someone doesn't accept the rules.

I was saying from the get go the splitter would be crazy to turn doown that much more money overseas. I'm all for loyalty once there is something established, like years of work being rewarded by a club to a player or a player "living up" to a big contract by going the extra mile, etc.

But there is nothing like that between these two sides yet. We picked someone who we believe in. He got way more money than we could compete with, he had to take it.