Front Court help

coyotes_geek · Post #21 » by **coyotes_geek** » Tue Dec 30, 2008 8:56 pm

Thomas will get in there and battle, but unfortunately he's just overmatched by some guys.

joe.linnen · Post #22 » by **joe.linnen** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:18 am

Joe Smith and/or Chris Wilcox come to mind

SF:Finley/Bowen/Udoka
PF:Duncan/Thomas/Tolliver
C:Bonner/Oberto/Mahinmi
SG:Mason/Ginobili/Hairston
PG:Parker/Hill/Vaughn

Matt Bonner $2,978,000 2
Bruce Bowen $4,000,000 2
Tim Duncan $20,598,704 4
Michael Finley (TR) $2,500,000 1
Manu Ginobili $9,905,248 2
Malik Hairston (TR) $299,077 2
George Hill $1,006,200 2
Ian Mahinmi $841,000 2
Roger Mason $3,500,000 2
Fabricio Oberto $3,600,000 2
Tony Parker $11,550,000 3
Kurt Thomas $4,200,000 2
Anthony Tolliver $711,517 2
Ime Udoka $1,080,000 1
Jacque Vaughn $1,262,275 1

Joe Smith (TR) $4,795,000 1
Chris Wilcox $6,750,000 1

I listed the player, what they make and how many years they have left on their contracts. The reason for this is because I don't know what the Spurs ar willing to give up for Smith and/or Wilcox

HarlemHeat37 · Post #23 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:36 am

Joe Smith would be absolutely great..

I think the need for a big man is important, but not really to shut someone down for an extended period of time..we just need the size, really..we don't need him to score or even to play individual defense, just to add a body for the interior D and for rebounds..

Bynum, Chandler..these guys aren't threats at all to score on their own..we just need a guy to clog the lane against them..a guy who will make Paul and Kobe think twice about throwing alley-oops, which is pretty much the only way those type of guys will beat us offensively..get up on the boards..

I wouldn't mind having Joe against those teams, guarding West or Gasol..or Scola, or Okur..

Duncan can easily take out the others, and save some energy offensively..

if we're going for a guy to play Duncan's current role, I'd still like to see Zo on the team, despite what many Spurs fans think..

Blame Rasho · Post #24 » by **Blame Rasho** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:37 am

I hate Zo...

HarlemHeat37 · Post #25 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 6:41 am

ya I know you do, you've said it before..

feelings aside, I don't really see how he wouldn't be able to help us for 10-15 minutes and in the playoffs..tough guy, good shot blocker, physical presence in the lane, can finish offensively..

he would certainly help against guys like Shaq, Chandler, Bynum and whoever..

if he can still play, of course..

coyotes_geek · Post #26 » by **coyotes_geek** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 2:18 pm

Not that I'm against getting Joe Smith, but Smith is just a younger version of Kurt Thomas. Another PF who would be asked to guard centers.

As for Zo, the Spurs have tried to sign him a couple of times and he hasn't shown any interest whatsoever. It sure looks like he just doesn't want to play in San Antonio.

Ballings7 · Post #27 » by **Ballings7** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 3:14 pm

Good point about Zo, I actually kinda forgot about him... I'd welcome him on the team

Joe Smith is different from Thomas, who has been an undersized center most recently, and Smith is primarily a PF. I would think Smith would guard the quicker/smaller bigs usually, anyway. Smith is also notably more agile than Thomas overall, and has more length than Thomas. Smith's jumpshot is also somewhat better, and still has a consistently effective inside game.

Watch like any of Smith's games last season with the Bulls or Cavs to see what I'm talking about (or a few Thunder games

).

Regardless, I really want to see Ian...

coyotes_geek · Post #28 » by **coyotes_geek** » Wed Dec 31, 2008 4:48 pm

Kurt Thomas is primarily a PF just like Smith is. The only difference is that Kurt Thomas has to share the court with Tim Duncan and we like to call Tim Duncan our PF. Swap Thomas for Smith and all of a sudden it's Joe Smith who becomes an undersized center.

I've watched plenty of Joe Smith over the years. I don't see much difference between him and Thomas. Smith is an inch taller, Thomas is 10-15 pounds heavier. Both will shoot the ball out to 18-20 feet, Smith is a little better at it. Both will bang inside, Thomas is a little better at that. Agree that Smith is quicker. Add it all up and I still say Smith is more or less a younger, friskier version of Kurt Thomas. Or Thomas is just an older, slower version of Smith. Either way, they're still pretty similar and neither of them are someone who I feel too comfortable with asking to guard guys like Yao, Shaq, Bynum, Oden or Chandler for prolonged periods of time. A guy who can do that is who this team really needs. Unfortunately for the Spurs those guys are hard to find. If they can't find one and ended up with Smith instead, I'm fine with it. Smith would still be a solid addition to the team, just not one that fully addresses what I perceive to be our biggest need.

Drewser3131 · Post #29 » by **Drewser3131** » Thu Jan 1, 2009 9:48 pm

My buddy was in Florida this past week and was out a bar where Dwade and a few Heat were partying and Antoine Walker was there. He spoke with Walker and he said that he'd be signing with the Spurs in the next week...not sure if you've guys have heard that reported anywhere yet, but figured i'd let you know what I was told.

Ballings7 · Post #30 » by **Ballings7** » Thu Jan 1, 2009 11:25 pm

I'd be questionable about that, but as long as he fits in enough, nice

Post #31 » by **SD2042** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 1:08 am

How about Zaza Pachulia as a potential Spur?

the southern dandy · Post #32 » by **the southern dandy** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 11:47 am

SD2042 wrote:How about Zaza Pachulia as a potential Spur?

A few years ago I would have been all for this, but the Spurs need defenders in the front court more than anything else. Zaza is a poor defender and I feel duplicates a lot of what we already have in the front court. Also his contract isn't too great IIRC

Ballings7 · Post #33 » by **Ballings7** » Sat Jan 3, 2009 7:37 pm

I'd love to get Samuel Dalembert (who has refined his overall game the past couple years), but that seems pretty unrealistic.

Smills91 · Post #34 » by **Smills91** » Sun Jan 4, 2009 4:08 pm

I've always thought Brad Miller would be a seemless and natural fit next to Tim Duncan. I also think he'd be a Pop favorite, because he's such a smart player, who shoots well and rebounds well too. Also, Brad Miller is the best screening big man in the league IMO, and also the best passing big. I'd predict both Parker and Ginobili would get easy buckets at the rim when running the offense through Brad Miller in the high post.

Blame Rasho · Post #35 » by **Blame Rasho** » Sun Jan 4, 2009 9:43 pm

Miller is a bucket of suck on the other end of the floor. He is poor help and man defender and not to mention he has a big contract.

Blame Rasho · Post #36 » by **Blame Rasho** » Sun Jan 4, 2009 9:44 pm

Ballings7 wrote:I'd love to get Samuel Dalembert (who has refined his overall game the past couple years), but that seems pretty unrealistic.

Yeah.. he would be ideal but he has a big contract and has a lower basketball IQ than Elson.

Post #37 » by **SD2042** » Mon Jan 5, 2009 9:22 am

the southern dandy wrote:
SD2042 wrote:How about Zaza Pachulia as a potential Spur?

A few years ago I would have been all for this, but the Spurs need defenders in the front court more than anything else. Zaza is a poor defender and I feel duplicates a lot of what we already have in the front court. Also his contract isn't too great IIRC

Zaza's contract comes off the books come July 1st.

the southern dandy · Post #38 » by **the southern dandy** » Tue Jan 6, 2009 7:01 am

SD2042 wrote:
the southern dandy wrote:
SD2042 wrote:How about Zaza Pachulia as a potential Spur?

A few years ago I would have been all for this, but the Spurs need defenders in the front court more than anything else. Zaza is a poor defender and I feel duplicates a lot of what we already have in the front court. Also his contract isn't too great IIRC

Zaza's contract comes off the books come July 1st.

Thanks for the clarification on that one. I'd be more open to acquiring him now, but I don't believe the front office would give up much of value to acquire him.

coyotes_geek · Post #39 » by **coyotes_geek** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 5:04 pm

Yay. Austin Croshere. We're saved! :lol:

Not the worst move in the world, and it is only a 10 day contract, but isn't one Matt Bonner enough???

the southern dandy · Post #40 » by **the southern dandy** » Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:13 pm

He's a solid veteran player who may be able to take a few minutes here and there to keep Duncan's in check.
I'm not really angry or impressed with this signing. Cro's a tough player who tries hard and has decent stroke. Potentially he could be a nice addition, I guess we'll have to wait 10 days and see.