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The name on the front of Tiago Splitter’s jersey is TAU Ceramica. That’s also the name–as you might have guessed–of a prominent Spanish ceramics company. TAU is very proud of its floor tile. This is all commonplace stuff—European teams are like race cars. They have sponsors. And those sponsors are not immune to the hardships of a slow economy. Saski Baskonia is the actual team name, and they’re located in Vitoria, Spain.

There is an interesting thread at SpursTalk (thanks to 48MoH reader Will for bringing it to my attention) that reacts to recent news that Baskonia will no longer be sponsored by TAU. If you follow all that, you might still yawn. Sponsorships come and go. Someone else’s name will adorn Baskonia jerseys in the coming months. But there might be something here to file away for future reference.

Does this mean that Vitoria is in a “let’s cut some payroll” bind? Are they amenable to negotiating a contract buyout with Tiago Splitter, freeing themselves from his hefty contract? Perhaps. I suspect that they’ll just collect another sponsor and move along with business as usual. But maybe the hard economy will shine favorably on San Antonio in the form of a talented Brazilian center.

During the course of the aforementioned thread something else is suggested that should catch your attention. A board member named Bruno, a SpursTalk regular and trusted friend of this writer, cites section Article VIII, Section 2 of the CBA and notes that the Spurs are capable of signing Splitter for an amount greater than the rookie scale beginning next summer (2010). The section in question reads:

…a First Round Pick who does not sign with the Team that holds his draft rights for any portion of the three (3) Seasons following the NBA Draft in which he was selected (and who did not play intercollegiate basketball during such period) may enter into either (a) a Rookie Scale Contract in accordance with Section 1 above, or (b) if the Team has Room in excess of the applicable first-year Rookie Scale Amount, a Contract covering no fewer than three (3) Seasons that provides for Salary plus Unlikely Bonuses in the first Salary Cap Year up to the amount of the Team’s Room and increases or decreases in Salary and Unlikely Bonuses in subsequent Salary Cap Years in accordance with Article VII, Section 5(c)(1).

I was able to run Article VII, Section 2 past a CBA expert who is under the employ of a trusted 4 letter network. In his estimation, the Spurs may in fact work outside the rookie scale to sign Tiago Splitter, but they have to wait until next summer to do so (as the section stipulates). Not bad, considering that’s when Splitter has his first buyout option. As our readers likely know, the Spurs will have plenty of cash to spend next summer, more than enough to offer Splitter something in excess of the rookie scale. Considering Duncan’s age, this should be welcome news to all and sundry.

So, in review, help could well be on the way. There is a remote chance Splitter lands a buyout due to Baskonia’s financial hardship. Remote. But a fairly strong chance he joins the Spurs in 2010. That is, if they want to pay him.

co_laper wrote:Well, it is a realistic possibility for NEXT summer. Not this summer. I don't know about you guys, but I could care less about 2 years from now. Duncan and Manu isn't getting younger. I want someone that's going to help this coming season.

Canucklehead wrote:Honestly you couldn't get past the mavs this year....you should be willing to trade everyone minus Parker to get some serious talented youth in now while they still have value.

I'm curious what one could get for Tim Duncan at this point. Would it be similar to the KG trade or better? Who would be a buyer

co_laper wrote:I truly doubt the Spurs will ever trade Manu or Duncan. I can see us trading Parker once either manu or duncan retires. Dealing One of the big 3 even if it's for another Superstar not named Wade, Kobe, Lebron, Dwight does not make us a better team for the year unless everything just starts clicking. Them 3 boys already have chemistry. The Spurs will tinker with the supporting cast, not the Franchise players.

tony parker 09 wrote:

co_laper wrote:I truly doubt the Spurs will ever trade Manu or Duncan. I can see us trading Parker once either manu or duncan retires. Dealing One of the big 3 even if it's for another Superstar not named Wade, Kobe, Lebron, Dwight does not make us a better team for the year unless everything just starts clicking. Them 3 boys already have chemistry. The Spurs will tinker with the supporting cast, not the Franchise players.

I dunno, I'm a big fan of Manu and love everything he has brought to this side, but i would probably get over it if Manu turned into Brandon Roy or Kevin Durant or Chris Bosh or Danny Granger.