Spurs have too many bigs
Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 6:07 am
The Spurs team is deep at nearly every position this season. The only exception is the pg position, where Hill is still a question mark if he can play the point at a championship backup level. But the Spurs have 7 big men, and usually you only use 4 big's in a rotation. With TD, Dyes, and Blair looking like the 3 main bigs in rotation, there is Ratliff, Bonner, Haislip, and Mahinmi fighting for the last big in rotation - with two of those four most defiantly be on the inactive list.
The purpose of this thread is discuss who is going to be that fourth big in the rotation at the beginning if the season - and, of course, what reasonable moves can we make to get rid of one of our bigs and improve in other areas.
Let's break down what these four other players provide.
Ratliff can provide a solid 10-15mins at about 40-50 games this season. He is a offensive liability but an outstanding shot blocker. However, he is old and slow and most likely will not play alongside TD to avoid being ripped apart in pick and roles.
* IMO* Ratliff will be on the active list for depth only - when the Spurs need size to deal with bigger teams. He can provide with a short time, rim protection and rebounding.
Mahinmi is long, athletic, but weak. He has a very raw offensive game and will rely on hustle and offensive rebounds to stay in a rotation. It is said that he has a decent rebounding and shot blocking game because of his athleticism and length. He is, however, not only raw offensively but also defensively. During the summer league he average 6 fouls a game in 27 mins. He had a somewhat productive summer, avg 10points, 7rebs, 2blks, while shooting at 50% and 81% at the line. He is only recently getting into game shape since being injured all year. We can only hope that he can improve. Remember, he is a prospect.
*IMO* He will be battling Ratliff for the role at the depth position. Both of them wont be active at the same time, and most likely Mahinmi is not ready. If that is the case, maybe another season in the D League will most likely occur.
Bonner - we know what he provides. Long range shooting at a ridiculous percentages. Great hustle but a major defensive liability and a poor rebounder. He avg 23 mins a game to only snatch 5 rebs a game, where only three times did he clock over 10 + rebs. Because of his new role, where he started, Bonner was used strictly to space the floor with TD inside. However, during the playoffs, he shot a terrible 21% and only totaled 15pnts and 16rebs in 100mins of game time.
*IMO* Its a tough one. I think he will he shipped off somewhere else.
Haislip is a guy I don't know much about - in fact, the majority of us don't know what he can provide. I know almost nothing about the guy or what he can provide. If someone can share some light on him, that would be great. However, there was a reason why it was one of the first Spurs moves in the offseason. He obviously brings something that they like.
There has been a lot of talk about a possible trading block involving Bonner, Finley and/or, Mason. I have a serious problem with that. Firstly, Mason and Finley give us plenty of depth in the guard position, and Finley especially at the three position - where, if Udoka doesn't resign, we don't have anyone else backing him up. The reports suggest that Hairston can fill in that role. Also, all three of those players are our best outside shooters. If Finley or Mason were to be shipped out with Bonner, there is no doubt in my mind that we must receive a dead-eye 3 point shooter in return, that not only is productive, but is worthy of at least 20mins a game and not a defensive liability.
*IMO* I would love to see Spurs try and get Earl Watson or Ollie. Who seems both can suit the Spurs at a limited price. I still believe that the Spurs need to make a trade that would ship out a big to help improve their point of three position.
Thoughts?
The purpose of this thread is discuss who is going to be that fourth big in the rotation at the beginning if the season - and, of course, what reasonable moves can we make to get rid of one of our bigs and improve in other areas.
Let's break down what these four other players provide.
Ratliff can provide a solid 10-15mins at about 40-50 games this season. He is a offensive liability but an outstanding shot blocker. However, he is old and slow and most likely will not play alongside TD to avoid being ripped apart in pick and roles.
* IMO* Ratliff will be on the active list for depth only - when the Spurs need size to deal with bigger teams. He can provide with a short time, rim protection and rebounding.
Mahinmi is long, athletic, but weak. He has a very raw offensive game and will rely on hustle and offensive rebounds to stay in a rotation. It is said that he has a decent rebounding and shot blocking game because of his athleticism and length. He is, however, not only raw offensively but also defensively. During the summer league he average 6 fouls a game in 27 mins. He had a somewhat productive summer, avg 10points, 7rebs, 2blks, while shooting at 50% and 81% at the line. He is only recently getting into game shape since being injured all year. We can only hope that he can improve. Remember, he is a prospect.
*IMO* He will be battling Ratliff for the role at the depth position. Both of them wont be active at the same time, and most likely Mahinmi is not ready. If that is the case, maybe another season in the D League will most likely occur.
Bonner - we know what he provides. Long range shooting at a ridiculous percentages. Great hustle but a major defensive liability and a poor rebounder. He avg 23 mins a game to only snatch 5 rebs a game, where only three times did he clock over 10 + rebs. Because of his new role, where he started, Bonner was used strictly to space the floor with TD inside. However, during the playoffs, he shot a terrible 21% and only totaled 15pnts and 16rebs in 100mins of game time.
*IMO* Its a tough one. I think he will he shipped off somewhere else.
Haislip is a guy I don't know much about - in fact, the majority of us don't know what he can provide. I know almost nothing about the guy or what he can provide. If someone can share some light on him, that would be great. However, there was a reason why it was one of the first Spurs moves in the offseason. He obviously brings something that they like.
There has been a lot of talk about a possible trading block involving Bonner, Finley and/or, Mason. I have a serious problem with that. Firstly, Mason and Finley give us plenty of depth in the guard position, and Finley especially at the three position - where, if Udoka doesn't resign, we don't have anyone else backing him up. The reports suggest that Hairston can fill in that role. Also, all three of those players are our best outside shooters. If Finley or Mason were to be shipped out with Bonner, there is no doubt in my mind that we must receive a dead-eye 3 point shooter in return, that not only is productive, but is worthy of at least 20mins a game and not a defensive liability.
*IMO* I would love to see Spurs try and get Earl Watson or Ollie. Who seems both can suit the Spurs at a limited price. I still believe that the Spurs need to make a trade that would ship out a big to help improve their point of three position.
Thoughts?