RealGM

Hi,

I noticed that Ian is an unrestricted FA due to the Spurs not picking up his option. He also never gets any playing time. Can you guys describe why this is? What are his strengths and weaknesses (e.g., rebounding, pick and rolls on defense or offense, etc.)

Not picking up the option is a very bad looking sign, but I'm just wondering if he might be worth taking a flier on for another team as a backup big man.

Haven't seen enough of him to know. From what I heard thou, he's good in shotblocking and he's athletic. That's the only thing he got going for him in the NBA level. I think Ian is okay as a 3rd string Center, but if you count on him playing consistent minutes as a backup big, your team have to be really awful at that position and is gunning for the lottery. He hasn't done enough to warrant even consistent and limited playing time.

I believe he could potentially be a surprisingingly decent pickup for some team out there. He was the cream of the crop of D-league a few years ago and has managed to impress in limited minutes this year. It's too late for him here in SA. Pop seems to hate atheliticism and youth.

He's gonna bite SAS in the ass...

I think the FO has f'ed up handling him badly. He's shown quite a bit in my opinion, but last year's misdiagnosed injury fiasco (not his fault by the by) hurt him, together with Pop's crazed crush on certain veterans and small ball (examples : Nick van excel, Finley, Vaughn, Bonner, Oberto, Jefferson, Bogans). This means he hasn't had the teething time that most bigs need. Look at Bynum's first 3 seasons. Look a Jermaine O'neal's career. There are tons of examples - young big men who have foul troubles need some patience and they get over it; at least part of it is the NBA ref's culture. Pop has been unwilling to commit that patience, and as a result, some other team is going to get what I suspect will be at minimum a decent 4th big (a la Ron Turiaf), and might yet turn out to be a starting level guy. Hell, even if he doesn't improve any further, he's good enough to be a 5th or 6th big on the roster...

I doubt it. My guess is once he's let go, he won't even make an NBA roster. Go to Europe like Haislip does.

He needs minutes, period.

I really have no idea what we have in Mahinmi. I just haven't seen enough of him to really tell you what we have in him.

The guy is a bum let him go.

We just don't know how good he is... too little PT, always hurt, always fouls.

Perhaps in another team he can produce... he is just an big with unrealized potential. Nothing more, nothing less...

I don't mind at all even if Ian doesn't return next season.

Why hasn't this guy cracked the line up. He must really suck to not get any playing time. Especially with Theo and Haislip gone. Hell we only have 12 active players and he still can't make it on the floor.

On another note I like the confidence Pop is showing in Hairston. Letting him play on valuable defensive stops.

SApuro_ wrote:Why hasn't this guy cracked the line up. He must really suck to not get any playing time. Especially with Theo and Haislip gone. Hell we only have 12 active players and he still can't make it on the floor.

On another note I like the confidence Pop is showing in Hairston. Letting him play on valuable defensive stops.

Hairston's been in limited minutes. I'd really like to see him get more minutes.

Ian has played a total of 129 minutes in the NBA. That equals 5 games, 25 minutes a game.

He averages a lot of fouls and turnovers because he has little experience playing in the NBA.

Per minute, he leads the Spurs in points and rebounds and is 2nd in blocks.

He makes 65% of his shots and is big and athletic.

He is better than McDeyss but McDeyss is costing the Spurs $9 million this season, including the luxury tax.


McDeyss was a $9 million mistake.

I think Popovich would rather lose with McDeyss than win with Ian.

Boy, you crack me up. Lol.