Tiago Splitter update via Draftexpress..

HarlemHeat37 · Post #21 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Sat May 3, 2008 9:51 pm

I disagree with you guys..

we don't NEED a shooting big man..especially not Bonner, who doesn't really give us anything other than his shooting..he doesn't play like a big man in any way, and doesn't really use his size..

other than shooting, Bonner is nothing like Horry..

we could get a FA shooting big man for the league minimum, and it wouldn't make a difference in comparison to Bonner(not trying to hate on him, he seems like a really good dude)..

SMRattler · Post #22 » by **SMRattler** » Sat May 3, 2008 9:58 pm

I just don't see Pop actually using both Tiago and Ian next year. Two young bigs occupying two spots on the roster? Unless one come a lot more prepared than I can imagine their first year, I don't see Pop using someone learning on the job in the playoffs. And we need guys we can use.

TD, Thomas and Oberto are pretty sure to return. Who are the other bigs? These two guys? I don't know. Pop would almost have to rely on Bonner to play in the playoffs as these two would probably not be playoff ready for Pop's standards. That's why I think we will sign someone from outside and maybe get one of these guys on the roster and give them a chance. Unless they saw Ian is reliable for the coming year for a few mins a night.

CoachPop · Post #23 » by **CoachPop** » Sat May 3, 2008 10:50 pm

Both Ian and Tiago will be on the roster next year. Whether they get minutes or not is up to them. Up to how hard and well they play. But Pop isn't going to not give them a chance just because they're both young players. Pop doesn't have an irrational aversion to playing young players. You're confusing him for Larry Brown or D'antoni. After all, he gave a lot of responsibility to a very raw and inconsistent Stephen Jackson in '03, and that turned out to be pretty good for us that year.

SMRattler · Post #24 » by **SMRattler** » Sat May 3, 2008 11:46 pm

Jackson is a good example. He was picked up one year, hardly played at all that first year. He was a project the coaches worked with all year. Taught him defense, discpline in the system, etc. Following year he was an x factor to a title team.

He had one year of NBA experience too. But he had all kinds of flaws. They cleaned it up before throwing him out there. Oberto same thing his first year, showed flashes early but didn't play much at all later that first year. He became another project that year. Following year? Key contributor to a title team.

Those were years Pop knew we were in position to play for a title. He doesn't like teaching on the job. Too many guys learning on the job equals losses. Mistakes in games will equal losses.

The only one I recall he really did that with was TP. And I think it was cause AD was such a lost cause of a PG that he said, what the hell, we ain't winning a title with that as our PG anyway. Let the kid learn. And Pop looked like was pissed all year long too.

Ballings7 · Post #25 » by **Ballings7** » Sun May 4, 2008 12:56 am

Like others and I have said, about getting another big man who can defend from FA... be it Kurt Thomas returning, or Diop being brought in (next best option is Kwame).

I think it's simply obvious, that we are definitely not going to have Oberto/Splitter/Ian/Bonner as the support big men for Duncan. Another guy with experience and defensive ability will for sure be in there with those guys.

And if Diop's progression is basically done, that's fine with me. Because while he is a bust of a lottery pick, he's turned out to be a top ten defensive center who has legit center size, has discipline, and above-average mobility. The summer of 2005 he worked out with Marc Jackson, lost weight, and showed well in pre-season to make the roster with Dallas, going onto establish himself, and set up an NBA career. I'd love it if we signed him.

Blame Rasho · Post #26 » by **Blame Rasho** » Wed May 7, 2008 3:59 am

Info via ESPN...

linky

Splitter, as he told ESPN.com before the Euroleague season even started, fully intends to be at the Spurs camp later this year and no evidence from either Tau, Texas or Tiago himself, has emerged to contradict that analysis.

"The NBA is something I have in my mind," Splitter says. "I want to finish the season here then we will see better. But, for sure, it would be the best way to go over to the NBA, winning the Euroleague, proving you are a great player and earning the respect of the NBA."

Splitter's coach, the highly-regarded Croatian Neven Spahija is, coincidentally, a friend of Spurs general manager RC Buford.

"It will be a very interesting conversation with RC," Spahija said while laughing. "When anything bad happens with players I recommend, it's my fault; whenever the players are good, it is because RC is a great scout!

"But Tiago has had his best ever season and I really appreciate the job he has done for us. He has taken the next step in his career, but is he ready for the NBA? It is difficult to say, you never know how players will adjust."

Whatever the outcome with Splitter, however, the Spurs have an embarrassment of Euro riches waiting in the wings, along with the 6'11", 23-year-old forward/center from Brazil.

Frenchman Ian Mahimni is an almost identical build to Splitter (same height, six pounds lighter at 230) and is coming off an exceptional year in the NBA Development League with the Austin Toros, having averaged 17.1 points and 8.2 rebounds a game.

Iowa Energy coach Nick Nurse, who spent much of his career in Europe and is currently an assistant with the Great Britain national team has seen Mahimni 10 times this season. "He's got all the talent in the world," Nurse says.

"He's extremely talented, athletic, shoots it facing up and he has some good fight in his game. At the end of the season he was banged up and wasn't 100 percent, but he was still right in there, battling.

"Of course, being ready for the NBA and being ready to make it onto the Spurs are two different things and he needs more experience and to get more physical. But he showed some flashes of sheer brilliance this season."

To further cloud the issue, 28-year-old Lithuanian Robertas Javtokas, having been buried deep on the bench at Panathinaikos last season, is coming off an exceptional season with Russian team Dynamo Moscow.

"Javtokas should have been in the NBA two years ago," says one European scout. "But he took the decision for his family to take the money at Panathinaikos and that held back his opportunities. Now, he's one of the better bigs available over here."

For the Spurs -- a club not known to shy away from international players -- this summer could be a particularly interesting on

Ballings7 · Post #27 » by **Ballings7** » Wed May 7, 2008 6:19 am

Good stuff

Very interested to see Mahinmi and Splitter get going in the next year.

Javotkas emerges again - I thought he may of been done with us, maybe not.

HarlemHeat37 · Post #28 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Wed May 7, 2008 4:40 pm

I'm definitely looking forward to next year with all the cap room and Splitter/Ian..and best of all, it's an odd year..

Donald Kaufman · Post #29 » by **Donald Kaufman** » Thu May 8, 2008 12:36 am

We need some help outside of the usual suspects of TD, Manu and TP. Hopefully one (or all) of these guys can provide that.

Should be an active offseason for us.

lukeridenour · Post #30 » by **lukeridenour** » Mon May 12, 2008 10:30 am

i am a HUGE Javtokas fan, hopefully he does end up coming over, although i think the reason he didnt come over before was cause of money problems.

thanks for the update on splitter, very excited for him to come over.

UDRIH14 · Post #31 » by **UDRIH14** » Mon May 12, 2008 12:02 pm

these are the players im high on for next season to come over and contribute

splitter
sanikidze = hopefully his injury prone **** is fixed,

mahinmi = still needs development
javtokas
spanou = i hope this guy doesnt come over seriously.

Magz50 · Post #32 » by **Magz50** » Mon May 12, 2008 3:59 pm

Looking forward to seeing some young guns next season!

Black_Jack21 · Post #33 » by **Black_Jack21** » Tue May 13, 2008 12:21 am

I'm actually really looking forward to seeing Mahimni get some minutes this season. 17 and 8 are pretty good numbers. While he's not the biggest player he's definatly got the athletisicm.
I haven't seen alot of Ian but does anyone think it might be possible for him to turn somewhat into a tyrus thomas sort of player, somewhat undersized but a mobile, athletic freak? Rather than just a skinny center?

I'm very excited about Tiago Splitter i nearly fell backwards off my chair when i first saw the draft and that he had fallen that low.
The way a see it he should be able to get the same open looks that Oberto would get from Duncan, Parker etc, only from the sounds of it he might be able to create something for himself too. I'd be very suprised if he wasn't playing consistant minutes by the seasons end depending on offseason pickups.
I can't wait to let these guys go at it next season.

andonewheel · Post #34 » by **andonewheel** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:29 pm

On Tuesday, a Spurs representative was in Spain talking with Tiago Splitter, trying to convince him to pack his bags and head for San Antonio next season. Didn't work out. It seems that the Brazilian center is set to re-sign with ACB powerhouse Tau Cer

wms02a · Post #35 » by **wms02a** » Wed May 28, 2008 1:58 pm

andonewheel wrote:On Tuesday, a Spurs representative was in Spain talking with Tiago Splitter, trying to convince him to pack his bags and head for San Antonio next season. Didn't work out. It seems that the Brazilian center is set to re-sign with ACB powerhouse Tau Cer