Spurs Sign Anthony Tolliver

Mr.Bottomtooth · Post #1 » by **Mr.Bottomtooth** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:53 pm

July 23, 2008
Spurs sign Anthony Tolliver

SAN ANTONIO - The San Antonio Spurs announced today that they signed forward Anthony Tolliver. Per team policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.

The 6-8, 240-pound Tolliver played on the Spurs summer league teams in Las Vegas and at the Rocky Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City. He averaged 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds in 23.0 minutes while shooting .571 (12-21) from the field and .615 (8-13) from beyond the arc in three games in Las Vegas. At the Rocky Mountain Revue Tolliver appeared in all four games, averaging 11.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 26.5 minutes while knocking down 53.3 percent (8-15) of his shots form beyond the arc.

Last season Tolliver played for the Iowa Energy in the NBA Development League. He appeared in 25 games averaging, 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 27.4 minutes per game while shooting .509 (112-220) from the field. Prior to joining the Energy Tolliver was in training camp with Cleveland Cavaliers and appeared in three games before being waived.

Tolliver spent four seasons at Creighton University where he averaged 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds in 124 career games. As a senior, he averaged 13.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.7 blocks in 33 games and was named first-team All-MVC after being the league’s only player to rank in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots per game. Tolliver was also named a Senior CLASS Award All-American and a Second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American.

http://www.nba.com/spurs/news/spurs_sig ... 80723.html

Ballings7 · Post #2 » by **Ballings7** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:05 pm

Definitely interesting

I would guess this is a pre-season invite or something...

I dug what I saw of him in his mobility and that he can shoot the ball out to three... as the stats indicate on the latter.

I need to see more of him, though

A big foward athletic shooter (able to do notably more than basically just shoot)? I really like the prospect of that. Maybe in the Horry kind of mold (just being smaller)?

bmw42690 · Post #3 » by **bmw42690** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:51 pm

Yeah i saw somewhere a few days ago we were supposed to sign him. I immediately thought of a Horry type player as well. What does this do to Bonner?

ss1986v2 · Post #4 » by **ss1986v2** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:09 am

bmw42690 wrote:Yeah i saw somewhere a few days ago we were supposed to sign him. I immediately thought of a Horry type player as well. What does this do to Bonner?

nothing yet. id bet a more than usual portion of his contract is guaranteed (why sign so soon unless there was some incentive), but the bulk is probably non-guaranteed. if he outplays bonner in camp and the preseason, that would be much more damning.

the southern dandy · Post #5 » by **the southern dandy** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:04 am

It's unusual that the Spurs would sign a training camp invite this early. It has to be at least a little more guaranteed than the standard camp invite. My guess is Bonner is on his way out now, because Tolliver is way too similar.

Ballings7 · Post #6 » by **Ballings7** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 5:46 am

Bonner/filler to Indiana for Shawne Williams...

lukeridenour · Post #7 » by **lukeridenour** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:32 am

im pretty sure they did this to prevent other teams from signing him, like ballings mentioned, this is probably just a preseason invite.

Blame Rasho · Post #8 » by **Blame Rasho** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:57 pm

Thank god... means Horry is gone.

Mr.Bottomtooth · Post #9 » by **Mr.Bottomtooth** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 3:27 pm

Blame Rasho wrote:Thank god... means Horry is gone.

Didn't you watch the SL game Spurs/D-League Ambassadors? RC was there and said Horry wasn't coming back.

Blame Rasho · Post #10 » by **Blame Rasho** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:08 pm

Mr.Bottomtooth wrote:
Blame Rasho wrote:Thank god... means Horry is gone.

Didn't you watch the SL game Spurs/D-League Ambassadors? RC was there and said Horry wasn't coming back.

Yeah... but there is a difference between what is said and what is done.

Ballings7 · Post #11 » by **Ballings7** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 2:32 am

I mean if this isn't a pre-season invite, that's fine with me... I think he's an NBA player.

Ballings7 · Post #12 » by **Ballings7** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:38 am

Anthony Tolliver, the surprising shooting star of the Spurs’ summer league squad, has parlayed his successful July audition into an NBA contract.

The Spurs announced Wednesday they have signed the former Creighton standout, locking up his rights with more than two months left until training camp.

After spending much of last season in the NBA’s Development League, Tolliver — a 6-foot-8 forward — was a revelation in summer competition for the Spurs earlier this month.

He singed nets in both Las Vegas and Salt Lake City, averaging 11.9 points in seven games, while shooting 51.6 percent (16 of 31) from the 3-point arc.

Since Tolliver’s deal is not fully guaranteed, he will have to earn a roster spot in training camp. Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said Tolliver stands a legitimate chance of doing just that.

The timing of Tolliver’s signing — late July instead of late September — suggests that the Spurs regard him as more than just camp fodder.

“I think time will tell in training camp,” Buford said. “But everyone’s opinion of him coming into summer league was pretty high.”

Tolliver, 23, has been on the Spurs’ radar for some time. His sharp-shooting summer only served to solidify his stock.

Skillwise, Tolliver is the type of player the Spurs have grown to covet: a big man with 3-point range and a high basketball IQ.

“He won’t shoot 52 percent for an entire season,” said Spurs assistant Mike Budenholzer, who guided the club’s summer league team. “But he’s been shooting this well for a month, a month and a half. I think he’s a legitimate NBA 3-point shooter.”

Tolliver began last season in Cleveland’s training camp, but was waived three games into the preseason. He then landed with the Iowa Energy in the Development League, where he averaged 11.6 points and 6.4 rebounds in 25 games.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spur ... _star.html

Prediction: Tolliver makes it past pre-season

johnnyjohnnyjohnny · Post #13 » by **johnnyjohnnyjohnny** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:01 pm

I know nothing about this guy. How is his defense? Rebounding? Hustle?

HarlemHeat37 · Post #14 » by **HarlemHeat37** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:36 pm

his defense is below average, like Bonner's..but the difference is that Tolliver is more athletic, so he might be able to be an average defender with the Spurs system..

he's pretty much just a shooter at this point IMO..he has room to grow of course, but his shooting is lights out..I'd take Tolliver over Bonner..

Ballings7 · Post #15 » by **Ballings7** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:26 pm

From watching him, I think he'll be a better rebounder and defender than Bonner. Specifically because of his athleticism and length. Not relating to Bonner, but he supposedly has notable smarts for the game.

Summer league, but it's about his play in general and putting it in an NBA perspective.

lukeridenour · Post #16 » by **lukeridenour** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 12:13 am

basically he needs to play like bass. rebound and defend like theres no tomorrow, his offensive game is not perfect but pretty solid so he really needs to play his heart out in other areas.

closg00 · Post #17 » by **closg00** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 4:17 am

Does this mean Gist won't be signed? Gist was ranked very high coming out of SL.
http://www.wagesofwins.com/LasVegas08.html

the southern dandy · Post #18 » by **the southern dandy** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:42 am

closg00 wrote:Does this mean Gist won't be signed? Gist was ranked very high coming out of SL.
http://www.wagesofwins.com/LasVegas08.html

Gist and Tolliver are two very different players. I think Gist basically played himself into a roster spot. Also you have to keep in mind that Gist is a type of player the Spurs haven't had on the roster in many years.
Tolliver is here to give Bonner a kick in the behind, and perhaps if we're lucky he'll replace the Bon fire. Gist could potentially ad an entirely new dimension to the team down the road.

lukeridenour · Post #19 » by **lukeridenour** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 8:59 pm

the signing of tolliver is to simply gain his rights so other teams dont swoop in before we make our final decision. we have the rights to our draft picks so we can afford to be patient before signing them. i think gist is a lock for our as of right now, theres absolutely no reason he shouldnt be as of today.