Acquiring Splitter

[Casperkid23]

I was going through draft prospects, reading over rumors, and then thinking about ways Minnesota can acquire a defensive frontcourt player (after reading through Randolph and Chandler rumors)... when I then came across a trade idea on the T&T board which included Splitter and then kind of put two and two together.

With Ronzone being hired, and with Philo in Europe... you'd think the Timberwolves definitely have Splitter on their radar.

What kind of deals could the Timberwolves make with the Spurs to acquire him? Certainly one it would have to them cut cap, but also net them good prospects in return - right? Pekovic would likely be considerably cheaper than Splitter and could work well with the Spurs. The Timberwolves also have the cap room to offer Splitter the contract he would likely want - and they also would have the minutes to give him (unless they draft Cousins and decide to keep Jefferson).

So how about a deal like this post moratorium (but agreed to in principle on draft night):
MIN in: Nocioni, Splitter's rights, #5
SAS in: Greene, Ellington, Pekovic's rights
SAC in: R. Jefferson, #4

Reasonings:
Minnesota: Acquire Splitter and Wesley Johnson, two guys who could fit very well in Minnesota. Sacrifice ~5.5mil in cap space in this deal, and a good portion of the remaining cap may be used to sign Splitter. However, Splitter is a far better fit with Love for the future while also being a safer prospect than Cousins - I'm sure the Timberwolves would have a contract worked out with Splitter before this deal is done to minimize his risk. Al could then be moved, or kept for a while to raise his value. Pekovic wouldn't fit in Minnesota regardless - too much in common with both Al or Cousins.

San Antonio: Get a nice haul for Splitter, whom they likely wouldn't want to pay that much anyway since they're already so close (realistically over) the luxury. Greene gives them an upside guy at SF to come in off the bench and challenge for a starting spot. Ellington replaces Mason Jr. as a sharpshooter. Pekovic is a nice frontcourt scorer who could step in right away to play minutes. They also cut significant cap (~13mil), making this move extremely valuable for them.

Sacramento: Pick up Cousins as a high upside and potentially dominant Center to build with Evans. Also get out of Nocioni's second year, but loose Greene and ~7.5mil room this year in order to acquire him.



Do you guys like that deal for Minnesota? Do you have another idea to get Splitter here?

[bri]

I think you could cut the Kings out of the deal and I would prefer to do that. Could probably offer Pekovic + something smallish and get him depending on if Pekovic is truly wanting to come over this year and Splitter being a year or two away.

[Casperkid23]

I think you could cut the Kings out of the deal and I would prefer to do that. Could probably offer Pekovic + something smallish and get him depending on if Pekovic is truly wanting to come over this year and Splitter being a year or two away.

If you cut the Kings out Timberwolves have basically no room to offer Splitter a contract - that's why I included the Kings to minimize the cap hit for Minnesota. Do you think it'd be unfair if Nocioni went to the Spurs in this deal?

[bri]

I think you could cut the Kings out of the deal and I would prefer to do that. Could probably offer Pekovic + something smallish and get him depending on if Pekovic is truly wanting to come over this year and Splitter being a year or two away.

If you cut the Kings out Timberwolves have basically no room to offer Splitter a contract - that's why I included the Kings to minimize the cap hit for Minnesota. Do you think it'd be unfair if Nocioni went to the Spurs in this deal?

Does Splitter want to come over this year though? I thought he was going to stay over another year or two. I think you could send Nocioni to either team though not sure if either team would really want him. He might be useful to the Spurs though for depth purposes

[horaceworthy]

Seems like way too good of a haul for San Antonio. They cut like $12.5M in salary, Greene's shown some very nice defensive versatility along with long range accuracy, Ellington should be a nice bench shooter, and they also get Pekovic's rights.

[Casperkid23]

I think you could cut the Kings out of the deal and I would prefer to do that. Could probably offer Pekovic + something smallish and get him depending on if Pekovic is truly wanting to come over this year and Splitter being a year or two away.

If you cut the Kings out Timberwolves have basically no room to offer Splitter a contract - that's why I included the Kings to minimize the cap hit for Minnesota. Do you think it'd be unfair if Nocioni went to the Spurs in this deal?

Does Splitter want to come over this year though? I thought he was going to stay over another year or two. I think you could send Nocioni to either team though not sure if either team would really want him. He might be useful to the Spurs though for depth purposes

I've read multiple articles about him wanting to come to the NBA for this upcoming season, it's just that the Spurs are reportedly wary of signing him for what he'd demand. The rookie scale contract he was bound to (drafted in the 1st in 2007) is no longer an issue, so it clears the way for him to come over and play in the NBA while also making the money he deserves.

[cpfsf]

This thread made me realize how much I love the situation we're in. Our frontcourt is loaded with the rights to Milicic (I'm assuming he resigns), Jefferson, Love, Pekovic, and theoretically Cousins. There is no doubt we have the assets to acquire Spitter, even trading Pekovic straight up might be enough to pull the trade off. I don't want to get my hopes up, but that's a pretty darn good situation to be in for a team that's rebuilding.

We still have to find a way to clear some roster spots, so our bigs get more minutes. In regards to this trade, I feel that Nocioni is too much to take back and it's my understanding that Splitter will probably receive a higher contract than Pekovic. Of course there's still a huge difference between the #4 and #5 pick.

I like the Pekovic for #14 scenario if that is indeed an option. If it isn't, I came up with a scenario that does involve Splitter...

MIN IN: #14
SAS IN: Pekovic
HOU IN: Splitter

Minnesota gets a pick they need and clears room for Cousins, the Spurs acquire an established Euro they can afford, and Houston goes into win now mode.

[Worm Guts]

I don't much about Splitter, but we're trading down 1 spot, Pekovic, Ellington, and 5.5 million dollars worth of cap space to get him. That seems like a ton.

[Esohny]

I don't much about Splitter, but we're trading down 1 spot, Pekovic, Ellington, and 5.5 million dollars worth of cap space to get him. That seems like a ton.

It is a ton. Not close to worth it to me, so I guess if Splitter becomes the next Tim Duncan, there's egg on my face.

[Ricky Business]

If you can get Splitter for Pekovic I would do it. Splitter is a good defender and rebounder and he is used to leading his team in Spain Caja Laboral and also his national team of Brazil. Pekovic is not a very good defender or rebounder and he is really just a role player in Panathinaikos.

I think Splitter is the third or fourth best center in Europe and Pekovic is the fourth to sixth best center in Europe.

[John Doe [MIN]]

Someone's going to explain to me the full extent to which Splitter > Pekovic. San Antonio's compensation for downgrading to Pekovic is Greene, Ellington, and upwards of $13 million in savings (with a matching TPE). Actually, add another $5 or so million for the luxury tax.

They could conceivably use part of the TPE + incentives/filler to absorb a new SF who's better and cheaper than Jefferson (Luol Deng is eminently plausible), bolster their wing depth with two cheap, young rotation players, and they still get to keep a Euro big man, just a different one. That seems ridiculous. I don't know much about Splitter, but he can't be that good.

[IAmTheTruth]

This is controversially bad.

[Casperkid23]

Someone's going to explain to me the full extent to which Splitter > Pekovic. San Antonio's compensation for downgrading to Pekovic is Greene, Ellington, and upwards of $13 million in savings (with a matching TPE). Actually, add another $5 or so million for the luxury tax.

They could conceivably use part of the TPE + incentives/filler to absorb a new SF who's better and cheaper than Jefferson (Luol Deng is eminently plausible), bolster their wing depth with two cheap, young rotation players, and they still get to keep a Euro big man, just a different one. That seems ridiculous. I don't know much about Splitter, but he can't be that good.

Okay, so if the trade were to look like this:
MIN in: Greene, Splitter's rights, #5
SAS in: Nocioni, Ellington, Pekovic's rights
SAC in: R. Jefferson, #4

How do you feel? Whenever I first make a trade I try to slightly overpay from the Wolves PoV to make it be "realistic". The "base" of the deal is still the same, it's just the perks that change. If the deal were to look like this, SAS would still get themselves below the lux (if they sign Pek to what his value likely is), and they'd get a vet SF at half the cost and nearly equal production to Jefferson (unless Nocioni really declined that much in one year). Wolves would not take on the extra cap, and instead get a young SF/PF with upside to go along with trading down for Johnson and swapping Pek (solid, but poor fit), with Splitter (good/great, and great fit).

Does SA still accept?

Splitter, from my knowledge of him, is worth the one spot trade down if he agrees to come over. That should mean quite a bit.

[Devilzsidewalk]

the only guy with a chance to be top 5 at his position is Cousins, so I'd pass

[younggunsmn]

Even if he would come over, Splitter is not the type of big who would at all compliment any of our existing bigs, we need a shotblocker not another finesse player.

[re49gb_2gho32fp]

I think Splitter is the third or fourth best center in Europe and Pekovic is the fourth to sixth best center in Europe.

i was about to make a more robust statement to dismantle this perception. That is a highly innacurate estimation. Splitter and Pekovic are both in the top3 in europe.

[Casperkid23]

Even if he would come over, Splitter is not the type of big who would at all compliment any of our existing bigs, we need a shotblocker not another finesse player.

[Ricky Business]

I think Splitter is the third or fourth best center in Europe and Pekovic is the fourth to sixth best center in Europe.

i was about to make a more robust statement to dismantle this perception. That is a highly innacurate estimation. Splitter and Pekovic are both in the top3 in europe.

Neither of them are any better than Aleks Maric, Ante Tomic, Mike Batiste, Ioannis Bourousis. They are probably a little better than Fran Vazquez.

[sisibilio]

I think Splitter is the third or fourth best center in Europe and Pekovic is the fourth to sixth best center in Europe.

i was about to make a more robust statement to dismantle this perception. That is a highly innacurate estimation. Splitter and Pekovic are both in the top3 in europe.

Neither of them are any better than Aleks Maric, Ante Tomic, Mike Batiste, Ioannis Bourousis. They are probably a little better than Fran Vazquez.

Well, we see bbll A LOT differently so arguing would be pointless.
IMO the only out of those who you listed who could make a case in comparison to Splitter and Pekovic is Vazquez, and Tomic probably if he proves being able to be consistent next season. Maric is just the new serbian overhyped kid in town, Radulijca looks much more promising than him, and Bouroussis has been destroyed by Pekovic everytime they met. Batiste is a hustler but very limited.
I'd take Perovic for example over those 3 anyday.

[Ricky Business]

:o
Well, we see bbll A LOT differently so arguing would be pointless.
IMO the only out of those who you listed who could make a case in comparison to Splitter and Pekovic is Vazquez, and Tomic probably if he proves being able to be consistent next season. Maric is just the new serbian overhyped kid in town, Radulijca looks much more promising than him, and Bouroussis has been destroyed by Pekovic everytime they met. Batiste is a hustler but very limited.
I'd take Perovic for example over those 3 anyday.

Vazquez is by far the most athletic. But he is not as good in production. He might be the best fit for the NBA because of his athletic ability, but in the NBA he would be a PF and not a C. Pekovic does not destroy Bourousis. Bourousis outplayed him in the Greek Finals.

Pekovic is actually secondary to Batiste in his own team. Batiste is the one that is always on the court at important times and to close out games, while Pekovic watches from the bench. Maric in Partizan is better than Pekovic was.

Pekovic and Splitter are just getting a lot of hype. They are not really better than any of those other centers. Regardless, every guy could start in the NBA, except Batiste and Vazquez would be power forwards in the NBA and not centers.