TIM DUNCAN: FA Possibility?

[ecuhus1981]

I was going over a little spreadsheet that I make each year, projecting how free agency will shake out among the top 10 players at each position. I divide it into Plan A, B and C, based on how time, priority, money and other factors influence teams and players.

Anyway, I was plugging away at work this evening, reviewing some of this in my head, and was unsatisfied with my Plan C for Tim Duncan. He has an ETO (early termination option) in his contract this summer, which means that IF he opts out on or before June 30th, he would be an UNrestricted free agent. This is key, because while San Antonio can match all offers with his Bird Rights, they would not automatically get to keep him just by matching. If he wanted to leave, it would be Tim's choice, and it wouldn't cost the team that signs him a thing!

I know it seems like a one-in-a-million long-shot that he would ever leave the Spurs, but if the Big Fundamental wants another ring, he might need a change of scenery, and a younger team around him. Why not us? We have the following points to sell:

-- the best pick-and-roll PG in the league to feed him easy scoring opportunities,
-- an elite 23yo C that Tim can mentor (as Mr. Robinson mentored him),
-- an owner that is committed to spend what it takes in order to win,
-- a coach that is one of Duncan's best friends,
-- an arena in the works that could be the best in the world, and
-- a metropolitan market that can cement his legacy

Of course, Tim is coming off of the worst season in his illustrious career from a statistical standpoint. At 35 years of age, it's unlikely to get any better. Still, you can't turn your nose up at 13/9/3/1/2, and his intangibles are some of the best in the league. If we can get him on a down-scaling 3-year contract (e.g. $12mil in '11-'12, $10.5mil in '12-'13, partially guaranteed $9mil in '13-'14), I'd say let's do it! What do YOU think? Would he be worth that kind of money to you? Is it a good, calculated risk? Does this sound like a pipe dream to you???

[8 Mile Ilic]

...

In other news today is Mile Ilic's birthday.

[ecuhus1981]

The Green Mile! Man, I thought he had serious promise, to be a defensive force for us off the bench. Too bad he didn't pan out.

In other news, I guess I'll have to wait until the morning to hear feedback on the OP...

[8 Mile Ilic]

To be honest, I just don't see anyway Duncan leaves. We're talking about an old school guy who has pretty much said he wants his tenure in the NBA to be linked with Greg Poppovich's.

I just can't see him leaving the Spurs.

[NyCeEvO]

:lol: To be honest, I just don't see anyway Duncan leaves. We're talking about an old school guy who has pretty much said he wants his tenure in the NBA to be linked with Greg Poppovich's.

I just can't see him leaving the Spurs.

I agree.

[ecuhus1981]

Yes, I understand that it's FAR likelier that he stays. But, IF, IF, IF he were a free agent, and assuming we had either hit an impasse or had struck out with Humphries' negotiation, would YOU want the Nets to sign a 35yo HoFer to a $10mil/year deal?

[SpeedyG]

Yes, I understand that it's FAR likelier that he stays. But, IF, IF, IF he were a free agent, and assuming we had either hit an impasse or had struck out with Humphries' negotiation, would YOU want the Nets to sign a 35yo HoFer to a $10mil/year deal?

In the unlikely chance he is available out there? Yes, ABSOLUTELY. In fact, guys like Tim Duncan are the PERFECT targets for this team. I've been tooting Grant Hill's horn for awhile now, and TD falls in the same category.

High IQ guys who knows how to win. Sign Duncan to a one-year deal. Bring in a veteran swingman to supplant Outlaw at SF while not affecting our cap in 2012. Here's what could happen:

Scenario 1

PG - Deron/Farmar
SG - Morrow / Draftee SG
SF - Swingman FA / James
PF - Duncan / Outlaw
C - Lopez / Petro

For one, we've all compared Lopez to Duncan. Seeing him work every single day would be the absolute best thing to happen for the development of Brook. This team, (depending on who that swingman FA is) is a definite playoff team, perhaps just short of contender status.

The team falls short, but in 2012, TD becomes a FA (freeing up $10M in cap space)...we still have space for Dwight.

Scenario 2

We trade Brook for Dwight in the off-season/during the season.

PG - Deron, Farmar
SG - Morrow, Draftee
SF - Swingman FA, James
PF - Duncan, Outlaw
C - Howard, Petro

Now...this, my friends...IS a contender. Dwight and Duncan would be a heckuva interior presence (one a great one-on-one positional defender and rebounder, the other a supreme athlete, rebounder, help defender).

Duncan can play in the high post with Dwight inside on offense, defensively you can flip-flop them around (or better yet, employ a zone-like defense that has helped the Mavericks all season long this year).

With those two working the low/high post, and shooters in Deron, Morrow, SF to open things up....

[Da big3]

:lol: To be honest, I just don't see anyway Duncan leaves. We're talking about an old school guy who has pretty much said he wants his tenure in the NBA to be linked with Greg Poppovich's.

I just can't see him leaving the Spurs.

[Rockice_8]

Yes, I understand that it's FAR likelier that he stays. But, IF, IF, IF he were a free agent, and assuming we had either hit an impasse or had struck out with Humphries' negotiation, would YOU want the Nets to sign a 35yo HoFer to a $10mil/year deal?

No

[NyCeEvO]

It doesn't matter that he's a HOFer. The bigger issue is that he is 35yo.