If Manu and TD returns...

[co_laper]

What would you like to see happen? Obviously, you can just throw the idea of adding Love/LMA/Marc out the window. Most likely, we'd only be armed with the full MLE.

I think if Manu and TD comes back and Kawhi signs, it's a foregone conclusion that we have to resign Danny Green. But that also means of the 10 rotation player, only Baynes and Marco are questionable to return. And I really wonder who are we going to replace them with using the MLE that would have a significant impact on our team.

We might just be better off returning Baynes and Marco because if we lose them, we'd have to bring someone in with something similar to their skillset.

We obviously need a true center and someone big. Will we really be able to bring someone in better than Baynes? I mean he fits this team quite well as your 4th big.

And if we lose Marco, with Manu being this old, you'd want a SG who can create a big unless you expect Patty to become a playmaker. There aren't many SGs who are good playmakers. We probably can't get anyone better than Cory Joseph if we're gonna replace Marco.

Our MLE will probably be able to replace one of them, but not both.

I have some guys I'd like to see us go after if we're only armed with MLE.

Bigs, to replace Baynes:
- Brandan Wright: We can use some athletic big because we really don't have that at all.
- Marreese Speight: Offensively, he should fit in with our system as a big man who can shoot from the midrange like Tim Duncan. And he does have Center's size and won't get exploited as much defensively off the bench.
- Kosta Koufas: Seems like RC and Pop's kind of bigs. Big, soft hands, runs the floor well.
- Bismack: Probably my personal favorite. He's still just 22 years old and if he can stick here, him and Kawhi can be a formidable defensive cornerstone for years to come. But he's just 6'9''. Although the league is getting smaller and nowadays lots of centers are just 6'10''.
-Others I like include Jordan Hill and Ed Davis.

Guards, to replace Marco:
-Corey Brewer: We went after him, but I totally love his reckless style, defense, and size. It seems that he's an improving corner 3 point shooter too.
-Rodney Stuckey: He's a good playmaker having played PG for years before and I think he's at a point where he's alright playing as a backup.

Really though, not much options I like to replace Marco. But if we can use our MLE to bring in any one of these guys and also have TD and Manu returns, I'd be fine.

[SpursNBucks]

From your list I like Koufas or Bismack and Brewer. I think the only high level FA they have a crack at is Aldridge and that probably has about a 20% chance (at best) of happening. I think the big 3 will go one last year - their swan song. I think both Timmy and Manu sign hometown discount deals. I also think that Pop doesn't want to start over the year after next - which is what they have to do. They may have to go on a 3-4 year reload plan. They will match any offer for Leonard. To win a championship they have to have better years from players like Leonard, Mills, and Splitter- better health. They need to add something in free agency to improve- doesn't have to be a top name either. Maybe that's a 2 year contract on Tyson Chandler. Maybe Crawford over Green. They simply can't keep the same team and think that will be enough- a year older. They have to shake it up a little. Being a vet team with Champ potential maybe they can sign some of these past their prime All-Stars on a one year deal - Garnett, Boozer, Stoudemire, or Pierce. The question is what do they have left in the tank? I would rather see them go after a Ed Davis, Carroll, Tristan Thompson, Jae Crowder, or maybe see if Larry Sanders would be interested in coming back? I would like to see them have an eye for the future as well.


Diaw - 33
Duncan 39
Parker- 32
Splitter - 30
Ginobli - 37

Building blocks for the future
Leonard - 23

[pad300]

Yeah, TD and Manu returning, with hopes for a big FA falling through is what I see actually happening.

We have no track record of FA success. I will also say that I think that might be for the best. Of the big name potential FA's, the only one I really see as a worthy Max pick up is Love (assuming he opts out) (the other being Aldridge, Marc Gasol, and Monroe) for us. (Because he's only 26, and a better fit than Monroe. This guy needs to work next to Kawhi, who is 23.)

Which leaves us with what happens to the rest of the squad. Kawhi and Green to be re-signed. Andersen, Diaw, Mills and Splitter to be kept. Tony could in theory be traded after his performance this season, but I believe the organization will be loyal to him and hope for a bounce back...

It is on the fringes of the squad that changes will be made - Bonner and Ayres should be gone. I expect Cojo and Beli to leave in search of playing time and money respectively - working a sign and trade with either could be a bonus. Finally, Baynes is a decent player, but I suspect he wants more than the vet min, see last summer , http://probasketballtalk.nbcsports.com/ ... -contract/ , and the FO will be reluctant to give it to him.

I can see us needing a couple of bigs, one at the MLE level, and another at the vet min. My suggestions are Amir Johnson (UFA) or Jonas Jerebko (UFA) for the MLE (possibly cheaper), and Alexis Ajinca (UFA) for the min.

Our first round pick will go to fill either the remaining big slot, 4/5th wing or 3ed PG, depending who we draft.

We will need to find either a wing, a 3ed PG or both. Some suggestions : Nick Calathes (RFA, Memphis), Landry Fields (UFA) for the min, Nemanja Dangubic (a second round stash who seems to be doing OK, and hasn't blown an ACL...)

Bigs - Duncan, Splitter, Diaw, Johnson/Jerebko, Ajinca,
Wings - Kawhi, Green, Manu, Anderson, Calathes. Dangubic (D league)
PG - Parker, Mills,

Plus a draft pick

[co_laper]

It pains me to say it, but I really don't see any player out there that's worth the MLE who can replace Baynes/Marco and takes this team to a different level. If we are to make one last run with Manu/TD, it might actually be best to bring back Baynes/Marco. Most guys have trouble with the system on their first year. By the time they're comfortable, Duncan and Manu retires. But we can't possibly just bring in the same team for another season right? Or could we?

[Phreak50]

I don't think so. Definitely no clean house or anything like that but changes need to be made. I think we get stuck in the 'we are good enough to still win it all' notion, which is still true, but we could also think 'we could actually be even better' if some of the liabilities get replaced.

To me, Manu is one of them and has to retire. But this thread is about keeping him

Splitter as well. He does well against certain teams but you can't have a starting centre being paid that much sitting out pretty much full games if he doesn't fit in. I think the team would be surprised how different a game is with a strong, intimidator inside (even if that means throwing in someone like Mills for a team to take Splitter). I love Mills but there are plenty of guys out there we could bring along to do the same thing for cheaper now (still think we should have hung onto Cotton).

Good call with Brewer. He'd fit in well off the bench. One of those players you hate when playing against but would appreciate having him on your team.

I mentioned Wes Johnson in the other thread. How much will he be asking for? He'd be a good fit, I am predicting him about to break out. He can fill almost SG, SF and (small) PF off the bench.