SB Nation User Blog: AusTechSpur

Summer League Coverage Test

AusTechSpur — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:40:33 -0000

I plan to post some audio files from Vegas for the Summer League.

You guys make sure you can listen to this Summer League Technology Test

Jason Kidd Commits to Dallas

AusTechSpur — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:21:27 -0000

Jason Kidd Commits to Dallas

Woo hoo!!!!

Spurs Hire Dream GM

AusTechSpur — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:38:14 -0000

You know, I was thinking the other day that maybe the Spurs COULD hire some random web site writer to be their GM just like Bill Simmons has been lobbying. Of course, if they did their research, they would immediately rule out Simmons for being a dumb ass based on his "We'll give you Foye, our No. 6 pick and Brian Cardinal's 2010 expiring contract for Parker."

Let's see, the Wolves turned Foye and Miller into a #5 pick and some expiring contracts. You mean for Parker we could have gotten the #6, Foye, and Brian Cardinal? Awesome.

Follow me in, the Spurs just hired me, ATS, as their GM and I'm building a championship team. Let's start some internet rumors together. It will be fun and feel dirty, and you can't ask any more from life than that.

ATS, you high, nobody would hire you.

That's true. I'm pretty much unemployable in any field, but definitely in the NBA genius realm. Never stopped me from having an opinion though. Or saying said opinion out loud. Several separate discussions and news items have set off a firestorm of roster building ideas in this wee noggin of mine. It hurts, it's distracting, and I feel the need to share.

First and foremost of the items that brought me to my current A.D.D. state, the Spurs front office declared loudly last week with the Jefferson trade that they are willing to go into luxury tax range to win NOW. Other things that got me going were posts by Jaceman and Rikiddo, and an email exchange with Timothy Varner from 48MoH. Not everything I have is original. But, hey, there are great covers tunes out there. Like this one of Bob Dylan's 'Maggie's Farm' and this one of Bruce Springsteen's 'The Ghost of Tom Joad' by Rage Against The Machine (an awesome live version but the volume is too low, so if you like volume, listen to this one). 'The Ghost of Tom Joad' started to have a lot of meaning for me when I learned a couple years ago that my mom left home in 1955 at the age of 15 and worked as a migrant worker through the Southwest and West coast. It gives you a little extra something when you think about somebody sleeping under an underpass and that somebody may be your mom.

Let's not just win this year, let's win every year.

I don't want to mortgage the future for 1or 2 years of contenders. I want to build a team that will win a couple more titles for TIm AND be in a good position to compete 4 or 5 years down the road. I'm not a dreamer though. I don't expect the Mavs to trade us Dirk for expiring contracts, George Hill, and the rights to Tiago Splitter because they need to start over and Dirk needs to win a championship because he is such a great guy. I may not be able to get trades and signings done, but I think they are reasonable things to expect.

What is the budget?

This is the real wildcard for what I can do in my new role as GM. Right now (based on numbers from ShamSports), the Spurs are at $72 million for this year and appear willing to give Rasheed Wallace the MLE which would push us up to $77.5 million. I'm going to give myself another $5 million to play with (the Spurs still have to fill out there roster with vets and rookies at about $1 million a player) and cap us out at $82.5 million. You know why I can do this? Because I'm giving them HUGE savings in the front office where they hired me for $20 and canned RC.

What do we need?

A dominant front court. Our back court, as Rikiddo points out, is in good shape. It is certainly one of the top backcourts in the league. Tony and Manu are all-star caliber players. Roger, George, and FinDog provide a variety of great qualities off the bench. Shooting, defense, clutchness, athleticism, age, and veteran savvy. Richard Jefferson looks like a hell of a fourth wheel to me at the small forward. We are set there for the next two years.

My goal, as GM, is to get us a dominant front court without moving Tim, obviously, or any of Manu, Tony, and Richard either.

What about Manu after this year?

Yes, he could be considered a tradeable asset. Not by me though. I consider him a Spur. As the new GM of the Spurs, I plan on resigning him next season on a 3-year deal at $7 million/year. I'd sign him this offseason Right Here, Right Now (watch out, it's a Jesus Jones reference) to a 3-year extension. However, I wouldn't do it until all the other roster moves have been finalized. I could write an entire article justifying this value for Manu. Let's just say this is what I think he will be worth for the next three years. If he won't resign for this value, then I am going to let him play out his contract and see what the market bears for next year. I will NOT trade him. He's an extraordinary competitor and there is no WAY I am trying to get something else for him. I'm hoping I can resign him and I want to maintain the trust and camaraderie on the team and in the organization. Plus, my good friend Bellasa would shiv me, curb stomp me, throw me into the SA river, and set me on fire if I traded him. Not only would it be justified, I would deserve no less.

Ok, ok. Enough with this crap. Build us a contender. What are YOU going to DO?

Goody, goody. We are into the nitty gritty.

First, I'm signing Rasheed Wallace. Period. I want him for the mid-level exception for three years. That's probably one more year than he's got in him, but if that's what it takes to get him. I'm doing it. I would possibly be willing to pay more for him on a 2-year deal, say $7 milllion/year. I'll explain how shortly, but I don't think I will have to go there. Because before I sign him, I want to prove to him that he's coming to a winner.

You're a winner ATS? How so?

Because I'm a crafty mofo, that's how so.

Well, before I sign Rasheed, I'm getting myself another quality big man. What, that can't be you say? I say it can be. Here's how. I'm going after one of the young big men on the free agent market, and I'm doing a sign-and-trade.

I have some assets I can trade. Bonner has an expiring contract and is a semi-decent situational player. Roger Mason has an expiring contract, is a good shooter, and is clutch. FinDog has an expiring contract and can be bought out. Marcus Williams has an un-guaranteed contract and can be cut, OR, crazy as it seems, is maybe a good value at $800K. We also have Ian and the rights to Tiago. Oh, and a first round picks in 2010 and in 2012 (I have 2011, but I can't trade it with 2010 or 2012).

Yes, the sign-and-trade.

I, if I can make the right deal, can go out and get a $8 million/year big man with a sign-and-trade. Consider the following contracts:

Matt Bonner - $3.26 million
Roger Mason - $3.78 million
Michael Finley - $2.5 million
Marcus Williams - $0.83 million

Since the I'm over the cap, in order to pull off a trade, the salaries involved have to be within 25%. For instance, in order to trade for a player making $10 million, I have to give up $8 million in salaries. To trade for $7 million, the Spurs have to give up $5.6 million. Read that again, $5.6 million. Ok, read it again, $5.6 million. Do you know that Bonner plus Finley equals $5.7 million? If I throw Marcus Williams into the deal, I go to $6.53 million which means I could trade for a salary of (6.53 * 1.25) $8.125 million. So, I can add an $8.125 million free agent in a sign-and-trade by increasing our salary by $1.63 million.

Oh, ATS, I'm all excited. Tell me more.

At the top of my list is Anderson Varejao because of a combination of skill, youth, and availability. He's not my favorite, as I'll explain later, but he's who I think I have the best chance of getting. Nobody out there is going pay him $8.125 million. I can. Now, I have to convince Cleveland to accomodate the deal. You can convince a team to accomodate a sign-in-trade by making it worth their while. How can I make it worth Cleveland's while?

Well, I have to give them something. Expiring contracts aren't as enticing in a sign-and-trade (because they weren't going to have Varejao's contract anyway. If they wanted that much money on the books they'd sign Varejao themselves) so I have to give them something they want, not something they can get rid of. In Cleveland's case, I think Bonner is actually a decent fit and they might like him. He's somebody that can spread the floor for LeBron and Shaq. That's not enough though for them. If I kick in next year's #1 pick though, that might be enough value. Remember, they aren't getting anything for Varejao anyway if they let him walk. So, let's say I can agree to terms with big AV for a 5-year deal at $7 million per year (which is more than just about anybody can offer him and I'd go up to $8 million/year), I can give them Bonner, Finley, and a first round pick. They buy out FinDog for about $1.2. They have a rather reasonably priced 4th or 5th big, and a first round pick. Is it enough? I don't know. I could throw in the rights to Tiago, Ian, Marcus, or other parts. You know, I'm thinking, Roger Mason would be a really good fit for them. A clutch shooter, keeps Gibson on the bench, hmmm, what about Bonner and Mason for Varejao? No, ok, I still might throw that #1 pick in there. The upshot is, the Cavs have to get something they want. I think I can make it happen.

Just to give you something solid. I'm saying Bonner, Mason, Marcus Williams, and the #1 pick.

But what if you can't get Cleveland to do the deal?

Well, there are other teams with young big men I can target with a deal that have the same parameters. Marvin Williams comes to mind. I'd sign him to a 5-year deal at $8 million/year. I think Atlanta might take a first round pick, Matt Bonner, Roger Mason, and FinDog -- as a buyout -- for him. It just depends on whether they want to invest long-term in him given they have Pachulia and Childess to sign, and Horford who's really a 4.

Why Marvin ATS? Why?

Marvin, or somebody like him, as an athletic 4 is who I actually prefer. Why, because if I am signing Rasheed I want somebody who can play better on the perimeter defensively. Tim's days of being a real 4 are over. With Rasheed, Anderson, and Tim I would have three post defenders. None of whom are good perimeter defenders. I want a Marvin Williams-type to guard the Dirks and Amares. In addition, I still want to bring Tiago over next year. Now, I would have four true centers.

Ok, Atlanta doesn't bite. You didn't get Marvin, ATS. Well?

I go after Paul Millsap. Especially if I think I can get him at about the full MLE. If I can get him with the MLE, then I'd be willing to do a sign-and-trade with the Pistons for Rasheed if I can pay Rasheed a little more to convince him to come to San Antonio. Maybe I get Sheed at $6.5 million for 2 years.

If I can't get Millsap, then I will explore obtaining a young power forward who is not a free agent from a team looking to salary dump. If that fails, I go to signing a veteran guy like Marion or Gooden on a 2-year deal in the 3-4 million range. What I WILL NOT do is go out on a limb to gt an older guy. If he wants to play for a chance at a ring for two years on the cheap, I'll take him.

Ok ATS, we have Rasheed and Marvin, where does that leave us for 2010?

Let's assume I gave up Bonner, Mason, Marcus, and a #1 for Marvin. I'd be willing to throw Tiago or DeJuan in to this deal to make it work. I'd have to be bowled over with Marvin to put George in it. Our 2010 roster is:

Up front

Tim Duncan
Manu Ginobili
Tony Parker
Richard Jefferson
Rasheed Wallace
Marvin Williams
George Hill
Michael Finley
Ian Mahinmi
James Gist (at 800K)
DeJuan Blair(at 800K)
Jack McClinton (if he can make the team at 800K)
Bruce Bowen (or other small forward) at the vet min

I like my chances with that line up. For about $81.3 million, with two roster spots open. I'll take it. I don't have to sign all of those young guys, but I do have the option. That last roster spot, if I traded Mason, will have to go to a third point guard or ball handler. Maybe Marcus Williams, if as the 48MoH guys, he is really a point-forward.

Sounds good ATS, but what about our future?

Assuming Manu at 7 per, Marvin at 8 per, and Sheed on a 3-year deal for the MLE, this is what we have for 2011:

Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, Jefferson, Wallace, Williams, Hill, Mahinmi(assuming I exercise his option for 2011 at $1.6, which isn't a gimme), Gist, Blair, McClinton for $73.9 million. If I still have the rights to Tiago, I'm trying to bring him over on a 3-year $3-million-per deal. And, I still have the rights to SpurNando.

After 2011, Tony's and Richard's contracts are up. Tim and Sheed are in their last year. I have Manu with two years left on his deal. I have a bunch of young guys I'm very high on in Blair, Gist, Ian, George, and Tiago. The only player I have with a long-term commitment of big money is a 25-year old Marvin Williams.

ATS, you still high.

Yeah, but that's what I would be trying to do if I reigned over the kingdom. This is my team. Six studs and a bunch of potential. Has a little bit nicer ring to it, doesn't it?

If you want to go where they chain up the sun, see SpurNando

AusTechSpur — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:28:01 -0000

This one is for Bones and Mrs. Bones.

It's the official SpurNando thread. Bring it, even if you have to re-use it from another thread.

Chances of getting Camby just dropped

AusTechSpur — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:24:05 -0000

Chances of getting Camby just dropped

Zach Randolph was traded to the Grizzlies. I have ZERO idea why the Grizz would make this deal.

Spurs 9th in espn ultimate standings...

AusTechSpur — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:42:50 -0000

Spurs 9th in espn ultimate standings...

Ranking of How Pro Sports Teams Pay Back Their Fans

San Antonio Spurs Announce Summer League Roster

AusTechSpur — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:15:20 -0000

I know this because Timothy Varner over at 48 Minutes of Hell told me. Thanks. Check out his post for his take. I'll try not to plagiarize the whole thing. For some reason, his opinion and my opinion are similar. What's that opinion? Clickety, clickety, to find out.

The "As Expected" Group

The "ATS Had The Inside Scoop" Group

Eric Dawson

The "ATS Has Got To Be Beside Himself With Joy, I Can't Believe He'll Be Playing" Group

Nando De Colo

The "He's the Next Best Thing To An Argentine" Group

Marcus Vinicius

The "It Makes Sense For Them" Group

Malik Hairston - This is his best spot to shine and make a team
Squeaky Johnson - He's Toros veteran. His real name is Carldell. Mrs ATS loves that he's called Squeaky.

The "Guys ATS Will Have To Research Before His Trip" Group

Donnell Taylor
Antonio Anderson
Romel Beck
Alonzo Gee

Where the hell is Marcus Williams?

Here's where Timothy and I see eye to eye. I can't see how he's not playing with the Spurs this summer if they are picking up his contract for next year. He's either going to be cut or traded. I can't see anything else happening. It just doesn't make sense. My antenna are on high alert. Or as my old boss said, "my spidey senses are picking something up".

San Antonio Spurs Guide To Free Agency and Free Agent Primer

AusTechSpur — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 05:48:54 -0000

Free agency kicked off Tuesday night at 11:01 SPURS time. At this point, all they can do is talk and make offers. No contracts can be signed. Here's my rundown of the situation. What we have? What we can spend? Who we want?

What do we have?

With Michael Finley exercising his player option, we have upped our current roster to 10.

We also have our draft picks and old draft picks. None of those guys, however, are signed to contracts and should be considered iffy.

What Can We Spend?

My trusty bean counter at Sham Sports tells me that the salaries for the above 10 players comes to $72,054,727. We are WAY over the salary cap area and almost assuredly over the luxury tax already. While the numbers won't be official until about a week from now, last year's luxury tax was in the $71 million range and it is expected to go down.

What does that mean? Well, it means we are limited to using the mid-level exception, the biannual exception, and the veteran minimum to sign guys. The mid-level exception is about $5.5 million (again, the number won't be official until the next week), the biannual dohickey was $1.9 million last year, and the veteran minimum was $1.2 million.

What can I take from this? We can sign one decent to good player for the $5.5 million. Then we can sign as many scrubs as we can find for the minimum. OR, we can spend the $5.5 million on two OK players. Then sign as many scrubs as we can find.

Who Do We Want?

Well, 'who' is really dictated by 'what'. What we need are big men. And more than one. If you look at the guys I listed on the roster, you'll see that we have 3 -- yes, 3 -- big men. We normally carry 5-6 big men. In 2008, we have Tim, Horry, Bonner, Fab, KT, and Ian. Last year, we had Tim, Bonner, Fab, KT, Drew, and Ian. Right now, we have Tim, Bonner, Ian. That won't fly. We need three bigs. One or two will come from the draft guys though, so we'll probably target just one big man in free agency. The free agent list is LONG. Peruse at your leisure.

What Bigs Will We Get?

That $5.5 million MLE is going to the best big the Spurs can attract. I think #1 on their list will be Rasheed Wallace. He fits EVERYTHING the Spurs like in a big man next to Tim. 1) He can shoot the three. 2) He's a solid defensive player. 3) He has a very high basketball IQ. 4) He's old as dirt. Do you guys realize that Tim is the second oldest player on our roster and Manu is the third? Pop isn't going to let that fly.

If we can't snag Rasheed, I'm not sure where we go. I give the thumbs down to McDyess. I think he has less in the tank than Rasheed. Gortat seems like a guy who will be overpaid. Rasho wasn't that good when we traded him 3 years ago. Birdman...please.

I'm firmly on the Sheed bandwagon, but I think McDyess might be the next best fit. Don't discount Drew Gooden. I could see the Spurs going with him if they could get him on the cheap. A combo of Pachulia and Gooden might be interesting.

What About the Non-Bigs?

I want Bruce back. I think Bruce, at the veteran minimum, as the back up small forward would be fantastic. We don't really need another guard. Tony, Roger, Manu, George, and FinDog (FinDog is more of a SG than a SF) should be more than adequate. I think with the emergence of George, and Roger's and Manu's ability to run the point in a pinch, we don't need the Jacque Vaughn veteran-savvy third point guard this year. With the addition of Jefferson, there is no way we are spending any money at the small forward position and whoever we bring in will have to be dirt cheap.

Unless the Spurs pull off another trade, I really don't see us doing much in free agency besided chasing a big man and signing a few guys for the minimum. I'll bet those minimum guys are familiar faces.

Odds and Ends

The Pistons have a TON of cap space. Do you think they'll sign Artest? Please, pretty please.
What's up with Allen Iverson? I haven't heard anything. Nothing. Zero. About anybody being interested in him.
Jerome James is available. I think Tim would like it if we signed him.
Several former Spurs big men are available: Rasho, Malik, Sean Marks, Francisco, Melvin Ely
Anybody heard anything about Shawn Marion going somewhere? Me neither.
Do you remember how the Suns fans were all stoked about the signing of Matt Barnes? They can't wait for him to get out of town now.
Chris Wilcox is a free agent. If the Spurs are looking for a talented guy who needs a fresh start, he might be the man. He'd be cheap.
Hmmmm, what about Joe Smith?
Or Anderson Varejao? Hold it he's now #2 on my list ahead of McDyess. I forgot about him.

The San Antonio Spurs NBA Summer League Preview

AusTechSpur — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:25:09 -0000

As I mentioned, I will be in Las Vegas for the whole thing. Expect a flurry of activity in this here space. Who's going? Why should you care? What to expect? When are the games? Hop your bad self on in and take a peek.

Who's going?

As of right now, I expect the following players to be participating in the NBA Summer League for the Spurs.

George Hill
Ian Mahinmi
Marcus Williams
James Gist
Dejuan Blair
Jack McClinton
Eric Dawson

Other possible participants:

Malik Hairston
Nando De Colo

Why Should You Care?

Free agency starts next Wednesday, and that will have a big effect on the Spurs roster, but as of right now the Spurs only have 8 guys under contract. Michael Finley has yet to exercise his player option and Marcus William's contract is not guaranteed. So the Spurs have up to 7 spots available right now. Compare this with last year, when the Spurs entered the Summer League with 14 guys under contract. There is a LOT of opportunity right now.

What to expect?

Team-wise, this should be a fairly strong Summer League entry by the Spurs. George has a season under his belt, Ian has been in the system, this is the second Summer League for Gist and Hairston, and the third for Williams. But, the Summer League isn't about team success. It is about evaluating players. If I was Gregg Popovich, this is what I would want to see from each player:

George Hill - George is already under contract. He's not playing for a roster spot. I think George has one task and one task only. Run the point effectively. The Spurs are counting on him to be the back up point guard this year. He needs to prove he's ready for it the ballhandling aspects of it. We know he can play defense and we know he can contribute off the ball. But, can he run the team? He had very mixed success last year in this endeavor and he will need the work in Summer League. I want to see him run the break. I want to see him get the team into sets. But, most importantly, I want to see him handle the pressure. Opposing point guards caused him problems last year when the bodied him up at halfcourt. He needs to learn to not be passive. I'd also like to see him show improvement in finishing around the rim. As Stampler said several times last year, he makes his layups more difficult than they need to be. I expect him to get 30-32 minutes/game (It's a 40 minute game) running the show.
Ian Mahinmi - Ian is also under contract and is not playing for a roster spot. I want to see something, anything. Make some shots. Bang in the paint. Grab some boards. Run the court. I'd just want to see him play and get some rhythm. I wouldn't need to see him dominate, but I would need to see him compete on an even level and not look lost. I expect the team will try to run a significant amount of the offense through Ian in the blocks. While Ian isn't playing for a roster spot, I think he is playing for the $2.4 million on his 2011 team option. I think they have to make the decision before the season starts and I don't think it is a gimme at this point. He needs to make it a gimme. That $2.4 million will go a long way toward signing Tiago next summer. Oh yeah, I also want to see him stay healthy.
Marcus Williams - Marcus IS playing for money. He has a non-guaranteed contract for this year and I'm sure the Spurs front office will have an eagle-eye on Marcus. I think he carries the biggest burden on the team. He'll be expected to be the playmaker from the wing creating for others, knocking down shots, and playing some serious defense. Having George around will help him because the offense should flow fairly well. I have no sense for what he can do at this level and I am eager to watch him play again. Last time I saw him was early in the 07-08 Toros season.
James Gist - Another guy playing for a roster spot. If not with the Spurs, then somebody else in the NBA. He needs to play defense, show the ability to rebound using position, and knock down open shots. The man is a great athlete. The team knows he can dunk, run, and leap. He needs to show that he has rounded out his game and improved his fundamentals. His straight up man-to-man defense will be very important because I think they will try to see what he can do with 3's and 4's.
DeJuan Blair - Be a bully. I know that's what I want to see him do. Be a bully in the paint without committing stupid fouls. Don't be a Danny Fortson, be a Jason Maxiell. I would also like to see his all around game. Does he pass? What's his shot like from 10 feet? Can he move laterally?
Jack McClinton - Can he get off his shot against a motivated defender and will he work his butt off on defense? He doesn't have the freak-ish arms that George has that allows him to play the off guard defensively so Jack is going to have to prove he will work harder than everybody on that end.
Eric Dawson - Another guy who is going to have to show he can bang. He's a big man and he will need to show he can be a bully in the paint. He'll also need to hit the 15 footer and prove he can defend mobile 4's.
Malik Hairston - I think Malik has a decent chance to claim the Ime role. The wing defender who handles the more powerful 3's like Artest and Anthony. To get that role, he needs to prove he can defend. Duh. But, he also needs to show he can hit the open jumper. He's already proven to me that he has what Ime didn't have. The ability to finish. Ime didn't have that explosion around the rim. Malik has that.
Nando De Colo - I really doubt he'll be over, but it is possible. I think the Spurs would have to sign him to a guaranteed contract for the season to get him to play in the Summer League. I'd think if he was that interested in coming over AND that good he would have been drafted higher. What do I know? I'd love to see him though.

I think the Spurs would be ecstatic if they could get 3 players, not counting George and Ian, out of the Summer League team. It's possible they get more, but I have my doubts.

When are the games?

The Summer League starts Friday, July 10th. However, the Spurs don't play their first game until Sunday, July 12th. The Spurs schedule is (all times Spurs time):

Sunday, July 12th at 11:00 am vs New Orleans Hornets
Tuesday, July 14th at 5:00 pm vs Denver Nuggets
Thursday, July 16th at 3:30 pm vs OKC Thunder
Saturday, July 18th at 5:30 pm vs Portland Trail Blazers
Sunday, July 19th at 3:00 pm vs Memphis Grizzlies

You can view the entire schedule here. You should be able to watch every Summer League game on NBA.com. They should be streaming them all.

Scott from Ridiculous Upside has a post up beginning to compile the rosters.

I had hoped to have groundbreaking technological experience for you guys, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen. I'm not sure yet how I'll be covering the games. I might be blogging, I might be taking notes, I might watch all the games by everybody, I don't know. What I do know is that I'll be posting a lot?

For you Twitter hounds out there, we are at @poundingtherock http://twitter.com/poundingtherock

Calling all French Spurs Fans

AusTechSpur — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 15:27:27 -0000

Can any of you give me an update on Nando De Colo? Are there any reports of him signing with the Spurs?

I was pointed to this article by a friend. The Google translation indicates that he might be getting an offer from the Spurs, but I'm not putting much stock in it.

Thanks, ATS.