Eastern Notes: Garnett, LeBron, Cavs
Prior to last night’s 111-81 loss to the T’Wolves, Nets forward Kevin Garnett told reporters that he’s not ready to discuss his future beyond this season. “I focus on what’s happening [now],” Garnett said after the Nets’ shootaround. “There is a lot of emotions that come with this building. … But, obviously, different time, different personnel, different times.” Last night, coach Jason Kidd said he wouldn’t be surprised if it was KG’s last time on the hardwood in Minnesota. Here’s more out of the East..
- The other potential summer suitors for Heat star LeBron James aren’t looking so hot right now, writes Ira Winderman of the Sun Sentinel. The Cavs have been atrocious to start the year and things aren’t much better with the Knicks, who are perpetually linked to James despite not having the cap flexibility necessary. The Lakers should have the cash needed to make a run at LeBron and the other top free agents in the class, but things are pretty dysfunctional in L.A. as well.
- Nate Duncan of HoopsWorld isn’t sure what to make of the Cavs‘ situation. Nearly everyone on the Cleveland roster has disappointed offensively, including banged-up offseason-acquisition Andrew Bynum and first overall pick Anthony Bennett.
- Pacers center Roy Hibbert is confident that Jeff Green can be the Celtics‘ go-to guy, despite his inconsistencies, writes Baxter Holmes of the Boston Globe. Hibbert added that with Danny Ainge at the helm, the C’s are sure to put quality talent around Green in the years to come.
- in today’s mailbag, Winderman writes that the Heat are working on grooming Quincy Douby, currently with the Sioux Falls SkyForce, strengthening his point guard skills. The Rutgers product is known for his tremendous range and scoring ability, but has never been much of a passer.
Offseason In Review: Utah Jazz
Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees, and more will be covered, as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.
Signings
- John Lucas III: Two years, $3.2MM. Signed via cap space. Second year is non-guaranteed.
- Jamaal Tinsley: One year, $1.4MM. Signed via cap space. Non-guaranteed. Was subsequently waived.
- Ian Clark: Two years, $1.31MM. Signed via cap space. First year is partially guaranteed for $200K. Second year is non-guaranteed.
- Mike Harris: One year, $916K. Signed via cap space. Non-guaranteed.
Extensions
Trades
- Acquired the No. 9 pick in 2013 from the Timberwolves in exchange for the No. 14 pick in 2013 and the No. 21 pick in 2013.
- Acquired the No. 27 pick in 2013 from the Nuggets in exchange for the No. 46 pick in 2013 and cash.
- Acquired the No. 47 pick in 2013 from the Hawks in exchange for the Nets’ 2015 second-round pick.
- Acquired Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, a 2014 first-round pick, a 2017 first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick, a 2017 second-round pick, and cash from the Warriors, as well as a 2018 second-round pick from the Nuggets, in exchange for Randy Foye (signed-and-traded to Nuggets) and Kevin Murphy (to Warriors).
Draft Picks
- Trey Burke (Round 1, 9th overall). Signed via rookie exception.
- Rudy Gobert (Round 1, 27th overall). Signed via rookie exception.
- Raul Neto (Round 2, 47th overall). Playing overseas.
Camp Invitees
Departing Players
- DeMarre Carroll
- Randy Foye
- Al Jefferson
- Jerel McNeal
- Paul Millsap
- Kevin Murphy
- Earl Watson
- Mo Williams
Rookie Contract Option Decisions
- Alec Burks (4th year, $3.03MM): Exercised
- Enes Kanter (4th year, $5.69MM): Exercised
Sometimes, you gotta take a step back to move forward. At least, the Jazz hope that’s true. After finishing with a .500 record last season, the Jazz realized that they were in the NBA’s dreaded middle ground. They had enough talent to be in the mix for one of the final playoff spots in the West but their upside was somewhat limited. This summer, the Jazz decided to build around their youth and position themselves for the future. It’s a plan that we could praise in next year’s Offseason In Review, but it’s not going to be pretty in the interim.
All season long, fans wondered which big man the Jazz would re-sign: Al Jefferson or Paul Millsap. The correct answer: neither. Utah allowed Jefferson to sign a hefty three-year, $40.5MM deal with the Bobcats while watching Millsap sign a two-year, $19MM pact with the Hawks. Re-signing one (or both) players would have put Utah in the pre-season Mavericks/Pelicans/Blazers/Lakers group of teams fighting for one of the final seeds. Instead, the Jazz decided to let both walk and give those minutes to Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter in order to help them develop.
The Jazz made their intentions for the 2013/14 season perfectly clear in July when they agreed to take on Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, and Brandon Rush from the Warriors for a boatload of draft picks. That haul of two first-round picks (2014 and 2017 from Warriors), three second-round picks (2016 and 2017 from Warriors, 2018 from Nuggets) makes the $24MM in additional salary worthwhile for the rebuilding Jazz. The key, of course, is that all three deals have just one year remaining. Utah will go into the free agent frenzy of 2014 with just ~$27MM in commitments, a number that should give them more breathing room than just about anyone.
In the meantime, the Jazz are left with floor plans on a four-story mansion hanging in the living room of their small one-bedroom apartment. Jefferson, once a key cog on the Nets’ back-to-back Finals teams, is a shell of his former self and hasn’t averaged double digit points since the 2010/11 season he spent with San Antonio. Biedrins has regressed even further with averages of 2.9 PPG and 5.3 RPG across the last four (injury riddled) seasons. Rush should prove to be an improvement at the starting small forward position over Marvin Williams, but he’ll have to get back on the court first. Since playing ten minutes against the Nets on November 5th, Rush has yet to appear in another game. He says that he has more-or-less recovered from his torn ACL, but at this stage, he has a mental block that is keeping him from playing with comfort and confidence.
But enough about this tiny one bedroom with those horrible, noisy neighbors upstairs. Let’s talk mansion. The Jazz used their No. 14 and No. 21 picks in the June draft to trade up and grab Michigan guard Trey Burke. In a draft that could prove to be chock full of duds (just ask Cavs fans how they feel about top pick Anthony Bennett right now), Burke looks like he could be a rather solid point guard. The 20-year-old boasts tremendous passing ability and has a knack for finding the open man in traffic. He also knows how to keep command of the basketball with his high-level ball handling and he vaulted up the draft board in part because he was able to cut down on turnovers from his freshman to sophomore year. Burke completes the triple threat profile with his shooting ability and has solid range from outside. Even though eight players were taken ahead of him in the 2013 draft, it wouldn’t be surprise at all for him to stand as one of the three best talents in the class five years from now. In addition to Burke, the Jazz also picked up French center Rudy Gobert towards the end of the first round. Gobert is raw, but he has the size and defensive aptitude to develop into a solid rotation piece.
After moving on from Millsap/Jefferson, the Jazz locked up Derrick Favors, whom they hope will be a key part of their future. Utah’s four-year, $49MM deal may seem like a lot on the surface, but at the time of the signing, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports spoke with league execs who said that they would be willing to give him something in the range of $13MM per season. Frankly, the deal could turn out to be quite a bargain if Favors progresses as they hope he will. The Jazz were also hoping to hammer something out with Gordon Hayward before the Halloween deadline but it wasn’t meant to be. Hayward is now set to hit restricted free agency in the summer, but the Jazz might also be open to moving him before the All-Star break.
In the Riggin’ For Wiggins chase, the Jazz might have a leg up on everyone. It might not be easy to watch, but Utah has decided to have something of a growing pain year to see what they have in Burke, Hayward, Favors, Kanter, and Alec Burks. This time next year, the Jazz could look like the smartest team in the league. For now, they’ll have to make do in their cramped bachelor pad.
Poll: Should Mavericks Consider Dealing Dirk?
Not only is Dirk Nowitzki the heart and soul of the Mavericks, he is one of four players in the league today holding a no-trade clause. It’s certainly not likely that the Mavericks will be moving the 35-year-old big man, but in a league where some called for the Lakers to use the amnesty clause on Kobe Bryant, nothing can be ruled out. Yesterday, Mavs owner Mark Cuban told reporters that Rockets GM Daryl Morey inquired about Dirk this summer after signing Dwight Howard. While Cuban suspects that it may have been a little bit of smack talk from Houston after they beat out their intra-state rivals for the summer’s top free agent, there could have been some legitimacy behind the request. The Lakers have also come calling about Dirk, though no offer was made in that instance either.
So far, everything is looking up in Dallas this season. The Mavs are 9-4 and offseason pickup Monta Ellis is arguably playing the best basketball of his life.. Franchise cornerstone Nowitzki is faring pretty well himself, averaging 20.4 PPG though 13 games while shooting 47.8% from the floor, a number that is consistent with his career average. Still, the 35-year-old Nowitzki is in the final year of his contract and earning $22.7MM this season. One has to imagine that he’ll take a pay cut to stay with the Mavericks, the only NBA team he’s ever known, but that’s not an absolute given. While the veteran is playing well, should Dallas open up the phone lines and give some thought to trading Dirk?
Should Mavs Consider Trading Dirk?
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No 72% (474)
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Yes 28% (187)
Total votes: 661
Odds & Ends: Cunningham, Odom, Fisher
No one expected either the Suns or the Sixers to have half a dozen wins less than a month into the season, but both teams captured their sixth victories tonight. Stories about tanking have been few in the wake of their success, but there’s plenty other news to pass along:
- The Spurs and Lakers inquired with the Timberwolves about Dante Cunningham in the offseason, according to Darren Wolfson of 1500 ESPN Twin Cities, who figures those teams will be after him again when he hits free agency next summer (Twitter link).
- Neither the Clippers nor Lamar Odom are rushing toward a deal, and after a few weeks both sides will probably have a better idea of whether he’ll join the team, tweets Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com.
- Derek Fisher re-signed with the Thunder for just the minimum salary, but he’s played an outsized role for the team so far, as The Oklahoman’s Darnell Mayberry examines.
- Aggrey Sam of CSNChicago.com looks ahead to next summer for Jimmy Butler, who’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension. Sam speculates that the Bulls will offer Butler a deal for about $8MM a year, and the scribe registers a few more guesses about what other top wing players approaching free agency will see on their next contracts.
- The Mavericks made lots of changes to their roster in the offseason, and several newcomers are playing key roles in the team’s fast start. One of them is Jose Calderon, who discusses the smooth transition with HoopsWorld’s Alex Kennedy.
- The Wolves renounced their rights to former second-round picks Tanguy Ngombo and Loukas Mavrokefalidis, notes Mark Deeks of ShamSports (Twitter links).
Union, Isiah Thomas Have Spoken About Top Job
The National Basketball Players Association has had talks with Isiah Thomas about the possibility that he could be its next executive director, Thomas tells Marc Berman of the New York Post. Thomas was “aggressively pursuing” the job at one point, but that’s no longer the case, according to Berman. Thomas served as president of the union for several years during his playing career with the Pistons.
The 52-year-old said this spring that he was “definitely” interested in returning to basketball as either a coach or a GM, but he tells Berman that he’s now more focused on business ventures. Still, Thomas said he’d listen if a team asked him to join its front office. He also left the door open for a return to the Knicks, though he’s not anxious to see that happen.
“I want to be clear about it today,’’ Thomas said. “I have really moved on, and I moved on years ago. Everyone else should really do the same.”
Knicks owner James Dolan said he wouldn’t hire Thomas back, as we passed along today. Berman hears that even if Dolan wanted to do so, Thomas would only work as Knicks GM if the owner would lift his policy of not allowing his executives to freely address the media.
New York Links: Woodson, Calipari, Garnett
The Nets are playing the Timberwolves tonight while the Knicks are off, so Brooklyn can either claim last place in the Atlantic Division all to itself with a loss, or win and let the media sharpen their focus on the struggling Knicks. We rounded up news from New York this morning, but there’s still more to pass along:
- Mike Woodson appreciates owner James Dolan’s comments of support, and he isn’t letting rumors about his job security or the “Fire Woodson!” chants at Madison Square Garden get to him, observes Fred Kerber of the New York Post.
- University of Kentucky coach John Calipari says he isn’t paying attention to chatter suggesting he could be the next coach of the Knicks, telling reporters, including Jeff Drummond of Scout.com, that he’s “good where I am” in response to a question about whether he’d ever want to return to the NBA.
- Jason Kidd knows he might not have Kevin Garnett next year, acknowledging that KG might retire as the coach spoke to reporters before Brooklyn’s only game at Minnesota this year. “I wouldn’t doubt that this is the last time he plays on this floor,” Kidd said, as Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News notes.
- Bondy heard recently from Nets sources that Kidd’s job isn’t in danger, and the coach acknowledged that ownership has been patient with the team’s slow start, as the Daily News Scribe passes along in the same piece.
- Bleacher Report’s Howard Beck lobs out several questions that James Dolan wasn’t asked when he broke his long media blackout.
- Whether or not he has to worry about his job, Kidd doesn’t have to concern himself with any hard feelings from Mavs owner Mark Cuban, who says he’s gotten over the point guard’s decision to spurn Dallas to sign with the Knicks last summer. Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com has the details.
Cuban: Rockets Inquired About Dirk Nowitzki
Mavs owner Mark Cuban told reporters today that Rockets GM Daryl Morey sent him a text message this summer after Houston signed Dwight Howard asking whether the Mavs would be willing to give up Dirk Nowitzki in a trade, tweets Tim McMahon of ESPNDallas.com. Cuban said the conversation went no further and that the Rockets never made an official offer. The owner saw the move mostly as a taunting gesture, since the Mavs had been one of the teams in the running to sign Howard, and “just something rivals do,” as Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News details.
“Now, I’ve brought it on the record just to have some fun with it now that we’ve played them twice we can help them sell tickets next time. I think they need help. Just to build the rivalry up,” Cuban said.
Cuban also brought up an inquiry the Lakers had made in the past about Nowitzki, adding that no formal offer was extended in that case, either. The owner says he’s never entertained any thoughts about trading the perennial All-Star. Even if he did, Nowitzki could block any trade, since he’s one of four NBA players with a no-trade clause negotiated into his deal.
The 35-year-old Nowitzki is in the final year of his contract, from which he’ll earn $22.7MM this season, but he appears unlikely to sign with another team, even if Dallas asks him to take a pay cut. Cuban has expressed confidence that the ninth overall pick from 1998 can continue playing for years to come.
The Cost Of Traded 2014 First-Round Picks
A look at our 2013/14 Reverse Standings table wouldn’t give you the idea that the 2014 draft class is as heralded as it is. Nor would it suggest how stingy GMs were with their first-round picks at the trade deadline last year. No team dealt away a first-round pick last February, but a dozen of next year’s 30 first-rounders were involved in a trade at some point. Not all of those selections will wind up actually changing hands for 2014 thanks to the protection attached under the terms of the trades, but the teams that wind up having to surrender their picks may rue having given them up.
Of course, no trade is made in a vacuum, and the desire for cap space fuels many transactions that appear lopsided on the surface, like the Pistons’ acquisition of Corey Maggette for Ben Gordon and what could be a lottery pick this year. Still, it’s interesting to see the raw costs of 2014 draft picks and wonder whether any flexibility a team might have gained was worth the cost of a chance at a future star. In many instances, the draft pick wasn’t the only asset the team surrendered, making the cost even higher.
Here’s a closer look at a few of the most interesting cases:
- The Blazers won’t have to worry about having given up too valuable a pick if their hot start continues, but just as trading Gerald Wallace away netted them the 2012 No. 6 overall selection that became Damian Lillard, acquiring Wallace cost Portland a first-round pick. They also surrendered the pick that became Tobias Harris in the deal to bring Wallace to Rip City, and Harris is beginning to emerge as an important player for the Magic.
- Dallas is more than a year removed from having to deal with the headache that Lamar Odom became during his time there, but the acquisition still haunts the Mavs. Dallas gave up a first-rounder to the Lakers as part of its deal to acquire the forward, and a pair of subsequent trades have set the Thunder up to see the Mavs’ pick as soon as 2014.
- Bobcats fans have suffered through plenty, and even though underachieving Tyrus Thomas is gone thanks to the amnesty clause, the repercussions of the team’s ill-fated decision to trade for him remain. Charlotte must send its 2014 first-rounder to Chicago if it’s not a top-10 pick, thanks to the Thomas deal.
- Drafting Wesley Johnson fourth overall in 2010 didn’t just cost the Timberwolves the chance to grab Paul George, DeMarcus Cousins and Larry Sanders, all of whom were still on the board. It also might have cost the team a late lottery pick next year. The Wolves’ 2014 first-round pick will go to the Suns if it’s No. 14 or below, since the Wolves threw the selection in as sweetener to prompt Phoenix to accept Johnson via trade last year. Ominously for the Wolves, their pick would come at No. 14 based on today’s standings.
- It’s hard to fault the Knicks too much for trading their 2014 first-rounder, considering they gave it up in the Carmelo Anthony deal. Still, if Anthony bolts as a free agent this summer and the Knicks are left without a chance to grab a budding star in June’s draft, it will no doubt leave New York fans with plenty of regrets. That’s doubly true if the Knicks don’t start winning some games and their unprotected pick winds up as a lottery selection.
Here’s what each team with at least a slight chance of losing its 2014 first-round pick got in return. The number on the left indicates where the pick would fall in the draft order based on today’s reverse standings.
Picks that wouldn’t change hands based on today’s standings:
- 7. Wizards (goes to Suns if it’s not in the top 12) — acquired Marcin Gortat, Shannon Brown, Kendall Marshall, and Malcolm Lee. Also gave up Emeka Okafor.
- 8. Pistons (goes to Bobcats if it’s not in the top 8) — acquired Corey Maggette. Also gave up Ben Gordon.
- 9. Kings (goes to Cavaliers if it’s not in the top 12) — acquired J.J. Hickson.
- 12. Sixers (goes to Heat if it’s not in the top 14) — acquired 2012 No. 27 pick (Arnett Moultrie). Also gave up 2012 No. 45 pick (Justin Hamilton).
Picks that would:
- 3. Knicks (goes to Nuggets; goes to Magic if Denver’s own pick is more favorable) — acquired Carmelo Anthony, Renaldo Balkman, Chauncey Billups, Corey Brewer, Anthony Carter and Shelden Williams. Also gave up Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Eddy Curry, Anthony Randolph, $3MM cash, a 2012 second-round draft pick (Quincy Miller), and a 2013 second-round draft pick (Romero Osby).
- 11. Pelicans (goes to Sixers if it’s not in the top 5) — acquired Jrue Holiday and 2013 No. 42 pick (Pierre Jackson). Also gave up 2013 No. 6 pick (Nerlens Noel).
- 14. Timberwolves (goes to Suns if it’s not in the top 13) — acquired a 2013 second-round pick (Lorenzo Brown), a 2014 second-round pick and a 2016 second-round pick. Also gave up Wesley Johnson.
- 18. Bobcats (goes to Bulls if it’s not in the top 10) — acquired Tyrus Thomas. Also gave up Ronald Murray and Acie Law.
- 24. Warriors (goes to Jazz) — acquired Andre Iguodala and Kevin Murphy. Also gave up Andris Biedrins, Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, a 2017 first-round pick, a 2016 second-round pick, a 2017 second-round pick, a 2018 second-round pick, and cash.
- 25. Mavericks (goes to Thunder if it’s not in the top 20) — acquired Lamar Odom, a 2012 second-round pick (Darius Johnson-Odom), and the rights to swap 2013 second-round picks with the Lakers (not exercised).
- 28. Trail Blazers (goes to Bobcats if it’s not in the top 12) — acquired Gerald Wallace. Also gave up Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks, Joel Przybilla, a 2011 first-round draft pick (Tobias Harris), and cash.
- 30. Pacers (goes to Suns if it’s not in the top 14) — acquired Luis Scola. Also gave up Miles Plumlee and Gerald Green.
RealGM.com and Pro Sports Transactions were used in the creation of this post.
Coach/GM Rumors: Jazz, Wizards, Raps, Cavs
It may seem a little early in the season for any NBA teams to make a coaching change, but it’s worth noting that each of the league’s 30 coaches have already survived twice as long this year as Mike Brown did with the Lakers a year ago. While there may not be any coaching or front office shake-ups right around the corner, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com examines situations of potential unrest around the league, offering up a few tidbits along the way. Let’s round them up….
- Despite leading the Jazz to a 1-12 start, coach Tyrone Corbin doesn’t appear to be in any danger, since the focus in Utah is on player development rather than wins and losses. Berger adds that there’s also no logical in-house candidate to serve as an interim coach now that former assistant Jeff Hornacek is in Phoenix.
- League sources question how much longer Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld “can remain in self-preservation mode,” says Berger.
- If the Wizards and Raptors continue losing, Randy Wittman and Dwane Casey could be in a dead heat for the first coach to be replaced. According to Berger, the feeling around the league is that new Toronto president Masai Ujiri would be quick to make a change and start putting his own stamp on the franchise if things go south for Casey and the Raptors.
- Cavaliers GM Chris Grant is on “shaky ground,” sources tell Berger. While coach Mike Brown may have pushed for the drafting of Anthony Bennett, Brown just signed a four-year contract with the team, so Grant’s seat is much hotter than his coach’s.
- Pelicans GM Dell Demps and Pistons GM Joe Dumars are among the other executives who could be in danger of losing their jobs if their respective teams aren’t in the playoff hunt, writes Berger.
Offseason In Review: San Antonio Spurs
Hoops Rumors is in the process of looking back at each team’s offseason, from the end of the playoffs in June right up until opening night. Trades, free agent signings, draft picks, contract extensions, option decisions, camp invitees, and more will be covered, as we examine the moves each franchise made over the last several months.
Signings
- Tiago Splitter: Four years, $36MM. Signed via Bird rights.
- Manu Ginobili: Two years, $14.5MM. Signed via Bird rights.
- Marco Belinelli: Two years, $5.62MM. Signed via mid-level exception.
- Jeff Ayres: Two years, $3.58MM. Signed via mid-level exception.
Trades
- None
Draft Picks
- Livio Jean-Charles (Round 1, 28th overall). Playing overseas.
- Deshaun Thomas (Round 2, 58th overall). Playing overseas.
Camp Invitees
- Marcus Cousin
- Courtney Fells
- Josh Howard
- Myck Kabongo
- Corey Maggette
- Daniel Nwaelele
- Sam Young
Departing Players
Rookie Contract Option Decisions
- Cory Joseph (4th year, $2.02MM): Exercised
- Kawhi Leonard (4th year, $2.89MM): Exercised
Coming off a season in which they came within a miracle Ray Allen three-pointer of a title, the Spurs had the opportunity to go in a couple different directions this summer. The direction San Antonio ultimately chose was likely the safer of its two potential courses, and was certainly the less exciting option. But given the flexibility afforded to the Spurs heading into the offseason, that decision must not have come easy.
With Manu Ginobili‘s and Tiago Splitter‘s contracts set to expire and Matt Bonner‘s 2013/14 salary only partially guaranteed, the Spurs had less than $40MM in guaranteed salary committed to the roster for this season. If the club had let Ginobili, Splitter, and Bonner walk, it would have created nearly enough cap space to make a maximum offer to Dwight Howard — that’s why we heard a little offseason speculation that San Antonio could get involved in those sweepstakes.
Even if they chose not to pursue Howard, the Spurs could have used that chunk of potential cap room to sign an impact player. Al Jefferson, for instance, has long been considered a possible target for the Spurs. Signing him to an annual salary of $12-13MM would still have left the team some money to add another complementary player or two. The same could be said for Josh Smith, another player who signed for about that amount and may have been a fit with the Spurs.
For a team whose window is perpetually thought to be closing, the opportunity to replace a declining veteran like Ginobili with a younger star must have been tempting. Losing Splitter would have been a tough pill to swallow, but at age 28, the Brazilian big man is unlikely to continue improving much, and isn’t exactly a future Hall-of-Famer.
Still, while pundits may be ready to dub the Spurs “too old” every October, last year’s Finals are proof that the veteran team isn’t over the hill quite yet. Ginobili is slowing down, but Tony Parker remains one of the league’s best point guards, and Tim Duncan was as productive as ever in 2012/13. Throw in the fact that Kawhi Leonard emerged in the postseason as one of the NBA’s rising stars, and it’s easy to see why the Spurs decided to stay the course for another year or two.
Staying the course meant bringing back Ginobili, Splitter, and Bonner rather than claiming that potential cap space. Ginobili, who never seemed likely to sign anywhere else, inked a two-year deal worth $14.5MM. Splitter drew more interest from rival teams, reportedly receiving a four-year, $36MM offer from the Trail Blazers, which the Spurs were willing to match. I’d expected Ginobili to receive a salary in the neighborhood of the mid-level, so that extra $1-2MM annually is easy enough to swallow. As for Splitter, even if we’ve seen his best, an annual salary of $9MM is a reasonable rate for a productive big man — it’s a tradable contract and compares favorably to recent deals for players like JaVale McGee and DeAndre Jordan.
By the time those three Spurs were back on the books, San Antonio’s cap room had vanished, but the club still had its mid-level exception available, which it used to add a pair of players. Jeff Pendergraph, who became Jeff Ayres after signing with the team, will add some depth to the frontcourt, but Marco Belinelli was the more notable signee. It’s still very early in the year, so we can’t necessarily expect Belinelli to maintain his career-high shooting percentages and PER all season, but he looks like a great fit in San Antonio. He should make for a great option when Ginobili is struggling, or when the team needs a shooter besides Danny Green.
At some point, the Spurs will move on from the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili era and get younger, but it looks like we’re still a couple years away from that reality. The four-year deal signed by Splitter ensures that he’s the only Spur on the books long-term, with every other player’s deal set to expire by 2015. As such, I expect we’ll see the current core take two more runs at a title – this season and next – before the team once again finds itself at the crossroads it faced this summer. In 2013, it made sense to bring the whole gang back. By 2015, San Antonio may finally be headed in another direction.