This is going to be a long offseason

Drew Gooden arrived in San Antonio last March hoping to make it his home. He had bounced around the NBA for six-plus seasons in a nomad's career. He was finally ready to settle down.

Speaking to reporters at the Spurs practice facility this afternoon, Gooden reiterated his desire to remain with the Spurs after he becomes a free-agent on July 1, but intimated that he will test the market first.

"I had a great time here," Gooden said. "It was a great experience. Whatever happens, this will be a couple of pages in my book that will be memorable. I'd love to be a part of this organization, but we'll see this summer."

If Tuesday's Game 5 loss to Dallas was his last in a Spurs uniform, Gooden said he has no hard feelings with how it ended. He took a DNP-CD, as coach Gregg Popovich shortened his big-man rotation to use players most familiar with his system.

"We played a small lineup, small rotation, with the guys who have been here," Gooden said. "Some playoff games are going to be like that. If I've got to sacrifice playing to get a win, I'll do that."

In other clean-out day news ...

* Bruce Bowen said he hopes to finish out his contract in San Antonio. He is on the books next season for $4 million, only half of which is guaranteed. He doesn't want to go elsewhere.

"It would be a shock to me and my family, because this is home to us," Bowen said. "But if that's the case, we understand it's a business. Sometimes in business, there are tough decisions that need to be made."

* Michael Finley said he hadn't yet decided whether to opt into the final year of his contract with the Spurs. Finley is due $2.5 million, at his option.

"I haven't really thought about next year, to be quite honest," Finley said. "I'm going to sit back with my family now, enjoy this extended period of time off, and when the time comes that I have to make a decision about my future, that's when I'll make it."

That $2.5 million is free money to Finley, and he isn't likely to attract a better deal elsewhere. If Finley does return for a 15th season, it will probably be in a Spurs uniform.

ace3g wrote:Here is my lineup for next year:

PG: Parker, Hill, FA pickup
SG: Manu, Mason, Hairston
SF: FA pickup, Bowen, Gist
PF: Duncan, Mahinmi, Bonner
C: Rasheed, Thomas, FA pick up

Training camp look: Sanikidze, Williams, Javtokas

txstr1986 wrote:

ace3g wrote:Here is my lineup for next year:

PG: Parker, Hill, FA pickup
SG: Manu, Mason, Hairston
SF: FA pickup, Bowen, Gist
PF: Duncan, Mahinmi, Bonner
C: Rasheed, Thomas, FA pick up

Training camp look: Sanikidze, Williams, Javtokas

I like it, but I wouldn't mind keeping Gooden in the other center position.

ryno wrote:Well this will require some thought. I'm not really sure what the Spurs should do. One thing that may not be popular though is that we trade Manu Ginobili next year. He will have that expiring contract so he should be easy enough to move, but for who, I have no idea. But that really wouldn't come up until the trade deadline anyways. If the Spurs decide to keep Bruce around his contract may provide as a valuable trade asset as well next year. But we have a while to see what happens with Manu's rehab before we make any brash decisions.

I think we should bring Finley back, he is worth the $2.5 million. Vaughn and Udoka should be gone. I think Oberto's contract is partialy guarenteed like Bowens. If that is the case they should release him or try and trade him. Otherwise I don't see the Spurs making many changes. Gooden would be nice to bring back if we can get a reasonable deal done for him. I don't know that he is worth spending the entire MLE on and going over the Luxury Tax threshold for though. His defense is pretty weak and his offense is really pretty inconsistent.

I do like the idea of Michael Redd in 2010, but not if it would take a max deal.

jermaineoneal wrote:Ron Artest top 5 defender in this league, seen what he can do when he was a Pacer.
Michael Redd I really love this guy, watching him play, maybe a little injury prone?
Richard Jefferson (has played in 2 Finals) can play D when he wants too, can run with TP.

Toby wrote:Blazers will trade you Travis Outlaw for somebody, anybody really. Give us Udoka back, wha'chall think?

Toby wrote:Blazers will trade you Travis Outlaw for somebody, anybody really. Give us Udoka back, wha'chall think?