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Beno Udrih.
Brent Barry was the old Brent Barry until he was verbally and mentally traded at last season's trading deadline. An inconsistent deer-in-the-headlights, the original Brent Barry was shopped around the league for months prior to last season's trading deadline.
Apparently the Spurs eye for talent is still good since J.R. Smith is now proving to everyone in Denver that he can play the game. Possibly being a headcase aside, could the Spurs use some of what Smith is giving to Denver? You bet. Nevertheless, despite the Spurs not getting younger and more athletic with Smith, the post-trade version of Brent Barry has contributed this season like the Spurs hoped he would.
Which brings us to the new Brent Barry, Beno Udrih. After watching Pop give him get the hook after 2 minutes against the Mavericks for making defensive and offensive mistakes, I was disappointed to see him not bounce back with a good game against the Sonics. Instead, he just descended further into Pop's doghouse last night.
In most games that I have seen this season, Pop has been playing Beno the last 2-3 minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarters and then 4-5 minutes to start the 2nd and 4th quarters. Playing the end of quarters is important, Pop is obviously looking to test his basketball IQ and/or clock management skills. So far Beno has responded like what he is....a young kid growing increasingly fearful of the wrath of Pop.
To be fair, other teams know through their scouts that Finley, Horry, Beno and even Manu are in shooting slumps. Their pre-game strategy no doubt involves giving those three guys shots and guarding players like Duncan, Parker and Barry much tighter. But Beno is a shooter and more than a few of his shots are ill-advised like that one at the end of the 3rd quarter against the Sonics. Shooting your way out of a slump taking good shots is one thing. Shooting your team out of a game by taking bad shots will get you traded.
Jacque Vaughn may be somewhat serviceable at Point Guard but he isn't the answer for the Spurs. The Mavericks, Suns and other contenders all have younger guard talents that will probably smoke him consistently on offense.
Two straight games of Beno getting an early hook isn't a pattern and this isn't a Spurs Trade Rumors thread just yet. But if some team like the Sonics were willing to part with (their reportedly unhappy) a veteran backup Point Guard like Earl Watson, then the Spurs might move Beno right now. But only if the right guy is available at the right price.
BTW, you're not right about Beno just yet Gameface. My money is still on Beno.
