2008 Possible Free Agents for the Spurs

putting this thread in here so it doesn't get lost in the regular forum

PG:
Chris Duhon - UFA
Dan Dickau - UFA
Chris Quinn - RFA
Jannero Pargo - UFA
Anthony Johnson - UFA
Quinton Ross - UFA

SG/SF:
Josh Childress - RFA
James Posey - UFA
Devin Brown - UFA
Matt Barnes - UFA
Mickael Pietrus - UFA
Ryan Gomes - RFA
Bostjan Nachbar - UFA
Bonzi Wells - UFA
James Jones - UFA

PF/C:
DeSagana Diop - UFA

I only have Diop on the list for PF/C, because it is pretty much set in stone that the spurs are going to bring in Splitter and Mahinmi next season

Next years lineup, prior to free agent signings

PG: Parker
SG: Manu, Barry
SF: Bowen, Udoka
PF: Duncan, Bonner
C: Oberto


Vaughn and Thomas might be back
and Mahinmi and Splitter most likely will be here

Finley, Horry, Stoudamire most likely won't be back


so we will need help at PG, SG, SF

If the spurs can find a way and get Childress from the Hawks this offseason, he will give us an easy transition from Bowen


Advantages:
1. Better Ball Handler
2. Better Rebounder
3. Better FT shooter
4. Better driver to the basket

Disadvantages:
1. Not as good of a defender (but who is?)
2. Not really a 3 pt shooter only 34% but with Chip's help he can improve that percentage

I would love to have Childress, and since the Hawks will likely have to pay the big bucks to hang onto Josh Smith that may be a possibility. Although I would think it would take a full MLE deal to bring in Childress, is he worth that kind of money?

And Ace, do you have doubts that Ime can step into a starting role for the Spurs? Or are you just thinking that he would fill Finleys role nicely and be able to be a combo wing for the Spurs?

I like Matt Barnes, especially if Kurt Thomas doesn't come back. He could add that Mario Ellie type of fire to the team.

Another player on your list that I like is Chris Quinn if they decide not to bring Vaughn back. Quinn is a good shooter all the way out to downtown and a good ball handler. The guy can score and with some of the droughts we have had this year on the offensive end I wouldn't mind having someone who could shoot better than Vaughn. That was the idea with Damon even though it didn't pan out. I don't know how good Chris Quinn's defense is but it is almost certainly not as good as Vaughn's, an experienced player who learned from people like Jerry Sloan, John Stockton and Jason Kidd after already being a very good defender in college.

also Viktor Sanikidze is going to be back in the Summer League and has a good chance of landing a roster spot



and another former prospect I think the spurs should look at for the PG position is Alex Garcia

ace3g wrote:putting this thread in here so it doesn't get lost in the regular forum

PG:
Chris Duhon - UFA
Dan Dickau - UFA
Chris Quinn - RFA
Jannero Pargo - UFA
Anthony Johnson - UFA
Quinton Ross - UFA

SG/SF:
Josh Childress - RFA
James Posey - UFA
Devin Brown - UFA
Matt Barnes - UFA
Mickael Pietrus - UFA
Ryan Gomes - RFA
Bostjan Nachbar - UFA
Bonzi Wells - UFA
James Jones - UFA

PF/C:
DeSagana Diop - UFA

I only have Diop on the list for PF/C, because it is pretty much set in stone that the spurs are going to bring in Splitter and Mahinmi next season

Ryan Gomes is a combo SF/PF. I think he's the best option , and could be had for the MLE. He could play SF beside Duncan and Kurt/Splitter/Ian/Oberto, or PF against smaller teams. he's a post up threat, good rebounder, and decent 3 pt shooter... his averages last year were 12.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 1.8 apg... a great glue guy, smart, team player,... emerged in the second half of the year as the best player on team after Al jefferson (I know-- Minnesota stunk last year). McHale siad resigning him is a priority, but if they land Beasley in the draft, they might not want to spend too much... only 25 years old... worst case scenerio is he becomes a very good bench player for next 4 years. Best case scenerio, he continue to improve, starts for Spurs and averages 14/7/4. Either way, I think he's worth a MLE offer ...

I agree with you Tully, I would rather have Gomes over either Childress or Barnes. I do think that Minnesota is more likely to match the offer though.

Whats the difference between Restricted & Unrestricted?

ryno wrote:I agree with you Tully, I would rather have Gomes over either Childress or Barnes. I do think that Minnesota is more likely to match the offer though.

I guess it'll all depend on what pick the Timberwolves get. I imagine they're hoping for a point guard, but if the best couple of point guards are taken, they may just take the best available player that's left-- and if that's a forward, maybe they'll be afraid to overpay Gomes.... I'm crossing my fingers-- he seems like the perfect complement to the Spurs, being competent in many different areas but not a "I need 15 shots a game" kind of ego... whereas a guy like Corey Maggette could be a risk to disrupt team balance and flow.... another guy I like and who could be available is Kyle Lowry, a defense first PG from Memphis.... the Grizzlies have Conley, Lowry, and Crittenton and at some point will probably have to deal one of them. He could spell Parker for more minutes than Vaughn, and can even play alongside Parker because he's capable of defending some bigger 2 guards... be nice to grab him now before his stock goes up... another option: maybe with all of the trouble that's gone on between Jorge Garbajosa and Toronto, he could be had for Bonner....
It's going to be a great off season.... lots of decisions for the Spurs to make...

I'm going to start posting articles about players I have on the above list :

Nachbar Coveting A Role With The Knicks?

The Star-Ledger -
Bostjan Nachbar is heading into free agency this summer and seems to be campaigning for a spot on the Knicks' roster with the arrival of his former Italian Coach Mike D'Antoni, according to The Star-Ledger.

Nachbar was an significant piece of D'Antoni's fast-paced offense for Benetton Treviso.

In their one year together, Benetton won the Italian League and the Italian Cup and made an appearance in the European Final Four.

"Who wouldn't want to play for Mike?" Nachbar said Sunday. "For me, playing with Mike again would be like a dream come true, honestly. But I'm extremely thankful for what the Nets gave me. As much as what Mike did for me in Europe, they did for me in the NBA."

"They totally helped me with redirecting my career and getting me going again, and I don't forget that easily," Nachbar added. "From that aspect, I do want to stay with the Nets, definitely. But then just over the river, having one of the best coaches in the NBA, and a guy who's not just a coach but my friend, that also is going to be a factor, too."

When the season ended for the Nets one month ago, both Nachbar and the organization expressed a desire to keep the forward in New Jersey.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... he_knicks/

right now NBAdraft.net has us drafting Nikola Pekovic



NBA Comparison: Tyrone Hill
Strengths: Athletic young big man who uses his body well … Strong and physical player with good strength and size … He loves to play with his back to the basket relying on deep position under the basket; if he catches the ball on the low post it’s very difficult to stop him … Pekovic is very explosive and aggressive player who dunks the ball easily … Plays simple basketball with solid fundamentals (can’t create too much offense esp. off the drible)… Understands what is he capable of doing on the court and keeps it simple not forcing anything … Most of his points are around the basket; put-backs, dunks and rebounds but his favorite move is his baby-hook-shot; very good at drawing contact and patient using pump-fakes … Offensively he is effective using the play pick and roll and gets himself in good position for easy shots under the basket … Gets to the free-throw line often … Runs the floor well for his size and loves to dunk the ball on the fast-break … Pekovic understands how to play without the ball setting screens well and spacing the floor … Recieves balls well in the post … On the defensive end his mobility, long arms, size and aggressiveness helps him to be a solid defender …


Weaknesses: Pekovic has to improve his offensive game in order to play at the next level (has to learn how to create his own shot and inside moves)… His outside shot does not possess any range; midrange and long range needs lot of work … Not a good free-throw shooter considering he gets to the free-throw line often … Pekovic overpowers most of his opponents in U-20 European Championship and Serbian League, but he would not be able to do that in the NBA … Adding another 15 pounds of muscles in the future would not be a problem for Pekovic … A center with the body and size of a power forward; likely would play PF position at the next level …

Notes: A solid prospect, and one to keep an eye on …

http://www.nbadraft.net/admincp/profile ... kovic.html

ace3g wrote:I'm going to start posting articles about players I have on the above list :

Nachbar Coveting A Role With The Knicks?

The Star-Ledger -
Bostjan Nachbar is heading into free agency this summer and seems to be campaigning for a spot on the Knicks' roster with the arrival of his former Italian Coach Mike D'Antoni, according to The Star-Ledger.

Nachbar was an significant piece of D'Antoni's fast-paced offense for Benetton Treviso.

In their one year together, Benetton won the Italian League and the Italian Cup and made an appearance in the European Final Four.

"Who wouldn't want to play for Mike?" Nachbar said Sunday. "For me, playing with Mike again would be like a dream come true, honestly. But I'm extremely thankful for what the Nets gave me. As much as what Mike did for me in Europe, they did for me in the NBA."

"They totally helped me with redirecting my career and getting me going again, and I don't forget that easily," Nachbar added. "From that aspect, I do want to stay with the Nets, definitely. But then just over the river, having one of the best coaches in the NBA, and a guy who's not just a coach but my friend, that also is going to be a factor, too."

When the season ended for the Nets one month ago, both Nachbar and the organization expressed a desire to keep the forward in New Jersey.

http://realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives/ ... he_knicks/

I grew up in NY and want to root for the Knicks (like I did as a kid), but they are so bad that it's almost impossible. The Knicks are the anti-Spurs-- they mismanage money, overpay average players, don't emphasize defense, don't play as a team... and now, to go along with a group of guys who mostly don't think much about defense is coach D'Antoni, who also lacks an interest in it... At this point, Bennetton Treviso might give them a run for their money...

With regards to Pekovic, nbadraft.net is way off. Pekovic is likely to sign a new contract in Europe and stay there for a few years. He would be a good second round, long-term investment, although a team is likely to take him before the Spurs.