A Dream Come True: Assessing Blair

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In an unexpected turn of events, the Spurs were able to draft power forward DeJuan Blair with the 37th pick in the draft. Blair was a consensus top 15 pick.

Considering that this was one of the weakest drafts in recent memory, the Spurs acquired something I never believed would be available in the 2nd round: A player who can contribute immediately. Blair may not be a starter but in his rookie season he will be prepared to play 15 minutes a game. Given how shallow our frontcourt became in the wake of the Jefferson trade, the fact that we were able to acquire a rotation big without sacrificing a current member of the squad is unbelievable.

I’ve been very high on Blair for some time now. In fact, I’ve gone so far as to say that Blair will be the 2nd best big man drafted in this class behind Blake Griffin. He has an instinctual sense of spacing, a solid back-to-the-basket game, and off-the-charts rebounding numbers (During the 08/09 season, he successfully rebounded the ball 31% of the time). Add on the fact that the man is a pit bull when on the floor, and it becomes clear that Blair is an absolute steal.

The most frequently expressed concern about Blair is his height: At 6’6.25″ with shoes, he initially comes off as too short to legitimately earn minutes in an NBA frontcourt. But then you consider his 7’2″ wingspan and realize that he has a taller standing reach than Blake Griffin. Tack on the fact that he has one of the most NBA-ready bodies of any draft pick (you couldn’t shoot a 12-gauge through him) and it suddenly becomes clear why, every time he matched up against Hasheem Thabeet in college, he dominated this year’s number 2 pick:


(h/t Justin)

I don’t want to even mention that he had the highest PER of any member of this draft class (including Blake Griffin).

Those looking to react negatively to what was an unequivocally great night for the Spurs will look at the questions surrounding Blair’s knees and claim he isn’t all he is cracked up to be. They will say he slid to 37 for a reason. I have two responses to that:

First, there is no way in Hell the Spurs could have landed a more talented player at 37. Yes, there are a couple questions surrounding our early second round pick. Welcome to the reality of having only second round picks.

Second, even if Blair’s knees are a long-term issue, they are exactly that: A long-term issue. With the Jefferson trade, the Spurs announced their intention to make a run for a 5th title and make it now. Aside from Blake Griffin, I would argue no big was more prepared to come onto an NBA squad and readily earn significant minutes than DeJuan Blair.

The truth of the matter is, being able to select Blair with the 37th pick is an unmitigated coup. Blair was a dream, someone we mentioned just in case the front office became unexpectedly aggressive and moved up into the lottery. Well, sometimes dreams do come true.

  • funktron

    Oh. Hell. Yes.

    I cannot believe this monster fell to us. I watched him tear up Thabeet, and I thought… “Damn, that guy’s going to be a steal for someone because they’re going to knock him for height and his knees.”

    And here we are. :) SO SWEEEET!

  • Justin

    Here is a 4 minute video of Dejuan Blair destroying everybody http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxxqEKssvgI&feature=fvst. ESPN needs to do two 30 for 30’s one on how we got Dejuan Blair and another on how Minnesota had 4 first round picks and solidified one position.

  • rikiddo

    The Spurs aren’t even done yet, but this week, they’ve been sending only one message to the rest of the league, and all the pundits who wrote us off after last season: WE’RE BACK.

    Can’t wait for the season… heck, I can’t wait for summer league.

  • Raul

    I cant believe that he fell to the 2nd round. Let alone to the Spurs. This has been 1 HELL of a week for the Spurs. Great trade and a good draft pick up. Maybe they can add another key player.

  • 092021

    Oh man. Here we go.

  • Juan

    When he wasn’t picked in the late 20’s I started having a hunch this could happen. I had to leave after the first round and came back to see every Spurs’ site celebrating we got him. I couldn’t believe it! We did great this week. Lets try to list the roster:

    On contract:
    1 Parker
    2 Mason
    3 Jefferson
    4 Blair (I guess we can count him in this list)
    5 Duncan
    6 Hill
    7 Manu
    8 Finley
    9 Bonner

    “Our” free agents:
    Gooden (I would prefer if he doesn’t but it depends on how we do with other FAs)
    Oberto (depending on how we do on others FAs)
    Udoka (he only comes back if EVERYTHING else false apart, maybe not even then)
    Vaughn (safe to say he is gone)

    Picks and prospects:
    Hairston
    Williams
    Ian
    Gist
    Splitter
    Nando
    McClinton

    Am I missing someone? Who should we keep, sign or get rid of?

  • Jason

    I’m officially pumped about next season and on the DeJuan Blair bandwagon. I totally agree that we’re drafting him to contribute ASAP, you don’t find career franchise-type players in the second round (unless it’s Manu), but i do believe that he can quickly develop into a very solid role player, and will give Pop some great options.

    For example, imagine if the Spurs need to go small, they can plug DeJuan in at the 4 to be an undersized PF along with the big 4 (or if Manu’s on the bench you can go with Roger Mason as the SG, or move Parker to the SG and put George Hill in as the point, or McClinton as the SG). Come to think of it, until we get some strength down low at the 5 spot the Spurs are at this point fielding a pretty fast and young(er) lineup. I think that if we can somehow get an athletic center that can just be a large presence down low, block a couple shots, contest a good amount of them, and then just rebound and get put-backs we can really put it in fast gear and run and gun with some crazy shooters and playmakers… watch next years fast break numbers, I think this may be the year we finally shake the “boring” label.

    As for the 5 spot, we gotta spend our entire MLE on a STARTER that fits the description above. No offense to Matt, but he cannot be our A option at center. I’m pro Matt Bonner as long as he can return to being one of the top 5 3point shooters in the league and he does so as a role-player. Can Ian Mahimi be that post player? Too soon to tell, most likely he can only be another contributing big. We have few other options besides free agency, Roger Mason appears to be our best trading chip and most expendable player right now. I’m tempted but reluctant to say that maybe we should offer up Tiago Splitter’s rights (and maybe even future picks if necessary - we do OK in the 2nd round) in a package for someone who can perform now.

    So put together this deal… Mason, Bonner, the rights to Tiago Splitter, and a sign-and-trade player of the other team’s choice who we’d sign with our MLE, plus future picks for say a Tyson Chandler, Marcus Camby, Brad Miller, Bargnani, kinda big with expiring contracts. Hey that’s giving them the farm too, take out Splitter’s rights and you can probably get a good player still. Thoughts? Too Aggressive?

  • btranquility

    hahaha Graydon I knew you wouldn’t be able to sleep yet after leaving the chat…

    I think the Spurs are now officially the favorite team of the Truehoop network + live chatters for: picking the chat’s favorite player AND picking the chat’s favorite named player

    Would Pops give Nando a chance?… I mean he’s probably already better than Vaughn anyway. And if you’re gathering every resources you have for one big push to the championship, why let him play in Europe?

    I really hope that Thiago Splitter realizes that this is the best NBA team he would ever be able to be on, and bring his butt over to the States.

    Then we sign Sheed and begins world domination once again (OK this one was a reach… but the previous ones are highly probable right?)

  • El Jefe

    Nice blog. I found it from the true hoops link. Love that someone covers the spurs so well and with so much insight. Much better than any coverage in the Express.

  • NickLocke

    This is incredible. I was shocked he fell to us. Jeff Van Gundy called the Spurs the biggest winners because of the RJ trade and Blair. I cannot wait to see how our roster shapes up.

  • Jimbo

    I read this somewhere, don’t remember where. Basically, the writer argued that even if Blair gives a team 2 or 3 super-productive years, he will be worth it. After all where else can you find a offensive-rebounding pitbull for less than $1 million/yr for 2-3 years? And anyways, we are clearly going all-in for the next 2 years in trying to win another championship.

    In the Tim Duncan era, we have NEVER had a player like him. We were awful on the offensive boards last year and Blair will really help us. Think a stronger Paul Millsap with better offensive-rebounding skills.

    I am so incredibly stoked for the 09-10 season!

  • Rey

    I’m really, really smiling today.

    I was preparing myself to get a “surprise” like the Spurs getting into the early first round plus an overrated player/s from another team at the expense of El Contusion, but the surprise I got was that of the Spurs getting a coveted power forward who was projected to be in the Top 15. The buzz around the ‘net is that Blair is somewhat similar to Charles Barkley, so the Spurs getting him is somewhat a big bonus after acquiring Richard Jefferson.

    Of course it’s too early to say everything’s all right now, and I’m still holding my breath about the still-persistent Ginobili trade (especially with Marcus Camby still being dangled around for a good trade). I sure hope the Spurs could land a good center, either through the free agency or from Europe.

    I also hope Blair’s knees would hold up and he won’t have any attitude problems. From what I’ve read here about him being “angry” about being passed over by several teams and telling them that they’ll be sorry they passed over him, I could almost hear myself making this evil laughter and saying to the other teams, “Fools! Now, you shall all be destroyed!”

  • Rambler

    Count me in as another on the Dejuan Blair bandwagon. A great week for Spurs fans everywhere. First R-Jeff, now this. In the space of one week we have got younger, improved our wing scoring and shored up one of our weakest areas - offensive rebounding.

    Now I guess the attention turns to what next? Does anybody have ideas on the numbers we are looking at? How far over the cap are we for next season? Is the talk about a Camby or Chandler completely unthinkable?

    If so (I haven’t checked but I don’t think those numbers would work), how about a mid level exception offer to Sheed? Or can we work something out with a younger guy who might be on the rise like say…Marcin Gortat? I think he is a restricted free agent, so…it might be tricky but the way our luck is going right now…?

    If anyone can point to an article where somebody has seriously taken a look at the Spurs options to strengthen the 5 spot, please let me know. I want to keep the good off-season times going here.

  • BlaseE

    I thought McClinton would be a Toro, but Buford in the interview on Spurs.com talks about him playing with Tony and Hill as if its going to happen this season. He called him “the best shooter in the country” as well.

    Buford said de Colo will stay in Europe for now.

    He was hesitant to say how much playing time Blair would get but you could tell he is just as psyched as us. He says the draft was really frustrating because none of their trade attempts were going and then all of a sudden Blair falls to them.

    He is only 20 years old. What a natural talent and with Duncan teaching him the tricks and Pop only asking him to contribute what he can, he is going to develop awesome.

  • ruth bader ginobili

    Blair’s will be an awesome rebounder, but not on the offensive end. The Spurs have been last in that category for years, and its because Pop prefers everyone bust their butts to get back on D.
    It’ll be interesting to see if Pop gives Blair a little more leeway with that, but I doubt it.

  • btranquility

    Dejuan Blair can stop a bullet with his nipple

  • Ben

    I just found out this morning due to a power outage last night, but I am absolutely beside myself. I still can’t believe he fell to us. I think we’ve effectively replaced Kurt Thomas and Fabricio Oberto. Blair is a stud, and now he has a major chip on his shoulder. Obtaining Jefferson and Blair is huge. In my opinion it’s 2010 championship or bust now.

  • Area Man

    I was surprised that DeJuan Blair fell so far. All people kept talking about were his knees, knees and KNEES. I’d be lying, if I said I didn’t have concerns. But reading some of the post-pick analysis and opinions have really turned me in the opposite direction. Even if Blair only has 2-3 good seasons, that may be enough for the Spurs to grab another title (or two).

    However, I’d like to see him carve out a long-term career as a Spur. I get a little giddy at the prospect of Blair and Splitter anchoring the front-line in the post-Duncan era. This is me assuming that both will live up or exceed the hype surrounding them.

  • Alex

    The recent global economy struggles have come as a little blessing to the spurs. First, we landed R-Jeff in a trade that for the Bucks is nothing else but a salary dump in order to save up some money. Second, no team wanted to take a chance with Blair because of his previous knees problems. The GM’s are afraid of spending millions on a guy that could pottentially spend more time in the DL than in the ative roster. This fear is so overwhelming that they couldn’t see past the fact that he hasn’t missed a game or practice during his college years in Pitt.
    In my opinion, the draft has become pretty predictable. If you think a player can contribute now, you draft him. If you dont like anyone on the board, just draft an oversea player and let him play over there. That way i dont spend a dime and if he ends up been any good maybe then he can make the team. But only a handfull of players from overseas have pulled this off, and most teams dont have the personel to actually understand which ones will translate to the NBA. Thankfully the Spurs are the best at that, and this year, because teams were trying to imitate them, they landed a local FORCE inside.

  • Mr. Anonymous

    I live in the UK, so I find it quite hard to watch NBA basketball as it is. College Basketball is a near impossibility.

    So, just wondering, what is everyone’s rough guess at a ceiling for DeJuan? I’m hoping its multiple MVP winner, :). But that seems unlikely, :(.

    Also, can’t Richard Jefferson opt out after next year? So isn’t it possible for him to opt out and resign at a lower deal? A lot of the Spurs’ player willingly take smaller contracts then they are are worth and mightn’t Jefferson do this too, if he’s influenced by his teammates’ attitudes?

  • ThatBigGuy

    I have been grinning like an idiot all day. I haven’t been this excited since Robinson’s last year. My God, are we going to be good or what?!?!? Now I must force myself to push through the doldrums of baseball season.

  • Muwu

    Is there any doubt that the spurs have had the best offseason in the entire league thus far?

  • Big50

    Jefferson’s not going to opt out and re-sign for less. He might re-sign for less when his contract is up, but not before then.

    Blair could be like Charles Barkley, but not as good. In my opinion. Blair should be really good. If he can improve his offensive game and keep up his hustle play he could be an all-star.

  • Montell ICE Griffin

    Timmy D lets go get #4!!!!!!!

  • Jesse

    Seems the Spurs are all set for the next three years! Now if Ian Mahinmi can just live up to expectations…!

  • dtm

    ^you mean # 5 for timmy and the spurs organization… 4 for TP and Manu

    hey 48moh, can you PLEASE put the youtube video in your post that Justin referenced

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxxqEKssvgI&feature=fvst.

    my youtube site doesn’t work at work, but youtube videos work when you guys put them in your blog posts!

  • Rick

    I remember watching a Pitt game earlier this year, and as they were bashing him for his height, thinking, “Man, he is going to make some GM look absolutely brilliant in a couple months.”

    My wife thought I’d gone crazy when I was jumping up & down for a 2nd round pick

    dtm, my favorite parts of that clip are at 1:04 and 1:47 when he absolutely manhandles Thabeet.

    Wow, I’m still giddy & incoherent.

  • Silvio, Croatia

    McClinton
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/luke_winn/06/24/nba.draftnumbers/index.html
    Look at
    Who do the numbers say might be a second-round sleeper?

    Splitter is hell of a player, persuade him to come, let Gooden go, trade Mason for future picks or upgrade on Hill and you have:

    PG Parker 36 Hill 12
    SG Ginobili 30 McClinton 18
    SF Jefferson 30 Finley/Udoka 18
    PF Duncan 30 Blair 18
    C Bonner 20 Splitter 28

    Contenders again 😉

  • the little o

    I’m pretty sure that Pop and Buford scouted for Blair when he was in high school, and convinced him to give them both his ACL’s. This would then scare other teams into taking him and once the Spurs get a hold of him, they can now give him his ACLs back and make the Spurs a contender again.

    This seems to me, like the only explanation for this guy falling so far down. Those geniuses at the front office! they think so many years in advance. Who knows, maybe new knees are coming for Timmy from some victim murdered in the other side of the world.

  • Bushka

    Checked the final draft rankings after i had to leave just prior to the Knicks Pick in the first round to play golf.

    Was Yahoo Sports on my mobile just before I teed off on the 18th and came in to the clubhouse and I have never been happier after playing like a dog in my life.

    How the hell did it happen? What cosmic alliance delivered us this angry eyed, wide bodied, long armed, aggressive, take no prisoners, point to prove , rebounding colossus?

    We got an essential rotation player at 37…hahahahahahahahahah

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Timothy Varner

    Bushka,

    I think we’ll all remember this draft.

  • http://clubspurs.com Rachel

    I like your comment, Bushka. :)

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  • Tom

    Boy the only thing that could make this off season better is the Bucks realeasing Bruce Bowen, and him coming back. Anyone know if this is a possibility?

  • bigbarakz21

    well..dejuan blair..when i ehard his name called,i kinda went limp..i thought,wtf?! the spurs need a big,and they get a 6’6 guy..then i went partially alive when i saw his wingspan..7’2?? and when i saw highlights of this guy,i got very excited for the upcoming season..i mean..potential wise..he could be a sir charles,best case scenario..worst case scenario?? malik rose..small guy with a big body,and high energy play..not a bad comparison fro a worst case scenario comparison..don’t you think??

  • Ryan

    If any one of you chiggity-check out the Spurs official website (spurs.com) S.A. has made an offer to Grecian sensation Yiannis Bouroussis. The guy is a work horse, and is very physical and can hit the three at approx. 40%! He’s 7’0″ and is only 25!! Here’s the link:

    http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/06/05/do-spurs-have-duncans-next-partner/

    Fingers crossed, stary-eyed, Kobe’s crying, East should be scared, Spurs roster healthy, and younger, AND more athletic, Stern just needs to just hand over the trophy now. SA biggest question now, who gets the Finals MVP? Is it too soon for all of that…? I really don’t think so.

  • http://www.48minutesofhell.com Graydon Gordian

    Ryan,

    The Fanhouse article you linked (written on June 5th) is actually based off of a report made here at 48 Minutes of Hell.

    Although Bouroussis would have been an excellent pick up, he chose to resign with Olympiakos.

  • Ryan

    Thanks for the update, I never heard anything one way or the other.

  • mcg@chicago

    I’ve heard some rumors about Sheed being in SA for a potential meeting later this week with the front office. I’m in the Chi, and don’t get regular spurs updates…but would love to hear buzz about this if/when it happens.

    Also, having spent some time in Big East country, let me assure you that Blair is legit. I don’t think that he will ever be All-Star material (the PF spot in the West will be stacked for years to come…TD, Amare, Dirk, Pau, Aldridge, and now Griffin), but he will be a solid contributor who should be able to give us 8/8 every night.

    JIMBO - we used to have a player like him in Malik Rose…I’m hoping Blair can be a similar jolt of energy and hustle off the bench. D@mn, I wish the season tipped off tomorrow…October seems so far away!!!

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