A Quick Note on Alonzo Gee’s Contract

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Alonzo Gee was the recipient of multiple DNP-CDs this preseason. Yet he remains on the Spurs, even after surprise preseason standouts Curtis Jerrells and Marcus Cousin were traded and cut, respectively. Earlier this month, the Spurs intimated that, because of financial circumstances, the team was strongly leaning toward keeping 13 players, but this morning Mike Monroe reports the Spurs are happy to carry 14, for now at least.

What gives? Why is Alonzo Gee still on the team?

The obvious, and most crucial factor, is that Gee is a promising basketball player. Despite his underwhelming preseason, the Spurs see enough in him to further invest in his development. We could stop there.

But there are other considerations. Monroe reports that players under contract as of January 10 will become fully-guaranteed for the remainder of the season, which is true enough. Gee’s contract, however, is structured to include staggered guarantees (thanks, as always, to Bruno and Mark Deeks for this information). Gee’s $762,195 contract was guaranteed for 100,000 on July 1, and will become $200,000 guaranteed on November 25 and $300,000 guaranteed on December 20. Although these amounts are small with respect to typical NBA salaries, Gee is, in a sense, already paid for until November 24.

But the Spurs’ commitments to Gee aren’t exactly breaking the bank, which is the thing to bear in mind, with or without staggered guarantees.

Alonzo Gee’s D-League rights are held by the Austin Toros. If the Spurs eventually cut Gee (and he returns to the D-League), he would play for the Toros. If the Spurs keep Gee, they can simply allocate him to Austin once Toros training camp begins. Either way, the Spurs have a firm handle on Gee’s development, can guard themselves against losing him to another team, and all without any worries of Gee’s contract pushing them over the tax line.

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  • rj

    so,…..why didn’t he see this floor this preseason

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

    Because the Spurs know he’s not ready, but is brimming with potential. Or because they’re hiding him. Or maybe because they know what they have in him, but wanted to see more of Bobby Simmons. In short, I don’t know. My point was simply to say the Spurs aren’t in a rush to cut him.

  • Hobson13

    Bobby Simmons has the potential to be a very good backup 3 for the Spurs. However, he really didn’t stand out in any one preseason game. He didn’t shoot the ball well, but he did many of the smaller things well. On defense, Simmons can guard the big SFs in the league, but may have problems with the smaller, quick players. All in all, he was a very mixed bag. I like Gee’s youth and athletic ability, but the kid can’t shoot. He is way too raw on the offensive end to back up RJ for 15+ min/night unless the FO sees something I don’t (which is possible).

    I interpret this situation to mean that the Spurs aren’t quite sold on either player and that they need more time to see if Simmons can produce and/or Gee can become a better offensive player.

  • http://www.bpifanconnect.com Alix Babaie

    I think that Bobby Simmons, once settled into the team, will be a huge pick up off the scrap heap for the Spurs! This FO always seems to find a player that can contribute when so many teams deem that player can not do so. I think once he gets used to the system, gains some much needed confidence, that he will be able to provide the Spurs with that much needed player to fill the 3 spot. GO SPURS, DRIVE FOR FIVE!!!!!

  • Jorge

    I think the Spurs are managing their players as they always do so well! Gee is a rare athlete even by NBA standards.His D-League play (Rookie of the year), call up to the Wizards, and Summer League play were outstanding!
    So if R.J.’s resurrection does not go as planned, the Spurs can continue the youth movement(we will know by Dec.20.). If R.J. does Morph. into Bruce Bowens+ expect Gee to be traded or in Austin about three seconds on his way to a new NBA roster.

  • Jim Henderson

    Hobson13
    October 25th, 2010 at 8:37 am

    “I like Gee’s youth and athletic ability, but the kid can’t shoot. He is way too raw on the offensive end to back up RJ for 15+ min/night unless the FO sees something I don’t (which is possible).

    I interpret this situation to mean that the Spurs aren’t quite sold on either player and that they need more time to see if Simmons can produce and/or Gee can become a better offensive player.”

    Your right, Gee’s shot is suspect, but I actually see him as more of a defensive liability at this point, although he has the athleticism, which could mean that the potential is there to improve at some point.

  • ChitownSpursFan

    Hey Spurs fans, check this out! Sorry to pull you away from the topic at hand, but
    realgm.com had a snippet on a possibility that Cleveland Cavalier PF, Anderson Verejao, may come available, & that the Blazers, Rockets, & guess who…. Tha Spurs, also have an intrest in him! Now, do we REALLY think we should read into this, because I’m sure, that there’s no doubt, that there would have to be some trades involved. Let’s say, McDyess, Gee, & Bonner? I doubt that the Spurs would pull the trigger on making the situation to happen, especially with a Bonner trade, besides, I think that the Cavs would want something much more “tangable” than those three guys, or perhaps those other teams may have the better players to offer, or maybe the the trade possiblity may just end up on the floor. Hmm…. I wonder what Verejao’s salary is right now? Any who, if this were to happen (yummy, yummy!), I would only think that he would have to come off the bench & play PF or even the 5 spot. Besides, he would play with his compardre, Spitter! Now, that would be a NICE incentive… that would be REAL nice just to have him on the team! Having Varejao would really help our front court defense, etc., but perhaps Spurs fans, since we don’t have imput in the decision making process, well, all we can do is dream & guess the possiblilites.Ho-hum, sorry to bust your bubble. Any who… GO SPURS GO & Drive 4 Five!

    P.S. The Hornets waived Curtis Jerrells according to realgm.com, as well, so our 2nd round was taken back, so perhaps could he be headed back to the Toros?

  • Bentley

    In other unrelated news, our last year’s attempt to find Bruce Bowen (A.K.A Keith Bogans) is the starting shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls now.

    I’m guessing Tom Thibodeau didn’t see him play for us last year.

    Good luck, Bulls

  • rj

    i don’t think gee was given a shot at all in the preseason. he didn’t even get the chance to play well or show that he wasn’t roster material. a strange situation, really. i agree with one of tim’s earlier scenarios: the spurs know what he can do and didn’t want another team to capitalize. i suppose keeping him in the pipeline is valid. bobby simmons is a nice vet who is a player that will limit mistakes, but what are the spurs REALLY looking for in the backup sf position?

  • rob

    I don’t think the Spurs are ready to give up so quickly on an athletically gifted player.

    I believe they believe they can still harness his athleticism into a dependable player. I have said this before…it’s strange that somebody with that much athleticism can’t defend as well as he has shown not to defend.

    The Spurs already know what he has been capable of in the nba with his brief stint in Washington. That wasn’t a fluke. And neither was his performances in summer league.

    The Spurs know there is something there to develop. Whisping him away at this point might not be the most intelligent thing to do being his contract numbers are not that fiscally disabilitating to the team. Where as helping to develop him into a consistent player for this team probably is more fiscally sound than having him eventually develop that with an opposing team.

    Insurance could very well be another factor too. As pointed out by Hobson13…Simmons hasn’t shown great numbers as of yet. And Anderson is still just a rookie.

  • Jorge

    RJ good question about the small forward position. Popp knows what he wants. He had a championship formula with Horry and Bowens. Excellent defender that can knock down the opened three. He also wants to be more athletic since the Spurs were poor in fast break points last year. The other RJ has put in the work and has taken the pay cut to resign. The Spurs are rewarding him. Simmons and Gee as backups give them flexabilty. Gee’s preseason play time or lack of shows what they value.

  • SEANB

    You writers are making to much big deal with 13 0r 14 player. Pop never said 13 is final number limit we want get too period!! Alonza Gee is very talented player and spurs refuse to let him go, but you must also remember, bobby simmons and gary temple we not shoe-in to make team. I think spurs see a talent in each person to keep them around in case injury (GEE)athletic
    (SIMMONS)3-point shooter(TEMPLE) defense at 1-2 or 3 position so they all have intangles for championship team to keep

  • grego

    Gee is going to be the focus in Austin. They are going to force him to focus on shooting and defense now that they’ve seen overall improvement over the full year.

    He was never going to be a Spur this year. Hairston probably would have been the backup if it were between those two, as he’s more NBA ready that Gee is (at least on the defensive end).

  • Lorenzo

    The Spurs would b making a huge mistake by letting Gee go. This kid can play and is more NBA ready than most young players in the league, just ask Flip Saunders. The Spurs need to get Gee on the court, because if they don’t another NBA team will.

  • lorenzo

    Guys don’t get it twisted with Gee, this kid can play and the Spurs would be making a huge mistake by letting him go. Gee is more NBA ready now than most young guys in this league and should be playing before Anderson and Simmons. To the Spurs: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Just ask Flip Saunders about Gee.