Monday, July 6th, 2009...10:17 am
Random Thoughts on Marcus Haislip
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Rikiddo, Pounding the Rock sage and friend to this site, has done a nice job breaking down the Marcus Haislip signing. Between him and Graydon, there is little else to say until we actually see Haislip on the court. But still, I’ve scrounged together a few scraps from under the table. Think of this as a lovely buffet of afterthought, asides, and free association.
- Marcus Haislip signed for the LLE. When you factor in the tax, that’s an awfully big guaranteed commitment from the Spurs. They must like him.
- Despite the horrifying rumors of Big Baby Davis, Antonio McDyess is now the best option on the table. My friend Bruno, harbinger of all manner of smart observations, chimes in with this important note: “The cap numbers should be released tomorrow and it will quite important in the quest for McDyess. Pistons team salary against the cap is $55.7M. The latest cap projection I’ve seen was at $58.6M. So Pistons will only be able to offer a contract starting at $2.9M. If they want to offer more, they will have to do some trades to clear a little more cap space. The MLE should be between $5.8M and $5.9M. Spurs will be able to offer twice more than Pistons to McDyess. Even if McDyess has a soft spot for Detroit, twice more money and a legit shot to the title sounds intriguing.” Hooray Spurs.
- One thing I like more about Antonio McDyess than Rasheed Wallace: McDyess is a better pick and roll defender, still being fleet of foot enough to aggressively show up top and recover. This is an area where Wallace has lost a step in recent years. For what it’s worth, Dice is better on the boards too. If the Spurs land McDyess, they will have done well for themselves.
- The combination of the Haislip signing and what’s left in free agency has introduced lots of intrigue into what is now an official NBA arms race. (Seriously, next season is shaping up as a 5 team fight to the death between the Lakers, Spurs, Magic, Cavs, and Celtics. Phil Jackson should hit his quota of backhanded insults by November.) Nevertheless, it’s difficult to predict which direction the Spurs will go. But I will say this: I think the team is one quality player short of definite contention.
- In my estimation, the Spurs’ roster is solid, and can only benefit from two additions. The first we’ve discussed ad nauseum-the Spurs need a sturdy veteran pick up to play alongside Duncan. The second revolves around the question of who will fill minutes behind Richard Jefferson? Those 15-18 minutes per game are up for grabs, and if the Spurs can find a dynamic player, preferably one who has his defensive scruples about him, it could be as important as any signing this offseason. Who?
- The Spurs have options behind Jefferson, but will be limited by money. If McDyess gets most or all of the MLE than San Antonio will have to trade for such a player or… This is where summer league becomes such an important tool for the Spurs. Malik Hairston showed a lot of promise last season, especially as a defender. If he shows marked improvement in summer league, the Spurs should accommodate him with a roster spot. If not, we’re left to wonder if James Gist or Marcus Haislip can play any minutes at small forward (extremely doubtful, methinks) or if the Spurs can trade for a reserve wing. Travis Outlaw? Dorell Wright? Honestly, there are two dozen names we could rattle off as trade targets or league minimum options. If the Spurs are consistent, they’ll go with someone we don’t discuss. I’ll just leave it alone. But I don’t expect the Spurs to address this need until after they’ve evaluated their summer league invitees.
- Josh Childress is a nice player, and rumored to be on the Spurs’ radar, but I just don’t see how the Spurs could find minutes (with Haislip in the fold) for him short of trading Roger Mason Jr. (and Finley or Bonner) to Atlanta. Who knows if Atlanta would bite, but the net gain probably wouldn’t justify the swap. And of course, that means Childress would log the majority of his minutes at shooting guard. It’s a maneuver that’s too clever by half.
- A player that suddenly intrigues me, one that I had left for dead 5 days ago, is Shawn Marion. Marion could start at power forward, but could find 30 minutes a game between forward spots. He’d provide the Spurs with a capable wing defender, another 4 who could stretch the defense, and the flexibility to play Haislip, Blair and Mahinmi meaningful minutes. Best of all, as the market continues to dry up he might be amenable to a one year MLE. This has the built in advantage of allowing 2010 roster space for Tiago Splitter. The problem here is that it’s almost unimaginable to cast Shawn Marion into a 5th option role. I see as many negatives, perhaps more, as positives, but I’ll throw the thought out there nonetheless.
- Light a candle at night in hopes that Portland develops a sudden interest in Lamar Odom. It’s unlikely, but it would help the Spurs in two ways. First, it might make Travis Outlaw expendable. Second, it hurts Los Angeles. Truthfully, it would help Portland too. But I’ll leave that to the Beyond Bowie and Blazers Edge guys to analyze. Update: Beyond Bowie is keen on Marion; Odom thinks the beach is swell. Rainy weather? Not so much.
- Lost in all this is my excitement to see Haislip play. I don’t know much about him. But the Spurs have a good history (see Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto or Roger Mason Jr.) of locating low budget players who make meaningful contributions.
- A SpursTalk regular named Marcus Bryant makes a dynamite observation: “The Spurs are certainly increasing team speed and athleticism and are slowly moving from being built around Duncan to being built around Parker.” Someone get this man a beer.
- Finally, I’d like to see the Spurs clear a roster spot by trading Michael Finley and Matt Bonner in a 2 for 1. Easier said than done, I know. My reasoning here might be different than you assume. The Spurs aggressive offseason might have the unintended consequence of forcing out their 14th and 15th men-their Toros projects. Considering the balance of the championship window, and the inescapable need to rebuild as soon as it closes, players like James Gist and Malik Hairston are more important to the future of the team than Mike Finley and Matt Bonner. Retaining these players is obviously not a high priority, but in a perfect world…
http://www.spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3526816&posted=1#post3526816
22 Comments
July 6th, 2009 at 11:11 am
Very interesting notes, as far as a two for one trade I could see that happening but I think it would end up being Mason involved, which I would sign off on if it got us a player that fit our new team better. Mason is not a back up point guard and should only be used in that capacity as an emergency option but with what Pop has stated in the media I believe he still feels that Mason can do the job. Package Mason with Finely/or Bonner to a team looking to bank 2010 cap space for a player that has 2 years remaining and with offering a 2 year MLE deal for Mcdyess we would have a team with no wholes and unbelievable cap room when Parker, and Jefferson hit free agency (depending of course on what we do with Manu and Splitter)
July 6th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Doesn’t Finley have the right to refuse a trade? Could someone ‘splain the Bird Rights?
And he’s such a good/classy guy. I’d be sad to see him depart, but if it helps my Spurs, then I’m all for it.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Bird rights: if a team has a player going into unrestricted free agency that has played on the same contract for 3 consecutive seasons, then they can resign that player regardless of their cap situation. That’s the short version at least.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:36 am
WHAT ABOUT DAVID LEE?? I didnt even think of him till realizing he’s still out there….and he does EXACTLY what we need a PF to do….REBOUND. I knows he’s a Restricted FA, but it cant possibly hurt to put out a decent offer and see if it gets matched.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
It would get matched, and for the money he might be a little redundant. The Spurs just picked up Blair. But he’s a great player.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
I don’t think the Spurs would be open to trading both Mason and Finley. One or the other yes, but not both. I just don’t see Pop signing off on having so many new players on the team. I think he is going to want at least one wing (in addition to Ginobili) familiar with the Spurs system, especially for late-game situations.
I would be more disappointed to see Mason leave, but I think he is more likely (than Finley) to be traded. He is probably the more attractive prospect, is younger, and has (I believe) a larger contract.
If Finley indeed stays, I assume he’ll end up getting the majority of minutes behind Jefferson.
July 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I concur about the prospect of getting Marion. He’s great on paper, but let’s face it, he’s selfish. The guy wasn’t happy even when the Suns were contenders because Nash and Amare were getting too much attention. I think the FO will steer clear of him unless he’s mellowed a lot with age.
July 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
If you can get a player like Marion for the MLE for 1 year you do it. The attitude won’t be a problem because he would be coming to a team that’s established and a head coach who won’t tolerate it. On top of that he would be in a contract year and wouldn’t want to blow his next and possibly last opportunity for a big pay day.
July 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
If the Spurs deem Harrison insufficient in the backup SF/defensive wing man role during Summer League, then look for them to deal for Diawara, of the Heat. The Heat are committed to playing Beasley more at the three, want to re-sign Moon, there likely starter at the three, and also want to see what Wright, a once promising prospect who’s been injury riddled the past few years, can do, in this the final year of his contract. Throw in Jones, a shooter who’s also due to see minutes there and they’re overloaded. Also, the Spurs were reported to have interest in Diawara last off season.
July 6th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
If the Spurs deem Harrison not up to snuff in the backup SF/defensive wing man role during Summer League, then look for them to deal for Diawara, of the Heat.
The Heat are committed to playing Beasley more at the three, want to re-sign Moon, their likely starter at the three, and also want to see what Wright, a once promising prospect who’s been injury riddled the past few years, can do, in this the final year of his contract. Throw in Jones, a shooter who’s also due to see minutes there and they’re overloaded. Also, the Spurs were reported to have interest in Diawara last off season.
July 6th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I’ve said this in comments on other posts but I think a nice, cheap option behind RJ at the 3 would be Quinton Ross. Good defender, can hit the outside shot, although he’s admittedly kind of streaky. And did I mention he’d be cheap? Assuming we keep Fin, he’d be a nice third option at the 3 spot who could move up the depth chart in defensive situations. If we trade Fin, slide him into the backup role w/ Hairston as the third-stringer. Also he’d be cheap.
July 6th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
I completely agree with your last bullet point. The Spurs cannot afford to lose their young talent in the wings (Marcus Williams, Gist, Hairston, McClinton) for the likes of Bonner or Finley. Neither player will be on the roster in 2010-11 so if the Spurs have to buy one or the other to hold onto the rights within their young stockpile, so be it.
July 6th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
sydneylla, I think Ross has already given a verbal agreement to Dallas.
July 6th, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Yeah, I read that after I posted my comment. He would have been helpful. C’est La Vie.
July 6th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
If we can sign a player like Marion for a year, i think it would be nice for us…. but if i’m the Spurs i’d only do this after getting big that could play alongside Timmy D. Possible big men that comes to mind will be: McDyess, Bass, Gooden (don’t if we still like hime), Lee (but as Tim mentioned might hinder Blair’s development), Wilcox (maybe)… but these are just suggestions i believe the Spurs F.O. is way better than what i think…..
Go Spurs Go!
July 6th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
I really like the Shawn Marion idea. but it iks unlikely for him to come over and sign with us, although it would be a great shot at getting a ring.
I think a priority for the Spurs is to get Mcdyess. He is a seasoned vet who can play center and help Timmy on the defensive end.
Although I don’t mind Bonner being on the second unit, trading him and Finley might be a good option. Malik Hairston has some great upside, and it would be smart for the FO to wait until Summer League is over.
The good news, we have nowhere to go but up
July 6th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Yeah i think waiting until the summer league over to fill up the backup 3 spot will be a good idea… unless we can make a trade for lets say a Travis Outlaw…
But i’m hoping the spurs land a big that will play alongside TD sonner rather than later…
Bonner and Mason might our trade assets…
but i’m hesistant to part with Mason this early he showed some promise last season….
Finley has a Bird right he can refuse a trade…
July 6th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Bentley,
The Marion bullet was more of a Plan D curiosity. But he is out there and the Spurs could theoretically find the right minutes for him. It’s almost like the Spurs have shown both bowers and their MLE is an ace off suit their still holding. That should be enough for three tricks, but they haven’t had a chance to use it just yet.
July 6th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Dallas is trying to work a Marion sign and trade.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4310011
July 6th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
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July 6th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
What do u think will happen if McDyess will not cone here? Do u really think they would give the Full MLE to Big Baby?? That’s enough to make me sick…
July 7th, 2009 at 2:13 am
would tony parker and a few other parts for dwayne wade in 2010 be crazy?
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