Report: Spurs shopping Tony Parker and George Hill for picks

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A report came in late Tuesday night saying that the Spurs were shopping Tony Parker for a high lottery pick, the most likely destinations being the Toronto Raptors, who have the fifth pick in the draft, and the Sacramento Kings, who have the 7th pick.

The Kings are under the cap enough to absorb Tony Parker’s salary without sending back a similar amount along with their pick. The Raptors, on the other hand, would need to package some players with their pick that would come close to the $13.5 million salary of Parker’s, as Toronto is over the salary cap.

Also mentioned in the report is that the Spurs are evaluating offers for George Hill. If the Spurs trade Parker, Hill by default becomes the starting point guard. But teams drafting late in the lottery and later in the first round have been checking on the availability of Hill, it seems.

The report in question comes from Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, who’s about as plugged into the Spurs as a reporter gets, thanks in part to the relationship that former Express-News beat writer Johnny Ludden, now the NBA editor at Yahoo! Sports, has with the team. So basically, this is one of those instances where there’s smoke.

Obviously, there’s a chance nothing happens and we go into next year with both George Hill and Tony Parker in the rotation. But that’s looking less and less likely by the hour.

There was no word in either report who the Spurs might be looking to trade up to get, but if both Parker and Hill are gone, chances are it’ll be a point guard.

[Update: They’re not shopping anyone. But they are listening to offers.]

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  • Titletown99030507d

    Parker supposedly has the best trade value and as everyone now has found out he’s only being used to rid the FO of RJ’s contract. But ironically as you said one affects the other in negative ways so now no one is biting. Shame.

  • Titletown99030507d

    They don’t think highly of the trade not Parker. We want to shove RJ down their throats as well and they’re running the other way as fast as they can. Parker alone with our pick will seal the deal. That’s what they keep insisting as so does Portland. Portland just wants Tony.

  • Bob

    That’s the problem with a score first point guard on a team with other good scorers. His scoring can have a detrimental effect if it takes others out of their game. There was no point in the Spurs going after a scorer in Jefferson if they were just trying to change him into a shooter/defender. If they were looking for a shooter/defender they should have gone after someone like Battier.

  • BC

    For years, I’ve thought Shane Battier was THE player the Spurs needed to do almost whatever it took to bring in. Battier should have been Bruce Bowen’s replacement.

  • Rob

    “The only way another team takes RJ is if SA takes back something similarly toxic in return.” Varejao’s contract would be toxic to Cleveland if they draft a big. His contract is for a longer period than R.J.’s yet R.J. would actually fit a need for the Cavs as would Varejao fit a need for the Spurs.In retrospect…I guess the Spurs swung for the fence regarding using Tony as bait to rid themselves of Jefferson’s contract. Looks like no takers. Time to bunt.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Bold words. But true.

  • Titletown99030507d

    I’ll take TP over Westbrook any day.

  • Mike Gordon

    What about Parker for Bynum, straight up? I’m sure both teams would slam the phone down, but should they? I think this deal makes perfect sense for both teams.

    Hear me out, Spurs fans. First of all, the salaries match up neatly. Second, while I know it would pain all of us to see Tony in purple and gold, doesn’t this trade solve both teams’ biggest needs? The Lakers have 3 bigs who need to play 35 minutes a game and they don’t have room for all of them….and their biggest weakness is their black hole at PG. With the way the game is called these days, quick point guards are nearly unstoppable….and even less so when you have a fossilized Derek Fisher trying to guard them. Acquiring Parker solves LA’s biggest defensive problem. As for their offense, with Phil Jackson retiring they plan to scrap the triangle and adopt a more traditional pick and roll offense. Currently, they don’t have a single player capable of running that offense due to Kobe’s knees taking away his ability to penetrate consistently and turning him into a pull-up mid-range shooter. Parker gives them the pick and roll PG they need to compete.Â

    I’d be aghast at making the Lakers so much better if I didn’t think it did even more good for the Spurs. Yes, Bynum has injury issues. But he’s only 23 years old and over the second half of last year he demonstrated that he can be absolutely dominant defensively. Duncan showed last year that (sad as this is to admit) he can no longer be counted on to score consistently in the post. He has largely become a stretch 4, getting most of his offense off of 15 foot jumpers and the occasional drive when his defender closes out recklessly. On offense, Bynum becomes the post threat with Duncan working in the high post (creating the same dynamic P. Gasol had with Bynum in LA). On defense, Bynum takes the opposition’s primary post scorer, leaving Duncan free to be the weak side help defender. In essence, Duncan becomes to Bynum what Robinson was to him.

    I’m not a huge George Hill fan - I think his defense is overrated and he’s a suspect pick and roll playmaker - but I think the improvement in our starting lineup from Blair/Splitter/Bonner to Bynum would overshadow the decline from Parker to Hill.

    What do you think, Spurs Nation?

  • Bob

    I agree Neal has the ability to really help at the PG spot. He’s a knock down shooter and he has the ability to make plays because you have to respect his shot. Hill also benefits from the extra confidence of starting. His confidence seems to be fragile but when its high he can be really good. That then allows you to use Parker to get help on the wings and in the front court. Also trading Parker puts the ball in Manu’s hands more.

  • TD BestEVER

    that’s why I have been trying to trade TP for years now…….he keeps all other scores in check by shooting too DAMN MUCH……..And As I have said….if you can score 25ppg like Derrik Rose or A.I. on a nightly bases then I can live with it……..but TP can’t so he should pass

  • Adamrendon

    So what if he’s Jewish. Like that’s supposed to mean something.

  • hurm66

    You may be onto something if Cleveland throws in the pick.

    I actually think TP/RJ for Varejao / Baron Davis and the #4 would work for the Spurs. Baron has two less years on his deal. The key would be the pick - they have to choose wisely and make certain to get the right guy. Interesting.

  • Titletown99030507d

    Draft  Josh Harrellson at the 29th or the 59th. 6’10” 270 Kevin Love type of player.

  • Therealkman

    Gary Neal made Hill expendable, especially with Anderson drafted last year. I hate to see George go but I’d rather it be him than Tony. Kwahi is a very athletic 3 who can hopefully become a Bowen clone. RJ has to go.

  • DorieStreet

    Indiana George regressed from 2009-10 campaign. He got the minutes-28 ppg in 76 games this past season vs. 29 ppg in 78 games in 2009-10.
    In hindsight-I think the preseason deal to Tony for 4 years got into his head—along with going from 43 starts down to 5. Maybe Pops could have handled it better with a few more starts for HIll.
    All the love Pop expressed for George his rookie year;Â looks like Hill’s tepidness drove this (proposed) transaction tonight,

  • TD BestEVER

    AS Long as TP gets dealt…….this can be forgiven……. But TP, RJ, POP, Bonner are the problems we had last year and drafting a PG @ 29 is also stupid………….so just drop TP and we will be good

  • Titletown99030507d

    How do you know Pop wasnt  telling TP to shoot more. Maybe he insisted TP to push it up court and score. And just decide RJ wasnt going to fit as he thought.

  • DorieStreet

    One draft site had the Spurs picking Corey Joseph in the 2nd round-which kind of had fans thinking about the Parker trade to SAC—Joseph, Neal, et al backing up Gary Neal at the point.

  • Badger

    With Hill being dealt for Kwahi, FO shows that SF position is wide open. If RJ is still on the team, he’s going to have to fight for his playing time.

    BTW, TP is NOT the reason we failed. Â Bonner, yes, RJ yes, but TP was solid and Pop was possibly the coach of the year. Â Duncan isn’t a threat offensively anymore, and Blair sucked when his opponent was at least 3 inches taller. Â Why don’t you spread the blame to TD and Blair too?

  • Badger

    With Hill being dealt for Kwahi, FO shows that SF position is wide open. If RJ is still on the team, he’s going to have to fight for his playing time.

    BTW, TP is NOT the reason we failed. Â Bonner, yes, RJ yes, but TP was solid and Pop was possibly the coach of the year. Â Duncan isn’t a threat offensively anymore, and Blair sucked when his opponent was at least 3 inches taller. Â Why don’t you spread the blame to TD and Blair too?

  • Bob

    It should always be that way. No spots should be given without earning it. It doesn’t mean the starters/bench lose their positions but it forces them to play better. That’s why it was ridiculous Bonner got the amount of minutes he got. He never earned his minutes.

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