Toros Watch: 92-85 Over the Vipers

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Last night’s Toros victory featured more of the same: Pops Mensah-Bonsu tallied 22 points, 18 boards and 6 blocks. His time in the Development League isn’t long. Some team will offer at least a 10-Day contract to him within the next couple weeks.  Should the Spurs?

In a vacuum, the answer is yes.  But there are other variables in play that may delay or prevent this from happening. I expect San Antonio to delay signing any D-League prospect until after the trade deadline to ensure they’ll have roster space available and the necessary cap room. Between now and deadline, any number of things could happen that to prevent Mensah-Bonsu a place on the roster.

The other side of this is that Austin runs San Antonio’s schemes. In other words, Mensah-Bonsu is getting a mini-training camp in Austin. With all the practice time the D-League allows, he has opportunity to diminish the Spurs learning curve while with the Toros. Another week or two in the D-League will only help. His role, if any, on the Spurs will be to make his defensive rotations, bring energy, rebounding and shot blocking. But if he doesn’t show signs of functioning within the defense, Popovich won’t care about those other things, regardless of how much he brings.

  • Juan

    Do the Spurs hold any rights on him or any other of the Toros players? Does this mean anyone could have taken Mahinmi away from the Spurs while in the D-League?

    It would be great if teams had some rights so they are able to “train” they draft picks when they have the talent but lack the experience.

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

    No, they don’t own his rights. The Spurs, not the Toros, have Mahinmi and Hairston under contract. That’s why they are protected. Every team is allowed to allocate as many as two players to their D-League affiliate at any given time, with some limitations. That’s why Malik moves back and forth. Really quick response, but does that help you?

  • Juan

    Yes it does. Thank you.

    More to the subject, I haven’t seen him play and I know NBDL stats do not necessarily translate into the NBA. What would his ceiling be right now? End of the bench player? Rotation player? Starter? Star? Higher? I think that the answer to that should dictate what the Spurs do.

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

    I’ve only watched him play on the Futurecast archives, so take this with a grain of salt. I think his ceiling is as rotation 4 in Carl Landry, high energy mode. He’s a little undersized. If the Spurs signed him, it would be to fill out the roster and have something a little different on the bench. Although, truth be told, I think any contract Mensah-Bonsu signs would be more to give the Spurs an extended look and, if possible, acclimate him to the team for next season. But he could become a 4th or 5th big at 15 – 18 minutes a game. Something in that range, at least. In terms of free agent bigs currently available, he’s more or less the cream of the crop. The Spurs could do a lot worse, but not much better.