Toros Watch: Quick Notes

The Spurs have released Pops Mensah-Bonsu. I’m sad to see him go, but Drew Gooden is Drew Gooden. Mensah-Bonsu played very well in limited minutes with the Spurs, and he is certainly worthy of a roster spot somewhere in the Association. Hopefully he parted on good terms and we might see him again during the Spurs 2009 summer league and training camp. He’s a good player. But you can’t fault the front-office. Even if the Spurs miss out on a good prospect, it’s for the sake of adding a key player to a championship run. I’ll be watching closely to see if another NBA team picks him up or if Mensah-Bonsu simply returns to the Toros. Best guess: he’ll get at least another 10-Day contract with a team that is already considering players for their 2009/10 roster. Think Wizards.

Marcus Williams, who is a dynamite D-League player but not quite good enough for the NBA, was named NBA D-League Performer of the Week. He averaged 26 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists during the week of February 23rd. I suspect that Marcus Williams will eventually find a home overseas where he can collect a bigger pay check. In the meantime, he’s welcome to fill up the boxscore in Austin.

In a move that signals good things for Malik Hairston finishing the season as a Spur, DerMarr Johnson was signed by the Toros. Johnson has played for Austin and San Antonio-as well as the Nuggets, Knicks and Suns-in the past and is an exceptionally talented player for the D-League. If Mensah-Bonsu returns to the Toros, the team ought to roll through the playoffs. Pops Mensah-Bonsu, Dwayne Jones, Marcus Williams, and DerMarr Johnson are borderline NBA players and D-League All-Stars.

Update: Mensah-Bonsu says his next stop is Toronto. See, that didn’t take long. But, of course, this diminishes hope of a training camp invitation. Arrivederci, que sera sera, c’est la vie.

4 Comments

4 Comments

Latin_D
March 4th, 2009 at 3:17 pm

Some questions for you, Tim, if you have the time: How much does a good D-League player make, yearly? Also, are there any legal impediments to the Austin Toros signing Pops back?
Timothy Varner
March 4th, 2009 at 3:21 pm

High 30s, I think, plus housing and per diem. There are other perks, such as athletic equipment from Adidas and personal trainers. The Toros own his rights, so if he returns to the D-League it will be to Austin. No legal impediments. The bigger threat is a European contract or another NBA team. It’s a weird economy, though, so it’s hard to say if teams want to pick up players…
Latin_D
March 4th, 2009 at 4:16 pm

It’s late in the season, too. Contenders like the Spurs probably can’t add energy guys to the rotation effectively in the time left, and the lousy teams have energy guys to spare…

I’m trying to think of an NBA team that needs a guy like Pops right now, and the only one I can think of is… the Spurs. Ironic. (The Celts?)

Europe is a distinct possibility. There’re not many European players with Pops’ hops.
ChillFAN
March 5th, 2009 at 10:05 am

I was impressed with Pops’ reaction to being cut, saying all the right things about San Antonio and Toronto. He’s just a victim of timing, Raptor fans are getting someone Spurs fans will miss.

Do you think Bulls fans miss Gooden? (That’s not rhetorical)