More reports: Boris Diaw agrees to two-year, $9 million deal with Spurs

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STOP THE SANITY! The Spurs can’t just keep signing good deals for both themselves and their players, can they? Somebody has to get screwed at some point, right? So far, no. Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting early Tuesday that the Spurs and Boris Diaw have agreed to a new deal worth about $9 million over two seasons. This comes on the heels of last night’s news that Danny Green is re-signing for $12 million spread over three years.

Like Green’s deal, this seems fair. Diaw played excellent for the Spurs in his short stint with the team last season after being bought out by Charlotte. Normally the late season buyouts who are signed contribute very little (remember the Troy Murphy / Corey Brewer saga from a season ago?), but Diaw proved to be a very good fit for the Spurs with his ability to space the floor, pass the ball and, ahem, take up space. The key, however, is probably his familiarity with some of the Spurs offensive sets, thanks to work with Tony Parker on the French National Team.

Diaw averaged a shade over six points and five rebounds per game in the playoffs last season, but his fit with the team was far greater than those numbers show. Although, like Green, Bobo struggled in the Western Conference Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Diaw’s shiny new two year deal will take him to the ripe old age of 32 when it expires. Can’t imagine his time with the team will extend past this contract, with the Spurs likely entering a youth movement at that point. Manu Ginobili’s contract will be up after this season and it’s unclear how much longer he’ll want to play, likewise for Stephen Jackson.

This leads into the inevitable question: Is Tim Duncan next? With Diaw and Green taken care of, it seems apparent that the next one to be sorted out is Tim Duncan. I still think it’s likely that Duncan re-signs for a three year deal with the third year only partially guaranteed, thus letting him play two more seasons and then retiring. Duncan would leave the game when Diaw’s deal expires, and if the Spurs somehow convince Ginobili to give it another shot on a one year deal, the Spurs rebuilding efforts could begin in earnest with the 2014-15 season.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Welcome back to the silver and black, Bobo.

[Update: Woj says the second season on the deal is a player option. Carry on.]

  • STIJL

    Where does that leave the Spurs regarding Duncan’s contract and the $74MM tax apron this season?

  • DorieStreet

    Diaw’s career FG pct. is 49%, so he knows how to put the ball in the basket. Hopefully this fall’s training camp gets him fully enveloped in the Spurs’ system so he can provide more of an offensive impact in the post. Green’s resigning seems to be running 95% in favor with the fans—curious to see how this deal goes over on the blogs.

  • STIJL

    Upon quick inspection via Sham Sports, if Duncan receives 12 mil this year it puts the salary at around 72mil. Still room to play in getting another athletic defensive big?

  • DorieStreet

    Hopefully that works out. Who currently is available that will be a fit?

  • http://48minutesofhell.com Andrew A. McNeill

    Marc Stein just tweeted that the Wizards are looking to trade Andray Blatche, and if they can’t find a deal for him by July 17, they may amnesty him. July 11-17 is the window for teams to amnesty players, I believe. Blatche, while a head case, could be had for cheap if amnestied.

  • Tyler

    Just a random thought - I’d like to bring back Anthony Tolliver if we move Blair or Bonner.

    If MN signs Roy and brings over Shved, they’ll need to cut salary, which will probably mean renouncing Tolliver. I think he’d be a great fit considering he shoots it well and played in our system. I know it’s not a sexy move, but compared to what’s out there, I think you could do worse.

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  • DorieStreet

    JaVale McGee was a staple on ESPN and TNT ‘sports bloopers’ segments for his whacky, underachieving play, but did a 180 when he was traded to Denver. Maybe Blatche coming to the Spurs straightens his head out, too.

  • SAJKinBigD

    Good point and exactly what I was thinking. Fingers crossed for some good luck!
    The Mavs got lucky with their signing of Brandan Wright this past year, mebbe Blatche could be the Spurs’ reclamation project for the year?

  • Hobson13

    Although I don’t think resigning Green, Diaw, and Duncan will make the Spurs better than several other teams (Lakers, Thunder, Heat, maybe Clippers), I still think Diaw can be even better if he loses weight over the summer and learns the system in the offseason/preseason. We need another decent, athletic big for cheap. Why not take a flyer on Anthony Randolph? Say a two year $4mil deal?

  • Titletown99030507d

    It still leaves a void in defending big men period. He’s not the answer. More small ball.

  • Titletown99030507d
  • ThatBigGuy

    Everything I read about Blatche seems to be effort related, which Pop and Timmy could take care of real quick. He’s got great size. His numbers are wonky: worst shooter from 3-9 feet in the entire NBA at 24.5%, according to Hollinger, only .7 BPG, average rebound numbers. But those are very much effort and use related, and I have no doubt Pop and Tim could get quite a bit more efficient numbers out of Blatche. That being said, if he’s amnestied, it’ll be hard to get him because he’s got that coveted NBA center body. I’d take him, but I’m not sure the Spurs can get him.

  • Tyler

    I actually think the opposite in terms of effort. Above all else, whether you’re on a bad team or a great team, I’ll give the benefit of the doubt if you play hard. However, if you don’t play hard, Pop and co will chew you up and spit you out.

    In Blatche’s case, he simply doesn’t play hard or worse, he doesn’t care. Outside of his height, there isn’t one quality I can point to that would benefit the Spurs. I don’t think he’s even close to the type of guy the Spurs would consider bringing in.

    Also, barring a sign and trade, Kaman and McGee will be waaaaay too expensive for SA.

  • grego

    Diaw isn’t the problem. Getting Splitter the Bonner/Blair situation sorted out is the problem.

  • ThatBigGuy

    Well, each particular person has different reasons for not giving effort. I’ve seen a coaching change on my college team take a talented but lazy guy and turn him into an All-Conference player. Look at how Diaw’s on court attitude changed by coming to SA. I think Blatche has an even better chance because he’s still young and impressionable. Neither of us knows how he’d react the first time he gets reamed by Pop, but I’d hope he’d react positively.

    Even if he gives up, he’s still a mid-20-something 7 footer, which someone else won’t mind taking off our hands. Two seasons ago he averaged 17 and 8 in starters minutes. That’s not exactly dog meat. Within the Spurs’ system, if a bad attitude doesn’t glue him to the bench, his efficiency will improve.

    Would he be an All-Star? Probably not, but wouldn’t it be nice if he could give us 11 and 6 in 28 mins a game? That’s basically a 7 foot Blair.

    I guess I see him as a glass half full kind of guy.

  • ThatBigGuy

    Cliff Notes version of my previous post: He’s not worth trading for, but he sure is worth grabbing off the waiver wire.

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