OT: Spurs sign Marcus Haislip

[Rastapopoulos]

This is more of a big deal than you might think: he was one of the biggest stars in the ACB this last season (you can tell, because he got immortalized as a cartoon, just like Rubio, Navarro and our own Claver). They've found someone almost on a par with Splitter while still waiting for him. What with this, Jefferson, Blair and De Colo, they're really doing a nice job this off-season.

 

[Shapecity]

He was a fantastic leaper in college.

 

[RickyRubio]

Spurs always have an eye for good talent!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Can't wait to see how KP counters this? Maybe he will switch thumbs and sit on his left thumb for a while?

 

[Sug]

Can't wait to see how KP counters this? Maybe he will switch thumbs and sit on his left thumb for a while?

I bet I can predict how you will handle any Blazer news for the rest of time...

 

[Shapecity]

Spurs always have an eye for good talent!

He's not talented, just a freak athlete. They signed James Flight White a few years ago, but he never saw the court. I did hear the Spurs are after Big Baby though and will send him an offer and hope Boston doesn't match.

 

[LittleAlex]

Can't wait to see how KP counters this? Maybe he will switch thumbs and sit on his left thumb for a while?

Look, I felt the same way for awhile.

I horrified that Portland let the trade deadline come and go.

I was really unimpressed with the idea of bringing in Hedo with that absurd contract.

But then I realized that no matter who Portland could realistically get it doesn't matter one tenth as much as the development of Oden and LaMarcus.

If those two guys come into camp better then they were last year and Roy stays at the same level then it wouldn't matter if the other starters were D-League scrubs. Those three guys playing at a high level is going to be a 50+ win team.

Further, if those guys don't get better, then it wouldn't matter who Portland brought in. No one available could possibly have the same impact as a better Oden and an all-star caliber LaMarcus.

That being the case, I don't think a complete lack of moves this off season will demolish the teams future.

Sure, it would be nice to have a quality Point Guard. It would be really nice to have a guy who can create his own shot. But Portland will be good without that.

How good depends almost entirely on two guys Portland already has on the roster.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I bet I can predict how you will handle any Blazer news for the rest of time...

Consistancy is the key to life.


Hey, I'll shut up if he does something to help. Going into the season with Blake and Outlaw still on this roster for Nate to overuse is a failure IMO. Having no clearcut starter out of Batum (who it should be), Webster and Outlaw is a failure IMO. Releasing Frye, who while not great is light years better than Jeff Pendergraph I would assume, and not replacing him with a bonafide back up 4 is a failure IMO. We supposedly stayed away from making a deal because our GM thought there would be better bargains now. At the time we had no idea if Hedo was going to be available, so where are these deals? His owner siad go for it, so where are these deals? KP said we needed some upgrades and he knew where, so where are these deals?

I hope I look like an even bigger idiot, and he signs or trades for someone tomorrow, but I don't see that happening.

 

[hasoos]

Look, I felt the same way for awhile.

I horrified that Portland let the trade deadline come and go.

I was really unimpressed with the idea of bringing in Hedo with that absurd contract.

But then I realized that no matter who Portland could realistically get it doesn't matter one tenth as much as the development of Oden and LaMarcus.

If those two guys come into camp better then they were last year and Roy stays at the same level then it wouldn't matter if the other starters were D-League scrubs. Those three guys playing at a high level is going to be a 50+ win team.

Further, if those guys don't get better, then it wouldn't matter who Portland brought in. No one available could possibly have the same impact as a better Oden and an all-star caliber LaMarcus.

That being the case, I don't think a complete lack of moves this off season will demolish the teams future.

Sure, it would be nice to have a quality Point Guard. It would be really nice to have a guy who can create his own shot. But Portland will be good without that.

How good depends almost entirely on two guys Portland already has on the roster.

Yep let's face it people. It all comes down to Greg panning out. If Greg doesn't pan out, the rest of this stuff means dick. If he does, then a lot of moves other teams made means dick, because Ron Artest and Richard Jefferson don't guard Greg Oden.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Look, I felt the same way for awhile.

I horrified that Portland let the trade deadline come and go.

I was really unimpressed with the idea of bringing in Hedo with that absurd contract.

But then I realized that no matter who Portland could realistically get it doesn't matter one tenth as much as the development of Oden and LaMarcus.

If those two guys come into camp better then they were last year and Roy stays at the same level then it wouldn't matter if the other starters were D-League scrubs. Those three guys playing at a high level is going to be a 50+ win team.

Further, if those guys don't get better, then it wouldn't matter who Portland brought in. No one available could possibly have the same impact as a better Oden and an all-star caliber LaMarcus.

That being the case, I don't think a complete lack of moves this off season will demolish the teams future.

Sure, it would be nice to have a quality Point Guard. It would be really nice to have a guy who can create his own shot. But Portland will be good without that.

How good depends almost entirely on two guys Portland already has on the roster.

Name the last NBA champion that didn't add a final piece through trade or free agency? Our team is right there. It needs to get better at PG and more experienced at SF to take the next step.

 

[tlongII]

Name the last NBA champion that didn't add a final piece through trade or free agency? Our team is right there. It needs to get better at PG and more experienced at SF to take the next step.

Wrong. What it needs is a backup power forward. Bayless will be a better PG and we just added a year of experience to our SF spot.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

What I think this shows is that people who say "he won't come over - he's a star in Europe" aren't necessarily right. Of course it helps that Haislip WAS in the NBA and is American. But he could've stayed in Spain and probably been signed by Real Madrid or some big team.

So... we should target Pablo Prigioni for our PG! (Unlike my new fave, Diamantidis, he's actually a FA, and rumored headed to Real Madrid.)

(Alternatively, there's "Russian" J.R. Holden...)

 

[hasoos]

Name the last NBA champion that didn't add a final piece through trade or free agency? Our team is right there. It needs to get better at PG and more experienced at SF to take the next step.

The San Antonio Spurs. With Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, Bowen and Oberto. Since you asked.

I know what you're saying, but despite what folks believe, Portland is not an attractive place for free agents. KP can only do what his salary cap budget allows for. I would have been more active at trying to fill the backup PF void, as there were several players available. But at least I know he tried to go after a player. I just don't think he has done this much before.

The main thing I noticed when Turkoglu came to visit is I didn't see any of the team leadership present to try and sell the team. That is a big no no in my book. In fact in the pictures that I saw of KP when he went to go pick up Turkoglu, he looked like he had just got out of bed. Talk about a non professional appearance.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Wrong. What it needs is a backup power forward. Bayless will be a better PG and we just added a year of experience to our SF spot.

Not enough. Bayless might be better, but Nate isn't going to play him over Blake. And SF does need more experience. And it certainly needs to be consolidated

 

[hasoos]

Not enough. Bayless might be better, but Nate isn't going to play him over Blake. And SF does need more experience. And it certainly needs to be consolidated

Unfortunately it seems the only way to get Nate to quite playing certain guys is to trade them. I personally would rather throw Bayless into the fire, and then by the end of year you might have a guy who will help you when the playoffs roll around. If not, you know your needs have change going into the year after. It is at least better than the insanity of going into the playoffs with a known weak spot.

 

[Iwatas]

SF needs seasoning; Batum is the future. Patience is not the worst approach.
Backup PF: Pendergraph...why not?
PG - Bayless is not going to lead a contender in one year or two. If he turns into a good player at point, it will take TIME. must get better, must get better... this is where the deals need to happen.

iWatas

 

[Mediocre Man]

The San Antonio Spurs. With Duncan, Ginobili, Parker, Bowen and Oberto. Since you asked.

I know what you're saying, but despite what folks believe, Portland is not an attractive place for free agents. KP can only do what his salary cap budget allows for. I would have been more active at trying to fill the backup PF void, as there were several players available. But at least I know he tried to go after a player. I just don't think he has done this much before.

The main thing I noticed when Turkoglu came to visit is I didn't see any of the team leadership present to try and sell the team. That is a big no no in my book. In fact in the pictures that I saw of KP when he went to go pick up Turkoglu, he looked like he had just got out of bed. Talk about a non professional appearance.

Nope. One of the most important pieces to that team was their defensive stopper on the perimeter, Bruce Bowen. He was signed as a FA in 2000. In their title year of 1999, they drafted Duncan the year before, and also signed Mario Ellie nad Jerome Kersey as veteran help.


No team has done it.

 

[Mediocre Man]

SF needs seasoning; Batum is the future. Patience is not the worst approach.
Backup PF: Pendergraph...why not?
PG - Bayless is not going to lead a contender in one year or two. If he turns into a good player at point, it will take TIME. must get better, must get better... this is where the deals need to happen.

iWatas

SF needs seasoning is a good way to put it. I certainly don't think Batum should be replaced. He is defeinately the future, but I think there might be better options out there to start for us now.

PF and Pendergraph might work, but adding someone who has played a game in the league would be better IMO. It's not like we added Duncan. Pendergraph was a second round pick.

Bayless could do it, but most likely in a year or two like you say. Hopefully we will get to find that out this year.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

Another quality move for San Antonio.

I'm still not concerned though. As far as I'm concerned Portland has made moves to help with next season.

- moving Sergio to allow Bayless to develop
- drafting Pendergraph and Cunningham, IMO better fitting players than Randolph, Ruffin, or Frye.

It's only July 6th, right? The summer isn't close to over yet.

 

[LameR]

Nope. One of the most important pieces to that team was their defensive stopper on the perimeter, Bruce Bowen. He was signed as a FA in 2000. In their title year of 1999, they drafted Duncan the year before, and also signed Mario Ellie nad Jerome Kersey as veteran help.


No team has done it.

I think he was referencing the Spurs' most recent championships.

 

[hasoos]

Nope. One of the most important pieces to that team was their defensive stopper on the perimeter, Bruce Bowen. He was signed as a FA in 2000. In their title year of 1999, they drafted Duncan the year before, and also signed Mario Ellie nad Jerome Kersey as veteran help.


No team has done it.

I disagree. Because you said "key" free agents. All the guys you mentioned are dime a dozen veterans IMO. What's next is Michael Finley at 36 years old a "key" free agent? I view a key free agent as a guy who they get who put's them over the top. I don't view any of the players you mentioned, as "key".

 

[tlongII]

Not enough. Bayless might be better, but Nate isn't going to play him over Blake. And SF does need more experience. And it certainly needs to be consolidated

Nate will play Bayless over Blake soon. I guarantee it.

 

[tlongII]

You make far too much out of the importance of acquiring a better PG anyway.

Derek Fisher?
Steve Kerr?
Rajon Rondo?

Not exactly terrific PG's on championship teams imo.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I disagree. Because you said "key" free agents. All the guys you mentioned are dime a dozen veterans IMO. What's next is Michael Finley at 36 years old a "key" free agent? I view a key free agent as a guy who they get who put's them over the top. I don't view any of the players you mentioned, as "key".

Then we will have to differ on that. I think adding any top 6 or 7 rotation player is key. All of the guys I mentioned were that.

 

[Blaze01]

Big deal...Anthony Parker was a big time euroleague player as well, and how did he work out for TOR?

He is about to be waived by them....

 

[Mediocre Man]

You make far too much out of the importance of acquiring a better PG anyway.

Derek Fisher?
Steve Kerr?
Rajon Rondo?

Not exactly terrific PG's on championship teams imo.

Kobe Bryant
Jordan
Rondo is light years better than Blake, but also had three more than likely HOFers on his team

 

[tlongII]

Kobe Bryant
Jordan
Rondo is light years better than Blake, but also had three more than likely HOFers on his team

Brandon Roy
LaMarcus Aldridge
Greg Oden

 

[Freshtown]

Nate will play Bayless over Blake soon. I guarantee it.

I really hope you're right. It would kill me if Bayless didn't get at least 20-25 minutes a game this year.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Brandon Roy
LaMarcus Aldridge
Greg Oden

Um no. Sorry, but that doesn't even make sense.

 

[Ed O]

Big deal...Anthony Parker was a big time euroleague player as well, and how did he work out for TOR?

He is about to be waived by them....

Well, Parker hasn't been HORRIBLE... he's been a starting-level (or near-starting-level) player. And he's being waived for salary cap/Hedo reasons.

BUT... your point is a good one. Some posters (*coughProfCcoughcough*) has a tendency to overstate the prospects of the international players.

As far as I know, international free agents never pan out. They never become stars in the NBA. The international NBA stars or near-stars have been like Kukoc and Dirk and Manu: guys that were drafted and came over either right away or while the drafting team still retained their rights.

The players that bombed out of the NBA, found success internationally and came back have NOT succeeded, as far as I can tell... neither have the mature international players who came over as free agents.

Sarunas Jasikevicius. Sasha Danilovic. Aleksandar Djordjevic. The list goes on and of of players that had success internationally and just didn't fit into the NBA.

There will be a first time that a player emerges from the international scene as a free agent and succeeds in the NBA, but the odds are stacked against it happening this year.

Ed O.