<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Duncan, the core of the Spurs' core, is under contract for at least three and, up to, five more seasons. Manu Ginobili just completed the first season of a six-year, $52 million deal. Tony Parker is about to begin a six-year, $66 million extension. Bruce Bowen and Brent Barry have three more seasons left on their contracts. Nazr Mohammed, who became the team's starting center during the playoffs after being acquired midseason from New York, has one year remaining. "Now we know who we want to establish the future," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "It's a matter of continuing to fit pieces around them." The Spurs hope to keep Horry as one of those pieces. Though Horry will turn 35 in August, he had enough spring in his legs to average 9.3 points and 5.4 rebounds in the playoffs. He made 44.7 percent of his 3-pointers, none more important than the winning one with 5.8 seconds left in overtime of Game 5. Having earned a raise, either from the Spurs or someone else, Horry is expected to decline the $1.1 million option in his contract. Devin Brown, one of the team's most productive reserves until he injured his back in late March, will be a restricted free agent, allowing the Spurs to match any offer he receives up to the midlevel exception. Brown would like to return, though his health will determine his value. The Spurs will try to make Argentina's Luis Scola, a second-round pick from 2002 who is playing for Spain's Tau Ceramica, one of their significant additions this summer. A physical, 6-foot-9 forward, the 24-year-old Scola would like to join the Spurs. Money will determine whether their partnership becomes a reality. Unlike previous summers, the Spurs don't have salary-cap room. To re-sign Horry and add Scola or any free agents, they will be limited to using the $4.9 million mid-level exception and $1.6 million exception. The exact value of the two exceptions won't be determined until the league finalizes its new collective bargaining agreement on July 22. The Spurs have until Thursday to decide whether to pick up Linton Johnson III's $700,000 option. Johnson spent almost the entire season on the injured list while recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot. If the Spurs don't keep him, they hope to find another young, athletic small forward for Bowen to mentor. Whether through Tuesday's draft (the team has the No. 28 pick), free agency or via a trade, the Spurs also may try to improve their depth at point guard. Beno Udrih, last year's first-round pick, did little to win the faith of his coaches with his play during the Finals. Mike Wilks, who lacks Udrih's shooting touch and size, but is tougher, will be a free agent. If the Spurs choose not to re-sign him, he likely won't have to look long for a job. Rasho Nesterovic, who has four years and almost $30 million remaining on his contract, lost his starting position to Mohammed after he sprained his left ankle near the end of the season. If team officials decide Mohammed is skilled enough to keep the position ? and Scola is signed ? they might try to assess Nesterovic's trade value. Sean Marks, popular among his teammates and coaches, might be asked back. Well-traveled veteran Tony Massenburg, like Marks, is a free agent. </div> Source
For some reason, I dont think Horry will return...I think he'll end up in Miami...he has expressed a sincere interest in playing with the Heat because he loved playing with Shaq, so I think he'll end up there...I believe Rasho is as good as gone...I dont see any minutes for him, unless he's willing to take a backup role...but theres no way he's starting ahead of TD and Nazr...I dont think there should be a huge need for depth at the PG spot...Barry can always run some minutes at the point, and I really like Udrih, and dont necessarily blame him for his timid play in the Finals, considering it was his rookie campaign...the Spurs should also re-sign Devin Brown and Marks...this team does not need a lot of movement...
Their whole team is old and expensive. It makes me feel very good about the Suns chances. They got nobody there. Tim Duncan is almost 30, Tony Parker isn't that great, their bench is OLD, and to top it all off they don't have money.
^The Suns have to learn to play defense before they can have a chance,and theres alot of learning for them to do.That old and expensive Spurs team took out the Suns in 5 games,without homecourt advantage.To say the Spurs have nobody is foolish.Regardless of whether Horry comes back or not,the Spurs remain the top team in the league and will attract veteran role players.
The Spurs don't need to have money to win, their best 3 players are locked in for the long term already. Next season they'll bring over Luis Scola, so losing Horry won't be a major blow. As long as the Spurs have a chance to win the title they will always be able to lure over cheap veteran role players. It doesn't matter that Tim Duncan is 30, the Spurs won plenty of games last year when he twisted his ankles. They can win without Duncan in the regular season, but they definitely need him in the post season. I don't think they will be able to keep Devin Brown. I do like what the Suns have done so far this off-season, they will probably be the #1 seed again, but in the post-season the Spurs are still the team to beat.
I would love to see Horry remain on the team, but if Scola is as good as people say, it may not be that bad if he leaves. Though it wouldn't hurt ot have a good PF that can play some D and step out and shoot the 3 every now and again...Donyell maybe?? I agree with Shooter on most of the points brought up. If Rasho leaves, it's no biggy, so long as someone can teach Nazr to hold onto the ball in the post and just throw it down right away instead of playing with it so much. I do think we need a good backup PG. As Shooter said, you can't blame Beno because it was his rookie year. You can blame Tony though for his constant disappearing act in the playoffs the past few years. All in all, I dont' think that the Spurs will have trouble getting FA's to come to the team, it's a lot easier to get people to come to your team when you're a perennial playoff team.
You guys bring up some very good points. All I know is that next year will be very exciting. The gap between the East and the West has closed. The West is not that much better anymore. There are so many teams that might win it next year. BTW, how do you know that Scola will be good? Sure the Spurs are good at finding international talent, but you never know.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ArizonaRecruite:</div><div class="quote_post">You guys bring up some very good points. All I know is that next year will be very exciting. The gap between the East and the West has closed. The West is not that much better anymore. There are so many teams that might win it next year. BTW, how do you know that Scola will be good? Sure the Spurs are good at finding international talent, but you never know.</div> Picture Manu Ginobili, but a PF instead of a SG, that is Luis Scola. A few reasons why he will be good ... 1. He's an experienced player (24 years old) and has an NBA body already at 6'9/230lbs. 2. He played on the gold medal Olympic team with Gino and Noc, putting up numbers against the competition. 3. He dominates in International play in the second best league in the world, the NBA of course being the first.
