Tiago Splitter

¹²³ · Jan 7, 2009

I know he signed a deal with Tau Ceramica through the 2011-12 season, but wouldn't be a way to put him in San Antonio?

The kid is doing great in Europe and I bet he would help this team a lot right now.

In the Spanish League ACB he is averaging 15.3 points (58.6 FG%), 6 boards, 2 assists, 1.7 steals, 0.5 blocks in 27 minutes, according to DraftExpress.

Any news from the Spurs camp?

Mr. J · Jan 7, 2009

I remember back in 2005 there was a time when I wanted the Knicks to draft Splitter (several months before the draft though). I don't think he's coming over any time soon. It's just a hunch though.

Why isn't he averaging more blocks?

Shapecity · Jan 13, 2009

I'm not sure the details of his current contract, but I think Tiago could negotiate a buyout if he wanted to leave Tau and play for the Spurs. The issue the Spurs had bringing him over was the limit they could send in compensation to Tau.

¹²³ · Jan 26, 2009

Nice video of his recent play (wait to load). In 27 minutes he scored 24 points and 7 boards as Tau beated Ricoh Manresca, 94 to 68.

¹²³ · Mar 6, 2009

Another update on him from DraftExpress:

Tiago Splitter (the longest player profile in DraftExpress history, at over 16,000 words and counting) continues to improve his game year by year, clearly emerging as one of the best players in European basketball this season, and maybe the top center around. His production is pretty astounding, ranking 3rd and 4th in PER in the Euroleague and ACB respectively, 8th in scoring in both categories, and amongst the league leaders in blocks, steals, free throw attempts and shooting percentage.

Offensively, Splitter continues to evolve his game, emerging as a real force for Tau Vitoria, to the tune of 16 points per game, on phenomenal percentages. He shoulders a big offensive load for them, and it’s clear that that’s something that is important for him in the way you see him calling for the ball on the left block. Splitter is primarily a low post player, showing an excellent assortment of footwork and spin-moves with his back to the basket, and a very effective jump-hook he can shoot with either hand. He is a little bit old school in that aspect, really putting pressure on his defender to hold his ground as he backs him down aggressively, which draws him quite a few fouls.

Splitter is extremely aggressive putting the ball on the floor and creating, showing excellent coordination and fluidity, and emerging as a terrific finisher thanks to his great hands and touch. He’s not incredibly explosive around the basket, which may emerge as more of an issue in the NBA (if and when), but with his excellent skill-level and high basketball IQ, he’s about as effective a low-post scorer as you’ll find at the European level. On top of that, he manages to find plenty of scoring opportunities with his ability to run the floor, play pick and roll with the likes of Pablo Prigioni and Igor Rakocevic, and just find open spots around the basket to catch and finish.

Splitter is finally becoming a more consistent free throw shooter, now making about 66% of his attempts—nearly 10 per-40 minutes pace adjusted. He’s not really showing any kind of mid-range jumper, but probably doesn’t really have to for Tau considering that he’s shooting over 64% from the field.

Still not a great rebounder, Splitter has become even less prolific in this department on the offensive end this year, which is a relative concern and probably his biggest weakness. He is showing much better awareness in his ability to pass the ball, though, sporting an impressive 1/1 assist to turnover ratio for the first time in his career.

Defensively, Splitter is obviously a huge asset as we’ve discussed many times, as he has the size, strength and length to be very effective in the low post, but is coordinated and mobile enough to step out and hedge screens with great accuracy. The intensity he displays on this end of the floor tends to get him in foul trouble at times, but this is something that his coach will obviously live with. Splitter is seeing better productivity in the shot-blocking department than in years past, particularly in the Euroleague, where he currently ranks second in blocks per game.

Obviously a high-level rotation player and likely starter whenever he decides to step foot in the NBA, Splitter has a very difficult decision coming up when his current contract expires in the summer of 2010. The paltry $836,000 he’s slotted to earn from the Spurs on the very cumbersome first round rookie scale can’t compete with the 2.3 million dollars net he currently earns, meaning he’d have to take something in the neighborhood of a 75% paycut for the honor of playing in the NBA.

Talking to Splitter after the final, he seemed non-committal at best when the topic was broached, although it’s pretty clear that he would love to play in the NBA. “Right now it’s the middle of the season and I’m only thinking about Tau. The Spurs have some good players and we’ll have to see what happens.” In response to my question about whether his slot on the Rookie scale might impact his decision, Splitter obviously didn’t seem too happy with his predicament, jokingly asking me if I could “talk to David Stern about that.” He reiterated that “it’s a dream to play in the NBA,” stating “I’m still young, and for sure I want to play there”, but said that “we’ll see what happens when my contract is up in two years.”
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¹²³ · Apr 24, 2009

Some interesting news about his possibilities to join the NBA.

Tiago Splitter News

The name on the front of Tiago Splitter’s jersey is TAU Ceramica. That’s also the name–as you might have guessed–of a prominent Spanish ceramics company. TAU is very proud of its floor tile. This is all commonplace stuff—European teams are like race cars. They have sponsors. And those sponsors are not immune to the hardships of a slow economy. Saski Baskonia is the actual team name, and they’re located in Vitoria, Spain.

There is an interesting thread at SpursTalk (thanks to 48MoH reader Will for bringing it to my attention) that reacts to recent news that Baskonia will no longer be sponsored by TAU. If you follow all that, you might still yawn. Sponsorships come and go. Someone else’s name will adorn Baskonia jerseys in the coming months. But there might be something here to file away for future reference.

Does this mean that Vitoria is in a “let’s cut some payroll” bind? Are they amenable to negotiating a contract buyout with Tiago Splitter, freeing themselves from his hefty contract? Perhaps. I suspect that they’ll just collect another sponsor and move along with business as usual. But maybe the hard economy will shine favorably on San Antonio in the form of a talented Brazilian center.

During the course of the aforementioned thread something else is suggested that should catch your attention. A board member named Bruno, a SpursTalk regular and trusted friend of this writer, cites section Article VIII, Section 2 of the CBA and notes that the Spurs are capable of signing Splitter for an amount greater than the rookie scale beginning next summer (2010). The section in question reads:

…a First Round Pick who does not sign with the Team that holds his draft rights for any portion of the three (3) Seasons following the NBA Draft in which he was selected (and who did not play intercollegiate basketball during such period) may enter into either (a) a Rookie Scale Contract in accordance with Section 1 above, or (b) if the Team has Room in excess of the applicable first-year Rookie Scale Amount, a Contract covering no fewer than three (3) Seasons that provides for Salary plus Unlikely Bonuses in the first Salary Cap Year up to the amount of the Team’s Room and increases or decreases in Salary and Unlikely Bonuses in subsequent Salary Cap Years in accordance with Article VII, Section 5(c)(1).

I was able to run Article VII, Section 2 past a CBA expert who is under the employ of a trusted 4 letter network. In his estimation, the Spurs may in fact work outside the rookie scale to sign Tiago Splitter, but they have to wait until next summer to do so (as the section stipulates). Not bad, considering that’s when Splitter has his first buyout option. As our readers likely know, the Spurs will have plenty of cash to spend next summer, more than enough to offer Splitter something in excess of the rookie scale. Considering Duncan’s age, this should be welcome news to all and sundry.

So, in review, help could well be on the way. There is a remote chance Splitter lands a buyout due to Baskonia’s financial hardship. Remote. But a fairly strong chance he joins the Spurs in 2010. That is, if they want to pay him.

I continue to believe that the Spurs window is much longer than people expect. Adding Europe’s best center as he is entering his prime can’t hurt. In other words, zombie-up. It’s gonna be a long night.
(HT: mogrovejo and Bruno)
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¹²³ · Apr 22, 2010

More.

Tiago Splitter and the Spurs’ playoff rotation

The smart folks at SpursTalk are following the international press, which is giving positive, but subtle, indicators that Tiago Splitter is closer than previously expected to joining the San Antonio Spurs. This on the heels of the uber-reliable Johnny Ludden’s recent proclamation that the Spurs are growing more confident in their ability to sign Splitter this summer. Having already extended Manu Ginobili, the Spurs could do nothing better this offseason than to secure the services of Splitter, as the current Mavs-Spurs series gives clear indication.

Over at Mathletics, our friend Wayne Winston has provided a delectable buffet of Mavs-Spurs Game 2 adjusted plus minus observations. Hurry on over, and take note:

In this series the Spurs have played 13 points better than average series and the Mavs 7 points better than average. When Manu, Duncan, McDyess, and Jefferson are on the court with Hill or Parker the Spurs are +25 points in 38 minutes (playing 40 points better than average). This combo was also great in the regular season, so we see history repeating itself….

…Spurs still need to do better with Duncan out. In regular season Blair, Manu,Hill Mason and McDyess was ok (5 points better than average) so it might be worth a shot. In regular season Blair Manu Hill Jefferson and Bonner was great (35 points better than average) but this lineup has stumbled so far. I would try Blair Manu Parker Jefferson Bonner . This has been hardly used (24 minutes in regular season, 3 points better than average), but it is worth a shot.
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What does this have to do with Tiago Splitter? Everything, and more.

Tim Duncan played incredibly effective defense last night, but his career-worn knees increasingly limit his ability to defend in one-on-one situations. No lift. His lateral speed is slower than in the past. Etc.

Antonio McDyess is a similar study. He too played exceptionally good defense on Dirk Nowitzki last night, but it’s difficult to imagine that McDyess has more than, at most, one more decent postseason in his legs. Don’t expect McDyess to carry a heavy load next season. Those years are past.

And then there is the problem of super rookie DeJuan Blair. Namely, he’s short. His height is not always an issue, but against teams that feature legitimate size in the post (Mavericks, Lakers) he’s a problematic play for Gregg Popovich. John Hollinger picked up the question of DeJuan Blair’s place in the Spurs’ rotation early this afternoon, and his words are appropriate here.

Blair is listed as a 6-7 power forward, but effectively his position is center. If you’ll notice, they never play him and Duncan at the same time because it screws up the spacing — so he’s basically Duncan’s backup at center, which limits him to about 10 minutes a night. The fact he couldn’t make two-foot shots last night didn’t help him either.
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Tiago Splitter is a solution–or, at least, a partial solution-to these issues.

Splitter is an ideal defender against players such as Dirk Nowitzki. He’s a suitable pick and roll mate for Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, and George Hill. Splitter can play high-low with Tim Duncan. He’s a perfect match for San Antonio.

One assumes that the Spurs have given up on Ian Mahinmi, but I hope not. A regular season rotation (one that actually allows Tim Duncan rest) of Duncan, Splitter, Blair, Matt Bonner and Mahinmi looks nice on paper.

After last night’s Spurs-Mavericks game, the TNT crew carried out the tired refrain that this postseason is a last hurrah for the Spurs. But I’m not at all convinced of that. By adding Splitter, the Spurs would continue their practice of reloading on the sly.

Bang. Bang.

Put differently, a Splitter-Duncan front court would allow players like Bonner, Mahinmi, and Blair to thrive within better defined roles. And the Spurs would no longer have to worry about Antonio McDyess and his proverbial tank. Tiago Splitter is nothing for the Spurs, if not a big bag of solutions.
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Tiago Splitter

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