Minnesota Sports Forum

TheFuture wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:I'd probably do it. What are the odds the guys available at 7 reach his level? He has a game that ages well and fits in right next to KAT at the 4 which is our biggest hole. He cares about winning over market based on his decision to go to the Spurs and he would help us become a playoff team instantly. I think that bodes well for keeping him. He's a good defender which we need in the frontcourt. He was the second best player on the second best team in the league. We could use a guy of that talent level on our team to help us get better during this bridge period of our young guys getting to their prime years.

He is not a good defender. what have you been watching?

What have you been watching? He's averaged basically +3 defensive win shares for his career. That's better than anyone on our team. He was second on the Spurs in defensive wins shares last year and they were the best defensive team in the league. He's a very solid defender. He's not elite, but he's 1 step below. He's super long which allows him to easily challenge shots even if he doesn't block them. Whatever your watching doesn't match up with the stats at all. He's on the same level as Milsap defensively.

TheFuture wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:I'd probably do it. What are the odds the guys available at 7 reach his level? He has a game that ages well and fits in right next to KAT at the 4 which is our biggest hole. He cares about winning over market based on his decision to go to the Spurs and he would help us become a playoff team instantly. I think that bodes well for keeping him. He's a good defender which we need in the frontcourt. He was the second best player on the second best team in the league. We could use a guy of that talent level on our team to help us get better during this bridge period of our young guys getting to their prime years.

He is not a good defender. what have you been watching?

He turns 32 in July and has a player option after this season which could make him even more expensive is we did want to keep him. Sure I get where you are coming from Kahns the 7 pick may never reach his level but his level in a couple years may not be worth it especially if he signs with another team and he isn't even on the roster.

Aldridge has generally been a very good defender throughout his career, but boy, he was absolutely torched when he was switching onto guards in the playoffs.

The Spurs have had one lottery pick in the last 20 years that they turned into a once in a generation talent. Their last one before that was a 1st ballot hall of famer. So who are they looking at? My best guess is Dennis Smith or Frank. We should not overthink this and take the best upside, even if they are a PG. Smith is my top pick, hope we do it.

monsterpile wrote:

TheFuture wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:I'd probably do it. What are the odds the guys available at 7 reach his level? He has a game that ages well and fits in right next to KAT at the 4 which is our biggest hole. He cares about winning over market based on his decision to go to the Spurs and he would help us become a playoff team instantly. I think that bodes well for keeping him. He's a good defender which we need in the frontcourt. He was the second best player on the second best team in the league. We could use a guy of that talent level on our team to help us get better during this bridge period of our young guys getting to their prime years.

He is not a good defender. what have you been watching?

He turns 32 in July and has a player option after this season which could make him even more expensive is we did want to keep him. Sure I get where you are coming from Kahns the 7 pick may never reach his level but his level in a couple years may not be worth it especially if he signs with another team and he isn't even on the roster.

He came from Portland and San Antonio. I don't see market being a big factor in his decision. He wants to win and we have one of the best young cores in the league to potentially win with for years to come. I think the teams with the cap space to sign him are maybe a handful and he's not the number 1 guy on their lists of FA's so we could get him signed before a Lebron or PG even make their decisions. It's a risk, but if you don't think a core of LA, Towns, Wiggins, Lavine is good enough to entice him to stay then what good is that core moving forward? The same argument would apply to any other trade for a Butler or PG or whoever. Dwight is really the only big name to crash and burn and leave a franchise after 1 year. If you can think of another let me know, but I'm drawing a blank.

khans2k5 wrote:

monsterpile wrote:

TheFuture wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:I'd probably do it. What are the odds the guys available at 7 reach his level? He has a game that ages well and fits in right next to KAT at the 4 which is our biggest hole. He cares about winning over market based on his decision to go to the Spurs and he would help us become a playoff team instantly. I think that bodes well for keeping him. He's a good defender which we need in the frontcourt. He was the second best player on the second best team in the league. We could use a guy of that talent level on our team to help us get better during this bridge period of our young guys getting to their prime years.

He is not a good defender. what have you been watching?

He turns 32 in July and has a player option after this season which could make him even more expensive is we did want to keep him. Sure I get where you are coming from Kahns the 7 pick may never reach his level but his level in a couple years may not be worth it especially if he signs with another team and he isn't even on the roster.

He came from Portland and San Antonio. I don't see market being a big factor in his decision. He wants to win and we have one of the best young cores in the league to potentially win with for years to come. I think the teams with the cap space to sign him are maybe a handful and he's not the number 1 guy on their lists of FA's so we could get him signed before a Lebron or PG even make their decisions. It's a risk, but if you don't think a core of LA, Towns, Wiggins, Lavine is good enough to entice him to stay then what good is that core moving forward? The same argument would apply to any other trade for a Butler or PG or whoever. Dwight is really the only big name to crash and burn and leave a franchise after 1 year. If you can think of another let me know, but I'm drawing a blank.

Ok that makes sense and thanks for further explaining your position. I still don't like the deal but you make a very strong case.

Big O wrote:#7 for Lamarcus even up. do you do it?

I'd pass. He's too slow. How about Ricky, LaVine, #7 for Kristap Portzingss and DRose and Joakim

thedoper wrote:The Spurs have had one lottery pick in the last 20 years that they turned into a once in a generation talent. Their last one before that was a 1st ballot hall of famer. So who are they looking at? My best guess is Dennis Smith or Frank. We should not overthink this and take the best upside, even if they are a PG. Smith is my top pick, hope we do it.

Smith is not a Spurs kind of player. Not seeing it. I could definitely see Frank as being more "Spurs-ian", but the problem is he isn't developing in their system, he'd be developing in ours.

What is hard to discern with the Spurs is how much of their magic is related to identifying talent where others don't see it and how much of it is taking similarly evaluated talent and being super good at developing it.....probably some combination of both.

Q12543 wrote:

thedoper wrote:The Spurs have had one lottery pick in the last 20 years that they turned into a once in a generation talent. Their last one before that was a 1st ballot hall of famer. So who are they looking at? My best guess is Dennis Smith or Frank. We should not overthink this and take the best upside, even if they are a PG. Smith is my top pick, hope we do it.

Smith is not a Spurs kind of player. Not seeing it. I could definitely see Frank as being more "Spurs-ian", but the problem is he isn't developing in their system, he'd be developing in ours.

What is hard to discern with the Spurs is how much of their magic is related to identifying talent where others don't see it and how much of it is taking similarly evaluated talent and being super good at developing it.....probably some combination of both.

The Spurs need someone to fill the Parker role, who can break down the first defender and start their action. Smith would be excellent in that role.

khans2k5 wrote:

TheFuture wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:I'd probably do it. What are the odds the guys available at 7 reach his level? He has a game that ages well and fits in right next to KAT at the 4 which is our biggest hole. He cares about winning over market based on his decision to go to the Spurs and he would help us become a playoff team instantly. I think that bodes well for keeping him. He's a good defender which we need in the frontcourt. He was the second best player on the second best team in the league. We could use a guy of that talent level on our team to help us get better during this bridge period of our young guys getting to their prime years.

He is not a good defender. what have you been watching?

What have you been watching? He's averaged basically +3 defensive win shares for his career. That's better than anyone on our team. He was second on the Spurs in defensive wins shares last year and they were the best defensive team in the league. He's a very solid defender. He's not elite, but he's 1 step below. He's super long which allows him to easily challenge shots even if he doesn't block them. Whatever your watching doesn't match up with the stats at all. He's on the same level as Milsap defensively.

I don't care about his career average. I care about what we are actually getting from him. He may have been 2nd best in win shares on the Spurs last year but that's the Spurs. I'd attribu53 that to the system more so than him being a real defensive talent. It should be obvious to anyone that he is slowing down significantly. His offense isn't coming as easy (also what would be his usage here) and he is becoming a plodder defensively. Yes, he is a smart defender, and can handle in the mid range and post against big men. Switch a guard onto him and he is toast at this point in his career.