Superman. And beyond. Not only is Dwight Howard on the market (and virtually guaranteed to not wear Silver and Black next season), but there are an unusually high number of quality big men to be plucked from the vine of free agency. I list them after the jump...
Ryan Hollins, Cleveland Cavaliers – $2.5 million – Unrestricted
Let the debate begin...
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None of the above choices. Either Erden or Asik might be fine. The Spurs should have Lorbek available to join them with Tiago returning, and most likely even Tim will be back. None of the unrestricteds look worth the price. They need more of an athletic power forward than a center in the long run.
I’m not sure that the list is quite up-to-date. I ignored some as being “restricted”, but they might be in the same category as James Anderson. Are Hibbert, McGee, and the Lopez Brothers actually now unrestricted free agents as they did not get qualifying offers? I’m not positive about McGee, but recall that Indiana did not make an offer to either George Hill nor Hibbert and that Brook Lopez also did not get an offer. If they’re all unrestricted the Spurs might go after one or more, though I’d still think it would be someone that would have the ability to match up against PF’s.
I think they become unrestricted based off of them not exercising their rights. I can’t see how the situation is any different from Anderson’s, since he was also a first rounder…
Hill, Hibbert, the Lopez twins and McGee didn’t get extensions but their teams are surely going to extend them the qualifying offers. They are different things.
So if that means that they would be restricted, I don’t see much point in pursuing them just so that they can determine their market value. On the other hand, if the Nets do pursue Howard it may mean that Brook may move on.
I appreciate the time you put in to compile this list, but isn’t it too soon to be talking about next season? Let’s enjoy the team as currently constructed and think about this stuff in the off-season.
If we strike at the right moment(when NJ is making their pitch to Dwight), we might be able to swipe Brook Lopez. Sign him and bring Lorbek in, suddenly our frontcourt doesn’t look weak…. at all.
True. Remember, teams only have 3 days(previously 7) to match offers to RFA’s. So, if Dwight takes his time with the decision(very likely), the Nets might be forced to let Lopez go. The amount of space we can clear by getting RJ off the books should be enough to make him a max offer. He’s got size, post moves and a jumper, so he can be paired with either Timmy or Tiago without hurting the team on either end of the floor.
Hibbert will not be leaving Indiana unless Dwight indicates interest in the Pacers(setting up a similar scenario to the one with Lopez), so Lopez would be an excellent target, even though it means that one of our centers has to play the PF spot.
Spurs have a strong chance if they can make Brook realize he wants to win. I mean, he’s been on one of the worst teams to start his career. And he has Duncan to help take off defensive burdens. I can’t say I’d disagree here.
Hibbert would be stupid to leave. The team fits him perfectly and that team is just scary with Paul George learning about his game.
I hope the FO could get him. Dump RJ. Try and keep Green if his price is low enough. If you aren’t going to bring Anderson back, try and see if you can lure Courtney Lee over.
Brook Lopez isn’t that great at what we need out of a big guy. I mean he shoots solid and has moves on the block but the guy isn’t that great of a rebounder or defender. I guess he could change his ways if he really wanted to because he has the size to do better than what he has done in the past.
It all goes down to cost, both in terms of money and personnel. If developing bigs were Pop’s strong suit, we could as well keep Mahinmi. If our FO wouldn’t look for saving money all the time,we would keep Scola and may had more rings by now.
We can’t use Ian as a good example. He was just too often injured and missed a season worth of games in his development years. He needed to be paid to be retained. I can find fault in many areas, but this is the one where they made the right move to let him go. Yes, it’s a money decision, but he was almost like Greg Oden at one point.
I have seen somewhere that Ian is paid $0.8M this season. In this league of overpaid big men, he is a bargain. But he didn’t work for San Antonio, for whatever reason. I think, his game never fit the roles Pop sees for his big men. He didn’t hustle, he didn’t defend. So letting him go was logical decision, but for the same reasons I think it’s rather tricky for the Spurs to find a complimentary big man.
Well, he didn’t hustle and he didn’t defend. He also was often injured. It’s not worth sinking even a million into when he’s not shown anything. That’s where I don’t feel he fit the Spurs. He apparently grew up and improved those things, but you can’t wait around for that through multiple contracts. Now, Spurs lack size, so in hindsight, any size held over might have been a good thing.
I know I tend to overrate our players, but many others tend to overrate players from other teams. Most people on the list are overrated by PtR. Same goes for Ian, kind of. People think highly of him now, but he would probably still suck in Pop’s system. Not to blame either of them, but Yawn and Pop don’t look like a good match.
I think Ian has grown up since Carlisle is a defensive coach. I think he needed to lose his first job though. Ian is a weird story since he got into basketball late. He didn’t have a lot of disappointment to grow from.
I meant to say that Carlisle is a defensive coach, similar in mindset to Pop. Not as strict or as imposing, but a coach who demands effort and execution. Ian wouldn’t be a Mav if he was at the same abilities and effort he was when he was a Spur.
You do realize Humphries wasn’t getting a lot of run until last year with the Nets and Lopez still didn’t get over 9 boards a game his first two seasons.
I’m more worried about the potentially awful PnR defense. Opponents would just pick and roll us to death with Tim and Lopez on the court at the same time.
It would, but it kills the Spurs now when Splitter isn’t in the game. So I don’t know what would get worse. I’m not saying it’s the best solution, but I’m saying that it won’t get worse than it already is.
None of the above choices. Either Erden or Asik might be fine. The Spurs should have Lorbek available to join them with Tiago returning, and most likely even Tim will be back. None of the unrestricteds look worth the price. They need more of an athletic power forward than a center in the long run.
Alamo - February 7, 2012
I’m not sure that the list is quite up-to-date. I ignored some as being “restricted”, but they might be in the same category as James Anderson. Are Hibbert, McGee, and the Lopez Brothers actually now unrestricted free agents as they did not get qualifying offers? I’m not positive about McGee, but recall that Indiana did not make an offer to either George Hill nor Hibbert and that Brook Lopez also did not get an offer. If they’re all unrestricted the Spurs might go after one or more, though I’d still think it would be someone that would have the ability to match up against PF’s.
Alamo - February 7, 2012
I think they become unrestricted based off of them not exercising their rights. I can’t see how the situation is any different from Anderson’s, since he was also a first rounder…
grego21 - February 7, 2012
Hill, Hibbert, the Lopez twins and McGee didn’t get extensions but their teams are surely going to extend them the qualifying offers. They are different things.
Edg5 - February 7, 2012
Awww, i knew i missed something. Thanks for clearing it up.
grego21 - February 7, 2012
So if that means that they would be restricted, I don’t see much point in pursuing them just so that they can determine their market value. On the other hand, if the Nets do pursue Howard it may mean that Brook may move on.
Alamo - February 7, 2012
I appreciate the time you put in to compile this list, but isn’t it too soon to be talking about next season? Let’s enjoy the team as currently constructed and think about this stuff in the off-season.
Edg5 - February 7, 2012
+1
Ayatollah - February 7, 2012
+1
Chilai - February 7, 2012
There are some decent young centers on this list. Very nice
gunnin' gervin - February 7, 2012
I always liked Hibbert, it would be nice if we could have him..(though I doubt that..)
I also wouldn’t mind having Brook Lopez, Asik & McGee..
cryoscourge - February 7, 2012
Brook Lopez or Hibbert…..and cut ties with Blair.
Spurs Yoda - February 7, 2012
If we strike at the right moment(when NJ is making their pitch to Dwight), we might be able to swipe Brook Lopez. Sign him and bring Lorbek in, suddenly our frontcourt doesn’t look weak…. at all.
Tim C. - February 8, 2012
I’m sure Lopez is a top target of most teams who realistically do not believe they can get Dwight.
grego21 - February 8, 2012
True. Remember, teams only have 3 days(previously 7) to match offers to RFA’s. So, if Dwight takes his time with the decision(very likely), the Nets might be forced to let Lopez go. The amount of space we can clear by getting RJ off the books should be enough to make him a max offer. He’s got size, post moves and a jumper, so he can be paired with either Timmy or Tiago without hurting the team on either end of the floor.
Hibbert will not be leaving Indiana unless Dwight indicates interest in the Pacers(setting up a similar scenario to the one with Lopez), so Lopez would be an excellent target, even though it means that one of our centers has to play the PF spot.
Tim C. - February 9, 2012
Spurs have a strong chance if they can make Brook realize he wants to win. I mean, he’s been on one of the worst teams to start his career. And he has Duncan to help take off defensive burdens. I can’t say I’d disagree here.
Hibbert would be stupid to leave. The team fits him perfectly and that team is just scary with Paul George learning about his game.
I hope the FO could get him. Dump RJ. Try and keep Green if his price is low enough. If you aren’t going to bring Anderson back, try and see if you can lure Courtney Lee over.
grego21 - February 9, 2012
Brook Lopez isn’t that great at what we need out of a big guy. I mean he shoots solid and has moves on the block but the guy isn’t that great of a rebounder or defender. I guess he could change his ways if he really wanted to because he has the size to do better than what he has done in the past.
gunnin' gervin - February 10, 2012
There’s no big out there that will fully fit. Spurs just got to pick one and adapt him as much as possible.
grego21 - February 10, 2012
It all goes down to cost, both in terms of money and personnel. If developing bigs were Pop’s strong suit, we could as well keep Mahinmi. If our FO wouldn’t look for saving money all the time,we would keep Scola and may had more rings by now.
Kondor - February 12, 2012
We can’t use Ian as a good example. He was just too often injured and missed a season worth of games in his development years. He needed to be paid to be retained. I can find fault in many areas, but this is the one where they made the right move to let him go. Yes, it’s a money decision, but he was almost like Greg Oden at one point.
grego21 - February 13, 2012
I have seen somewhere that Ian is paid $0.8M this season. In this league of overpaid big men, he is a bargain. But he didn’t work for San Antonio, for whatever reason. I think, his game never fit the roles Pop sees for his big men. He didn’t hustle, he didn’t defend. So letting him go was logical decision, but for the same reasons I think it’s rather tricky for the Spurs to find a complimentary big man.
Kondor - February 13, 2012
Well, he didn’t hustle and he didn’t defend. He also was often injured. It’s not worth sinking even a million into when he’s not shown anything. That’s where I don’t feel he fit the Spurs. He apparently grew up and improved those things, but you can’t wait around for that through multiple contracts. Now, Spurs lack size, so in hindsight, any size held over might have been a good thing.
grego21 - February 13, 2012
I think we often feel like having any big man would help. But practically not every big man can play in Pop’s system.
Kondor - February 14, 2012
We as fans tend to overrate players values more often than not. The Ian now compared to the Ian back then is much different.
grego21 - February 14, 2012
I know I tend to overrate our players, but many others tend to overrate players from other teams. Most people on the list are overrated by PtR. Same goes for Ian, kind of. People think highly of him now, but he would probably still suck in Pop’s system. Not to blame either of them, but Yawn and Pop don’t look like a good match.
Kondor - February 15, 2012
I think Ian has grown up since Carlisle is a defensive coach. I think he needed to lose his first job though. Ian is a weird story since he got into basketball late. He didn’t have a lot of disappointment to grow from.
grego21 - February 15, 2012
It’s not like Pop is not a defensive coach, is it? But Carlisle is getting more from Yawn for sure. He is a good coach.
Kondor - February 15, 2012
I meant to say that Carlisle is a defensive coach, similar in mindset to Pop. Not as strict or as imposing, but a coach who demands effort and execution. Ian wouldn’t be a Mav if he was at the same abilities and effort he was when he was a Spur.
grego21 - February 15, 2012
Anyone worried about Brook’s rebound rate? I am sure he can play, but he makes Tiago look like a monster on the boards…
alamobro - February 9, 2012
He plays with kris humpries though. Although Humphries is pulling down boards, but this is without Lopez.
grego21 - February 9, 2012
You do realize Humphries wasn’t getting a lot of run until last year with the Nets and Lopez still didn’t get over 9 boards a game his first two seasons.
gunnin' gervin - February 10, 2012
Oh, I never said Humphries was their during Lopez’s whole run. I just mean to say, that his co-big up front hasn’t been that great either.
grego21 - February 10, 2012
I’m more worried about the potentially awful PnR defense. Opponents would just pick and roll us to death with Tim and Lopez on the court at the same time.
Edg5 - February 10, 2012
Depends on the team, but really, could that be worse than what Spurs have with Duncan/Blair?
grego21 - February 10, 2012
They are both extremely slow footed. The high PnR would kill us and every teams runs that. And who guards perimeter-oriented PFs?
Edg5 - February 10, 2012
It would, but it kills the Spurs now when Splitter isn’t in the game. So I don’t know what would get worse. I’m not saying it’s the best solution, but I’m saying that it won’t get worse than it already is.
grego21 - February 10, 2012
Available center are far better than the available PFs. This is what the Spurs should be targeting next season if anything.
Sh!fty - February 10, 2012
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