Tim Duncan (photo. adidas)We continue our look at current NBA team needs with the Western Conference finalist San Antonio Spurs…
The Needs — Get one more scorer, one more REAL threat to go one-on-one and put the ball in the hole. A true backup point guard and some fresh legs on the bench.
The Possible Solutions — Corey Maggette will be the one who got away this offseason for the Spurs. They aren’t getting Josh Smith or Andre Iguodala, and it looks like Josh Childress is headed back to Atlanta if he doesn’t end up in Greece. We seriously doubt the Spurs would ever consider Ricky Davis, which would warrant a reality show if he was picked up. Don’t be surprised if the Spurs get desperate and make a play for J.R. Smith, who could make a living off Duncan-assisted wide open jumpers if he doesn’t drive Pop crazy first. It will be interesting to see if Michael Finley decides to hang ‘em up or play one more year. (And if he looks elsewhere … the Lakers?)
Our suggested moves? — Call Grant Hill. Not that they need another injury-prone player, but J.R. Smith and Ricky Buckets aren’t going to work, and Kelenna Azubuike and Tony Allen (probably the next guys you’d call) have already been signed (Azubuike to an offer sheet by the Clips). The point guard issue could solve itself if first-round draft pick George Hill pans out, but they can wait and see with him and make a deadline move if necessary. Ian Mahinmi also looks ready to contribute with some strong play in the summer leagues, helping the bench get younger and he’s insurance in case Kurt Thomas leaves.
If you’re Spurs general manager R.C. Buford, what do you do?
NBA Team Needs archive
7/19 - Boston Celtics
7/20 - Los Angeles Lakers
7/21 - Detroit Pistons
Related posts:
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:42 am
92021SpurMD says:
Keep Manu away from the olympics (yeah right), keep Roger Mason in the gym all summer shooting his arm off, find a super athletic 4 (Okefur?), and get one more supreme young shooter (J.J. Redick?).
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:50 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Sell the team and retire. You had a great run.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
Imperial-Mel says:
Thanks spliff, i couldnt have said it better….Look out though, you are going to get jumped on if you talk about the spurs…lol First hand experience
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
My comment isn’t really that bad. They’ll still contend but I’m just saying if I was RC Buford I’d sell the team while they still have value. When Timmy is done the Spurs as we know them is done.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
fiyaman says:
yo Dime u got any Ewing gear.. thats my altime favorite player and I need some of his shit..ima be on here all day waiting.. hook a brother up
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 am
fiyaman says:
Trade Duncan to the Knicks for Curry and the McDonalds in TImes Square
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 am
Imperial-Mel says:
Its really not that bad, but i caught some heat from Austin and a few other people on the Detroit article. I was talkin about watchin the style of play on TV.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 am
YOUNGFED says:
Why can’t JR go to the Pistons.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:51 am
yallallreadyknow says:
if any of you/us can foresee the future….is there any team destined to fall off when their star leaves the way the spurs will? i can imagine something crazy like 13 straight yrs without a playoff appearance when timmy leaves.
philly recovered after ai, lakers/magic after shaq, jazz after stockton/malone. hell…..even the bulls after mj and pip. but i just dont see it with the spurs
they need everything!
corey maggette would have been a perfect start. now they should look to either luol deng or andre iguodala.
they need:
rebounder. tough inside rebounder (where is danny fortson?)
shot blocker. high above the rim (no one comes to mind, but nick collison would fit in nice with san an)
backup point guard (chris duhon would have been perfect)
shooter (jj redick)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:52 am
myrie says:
youngfed—
you hitting up caribana this year or what?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
fiyaman says:
@post #8
Cavs once LBJ leaves…. the Wiz once Butler and Jamison leave
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:28 am
Dagomar says:
The Spurs will continue to be good because they have the best/smartest organization in the league. They will find a way. And as I said a while back, I like JR Smith on this team. Pop and Duncan will keep him in line, and if they do he can be real good. Sign the man!
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:39 am
rangerjohn says:
i like the idea (considering hte market now) of taking jr smith, he fills needS. i also like the idea of making a run at deng, sign him long term even though the spurs are trying to not sign long term to keep big money for the 2010 free agent market. i am more looking forward to next off season, this one is pretty weak
July 22nd, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Jim says:
Spurs have had one losing season since 1989, and only 3 under .600. Say what you want about who they have had since 1989, but lots of teams have squandered superstars. The Spurs aren’t going in the basement anytime.
But they need a lot, because this team was held together by duct tape and prayers. Fortunately they will have a ton of money available the next 2 years.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Ross says:
I think they should go after J.R. Smith again.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Chris Coburn says:
I don’t know why players wouldn’t wanna live in San Antonio, the city is at least tied with Miami for hottest latin chicks and there’s no comp for them because all the guys there are fat douche bags
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Austin Burton says:
The Spurs have maybe two bad seasons after Duncan retires, but they’ll get a superstar in the draft and climb back to relevancy soon enough. And don’t forget they’ll still have Parker and probably Manu (not sure how old he is), one of the League’s best backcourts.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Chaos says:
Man RC Buford done missed the boat…his last options are people he shouldnt get (cept if they pull the trigger on ron-ron, which is serious doubt). he needs to do some mid season trades. he should have pulled the trigger on corey maggette
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Chaos says:
if they go get JR tho they can prolly teach him how to play some D and i dont think he would have to many problems in SA cuz Pops dont really take too much shit
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:09 pm
rangerjohn says:
how about the spurs resigning of thomas today. good move imo.
oh and to who ever it was saying RC should sell the team, come on that shows how little you know about the spurs, rc has no ownership in the team, and selling would not even remotely be his decision to make.
July 22nd, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Jim says:
Too lazy to look it up…Manu is just a year or two younger than Duncan, 30 or 31, I think.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
doc says:
Duncan is the man but if they get the right stud in a future lottery they’ll be right back.They had D-Rob before Tim and was relevant.
July 22nd, 2008 at 5:02 pm
rangerjohn says:
the spurs have missed the playoffs 4 times since joining the nba, all the doom and gloom is bs
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:55 pm
djKianoosh says:
right on rangerjohn. i know you’re a big spurs fan, but you’re right. now of course there are a lot of haters because they’ve been so damn successful for so long.
I don’t know if JR Smith can be corrected and kept in line on the court. forget the off court stuff. he plays a gambling style of game that the spurs just spent years trying to beat out of manu and parker. maybe it could work, but i just can’t imagine it. if anyone can do it it’s them though, i agree with ya’ll on that.
is iguodala really on the market for teams like the spurs? really? you mean the sixers aren’t doing everything in their power to keep him? what was all this phillymax business?! please tell me that’s nothing more than wishful thinking…
July 24th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
SAS Sizzle says:
The Spurs have a youth movement happening this year, out with the old (Barry, Horry, maybe even Finley), in with the new (Mason, Hill, Mahinmi, possibly Gist and Tolliver). You may even see Udoka replacing my man Bruce Bowen.
They will contend for the chip next year, so long as they are HEALTHY and Pop allows the new blood to get up to speed. Haters can rest assured they will have plenty of more boring, old, SUCCESSFUL Spurs to whine about.