Spurs Offering Tony Parker? Looking to draft Valanciunas? (See post #74)

[Bendit]

Source: Hoopsworld.com

This gives you a good idea of what the Spurs were looking for.

• A vet PG with not too many years left on contract
• A draft pick
• Cap dump of RJ's contract

All that said, the Spurs would probably have to sweeten the pot if the Raptors were going to give up the #5.

Apart from salary commitment it looks like something's up with Jefferson...he seemed to have played within the system/well enough last season.

[Apollo]

Spurs/Blazers deal falls apart

The San Antonio Spurs and Portland Trail Blazers nearly completed a blockbuster trade on Wednesday afternoon, but the deal fell apart in the late stages. San Antonio was prepared to ship Tony Parker and the #29 pick to Portland in exchange for Andre Miller, Nicolas Batum and the #21 pick. Other players would have been added in order to make salaries work. However, the deal died when the Spurs insisted that Richard Jefferson be included in the talks. Since San Antonio's attempt to add Jefferson, talks have quieted, but they could pick up tomorrow if one of these teams has a change of heart.

Source: Hoopsworld.com

This gives you a good idea of what the Spurs were looking for.

• A vet PG with not too many years left on contract
• A draft pick
• Cap dump of RJ's contract

All that said, the Spurs would probably have to sweeten the pot if the Raptors were going to give up the #5.

[Apollo]

Barbosa talking to Parker about the rumors

Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa(notes) was on his way to meet Parker at a local club Tuesday night when he was told about his team’s trade conversations with the Spurs. Barbosa, who believes the Raptors talked with the Spurs, didn’t end up meeting Parker, but planned to have dinner with him on Wednesday.

“I told him [via text message], ‘Are you going to play with me?’ ” Barbosa said. “He said, ‘Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.’

“I would love to play with him. You never know what can happen in the NBA. I guess we got to wait and see what’s up.”

Source: Yahoo Sports

[Tim W.]

Better than waiting around the next 20 years for a lottery win.

Exaggerate much?

But at least you've got some hope, then. Personally, watching a team stuck on the mediocrity treadmill is the most depressing thing in the world, because you know there's no chance of them going anywhere. At least with a team trying to build through the draft, there's hope that you'll land a franchise player. With a mediocre team, there's really no hope.

[Letter N]

They would love to give Hill instead. They are offering Hill to teams in the 8-11 range, and Parker (and RJ) to Raps/Sac.

Personally I think Sac should take the salary hit if it means getting Tyreke and Thornton a legit PG who is a leader on the court and has the experience to win.

For the Raps....I'd like to have Parker, especially if Knight isn't available at 5, but I can see how people would say we might be better off in the long run to not have him.

[Hassan]

if they gave us there pick and took calderon off our hands i would do it, this draft is very weak so its not like we are giving up alot. maybe we could convince them to give us geroge hill instead of tony parker

[Tim W.]

Hold on, I didn't say they were the same players. I said Kidd used to be all about speed, meaning that he was fast too and had to change his game as his body changed. Not once did I mention that Parker and Kidd had the same game.

Kidd was never one of the faster players. His game was more like Deron Williams than Tony Parker.

[Tim W.]

Can you explain to me what your strategy is for rebuilding the team -- is it clearing the salary and going after mega-stars like Miami did, or is it winning the lottery and using the pick on a mega-star like the Bulls did, or is it losing for 15 years and eventually using all of the draft picks well enough, like Atlanta did?

If you're a team that player's would want to go to (Miami, Orlando, New York, Lakers etc) then the clearing cap space thing works. Otherwise you're just the New Jersey Nets watching all the hot chicks dance with other guys while you're stuck with the girl with the moustache and club foot.

Obviously luck has a great deal to do with building a contender, but that's the case unless you're a team like the Lakers, that players want to go to. The best way for a team like Toronto to build a contender is simply through the draft. It takes patience. There are those that use the "Clipper" excuse. We don't want to see Toronto end up like the Clippers, where the team is back in the lottery every year. Fortunately (though not for them) the reason they are continually in the lottery isn't because they build through the draft, but because they simply build badly. They actually are the worst at drafting in the entire NBA. You draft well, then it won't take 10 or 15 years.

Now, you might not KEEP all the pieces you draft, but to acquire good pieces, the best way of doing that is through the draft.

My belief is that the Raptors keep doing what they're doing, building through the draft and trying to collect as much good, young talent as possible. If they're lucky, they might end up getting a potentially elite player next year to go with along with the talent they already have and will be a a very good position for the future.

[Apollo]

Alright, well he still didn't play a speed game. He beat guys with his mind.

[10 000 Hours]

No, he didn't. Jason Kidd and Tony Parker are two entirely different players. Kidd wasn't a good shooter but was excellent at defense, rebounding and play making. Jason Kidd could make passes that Parker can only dream of. Jason Kidd's defense was better on a horrendous night than Tony Parker's on a outstanding night. There there's the rebounding, not even close.... Both have had clutch performances. Jason Kidd is a very large PG who's game has been excellent in the half court. He has never needed to be the fastest guy on the floor to control a game. At 38 he's a shadow of his former self but still effective because he's never depended on speed or athleticism to perform.

Hold on, I didn't say they were the same players. I said Kidd used to be all about speed, meaning that he was fast too and had to change his game as his body changed. Not once did I mention that Parker and Kidd had the same game.

[Brandon]

People..you seem to forget we are BUILDING for the future..if you want to win now we mite as well sign Allen Iverson...Trade Demar And Calderon For Stephan Jackson..Sign Glen Davis..Trade Ed Davis For O.j Mayo...Trade Bagnani And 5th Pick For Jefferson..And where DOES that leave us 3 years from now..IN THE SAMEDAMNNN POSITION

Better than waiting around the next 20 years for a lottery win.

[Brandon]

I guess I might accept DickJeff too if they add Blair and perhaps a young guard. Blair would give the raps a physical presence up front.

[D-Money]

*Al Jefferson

[D-Money]

People..you seem to forget we are BUILDING for the future..if you want to win now we mite as well sign Allen Iverson...Trade Demar And Calderon For Stephan Jackson..Sign Glen Davis..Trade Ed Davis For O.j Mayo...Trade Bagnani And 5th Pick For Jefferson..And where DOES that leave us 3 years from now..IN THE SAMEDAMNNN POSITION

[ceez]

cavs have hickson and animal up front i don't know why everyone thinks they're destined to take a big in this draft. if anything, kawhi makes more sense. then again, i think they should take williams over irving but what do i know.