Report: Clippers' Chris Kaman on Spurs' radar
As free agents small forwards Caron Butler and Josh Howard are expected to meet with the San
Antonio Spurs tomorrow and the small forward list growing to seven candidates, the Spurs have finally been linked to a center.
According to Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski's tweet, the Spurs are keeping a close eye on Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Kaman and his future with the team.
Spurs, Pistons keeping close check on Chris Kaman, but Clippers won't move him until resolution on restricted free agent DeAndre Jordan.
Though he was injured for most of the season, Kaman, 29-years old and a one time All-star, played in 32 games while averaging 26 minutes, 12.4 points per game, seven rebounds, 47% shooting, and 1.5 blocks per game with the Clippers.
Kaman's best season was in the 2009-2010 NBA season when averaged 18 points and nine rebounds per game.
The trouble with this is that the Clippers are in bind as they are currently interested in putting a package together to acquire either Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic or Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. DeAndre Jordan could potentially be a sign-and-trade chip in such a deal as could Kaman's one year, 12.7 million dollar contract.
But will the Spurs be willing to take on Kaman's contract knowing they do not currently have much salary-cap wiggle-room?
Regardless, Kaman would help answer the Spurs' big man situation and paired with Tim Duncan in the paint would form a nice duo. Not to mention, Kaman could relieve TD for long periods of time on the court and be adequate to play a full game should Popovich decide to rest Duncan on one of those dreaded back-to-back-to-back stretch of games in the shortened season.
One positive to look at over the summer was the fact Kaman looked healthy when playing for Germany in the 2011 FIBA Eurobasket.
Kaman is an absolute beast. His contract sucks, but man, I remember watching him in the playoffs with Elton Brand when that team used to not suck. I think he is a little injury prone though.
@antarescrane Yeah he and Brand were excellent combination when Brand was still a beast.
For the first time the spurs have shown interest to a pf/c. If true, this will give relief to TD. Kaman is a good choice. He is relatively young, tall and aggressive. Just one more pf/c and the spurs can contend. Carl Landry, K. Fesenko, J. Mcroberts or Earl Clark would do and give up jefferson, mcdyess, butler and green. What happened to Steve Novak?
@rtesoro440 If we can lure Kaman out of LA to come here then we will have our starting front court pretty much set in TD and Kaman. Splitter can swing between 4 and 5 depending on the situation. We better sign an athletic PF who can play some SF as well then our frontline is set. The FO might think Leonard will fit that role but if we eventually trade RJ then we will need some help at 3. Anderson has the body to play at 3 and he actually did play some last season but he is still 1 or 2 inches short from a standard SF; so Earl Clark, like you mention, will be a nice piece to fill this need. However, we still have holes in point guard though.
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having kaman would be a HUGE upgrade at the 5 spot. if we can get rid of bonner and jefferson and sign battier or prince i'd cream my pants.
i'd rather not give up a 1st rounder since the draft class will be absolutely stacked next year. but we'll most probably be a playoff team anyway so giving up our pick wouldn't be too much of a loss i suppose.
The Clipps are known willing to give out Kaman, the question is, at what price? Don't think too positive that we can get him by trading a bunch of bench warmer. That ain't gonna happen.
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@shawnthefreak RJ and Blair aren't benchwarmers, though. and if the Clippers happen to get Chris Paul and keep DeAndre Jordan to make Griffin happy, i don't think they would care less who they would get back for Kaman. after all, they still are the Clippers. lol.
@RG8907 I didn't mention the name, how do you know it's RJ and DB? In fact I don't see the Clippers willing to eat RJ's contract. In addition, they currently have a young rising in Al-Farouq Aminu who seems to be ready to have a much-improved season, they also have Ryan Gomes, who is not flashy but capable of doing what his coach asks him to do. Regarding DB, he was a starter the first half of the season and was replaced by Dice because of his weight issue. In Playoff he rarely show up. His weight issue make him looks very unprofessional as an NBA level player. His one-dimensional game also make the coaching staff hardly put him on the court when the game really counts. However, I don't think the FO will trade him FOR NOW, at least not when he's still on his cheap rookie contract.
AND FINALLY, when I said benchwarmers I meant guys like Green, Butler, ...etc. So PLEASE READ others' comment clearly before you make response.
@shawnthefreak well if you looked at the rumored trade scenario we were talking about in the "Butler, Howard to meet with Spurs Tuesday" article like i mentioned in this article a couple of comments down, you would know what i'm talking about. it's been rumored that RJ, Blair, McDyess, and 1st rounder for Kaman. and it's common sense you couldn't use benchwarmers to trade for Kaman. i do read others' comments clearly, so don't tell me what to do. you should have read my first comments on here first
Wow imagine the spurs Big's... Duncan, Splitter, Kaman, Bonner, and Novak..... Spurs Champions 2011-2012
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well if this rumored trade scenario that was talked about in the comment section of this article (http://projectspurs.com/2011-articles/december/butler-howard-to-meet-with-spurs-tuesday.html) actually happens, we could afford Kaman. i wouldn't throw in a 1st rounder, though, in that deal. regardless, i wouldn't mind having Kaman at all.
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@RG8907 the link does not work because of the ")" in the end, it should be (http://projectspurs.com/2011-articles/december/butler-howard-to-meet-with-spurs-tuesday.html ).
my apologies, for some reason, the link isn't working, but it is on this website. just look up the article "Butler, Howard to meet with Spurs Tuesday" and go down to the comment section.
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@RG8907 take the 1st rounder out and im ok with it. trade machine works but hollinger says the clippers win +5 games and we are at -15 games with that trade lol.
on a side note, i have read several people say "go for greg oden", i say that aint gonna happen. he is rumored to be agreeing to sign his 8.7+ mil qualifying offer and 8.7+ is to much for a guy who has played a TOTAL of 82 games in his 4 years since he was drafted and only played 1 season in college. man the world is stuck on big men! sure the guy has potential i mean he is 7' but he is more injured then andrew "glass" bynum and thats saying a whole lot!
@JohnAbney lol at Hollinger's analysis.
according to ESPN, the Blazers offered him $8.9 million, and i agree, that is a little too much for a guy who's only played a total of 82 games in 4 seasons.
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@RG8907 If RJ's contract is involved, I'm also all for move. As Zickgraf told me on twitter, Kaman will be off the books after this season. So it's worth a shot
