Ex-Spur Bowen supports Popovich for next U.S. head coach
Now that the Olympics are over and Team U.S.A. walked off with their second gold medal in a row 
after defeating Spain, the biggest hole to fill for the 2016 Rio Games is head coach.
Mike Krzyzewski has stated this was his last run with Team U.S.A. as head coach and many are looking at Celtics' Doc Rivers and San Antonio Spurs' Gregg Popovich as the frontrunners to replace Coach K and that includes former Spur Bruce Bowen.
"I'm in support of whoever is the coach and of course I'd love to see Gregg Popovich get an opportunity to represent our country especially given the fact that he spent time in Air Force and so I'd love to see that. At the same time however, the US delegation selects the coach and they will do their best to make sure we have someone who will represent the country and the game the way it should be. When you talk about the Olympics, I don't think there is anyone who is upset with another coach's opportunity to do something like that."
Is there any other obvious choice than Pop to take over the reigns as coach? He coaches many international players with the Spurs, is one of the most respected and admired coaches in the NBA, and has championship pedigree that Team U.S.A. will need in Rio.
He also would come in with much experience. Popovich served on the coaching staff for the U.S. national team in the 2002 FIBA World Championship, at the 2003 FIBA America Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and the 2004 Olympic Games, where the U.S. won a bronze medal.
However, there is that whole issue with supposed animosity between Jerry Colangelo and Pop but I am sure they can brush that under the rug and go for a third gold medal in a row in 2016.
Among these 3 teams the Magic is clearly the frontrunner at Oden. They have huge cap-space; and they just lost Howard so no one will be challenging Oden's status if he join them. They can sign him a long term if they're confident with Oden's recovery, and they can make him the center piece for the future while he's still relatively young. The Spurs? No capspace, no promising playing time, don't even think they're frontrunners. The Spurs are always a frontrunner for old guy searching for championship before retiring though.
This article just came out where he says he is taking the year off to train and heal.
He is not coming back anytime soon no matter how much Spurs fans want him to save the day...
Those of you saying "Oden has a history of injury problems, not worth the risk." He had 2 major knee surgeries and has had a cloud of doubt surround him due to being picked over Kevin Durant. His knees could buckle just like Duncan's or Tiago's so that's an unforeseen circumstance. I would say that he is no more injury prone than Manu. The fact is that we need exactly what Oden brings to the table (shot blocking, rebounding, size, athleticism).
Also, those of you who say he "needs time to learn the system" have to be kidding yourselves. Learn the system? He doesn't have to do anything but block shots and rebound to be a great addition for us. If we pick him up now, he still has all of training camp and the entire season to learn our system. We aren't running the triangle guys, it's a system which is fairly easy to pick up. I would rather have a defensive big who is able to provide a defensive prescence at the rim and have problems offensively understanding what is going on, than a 6'7" center whom Dwight Howard can step over to get a slam dunk any day. We have to adjust to what has just occurred in our conference. Namely, get a big.
@CraigThomas I think the Spurs if any team can help him deal with his knee issues and they would be prepared to help him. I've heard the Spurs system is one of the more intricate systems in the league, but anyone we sign or trade for will have to learn it, so that is a non-issue to me. We have gambled on knees (Duncan, Blair, etc.) I think most big men will have knee problems to some extent. Oden only playing less than 100 games in 4 years though is a little troubling to me. Hopefully his surgeries have fixed his problems and his career picks with whichever team he goes to!
@spurs123 I don't know that it is completely low risk. If the Spurs have room to sign one big man, do they want to risk it on someone who may 20.5 games with us? That is his average according to Trevor up there, 82 games in 4 years. Hopefully these surgeries will have him up and going and he can enjoy his career. I have to feel that Blatche is a slightly lower risk... not saying I want him, but he has stayed on the court where we would need him, not in physical therapy....
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WE NEED GREG ODEN! PLEASE GET HIM PPPPPPPPLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAASE! DOESNT MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES HIM. WE JUST NEED HIM FOR THE PLAYOFFS ANYWAY
I think it's safe to say we are not getting any big man this summer/fall and apparently the coaches still believe Tiago Splitter can get the job done.
I'm seriously scared for the season to start.
It would be better for oden to singe with the Miami heat he Would not have to rush back he can practice and be motivated by vets and 3 of the best players in there prime wade bosh and the best player in da world Lebron James and when healthy he will have a great opportunity to play center with lebrons ability to find open players it would make the game so easy for him and I know every one is going nuts abot the lakes but lets be real and smart Miami is the team to beat and with or with out oden they have the best chance to win the title this year speed skill and chemistry is too much for the other teams and lets be real lakers have a bunch of old good players and a hert back d12 I think ppl forgot physically they will not hold strong with young fats skilled and talented teams like Miami and okc
I say go for it they really need a big and plus I knw oden been having problems with injurys but hey everybody does and plus the could be oden real good year to prove everybody that he still got it without getting hurt I say go for it GO SPURS GO
I wonder what established "bigs" are left on the market that we could sign besides Blatche, Oden, Chris Anderson, and Kenyon Martin? Wow, talk about a depressing list..
Usually I wouldn't bet on the Spurs pulling the trade trigger but all has been quiet, a little too quiet from PATFO. Plus the facts that Blair wants out, they have a log jam of smalls, and rarely do they fill their roster at 15. The Patrick Patterson rumor is interesting, but I was hoping for a bigger "big".
@imwithstupid just curious, where have you heard the Patrick Patterson rumor? i've been keeping up with rumors during the offseason, but i haven't heard that one yet. if it's possible, i wouldn't mind Patterson at all.
@RG8907 A completely unreliable random post on an obscure blog... lol Probably a complete fallacy, but the type of trade that I can see happening. Houston needs cash and picks for all those bodies. I think they are down to 20 or 21 on the roster. They just released a big to sign Delphino.
http://forums.prosportsdaily.com/showthread.php?t=736108&page=11
@imwithstupid yea, they cut Josh Harrellson, a 6'10" PF that they acquired from the Knicks for Camby i believe. don't really know much about him. i looked at the hoopshype blog to see the post about the rumored trade. the guy that has the source says that a deal can't be done 'til after August 27. i guess we'll wait and see if he's actually right. lol.
im game for this move. in a limited role on the CHEAP. oden has potential to be a beast. when he has played he has been very good, if the time off helps him stay on the floor (bynum has spent a ton of time injured with similar knee issues and look at his production) he could be just the guy the spurs need. for the rtesoros of the world, he is young athletic, defensive and BIG! and for the rest of us, he is young defensive, big and cheap.
Why single me out? Of course, he is the guy who once played with the Trailblazers, a ist round draftee. First, its good you pointed out that Bynum has knee problems as DH has back issues. Still, DH may turn out a better fit with the Lakers. Yes, Oden is young, athletic, defensive and BIG but, HE IS OUT OF SHAPE! He is a "WALKING DEAD" to exaggerate matters. Will the Spurs take the chance to sign him? Ask Mr. Holt. He is CHEAP, but is he worth it, will the $ to be spent worth it? He hasn't played for a while. I don't pretend to know how delibitating his condition is. But the Timberwolves took in Roy. Maybe the Spurs can try Oden and see if he fitted to play. If I were in the shoes of coach Pop, GM Buford and Mr. Holt, I would rather take a healthy Blatche and try to straighten him out. He could improve. This I am sure, he is young, athletic, BIG but, whether how CHEAP he is, ask Mr. Holt. Next time, don't waste your time pointing out news of public knowledge or if perchance you were out to insult me, forget it. We have disagreements but, we can be civil about it. OK?
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@rtesoro440 @JohnAbney Nothing uncivil in my mention of you, I solely point out your desire/criteria are not the same as most of us. I point out in my short mention of you that you preach size over cost, the rest of us are on a different page, we all understand the size factor, but we also understand the money crunch not lack of spending desire the spurs have. Oden fits both, he has the size and the cheap. A healthy oden is much much much better then any available big regardless of cost. How do you know how out of shape he is? Obviously some fatigue will be an issue, but you don't know what his conditioning will be like. You assume he is terrible, just like people assumed Diaw was in bad shape, yet he played pretty well. Signing him now gives the spurs a chance to get him in the system, the culture, the program, and on a conditioning regiment.
@rtesoro440 @JohnAbney @spursfan80 It is not so much about the Lakers having the balls to take the risk, as it is about them having the CASH to take the risk. If the Spurs could sell as many tickets at the prices the Lakers charge for tickets, I am pretty sure that Holt would have no problem with working up to a $100 mil payroll, like the Lakers have done. But fact is, for the Spurs to do that, they would have to move the team to another city where they could fill the seats in a bigger arena for every game with the cheap seats being nearly as expensive as lower level seats are now. Not to mention the TV broadcast contracts from the big market teams. Holt wants to put a winning team together, but I doubt he wants to spend all the money, he spent all these years making to do it. Can't say as I would disagree with him on that.
@rtesoro440 @JohnAbney I'm sure they knew what they were getting into too, but it doesn't make it any less asinine. It kind of pisses me off that we had the whole lockout to make things more fair to the smaller clubs.
@JohnAbney @Ironwill71 I guess the trade rumor of Patrick Patterson is probably a more realistic scenario then. I know I would prefer a hungry young 6' 9" big with skill and speed, than a slow 7' big that has the knees of a 60 year old.
Hey, the Lakers are not complaining! I supposed they are well aware of the consequence of their act. Its a matter of choice. They like Nash and Howard, whar is your issue? I am sure the Mgnt of the Lakers studied arithmetic in grade school and came out with the conclusion. As I said, they have the balls to take the risk which can't be said of the Spurs. Going over the salary cap is of no moment to them. Their main concern perhaps, is winning games if not the nba title. Yes, investment means taking risks and they took it. As you rightly said, the Spurs have a different financial philosophy. No quarrel about it. Agreed?
@JohnAbney @spursfan80 @rtesoro440 I disagree... I think their plan is to win another title and make a bunch of money this year... then hope to use that (all the money he can make in LA) to persuade DH to sign for less than what Dallas will pay him salary-wise, and or/persuade Kobe and/or Gasol to sign extension that dramatically drops their cap hit for 2013-2014. Kobe is due a ridiculous 30M+ next year, the last year of his current contract. Its also the last year of Pau's contract, and I think they would trade him if he won't rework his last year as part of an extension. After all, they can use Tim Duncan as an example of what a superstar is willing to do to keep the champ hopes alive later in a career.
They could just trade Blake and Duhan for draft picks, or cut them, and save $8M. They might even waive Duhon sooner than later to save the salary and tax hit. They are probably shopping some of those guys for draft picks right now.
@imwithstupid @Ironwill71 no players with such small contracts have no trade clauses. while mills has value, his contract is so small that i dont see him as a trade asset. even packaged with blair and bonner thats barely $5,769,120 in total salary. being over the cap we cant take in a larger contract then 125% of that value so that means we need to find a big under $7,211,400. wondering how many true centers are under that number and of those who is worth the trade?
@spursfan80 @rtesoro440 considering that howard is making just shy of 20mil thsi year, he is going to be looking for more money to resign next year. i am expecting him to be in the 22-24 mil range starting 2013-2014. the lakers are going to have more then 100mil in payroll, plus roughly 90 mil in tax, plus 50 mil in revenue sharing they are looking at 250mil in payments in 2013-14. everyone but nash and howard would drop off the books after that season so they have the chance to try to get under the tax but i doubt they try all that hard. IF by chance they win a title this or next year, then they will be looking to spend spend spend again to keep it going.
@Ironwill71 That is a great point, I hadn't really thought of trading Mills and don't know if he has a no trade clause, but his value is off the charts right now. Good call.
@JohnAbney @rtesoro440 @JohnAbney Speaking of luxury tax, did ya'll hear the pickle the Lakers are in? For this coming season they are paying roughly $30 Mill in luxury tax, but the season after (assuming they resign DH) they could be $50-85 Mill in taxes, because it will no longer be a 1:1 dollar ratio. Plus the season after they may face repeat offender taxes and be pushed over $100 Mill in taxes (if I understand its if you were over 3 of the last 4 years in tax)! I'm glad the Spurs aren't facing that fate (especially for geriatrics and recuperating players).... here's a link if you wanna check it out!
@Ironwill71 And if not, him (or CJ) knowing our system by the playoffs gives us an actual backup point guard to let Parker rest! I too think there's to be a trade somewhere, and can see multiple situations possibly happening. I just hope we get someone that will help us get over the OKC hump!
It is interesting to discuss balancing positions, but more than that Patty Mills was awesome in the Olympics and has greatly improved his trade value. He's a nice backup for us, but could easily be a star as a starter for many teams.
I wonder if that was what the Spurs were hoping by signing him amidst our plethora of guards..? A package of Mills, Blair and Bonner might get us a solid big, and open up the roster a bit for another FA.
@JohnAbney @rtesoro440 @JohnAbney
Right. Diaw when signed was no way suffering from any injury, overweight perhaps but, as published Oden has several encounters with injury and was even mentiioned to have both knees operated upon. As I said, the Timberwolves signed Roy, so why can't the Spurs try Oden. I said, I didn't know how debilitating his injuries are so anything is possible. I pointed out that it might be better to take a healthy Blatche than taking a risk on Oden for the simple reason of health. We know of course that the Trailblazers released him and I took this to mean that his case borders to "hopeless" for if it were not, the Trailblazers would not release him after the investments they made on him. If as you said a healthy Oden is" much much better than any available big", I am with you and I am sure the talent is there and I didn't assume he is "terrible" whatever you meant. My misgiving is founded on his health condition nothing else. For if truly he is fit to play, many of the teams would be competing for his services.
@Ironwill71 Right, I think most people believe CJ will get a shot after his substantial improvement. It makes you think there really needs to be a trade to balance out the positions a little bit. I know Neal is mentioned a lot but I like the Steve Kerr role he fills. Then again Mills sure looked good this month, I wouldn't mind keeping Blair around to lean on Howard a little, but I think Bonner is displaced the most since Diaw is the new stretch 4. It is fun to talk about who they could add, not as much fun to guess who leaves (unless it's Bonner, lol)
@imwithstupid Your link shows 17 players, but includes the following players not likely to be on the opening day roster: Denmon, Anderson, Byars, and CJ. So we're at 13. CJ is the only question mark...
@Ironwill71 A lot of good points, picking up a "fringe" big or two (like our situation with James Anderson) and seeing if they can work in our system seems likely if they can't get the trade they want. I think we are at 14 with just CJ coming up. http://www.nba.com/spurs/roster/2012
If CJ and Byars are both D-League callups, we have one roster spot. I don't know if its smart to use that spot/put our eggs in one basket with Oden... spend a lot of valuable time teaching him the system... with there being a good chance he'll get re-injured or be limited. As our prized new big he in essence might then cost us another year of Duncan's career. Not a fan of that kind of gamble unless its our only option left. Doesn't respect TD. I'm not a big fan of Blanche, but chances are he'll at least stay healthy.
As much as I don't like Blair as an inevitable benchwarmer in the playoffs (at least against the favorites), his value is in the regular season as he can play a lot of minutes at PF (and some at C) allowing Duncan to rest (for the playoffs).
My solution, if we can't pull off a trade for a good big man with Blair/Bonner/draft picks/Euro rights/etc, is to try to sign two cheap bigs that are ok with sharing the one roster spot and spending time on the D-League roster learning our system (until either someone gets injured, someone else comes down to D, a player needs rest, or the playoffs). The important part is making sure they are ok with spending some time in the D, with the mutual understanding that they will be called up when they are ready. Bigs I would target (taht might buy in to that notion) for that roster spot (and a D-League spot) would be guys who are some combination of desperate to stay in the NBA, desperate for a shot to prove themselves, desperate for at least a 1yr deal. Some possibles include Oden, Blanche and Jerome Jordan. Blanche or Oden would probably want to be on the roster for most of the season, while Jerome might accept spending more time in the D-League with the 'expectation' of coming up to the big league later in the season (after perhaps trading or cutting Blair before the trade deadline - if we stay 100% healthy, which is unlikely). Ideally we could end up with two more bigs for the playoffs.
Still many options out there... though the sooner we can get a guy into our system the sooner he'll be useful.
@24writer Greg oden??!... Hmm. He is accident prone!!!... Hasn't done much cause he is always injured!.. #BadMove #FindSomeOneElseBetter
@24writer Haha, how many different ways can you tweet about the Spurs' interest in Oden? :P
