De Colo released from Valencia to continue career in NBA
After having his physical done in San Antonio this week and reportedly discussing an NBA contract, 
San Antonio Spurs 2009 NBA draftee, Nando De Colo, has been released by his Spanish team Valencia Basket according to a release from the team.
Victor Claver, who is rumored to be joining the Portland Trailblazers this coming season, was also released from the team to continue his professional career into the NBA. If both players don't end up coming to the NBA and want to return to the Spanish league they play in, they are obligated to resume play with Valenica Basket per the release.
This is just one more of many signs that De Colo is almost a lock to join the Spurs this coming season. France will face Great Britain today in a pre-Olympic match-up from Orleans, France. De Colo might be moved to the shooting guard position now that Spurs point guard Tony Parker has been cleared to play.
What do you have to say Spurs fans? How will De Colo fit into the Spurs' future?
I think Nando will make a significant impact his first year. I'm not saying he'll come out of the gates swinging and plays like a superstar (although I can speak for all spurs fans when I say that would be a great thing to see) during his first year, but I think he'll be decent with mistakes here and there, something we all should expect. Hopefully he won't get injured early on like in Manu and Tiago's first years. I think Nando will adapt somewhat faster than Tiago or Manu when they were rookies because Nando plays with Tony Parker and Boris Diaw on the French team, so that will work into his advantage. Some people say he's not quick or super fast and doesn't play defense. Okay, no point guard out there in the NBA right now is super fast/quick and deadly on offense while being a lockdown defender, that's asking for too much. Westbrook isn't a great defender, doesn't dish out many assists and he's a ball hog, but he's considered a top 5 PG. Nando's biggest strength is passing, which is almost elite. His court vision is insane and he makes Manu Ginobili type passes. He CAN score and he's proven it many times in Europe. There were plenty of games where he scored at least 20 points, so he can put the ball in the net. I'm a little bit more at ease with De Colo for the sole reason he'll be playing with Parker and Diaw next season as a spur which will speed up his learning of the system.
@ajd21 First off Diaw isnt signed yet and what makes you think he's going to be better than Manu and Splitter? Anything to back up that statement?
@ajd21 First off Diaw isnt signed yet and what makes you think he's going to be better than Manu and Splitter? Anything to back up that atatement?
@TitletownX4 Um, read my comment, I didn't say De Colo was going to be better than Manu or Tiago. I simply implied that he has a SLIGHT advantage when learning our system. Nando has the opportunity to ADAPT to the spurs system faster. When Manu was a rookie, he knew no one on the spurs team, he didn't have teammates on the Argentine team also playing for the spurs, the same goes for tiago and his brazil team. De Colo plays with Parker and Diaw (who will most likely resign with the spurs) and the chemistry is already set between the three of them. Not to mention the French team does run some spurs plays here and there. Why do you think it didn't take Boris Diaw that long to be comfortable with our system when he was traded to us midseason? Diaw already had some knowledge of the spurs system from playing with parker and being on the French team, the same situation as De Colo. So Nando has Parker and Diaw to guide him next season which will only be beneficial. I'm sure Tony is talking to De Colo every chance he gets about the spurs anyway. Did Manu have the luxury of having teammates on the national team play with him on his NBA team? Did Tiago?? No, that's what I meant.
What gives? deColo, Lorbek, Illyasova,, Lewis, Kaman, Howard, Kamby are all players the Spurs are interested in. Will they ever make the plunge? Small market? They and some fans have used this reason. Really? Other teams are moving, not afraid of the luxury tax. Becoming a relevant team is expensive.
@rtesoro440 why dont you reach deep into your pockets and pay the luxury tax small market.
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@rtesoro440 1st, no team can actually do anything until july 11th.
2nd the spurs NEVER talk about their dealings in public so we will not likely know what they have in store for us until deals are actually done (see 1st comment).
3rd, erson is going to be to expensive, there is no news on kaman, lewis is making hte rounds, we dont really want josh howard, and his name is spelled Camby not Kamby but he is rumored to likely end up in NYC with the knicks.
here is a list of salaries by player and team. these salaries are not finished and do not include options and such not already signed (ie player options/team options)
http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm
now of the 16 teams with higher payroll, not a single one, NONE have gone into tax this off season to sign anyone, and of them only 4 have really done ANYTHING in free agency so far, and as a mater of fact, a couple of them made moves to LOWER their payroll (hawks anyone?)
First, what are these announced player movements before July 11? 2ND, What harm will it do to talk to players before July 11?
@JohnAbney danny ferry already won exec of the year getting rid of jojos contract in 48 hours. haha
@rtesoro440 Announced and official, 2 different things. None of us know who the spurs have or have not talked to. The spurs never "leak" info. Case in point, who heard anything about a George hill trade? Nobody until it was a done deal.
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@rtesoro440 tell me what team with 3 all-stars is sinking big money into FA's who weren't on their own roster this summer. please tell me. i'd love to know who this mystery nba team is. the closest thing to a play-off team making a big move right now is the lakers somehow getting steve nash for garbage picks, and thats not entirely a FA signing
The Heat have 3 all-stars and signed Ray Allen; The Celtic Have Garnett, Pierce and Rondo and still signed Jasone Terry; The Knicks have Anthony, Stoudimire and Chandler and they still picked Kidd; the Lakers have Kobe, Bynum and Gasol and they found time to Nash, so are other teams. Are you blind? The Spurs lost the western conference finals because the lacked the height.
@rtesoro440 @JimmyPriour Your never gonna get it. These teams didn't go into tax to get these players. None of these players took more money to go to these teams. As for what these cities have, have you ever been out of south Texas? A single example of why those cities vs SA, have you been outside? Have you felt the weather? Or how about the utter nonexistent night life? The list goes on but you don't want to hear about small markets.
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@rtesoro440 EVERY GM in the league is scared of the new luxury tax. every last one of them. all these backloaded offer sheets teams are matching, I GUARANTEE they will make moves 1-2 years down the road trying to slash contracts to keep from getting hit by it. The new numbers are astronomical with repeat offenders taking almost double the hit in most cases. They put it in for a reason. Even the lakers wont be staying deep into the luxury tax anymore.
@JohnAbney @rtesoro440 @JimmyPriour
Except for Allen perhaps, these players play where the money is. You should be asking what these cities can DO which the Spurs CAN'T. They pay more because they are not afraid to take chances or luxury tax.
@JohnAbney @rtesoro440 @JimmyPriour Ray Allen took HALF of what Boston offered him, he was going to miami and no where else and all hell do is fill the role mike miller is going to be leaving (he has to after the clincher right? jesus), just do it a bit better. jason terry isn't a quality add when they lost allen. boston didn't upgrade their team at all. jkidd? jkidd really? you think thats a big pick up? hes 95 years old and rarely gets 5-5-5 anymore, all he brings is veteran leadership, and mello and amare wont listen to it. and i already pointed out the lakers. you sir are the blind one. just because you see names move around doesn't mean its bettering the team
@rtesoro440 @JimmyPriour All minor moves in terms of salary and most using the mid level/mini mid exceptions. Also these moves you named show the power of a large market and big stars. Kidd to NYC, because he wants to be in the biggest US city. Nash took much less money to go to LA because of where it is. Terry to Boston, biggest sports town on the east coast not named new York. Miami, current champ with the best player in the league. So tell me, what does San Antonio have over these towns, and would we even want any of those players?
Makes me wonder if the spurs expect mills and/or green to be gone? Mills before green I hope
@rtesoro440 im a fan of green this season after he changed my opinion of him, and mills gets an incomplete as he didnt get much playing time. the little bit he did play i was not overly impressed, and i felt he was to busy trying to make an impression and not showing his true game. it would not hurt my feelings if he didnt come back.
