Duncan's contract numbers in, about what we expected
We've know for a couple of weeks that Tim Duncan had signed a three year deal with the San Antonio Spurs and various numbers were tossed out, but finally thanks to Express News' Mike Monroe, we have the final figures.
"Duncan, whose contract last season called for him to be paid $21.2 million, will get $9.65 million next season and $10.4 million in 2013-14. The final season of the three-year deal, at Duncan’s option, is for an even $10 million."
So that's more or less what people assumed his contract would be worth. There had been people, namely ESPN's Ric Bucher, who said he could picture a scenario where Duncan's contract would be one dollar higher than Kevin Garnett's because of the two players' rivalry. Well, not quite unless Duncan's savings on the lack of state taxes in Texas tips the scale in Duncan's favor. So Duncan will earn $30 million in the last three years of his contract and in doing so saves the Spurs a few million bucks in salary cap and luxury tax money.
Duncan's slightly below market value contract gives the Spurs even more roster flexibility. It means they don't owe anyone guaranteed money past the 2013/2014 season, which is incredibly important as they work to either completely rebuild or retool around Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard. However, Parker's contract is only guaranteed for the next two season, which would make him a very tradeable asset, again if the Spurs chose to go the complete rebuild route.
I'm glad Duncan's going to be around for at least another two seasons, I wasn't ready to see him go. I'm glad he did a predictably-Duncan thing and got paid while still giving the Spurs some financial wiggle room moving forward. That's priceless leadership from the Big Fundamental.
It's very difficult to fathom the Spurs financial philosophy. After a savings of almost $11m in the Duncan contract, they appear to be near the salary cap threshold. They have filled the roster with undersized players, 4 pg's and 4 sg's and still retaining guys like Bonner and Blair. It seems players are avoiding the Spurs. So far they have not moved to upgrade the lineup. What will these too many guards do? It is really a pipe dream to trade Blair for a ist round round pick even adding Bonner and Neal. All the free agents of consequence are gone. Are they waiting some discards in the summer league? What a shame. f they were to see Richards develop, it was a poor assessment of the guys' capacity. It will be years before he will be ready for the NBA, if ever. Even those who were invited to join the summer league, almost none are NBA ready. So what now? One casn say the core of the lineup almost won the wcf, just a breath away. But they should NOT stop there. Are they conternted with that, a runnerup? Practically all teams are reloading for next season. Well, one can philosophize that some of the components of the team did not have summer training like Green, MIlls and Leonard, and Splitter. Will they improve with a summer training? Hopefully. On Blair, is it so difficult to accept that he is undersized to play center? Is it not time to find alternatives? There were several big guys who were not drafted but, none was invited to join the summer league. There are some "discards" waived by other teams. Did the Spurs even tried to look at them, like Whiteside and others? I don't know if Daniel Orton is available. Why are the Spurs insisting a ist round draftee? Because the have already invested some $ and time in Blair? A project with some future is better than a guy who does not grow tall anymore! They just have to take some risks than being stuck with him. On Bonner, the Spurs will be hard press to find a trading partner for him. It is argued that he is a "strecthed" 4. But the Spurs don't have to do it if they sign a legitimate pf/c. He spreads the floor. Fine, if he is doing it. He plays the interior. Fine, if he is doing it. So far, he failed to spread the floor. So far he failed to play the interior. He disappeared when it counts! I am there, I agree that the NBA is a business, that money must come in to the coffers. But. at the same time they owe the public, they, owe the fans something. If the Spurs continue to follow same the financial philosophy, I doubt if credible players will come and play for them.
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@rtesoro440 Are you even a fan of the spurs? I can understand being pessimistic sometimes, but you are out of your mind. Also, you should look into this new thing, its called spell-check.
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All postseason you have been crying that we need to trade Bonner, Neal, Blair, Splitter, but now that you see that trades don't just happen and another team won't hand us an Ibaka for our role players your tune has changed. It is good though to see that you now realize that it is a business at least and that there is something called cap space. I've said it before, and will repeat it again, as Spurs fans we are SPOILED, but I for one am glad for it! We have the best front office in the league, the best coach, and the best PF of all time! We have been given 4 championships, and when was the last time we did not make the playoffs? As Spurs fans, its all or nothing for us. Fans of the Raptors, the Wizards, and the Bobcats' 4 fans would all probably think we were a bunch of sniveling babies. Our talented roster, deep bench, intelligent coaching staff and capable front office are things they would take in a second! I know we want a championship, I want it as much as anyone, but at some point you have to be appreciative of what you have. So Blair is a little small (vertically lol), let him bang down low and prove that he deserves a spot on the roster and that the Spurs will be missing out if they don't resign him. If not they have til the trade deadline to move him, or just not resign him. Blair is a capable player, he could use a little more consistancy, but that could be said of the minutes given to him also. I think Diaw is going to come up big for us this season. If Pop can light the fire under him to drive to the basket, he will be a pretty well rounded big. CJ is coming into his own it looks like by how he performed in summer league, giving TP a true backup. I think swapping out JA for DeColo will be a positive change for us. If we just look at it like he has to perform as well as JA did last season it will be hard for us to be disappointed, considering that is the only lineup change so far this season. Much of a winning season has to do with luck and circumstance, you can have as much talent and athleticism as you want, but if the ball bounces the wrong way the game can be over just as easily. So buck up fellow Spurs fan, there can only be one champion and if the Spurs don't get it this year, they will keep going at it and I for one will keep going with them!
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@rtesoro440 another idiotic post by you. I'm stunned how you can consistently come up with platitude to post...
Also Pop called and they are letting R.C go cause apparently rtesoro knows how to build the team better, make sure you call him back so he won't get upset.
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@rtesoro440 As usual rt..WRONG again. Well OVER the cap and actually just a shade UNDER LUXURY TAX.. Proof is easily seen at Hoopsworld..just look under salaries/ Spurs. Re: Blair..you say "is it so hard to accept he is undersized to play center" How does that make sense considering HES BEEN ON TRADING BLOCK SINCE BEFORE DRAFT? Re: your contention that Bonner has NOT "stretched or spread the floor is just ridiculous. Thats the same as saying "noone guards bonner at all" Fact is that even when he is NOT hitting, he IS causing a big to come out from low to guard him..simple. Am I saying I'd rather have him over someone else? No..but I am knowledgeable enough to know how hard trades are to complete, and Spurs dont make trades just to make trades. If Spurs dont see at LEAST equal value coming back, then no trade..again, simple
