Rumor: Spurs frontrunners to land Al Jefferson

 @ChrisCano  @Coxcr20  @SpursG Manu would have won that game if someone else had stepped up **cough Tony Parker cough**. He scored 34 points against the Thunder in that game, what else do you want him to do? Also, do you think anyone else is capable of putting up that type of performance when we need it most? Tim is the only guy who can, but he was swamped with Ibaka and Perkins all over him. 

The Jazz would much rather have Splitter than Manu (age, position, future). There is no point to talking about any type of Manu trade because it would never happen.

 @CraigThomas  @Coxcr20  @SpursG Are you talking about when the thunder won four straight and killed us in the paint?...So we need to keep a guy that can almost win us a playoff series?...Listen i dont hate manu he is the reason we won championships but his time is over and it is time to move on, and Manu is an expiring contract and teams are always looking to dump salary this time of year. 

And tim is dominant in the paint oh wait Jefferson is! Lets hold on to the glory days and start sounding like Cowboys fans and talk about the past....lol

 @ChrisCano  @Coxcr20  @SpursG No offense to Sean Elliot, but he was never on the same level as Ginobili both skill-wise and importance to the team. Also, did you see what Ginobili did for us last year in the WCF? I was at game 5 where he almost single-handedly won us that game. With all respect to our GOAT, you didn't see Tim "takeover" any games in that series. Ginobili still adds tremendous value to the team outside of his innate passion for the game.

On top of all of this, Ginobili's contract is up this summer. Why would we trade him when we can sign him for pretty much half of his current salary next year? And, what team is going to want Manu from now until the end of this season when he becomes an UFA? 

 @CraigThomas  @Coxcr20 @SpursG He isnt the heart of the team, and yes he will be in the hall of fame. I loved Sean Elliot but when he was traded it was BEST for the spurs. When you are done you are done  and that is why they need to trade him. You cant not ride your stars into the sunset only one of those 3 deserve to retire as a spur and that is Tim. Manu has only played in 40 games is hurt 4 times this year and is Averaging 12.5 points per game and commands 15 mill this year...yes i can see how you all think we need him, we seem to be winning without him. if you want to ride your guys into the sunset need i remind you of when the Celtics did that they were horrible for 20 years...

 @RG8907 I might just do that. 

 @DifferentVSTheSame again, i suggest you go to Pounding The Rock, where i mostly comment at, and you can discuss with other Spurs fans there about this. i'm sure there would love to discuss with you, and i mean that.

 @RG8907 We don't know how anybody would fit on any team off of initial thought, so that's irrelevant. Jefferson in my opinion looks like a guy who could. 

@SpursG Exactly! I agree.

This is the Spurs, nobody is going to make more than the big three, I don´t care how good they are or if another team is willing to pay them more. They have set the example in sacrificing for the team. This is the culture within this organization and this particular system and I´m pretty sure Tiago will do the same if he hasn´t already talked about a contract extension, but we will find out by the trade deadline.

 @CraigThomas Splitter isn't a bad player, but his effort on the court makes him look kinda soft. He does nicely with the pick and roll, but that's about all we really see him do well at. I agree, it would be ridiculous to pay him $15 mil. I think it wouldn't hurt to see the Front Office attempt to see what they could get for him, especially if it's possible he may end up somewhere else. We could really use a guy like Al Jefferson or another big guy who could rebound, block shots and get points in the paint. I'm with you, I don't want the future of the Spurs to lie in the hands of Tiago either. 

 @CraigThomas  @DifferentVSTheSame Thank you i didnt know we had the next Marc Gasol on team, he is halfway decent at best. I thought we are talking about sports i didnt know this was a site for people going between here and the Ihearttiago website.

 @DifferentVSTheSame Well make that case to the Splitter maniacs who have been showing his PER and adjusted stats as proof he is worth more than I think he is. Splitter should get around $9-10 mil next year for what he brings to the team (especially if, as you say, he is not ready for 30+mpg). However, everything I've been reading has been saying: "Splitter is going to make a killing in FA." It is getting to the level of disturbing for me because I can only imagine the Rockets or Celtics paying him top dollar and forcing us to pay $15 mil which is ridiculous. I think our FO needs to do some risk/reward crunching in the next 2 weeks to determine if we can flip Splitter like we did with Hill for a better product. Let's put it this way, I would not want the future of the Spurs to lie in the hands of Tiago.

 @CraigThomas  I think you're underestimating Diaw, Bonner, Blair and you forgot newly added Aron Baynes. Diaw can play 3 positions. The chemistry between him and Parker has worked out pretty nicely for the Spurs. Bonner and Blair haven't played as much, but they can still contribute in different ways. Bonner from the 3 point line and Blair in the paint. Bonner had a good game against Atlanta recently and Blair had a really good game against the Mavs. Baynes is new, but what he did in the D-League showed promise if he can stay out of foul trouble. Tiago Splitter is really a PF playing Center. Splitter doesn't need to play 30 minutes a night. With the talent that's on the bench it allows the starters to get rest and Pop a chance to see different player match-ups and bench play. How the Spurs conduct their system allows this to be a possibility.  Tim Duncan is a Superstar, Tony Parker is a Superstar, Manu Ginobili is a Superstar, Tiago Splitter is not yet a Superstar in the NBA. Remember Splitter had to work his way into the starting lineup. Blair and Diaw once were the starting Centers. They mostly got benched because of foul trouble. What's holding Splitter back is not Pop, it's himself. Splitter almost looked like a total bust at one point. He's not that great defensively, He's poor on boards, He sometimes get's himself in foul trouble and etc. He made some improvements offensively, but in reality Splitter is simply a good role player. 

 @DifferentVSTheSame But his options are Diaw, Bonner, and Blair. Surely, if Splitter were so valuable, he would be getting minutes closer to those of Timmy rather than splitting them amongst the bench? Those role players can't give the Spurs the same options as Splitter does. There has to be something else holding Pop back from playing Tiago 30 minutes a night.

@DifferentVSTheSame Alright. Well, I'd say this was a successful debate. Haha. No harm in that.

 @CraigThomas  It's mainly because of the bench. Pop has a lot to choose from. If the Spurs did not have the options they have, then I think Tiago would be playing more than he currently is. I think Pop likes having those extra options to go with on the floor. It gives him a backup plan when in need situations.

 @Emicris  Foul trouble or not the guy doesn't really make an effort to rebound. He was averaging 3.4 rebounds his first year in 12.3 minutes, 5.2 rebounds in 19.0 minutes his second year and now 5.8 rebounds in 23.3 minutes. It's effort. He improved offensively, but he didn't improve where the Spurs are weak. Don't get me wrong I don't dislike Tiago Splitter. I think he's a pretty good player who could do better. I don't disagree with you about giving up a lot to get Jefferson. If there is a way to keep Splitter and be able to get Jefferson at a reasonable deal, I'm not against it. But if not, I'm not against that either. 

 @Emicris  @DifferentVSTheSame The question you have to ask though is why Tiago is not playing more than 23 mpg? This is already his 3rd year. He must know the system, he's fixed his poor FT's and he has lots of team chemistry. So, why isn't Tiago averaging at least 30 mpg?

Well, Tiago fouls frequently and indiscriminately, his rebounding is sketchy at best, and he cannot stretch the floor. If Pop feels uncomfortable playing Tiago more than 25 mpg at this stage, right before he gets paid big time, then we have to move him. If not, then we have to find a way to increase Tiago's minutes.

@DifferentVSTheSame I think Tiago has improved in rebounding this season though. He's gotten a few double-doubles this season. I don't remember him having a single double-double last season. It might not have shown tonight but I believe he got in foul trouble early so he couldn't be as aggressive. Listen, I'm not opposed to trading for Jefferson. I would love to have him on the team. I just don't think we should give up Splitter in order to get him. Giving him, Jackson, and Mills up for only Jefferson would be too much. I would want the Spurs to come up with a deal where we don't include Splitter.

 @Emicris  @DifferentVSTheSame Which players team is better? Which team needs the most fixing? Jefferson is demanded more than Splitter is for the Spurs. Effort wise Jefferson gives more. Tiago could do the same, but doesn't make the effort to go after rebounds. Kawhi Leonard had more rebounds than him in tonight's game against Minnesota . "Effort". We wouldn't need Baynes if it weren't for rebounding. Spurs are a weak rebounding team and Tiago Splitter is a weak rebounding PF/C. 

 @andres783  Offensive and Defensive rebounds are what we need. It's obvious. There would be no need for Baynes if that weren't the case. Basically you're saying both players have plays ran exclusively for them. 

 @RG8907  @DifferentVSTheSame Not to mention Spurs do not put emphasis on offensive rebounds as Pop wants a set defense. Also, Jefferson has plays run exclusively for him, while Splitters come from P&R and hustle plays.

 @ChrisCano I get what you're saying, but It's not the same because the record says 4-2. Memphis lost on purpose to play us in 2011. They played good against us in the regular season, so they knew they had a good chance at beating us in the playoffs. The 2011 and 2012 teams had different players. The 2012 team went the farthest. I do watch the games and I see us not getting rebounds. Second chance baskets don't mean a thing? Second chance baskets are another opportunity for the offense to make a shot while keeping the defense from not. The more shots we have the better. Memphis, The Clippers and the Thunder benefit from that. The more opportunities they have to make a shot the better their chances are of running up the score and blowing out whoever they're playing. All three teams have big's that rebound and look to rebound. If we rebound we have a better chance at beating them because they'll have to place at our style of pace. We would be controlling the way the game goes instead of them. Those three teams get a lot of transition buckets which makes it difficult to stop them. If you stop what they are good at doing, you can beat them. Defense wins championships, remember? When the offense isn't there you better have some defense. It showed in last year's Western Conference finals. 

 @DifferentVSTheSame and 2011 Memphis was a 8 seed and beat us, and losing four straight to the thunder, a reverse sweep and getting knocked out of the playoffs is the same thing. both times we had the best record in the west and once in the NBA. And yes rebounds are important but watch the games when we are playing the clippers, thunder and Memphis we are relying on the jump shot and the are killing us in the post, second chance baskets dont meant a thing if we need to shoot another jump shot to win the game... 

@ChrisCano@RG8907 I don't disagree with you on points in the paint. But what's hurt the Spurs the most is rebounding. OKC out rebounded the Spurs in the Western Conference finals and it cost them games they could have won. The Clippers, Grizzlies and Thunder have their way with us when they're able to get rebounds. Second chance opportunities are what you want to stop with those teams. Technically the Spurs didn't get swept last year. They lost 4-2. The Clippers on the other hand did get swept by us. 4-0 is a sweep. You can give us our due credit. Last time we were swept was in 2010 against Phoenix.

 @ChrisCano You're welcome....Lol

 @DifferentVSTheSame  @RG8907 thank you!....lol

 @DifferentVSTheSame  @RG8907 Points in the paint does matter come playoff time we seem to struggle in that dept every year now. The clippers, Grizzlies and thunders  front courts always have their way with us, and we cant win those series on jump shots alone. This would be a move to win us a title not number one seed. Do you really want to see us get swept again...

 @RG8907   Kawhi got more rebounds because of his arms and hands? Splitter is almost 7 ft tall, what about his height? I never said that Splitter doesn't give effort on the court. I said his effort on rebounding should be better. I hear a lot of Spurs fans talking about Miami, OKC, the Clippers and etc. How do you expect the Spurs to beat those teams? Spurs are a weak rebounding team. I'm not saying we can't beat any of those teams, but we need our Centers to get rebounds. Baynes was brought in for size, blocking shots and rebounding. The problem with Baynes is he can't stay out of foul trouble which leads to him not being in the game. That means we need Splitter to pick it up. Duncan shouldn't be the only starting big man averaging more than 5 rebounds a game. If Duncan can make the effort to get rebounds, so can Splitter. As for Jefferson, I wouldn't mind seeing him with the Spurs for the right deal. I don't mind keeping Splitter if no trade is made. I think Splitter fits pretty well with the Spurs. I know Splitter is capable of getting rebounds as he has shown it already this season. But we need to see that more often than not. Spurs are hurting on rebounds and when playing against a rebounding team that could be a problem.

 @DifferentVSTheSame ok, so what about the charges he takes or when he helps out on a double team? that's effort, too. it just doesn't show in stats. yes, maybe Splitter can do better at getting rebounds, but don't tell me he's not showing effort because he is doing other things. and yes, Kawhi got more rebounds because he has the arms and the hands to do it. with his wingspan and large hands, he should be able to do well. and please, don't tell me to stop it. that irritates me. i'm not trying to be rude here, and if we get Jefferson without having to put Splitter in the deal, then great. i think Jefferson is a class-act guy and have nothing against him. but if Splitter has to be in the deal, forget it. even then, like i said, i don't think we'd be able to afford to re-sign him in off-season due to the new CBA.

 @RG8907 It's effort not minutes per game. If you are given more minutes you should do more. DeAndre Jordan is playing the same amount of minutes per game as Splitter and is averaging more rebounds than him. Why did Kawhi Leonard get more rebounds than him tonight? Was it because he played more minutes? Kawhi is averaging almost the same amount of rebounds as him and he's a SF. A center is supposed to be playing down low in the post. That means you are by the rim the majority of the time. This dude is 6'10 and can't get more than 5 rebounds on a consistent basis. He runs away all the time instead of positioning himself to grab rebounds. You are only making excuses for him. Why should it take him 23 minutes to get 5 rebounds? Stop it!

 @DifferentVSTheSame  and you wanna know how he gets more rebounds? by playing more minutes. that was my point. did you not see that i put the minutes in there with the average of points? you can do the same thing with rebounding. Jefferson averages 9.5 rebounds in 33 minutes while Splitter averages 5.8 rebounds in 23 minutes. Splitter puts in as much effort as Jefferson does, but only with a limited amount of time.

 @RG8907  @ChrisCano Points shouldn't be the discussion. Rebounds should be. Jefferson averages a lot more rebounds than Splitter. Effort wise, Jefferson gives more and his stats prove it.