.png&w=244&h=193&zc=1 "By the numbers: A quick look at the Grizzlies")
The DeJuan Dilemma
See what I did there? DeJuan Blair was the perfect pick for the San Antonio Spurs in 2009. Lottery level talent that fell in to the Spurs' lap early in the second round. You can say they should've drafted this guy or that guy, but the only guy available where the Spurs drafted that you could legitimately say the Spurs should've drafted instead was Chase Budinger.
Anyways, Blair brought energy to team that at time was old, slow, you know, all the things that people still say about the Spurs that aren't true anymore.
The problem for Blair is he hasn't developed as much as the Spurs would've liked, especially on defense. He lost a lot of his playing time, especially in the postseason, when Boris Diaw fell in to the Spurs' lap. Simultaneously Tiago Splitter continued to develop, pushing Blair farther down the big man ladder.
Now, it appears the Spurs have found another big man in Australian Aron Baynes. That can't be great news for Blair above all other bigs. Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld reports the Spurs have made Blair available again, in part to make room for Baynes.
"In the past, the Spurs haven’t had any trouble finding teams interested in Blair, but they haven’t been able to find a deal worth taking. However, with Blair out of the rotation and a replacement on the way in Baynes, San Antonio may lower their asking price."
There a couple of differences between Blair's situation last June and now. First off, Blair is a free agent after this summer, so the financial implications for whatever team trades for him. Second, the team that Kennedy writes was most interested in Blair, the Miami Heat, have a specific problem Blair could help with. The Heat are a really bad rebounding team right now. Blair might not be the ideal size, but he can rebound, is pretty good moving in the pick and roll and is an underrated passer. One problem is unlike last year, Miami doesn't own their own pick. They own Philadelphia's pick, but it's lottery protected for the next three years. Still, that could be something the Heat are willing to part with if they're not in love with this year's draft or they don't think Philly is going to make the playoffs.
Another team that could be looking for some extra help inside is the Cleveland Cavaliers, who just lost Anderson Varejao for a couple of months and own Miami's first round pick and Orlando's second round pick among other things. Other teams with extra first round picks include the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz. The point is, the Spurs will likely trade Blair for what will end up being a late first round pick or early second round pick.
Unless they package Blair with someone else, they're not going to get that elusive shot blocker you're all looking for. This is a time for them to stockpile assets for the future without giving up a player who is key to this season's title run. Blair's going to get moved, I'm pretty sure of it now. It's what best for him and the Spurs and I do think the Spurs want to do what's right by Blair, who's handled his inconsistent playing time this season pretty well, a few tweets not withstanding.
@minus Every dog has his day..but theres ANOTHER hitch in his game...inconsistent. I also noticed he had to get yanked early in 2nd because as usual he fouls too much..stupid ones usually to boot.
@Spursfan66 @minus Only got into foul trouble because of the switch on him and he was guarding J.J. Berea and the other was on a shooting guard. None was stupid fouls, just a mismatch switch.
So yeah :P
This is how much Spurs think of DJB.. "A list of players whose names were mentioned this week as availables, with more surely to come, alongside the long-available Andrea Bargnani in Toronto: Cleveland's Omri Casspi, Houston's Cole Aldrich, Milwaukee's Samuel Dalembert, Drew Gooden and Beno Udrih and San Antonio's DeJuan Blair." Per Marc Stein. Also http://www.ibtimes.com/nba-trade-rumors-rudy-gay-minnesota-timberwolves-dejuan-blair-tyreke-evans-demarcus-cousins-move So, obviously FO agrees that DJB is the expendable guy, just like most people here do. "Key" players tend to have their teams try to sign them back. Get used to the idea of DJB in a diff uni soon, cause its coming.
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minus and rtesoro are like polar opposites of each other, and they both have such polarizing opinions, that it's impossible to agree with either of them on anything.
Of course Blair isn't going to put up the same numbers as his rookie season if he doesn't get the same CONSISTENT minutes he had then. His rookie season, he had lots of minutes where he could show his talent.
People seem to forget that, when Blair get's the same amount of minutes each game, he is a double - double machine. Yes, Blair fugged up and ending up in the doghouse, and the minute he did, that's when Tiago started to come into form. Once Pop seems something working and we're winning, he doesn't change the lineups so Blair didn't get a chance to play then.
Then Blair came back and did what he did best and we went on a remarkable winning streak with him in the starting C and with consistent minutes and then Pop decided he wanted Diaw to start cause Diaw made a few amazing passes and thought it worked better that way.
Blair worked hard season to get more playing time. He does have a jumpshot but it's not consistent yet. He does HAVE post moves. Don't know what games you've been watching but clearly, everyone here seems to look at Blair - than his + .
No one can argue when Blair get's consistent minutes, he's a walking double-double and we win a HUGE percentage of our games.
@minus He has low bball IQ, his D sucks, 10%+ of his shots get blocked and how exactly does a guy that has NEVER averaged 10 pts a game or 10 rbs a game get called a double double machine? And Spurs went on 20 game win streak when Diaw was given the starting job.DJB simply benefited by playing next to TD when he was starting..the guy that erases some of DJBs deficiencies. Get used to the idea of DJB in a different uni, because next year we will be Blairless...for good reason.
@Spursfan66 His bball IQ isn't low, where do you get this information?? Actually, Blair defense isn't bad. Diaw defense is worse than Diaw. Wow, like other players on the Spurs team shots doesn't get blocked. So that means 90% of his shot doesn't? Right.
Blair average's 8pts - 6 boards for this career stats. Don't forget that there are four other bigs who got playing with Blair. So you think he really couldn't score two more point and grabbed for more rebounds in an extra 10 minutes a game??
Duncan and Blair had as good thing going, their chemistry and they knew each other tendencies which made them a good pair.
@minus low bball IQ=making too many mental mistakes on the floor...and the eye test makes that pretty apparent. The guy has been yanked after making such mistakes so many times that its ridiculous. And where do you get the info that DJB doesnt have low bball IQ? And his D is below par and virtually everyone knows that. Do we even need to mention the fact that a 6'6" guy will ALWAYS be at a disadvantage playing C OR PF?
"when Blair get's the same amount of minutes each game, he is a double - double machine." That was your comment and you were wrong, simple as that..I know what he averaged and simply put, its nowhere near double double territory.
But heres the deal...if DJB was as great as you think..HE WOULD BE PLAYING..simple as that.
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At this point, we should be trading teams our 1st round pick just to get rid of this parasite. DeJuan has devolved over the past 4 years to a player unrecognizable from the energetic rookie that stole the hearts of many Spurs fans. I believe since his sophomore year in the league, every single one of his stats has been declining except for his waistline. His ability to lose 25 lbs. this summer only infuriates Spurs fans more because the question then becomes, why didn't you do this during the season last year or the summer before that? The answer is simple: DeJuan wants to get paid this summer, or at least has as much value as a 6'7" Center with no jumpshot, post moves, ACLs, maturity, or self-control can get.
DeJuan's persistent immaturity despite being around THE most unselfish player in league along with one of the best player managers of all-time in Coach Pop is probably the most intriguing part of Blair's stent with Los Spurs. How can you possibly be around such professionalism and class and have NONE of it wear off on you? Not an ounce DeJuan?
I think the most disappointing part of this whole thing is seeing how Kenneth Faried has thrived looking like a carbon copy of what DeJuan was his rookie year: pure energy and hustle. While Faried may have more athleticism (questionable if you watch DeJuan's ridiculous dunks in the Sophomore-Rookie games), his height and size disadvantages have not held him back one bit. In fact, he's one of the best rebounders in the league. Faried is exactly what all Spurs fans thought DeJuan would end up being. Malik Rose 2.0 never lived up to his own hype and instead took to Twitter so he could blast the best FO and Coach in the league. Real smart move DeJuan. I don't want to wish ill will on anyone, but I really hope some year long benching on a terrible team shows you how good you had it in SA. Have fun gaining those 25 lbs. right back as soon as you sign that new contract, you will not be missed.
@CraigThomas Forgot to post about this one, Kenneth Faried has CONSISTENT minutes when he plays and isn't he a starter?? Well, gee, of course he is going to have better stats than Blair.
@minus @CraigThomas Didnt need Diaw? REALLY? Diaw has WAY more in his game than DJB does and THAT is a fact. And Faried is MUCH better than DJB and THAT is a fact. Face it, he has NOT grown as a player in FOUR years as a spur and THAT is why he is last "big" on Spurs roster. Did Tiago ever whine about PT? P Mills? CJ? ANY OTHER Spur? No, that's DJBs infantile behavior, yet ANOTHER reason why Spurs could do better than DJB.
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@minus @CraigThomas lol ONLY better shooting, passing and high IQ? REALLY? But other than ALL of those things, Diaw IS a better defender..find one other person here that thinks DJB is better defender than Diaw. I notice you left out DEFENSIVE rebounding..good thing because DJB is in the bottom 1/4 of bigs in defensive rebounding. Last year Diaw actually had the exact same D RB #s as DJB....in less mins than DJB. Ya, DJB has DECENT OFFENSIVE RB#s..but that ONE thing is NOT enough to claim that he is so key. Diaw IS the better player otherwise, DJB WOULD PLAY MORE. Its SIMPLE. And ya, Faried is the better player and that IS a fact..look at the stats. How can you claim any different considering KF shoots 55% to DJB 46% this year. KF actually blocks shots...DJB gets next to ZERO a game..and yet ANOTHER thing Diaw does better than DJB as well.
And TS before this year hasnt been getting good mins, THAT is why he could have been unhappy. But my simple point is that DJB went to the MEDIA and twitter to air his whiny crap..NOT what an adult does.
But AGAIN, it boils down to the simple fact that DJB is not playing as much because he is NOT better than Splitter OR Diaw. IF HE WAS BETTER HE WOULD BE PLAYING.
@Spursfan66 @CraigThomas The ONLY thing Diaw is better than Blair is shooting and passing and an high bball IQ. Other than that what does he have on Blair???
Blair has energy, actually jumps to grab rebounds, hustles, steals, athleticism, post defense, offensive rebounds...care to go on?
Diaw isn't the same young star he was in Phoenix. Faried better than Blair? That ISNT a FACT. That's just your opinion. Put Faried vs Blair in a game where they have the same amount of minutes playing against each other and we'll see who comes out better overall.
What did Tiago have to whine about?? He wasn't a starter for most of his career on the Spurs, or Mills or CJ. Say what you want but any person that started and all of a sudden just get benched during playoff time is going to be like, why?
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@CraigThomas Seems like you've got the insults down to a science you ASS! First, he will be missed. Second, when minutes drop, so do numbers. I really like Diaw and Splitter, but they are just as inconsistent. A couple good games don't make them legitimate starters. Face it, Pop's reaching, trying to fill that void. Blair is just a scape goat. Lets blame hime when everyone else fails. With your comments, you can't be a Spurs fan. If you think you are, do us all a favor and be Laker fan.
@DJ1976 @CraigThomas Finally! People with some sense and recognize Blair value. I like Diaw and Splitter too, but we really didn't need Diaw.
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@CraigThomas Some may view your post as harsh..I'm not one of those..I agree completely.
i wish it would have worked out better for blair. i always liked him a lot, but he never improved after his rookie season. i think he was super motivated that year to get revenge on everyone who passed him up over an imaginary knee problem, but he lost that motivation afterwards. i'll be sorry to see him go, but i'll be happy to see him get the 2nd chance he deserves somewhere else.
@WOWWOWBAD DJB MIGHT get us a late 1st, but a 2nd is more likely. If Spurs could have gotten a 1st from GS last year he WOULD have been a warrior.
@Spursfan66 Who will take DJB now BTW, in the terms of value? He's not playing right now, teams still worry about his attitude, weight issue, ACLs.... he can't defend 1~5, he can't shoot reliable jump shot. Unless some teams lost all of their PF because of injury, I don't see him worth more than a 2nd round pick.
