I watched the second half of the Suns 112-106 win over the Mavs tonight. I wanted to get a better handle on Amar’e and what he could bring to the Spurs; plus, Mavs-Suns always seems to produce entertaining basketball. It’s also about the only time I’ll end up rooting for the Suns.
Three things of interest:
1. He only had one rebound for the entire game.
2. On the season, he has 48 assists and 121 turnovers. That’s an average of 1 assist/game and 2.57 TOs / game, for a horrible 0.39 assist:TO ratio. Ouch. For his career, his A:TO is 0.52. Basically, he turns the ball over twice for every assist. I know assist numbers can be deceiving for the player on the receiving end of most Pick and Rolls…but still.
3. He didn’t play the entire 4th quarter. A quarter in which the Suns outscored the Mavs 28-16, played really good defense, and seized control of the game. As the team dug in their heels, got stops, and took the game, Gentry saw fit to keep their marquee player and best point maker on the bench. I’ll let you draw your own conclusions.
All of these things point to a player that the Spurs probably don’t need or want. Take away the baggage and the name recognition, and just look at the strengths and weaknesses and the production, and it’s probably not a good fit for what the Spurs need.
One other point of contention that I haven’t seen mentioned yet other than Kelly Dwyer’s great article today: Amar’e has a player option for next season. Most people assume that he’ll opt out and join free agency. But with his stock dropping every so slightly, and the market being what it is, who’s to say he wouldn’t pick up the option and get the $18 million he has coming to him. If he were on the Spurs and picked up the option, that could completely cripple the franchise.
You know who would be a good fit from that team? Grant Hill. Fits the Spurs mold perfectly, too. Cagey veteran, smart as hell, and leaves it all on the floor.
Other names that we’ve been linked to are Tayshaun Prince from Detroit, Marvin Williams from Atlanta, and Marcus Camby from The Clippers (that was last season, but I’m sure the interest is still there). I actually like all three players and how they could fit in with the Spurs. There are two glaring needs for the team right now: another legitimate big, preferably an honest-to-God center; and a versatile small forward that can play slightly bigger or slightly smaller if needed.
Camby would fit the bill on the first, and would be a pretty good running mate with Duncan. Prince, when healthy, is exactly what we need on the second. He could be a legitimate PF when we play small with Duncan. His defensive versatility is great. A line-up with Duncan, Prince, Hill, and Manu would be quite the defensive team. Prince is having a down year this season, but he’s always been one of my favorite players in the league, and a player I’ve always wanted to see in a Spurs’ uniform. I don’t know much about Williams, other than he’s been a tad disappointing, especially considering the talent that followed him in the draft (Chris Paul and Deron Williams). But he seems like a good Spurs fit: a hard worker with defensive leanings and tremendous athletic ability who can hit the corner 3.
It feels like the Spurs will be making a move this season. The writing is on the wall, and we’re still a piece or two short. What can we get? And, more importantly, what will we have to give up to get it? Ginobili and his contract is very appealing and is probably our strongest asset and trading chip. Is that a move that the Front Office is willing to make? Can you trade the heart of your team and make it better?
Can you make a deal with the devil and come out the victor?
All solid points, and I like the players you mentioned and completely agree with you about Amar'e, but I want to believe that they can turn things around without making a trade. Other than occasional frustration with RJ, I LOVE this year's roster. In any case, I couldn't bear to see Manu go. Ultimately, the franchise's goals of making money and competing for championships supersede almost every other consideration, but to me Manu Ginobili is as much a part of the franchise as David and Tim and Sean. I'd rather take the chance of losing with him than be guaranteed a championship without him. Some guys you just have to go to war with.
Keep up the great writing, Jeff!