BLOCKBUSTER!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2494928


Spurs deal Nesterovic to Raptors for Williams, Bonner

Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO -- The San Antonio Spurs traded center Rasho Nesterovic and cash to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday for forwards Matt Bonner and Eric Williams and a second-round pick in 2009.

The move creates flexibility for the Spurs on their roster and salary cap.

The 30-year-old Nesterovic has $23.5 million and three years left on his contract, while Bonner and Williams are entering the final year of their contracts. They could be traded again to teams hoping to open cap room next summer or the Spurs could keep them and enjoy that luxury themselves in 2007.

Raptors general manager Bryan Colangelo is eager to put the 7-foot, 255-pound Nesterovic in the middle alongside improving (no blossom for you!! --GD) forward Chris Bosh.

"He's a smart basketball player who will help address our needs, particularly on the defensive end of the floor," Colangelo said.

Nesterovic signed with San Antonio three summers ago with the unenviable task of replacing David Robinson -- numerically, that is, as no one expected him to live up to the Admiral's standards.

Nesterovic averaged 8.7 points and 7.7 rebounds over 28.7 minutes his first season, then dropped off drastically. He was down to career lows of 4.5 points and 3.9 rebounds this past season, while splitting time with Nazr Mohammed.

Neither center played much in the second-round series against Dallas, which the Spurs lost in seven games. Coach Gregg Popovich used a smaller lineup with forward Robert Horry at center and hinted he might go with that kind of lineup more next season.

This move could be the first step in that direction, with the 6-foot-10 Bonner a candidate to start in the middle.

Mohammed is a free agent, so whether the club tries to re-sign him will be the next indicator. If the Spurs are interested in keeping Mohammed, he might be more willing to listen with Nesterovic out of the way.

Bonner, coming off his second season out of Florida, averaged 7.5 points and 3.6 rebounds last season. He also made 42 percent of his 3-pointers.

"Bonner is a big guy who has the unique ability of knocking down the outside shot, which will help us spread the floor," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. "Williams gives us a steady veteran presence and some added depth at the forward position."

Williams, who turns 34 next month, is an 11-year veteran with career averages of 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. He played only 28 games last season and averaged a career-low 3.3 points. The Spurs will be his sixth team, fifth in four seasons. He was acquired by Toronto in the deal that sent Vince Carter to New Jersey.

The Raptors also released center Robert Whaley.

Would the Spurs seriously start Matt Bonner at center?

On purpose?

No. They've got all kinds of Euro's ready (read 2) and waiting to come in and play center.

Duncan will play Center alongside either Robertas Javtokas or Luis Scola. More likely Javtokas. He's much more athletic and MUCH cheaper to bring over (Scola's buyout is MASSIVE). They may also re-sign Nazr.

They don't appear to be resigning Mohammad. He's been reported as having said he wants out of there.

They don't appear to be resigning Mohammad. He's been reported as having said he wants out of there.

Yea, that's what I thought. But yesterday I saw an article where I swear RC Buford said that they will look to re-sign him after this move. I'm doubting that they want Duncan, Horry (who tanks the regular season and can't play huge minutes), Bonner, and a rookie (Javtokas or Scola) as their only half decent bigs.

Yeah, they definately need an experienced big. Spurs fans seem to be looking at Nazr as a fail-safe incase they can't bring someone else in. I hadn't seen the Buford thing.

I read Nazr knocked back an extension not long after they were eliminated.

That might have been because of his limited playing time and the fact that he had to share the C position with Rasho.

Now that Nester is gone maybe Nazr re-thinks?

I read Nazr knocked back an extension not long after they were eliminated.

That might have been because of his limited playing time and the fact that he had to share the C position with Rasho.

Now that Nester is gone maybe Nazr re-thinks?

I think the extension offer you're referring to happend last summer. Unless there was 2nd?

I read about it a week ago (or thereabouts)

It was certainly this off-season, not long after they were eliminated

Williams is nice off their bench. I like the move for them.

P, are you saying "knocked back" as in agreed to (like knocking back a brew-dog) or "knocked back" as in rejected (like knocking back a dunk attempt).

He certainly hasn't signed anything but I don't know if he's rejected an offer, I haven't heard they offered anything but I don't see all.

the Spurs allready have a deal in place with Robertas Javtokas, he can do what Nazr did for them, just a lot cheaper...

P, are you saying "knocked back" as in agreed to (like knocking back a brew-dog) or "knocked back" as in rejected (like knocking back a dunk attempt).

He certainly hasn't signed anything but I don't know if he's rejected an offer, I haven't heard they offered anything but I don't see all.

He rejected an offer.

I read it on the hoopshype rumour page (I check it almost every day) and it linked to a SA paper that stated he didn't accept.

It didn't give a reason why he refused.

And even though the Spurs have another Euro coming over I seriously doubt they'll make him a starter.

Whatever happened to Scola? If his buyout is huge why not trade his rights to a team way under the cap (Atlanta?) for someone (like Childress) and let them deal with the problem?

Or is Scola that fucking good that the Spurs would prefer he NEVER play for some other team in the NBA?

The San Antonio press report about 3 times a year that Scola is "closer" to coming over and every year his buy-out price goes down (as those things usually do) but I've lost interest in tracking it and I don't know what its at now. Jakota-whatever is certainly in the plans for next season and looks like a cross between Drago and MSU's Paul Davis. They tout Scola as the best big in Euroball so I'm guessing they just don't want to let him go.

...and NBA teams can just pay up to 500 k for buyouts, the rest has to be paid by the player usually...so someone has to give Scola some big bucks....and why should the Spurs give up the rights for him? Scola would be a PF only and coming of the bench i guess,

Javtokas seems to be the better fit, he's is a tough guy, who can rebound and block shots, he's 6-11 and 240 pounds, and very atheltic...he could very well be the Spurs starter next season...

http://www.euroleague.net/plantillas/jugador.jsp?id=BVE

It must suck to be Scola then.

Maybe he's content to stay in Europe and dominate?

Anyway, who the fuck cares? It's San Antonio.

I like the Raptors though. They're my "loser team"

Damn Joe, you're a closet San Antonio fan, aren't you?

You're bringing good shit though. Thanks for the info.

nah, i've got a pal whos a Spurs fan, he told me like 3 weeks ago, that the Spurs have a deal with Javtokas...and ive seen a nice highlight tape of him, i'll post it if i can find it...
btw, the Spurs allways seem to be able to unload some bad contracts, first Malik Rose now Rasho, thats some good work you have to respect, plus they always draft well with late picks

Everything that I have read has Nazr headed to Chicago, most likely.

I think he's from there and they really like him, now what that means for their hopes of landing Big Ben...

Joe: San Antonio seems to have a great front office.

Everyone talks about title contenders having to rebuild every so often but other than the "Tim Duncan Draft/Everyone injured" season has SA had a shitty season in the last 20 years? Probably not! That's very fucking impressive.

GD - I'm certain I read about Nazr rejecting an extension not long ago. I'm 100% certain it was within the last 2 weeks. Maybe he does want to go to Chicago?

I haven't done a Chicago salary thing yet, otheriwse I could tell you how that effects Ben. I don't think it kills their chances though (don't they have $20,000,000 in cap space or something like that?)

They could give Nazr a starting salary of $5,000,000 (basically MLE) to play at home, start and possibly even have a role offensively and then give Ben serious money.

Which would be very interesting considering Chandler is there and so is Sweetney (who I think is under-rated)

Oh, something for us to take note of too:

Chicago has all these young guns on really cheap contracts. At some point they need to extend those guys. If they spend a ton of money this off-season one, possibly 2, of those young guys is going to have to go eventually, or the luxury taxes will be major.