The Glove

[paul_pierce_the_truth]

Just a small note:

Gary Payton will be in the studio for the TNT game 2 between Dallas/San Antonio. Also on Fox's "Best Damn Sports Show Period."

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/buck/may03/142081.asp

Maybe we can get a clue where GP might sign.

[Matthew]

I think he'll be a spur next season. They can offer him the max (or close to) and he'll be on a contender and possibly a team repeating as champions.

[Rens]

The Spurs signing a quality PG sounds like a good idea, but I'm not too sure. Ofcourse, on first look it would improve their team greatly, having an all star pushing the ball.

But, what about their young talent? Parker, Jackson, Ginobili, they'll all get less playingtime when an addition to the backcourt is made. Bowen has played very effectively, can they afford to keep him out of the lineup? Jackson has emerged this season, would he be as effective as a 6th man?

Adding a big man for them would seem best to me. Though a star PG would be very nice ofcourse

[Boyk]

I'd prefer jermaine oneal if i were Spurs.

[Andrew]

Of course, the Spurs could always play GP and Parker together in the backcourt, as the Bucks did with GP and Cassell for about half a season. Also, it seems to me that Tony Parker is kind of like Mike Bibby in the assists column. Obviously, his low assist numbers (for a point guard) could just be the result of the Spurs' style of play, but GP has proven he can score 20 points and find his teammates for baskets 8, 9, 10 times, in the same game.

On the other hand, Tony Parker is still developing, and that money could be spent on Jermaine O'Neal, who could form a great tandem with Tim Duncan for many more years. As good as Payton still is, his age is going to be a factor.

[air gordon]

anyone catch what GP had to say on tnt/best damn sports show?

[Nel]

I don't think Payton and Parker backcourt would work. IMO the Spurs are still a good team w/o any additions next year.

[Andrew]

But remember, next year they won't have David Robinson. Even if Duncan moves to centre, there's still a position they'll have to fill - and I don't think they really want Malik Rose starting (since he strengthens their bench), nor Danny Ferry (enough said ).

[Matthew]

Jermaine isn't a lock yet. If they do sign Payton, This is the lineup i'd imagine:
Duncan
Malik Rose
Bruce Bowen
Payton
Parker

then off the bench
Fairy, oops, Danny Ferry
Stephen Jackson
Manu Ginobili
Speedy Claxton
and if they cant find a backup centre, give some minutes to Mengke Bateer. He is a 2nd year man who played O.K. in his rook season with denver (5ppg, 3.6 rebounds in 15 minutes a game) or bring back kevin Willis.
Besides that tandem of jackson, giniboli and claxton should brovide some punch off the bench, and dont forget what a good starting lineup they have.
Maybe they should only offer a 2 year deal to payton considering his age?

[Andrew]

They probably wouldn't offer Payton any more than 2 or 3 years given his age, even though he can still play at a high level - there really hasn't been much slippage in his production yet.

That's why I mentioned the O'Neal scenario. Jermaine obviously has more years left in the league (barring some terrible injury or lifetime suspension), so the Spurs might want to pair him up with Duncan long term. If Duncan is assured a teammate like Jermaine O'Neal long term, then he'll probably be interested signing a long term deal, as opposed to the three year deal he signed last time.