Spurs get Butler & Elson

[Wally]

I guess the Spurs are getting Duncan some help gettin Jackie Butler and Elson too.
http://p220.ezboard.com/fsanantoniospurs62937frm1.showMessage?topicID=18579.topic

The Spurs have a new center. The agent for Jackie Butler telling News 4 WOAI that he has received "official notification" from Knicks GM Isaiah Thomas that the Knicks will not match the Spurs 3-year, $7 million offer.

The news means Butler is now a member of the Spurs and is expected to compete for the starting center position.

Keith Glass told NEWS 4 WOAI that Thomas could not have been nicer when informing Glass of the decision not to match.

Glass called the Spurs a "fantastic situation" and said that Butler can't wait to join the Spurs.

"He's very excited, there's nothing negative about San Antonio," Glass said. "For Jackie to get a chance to play along side Tim Duncan is a perfect situation for a young kid to improve and help a contending team."

Butler, a 6'10" 260 pound 21-year-old center, averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds in 13 minutes a game this past season and has averaged 5 points and 5 rebounds for his career.

The Spurs are still waiting word from the Denver Nuggets on their offer to Francisco Elson. His agent Calvin Andrews told News 4 that he has not heard anything yet, and that the Nuggets could take until tomorrow to make their decision.

Two for one at the center position.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...ies/MYSA072106.1C.BKNspurs.elson.18f4d87.html

 

[arthurracoon]

boooooo

 

[Nasser22]

This worries me... Why couldn't we get Butler for that cheap? He seems like he can be a pretty good player and we need a big man. Oh well, Amare will make both of them cry...heh.

 

[Mainstreet]

I'm also worried that the Spurs are getting more help up front. As the Suns found out in the playoffs last year, the lack of size hurts the Suns ability to drive to the rim on offense and defend on defense. Also this lack of size carries over to offensive and defensive rebounding. I see Amare as the only Suns player that has the ability to penetrate a defense that gets set-up like the Spurs in the playoffs.

IMO, the Suns need a player that can at least bang on the boards on both offense and defense and provides some length. Otherwise, especially if Amare is not at full strength, the Suns will have to shoot over the top of the defense and hope they shoot well. I do not like to depend on this strategy and the Suns have one less outside shooter with the loss of TT. Yes, I know a healthy KT will help, but I do not like the Suns backup depth besides KT at the 4/5 (Burke and Marks). I like some margin of error if there is an injury.

 

[NastyOne]

Why would these moves worry anyone?

Both are backups at best, and the Spurs are still hurting for a starting PF/C.

 

[Gaddabout]

Both are backups at best, and the Spurs are still hurting for a starting PF/C.

Because Butler's still a man-child who started to show signs of productivity last year. He's the kind of guy who Duncan can use on defense while helping hide him on offense until he develops more. Butler could become a much more productive big man in San Antonio. He also has a great attitude.

 

[Mainstreet]

I think the Suns can get a role 4/5 that can help the Suns in a half court game when rebounds become a premium (both offensive and defensive) in the playoffs. I do not think the Suns need a starter per se, other than a player that can rebound and give the hard foul.

Some players that I think might be able to do the dirty work are players like Reggie Evans, Baxter and Fizer. I don't know if any of these players are available but I think someone like them will be available for the veteran minimum or a 1 year contract. I don't think the Suns need starter material, only someone who can bang for rebounds in the halfcourt.

I really don't think Marks or Burke fit that role. Also if D'Antoni does not want to play them, so be it for the 12th, 13th or 14th man on the roster. He can sit at the end of the bench and be insurance for the playoffs and injury.

I never could understand why the Suns did not gamble on picking up Fizer last season out of the NBADL, as he could bang and shoot. Yes, I'm sure he has deficiencies but I always look at what a player can bring to the table and not just what he can't do. And for the asking price he would have been cheap. If he was disruptive, the Suns could have just cut him.

I'm sure there are many other players that can fit this need that other posters can think of. This could also save some of our starters from getting into foul trouble in a half court game.