Spurs sign Van Exel

[Chaplin]

Spurs sign Van Exel without cutting into Finley offer
ESPN.com news services

Tony Parker won't have to carry as much of the Spurs' load next season. San Antonio announced Monday that is has signed veteran guard Nick Van Exel.

"We are very happy to have Nick as a part of our team," coach Gregg Popovich said in a statement. "His leadership and skills will be assets at both ends of the floor."

The team did not disclose terms of the contract, but ESPN.com's Marc Stein reported that the Spurs were able to sign Van Exel without cutting into the estimated $2.5 million they have offered free-agent swingman Michael Finley for next season.

Selected by the Lakers with the 37th overall pick in the 1993 draft, Van Exel has averaged 15.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 6.9 assists in 815 career regular-season games with the Lakers, Nuggets, Mavericks, Warriors and Trail Blazers.

Finley is expected to decide early this week whether to sign with the Spurs, Suns, Heat or Timberwolves

 

[elindholm]

It's a good addition for them, but I'm surprised. I would have thought their backcourt was covered with Parker, Ginobili, Barry, and Udrih. Maybe they've decided that the Barry experiment was a failure.

 

[Chaplin]

It's a good addition for them, but I'm surprised. I would have thought their backcourt was covered with Parker, Ginobili, Barry, and Udrih. Maybe they've decided that the Barry experiment was a failure.

AND they still want Finley.

Pop seems to like Udrih, and if they don't stash Barry at the end of the bench, how is that a good situation for Finley? I suppose they could put him at SF for Bowen, but then you have that idiot Robert Horry at the end of the bench.

The Spurs might still have the money to sign Finley, but I wouldn't be surprised if this signing turned him off the Spurs a bit.

 

[fordronken]

Van Exel is a killer in the playoffs. This signing really scares the hell out of me, much more than if they'd signed Finley.

I don't get the "without cutting into the estimated $2.5 million they have offered free-agent swingman Michael Finley". Did he sign for the minimum?

 

[elindholm]

The Spurs might still have the money to sign Finley, but I wouldn't be surprised if this signing turned him off the Spurs a bit.

Good point, although in fairness one could say the same things about the Suns and James Jones.

Horry doesn't do anything until the playoffs anyway, so it will be several months before any problems with him arise...

 

[fordronken]

James Jones doesn't effect the Finley situation because Finley will be ahead of him in the rotation. That isn't a sure thing against Van Exel/Barry/Udrih/Bowen/Ginobilli. I would be surprised to see Finley play more than 20-25 mintues per game for the Spurs. But heck, that may be what he wants.

 

[scotsman13]

Van Exel is a killer in the playoffs. This signing really scares the hell out of me, much more than if they'd signed Finley.

I don't get the "without cutting into the estimated $2.5 million they have offered free-agent swingman Michael Finley". Did he sign for the minimum?

really what or who has he killed in the playoffs? he did ok as nashs back but i am sorry i dont see him being anything close to a playoff killer aka horry.

 

[elindholm]

he did ok as nashs back but i am sorry i dont see him being anything close to a playoff killer aka horry.

That statement is revealing on so many levels.

 

[George O'Brien]

IMHO this suggests the Spurs don't believe Finley is coming.

One other thought, it has been rumored that the Spurs are shopping BB. This would seem to confirm that. One logical move would be to do a deal with the Cavs who have the cap space that they could take part of Barry's contract while sending back someone with a rookie contract.

BB's shooting dropped dramatically last season, but he's a career 40.2% three point shooter and the Cavs really need another three point threat who can play some point.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

this is no way helps the suns. nick is quick enough still to cause nash nightmares. having to chase both parker and nick is gonna be REAL taxing on little stevie nash. crap.

 

[fordronken]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Nash guarding Bowen a lot and having Bell or Diaw on Parker/Van Exel.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Yeah, my number one fear is having someone competent enough to run the team with Nash out. It frightens me to no end that the only viable alternative to him is Barbosa. Imagine if Nash got injured this year, that would be a disaster...


/crossing fingers...

 

[Chaplin]

this is no way helps the suns. nick is quick enough still to cause nash nightmares. having to chase both parker and nick is gonna be REAL taxing on little stevie nash. crap.

Settle down. Nick Van Exel isn't that good anymore. No need to overrate him.

 

[George O'Brien]

Settle down. Nick Van Exel isn't that good anymore. No need to overrate him.

You mean after leading the Blazers to their great 27-55 record?

 

[fordronken]

Settle down. Nick Van Exel isn't that good anymore. No need to overrate him.

I don't think Van Exel is going to dominate the league next year, but he's still a very explosive player who can competently run their offense when Parker is out, plus, on any given night in the playoffs can just start heaving in threes off the dribble and suddenly give his team a ten point swing.

 

[Phill11]

I don't think Van Exel is going to dominate the league next year, but he's still a very explosive player who can competently run their offense when Parker is out, plus, on any given night in the playoffs can just start heaving in threes off the dribble and suddenly give his team a ten point swing.

Amen. I'm scared of the Spurs now. Last year it was Duncan with role players. Now it's Duncan + Role Players + Deep Bench.

The Spurs can now bring in Van Exel, Horry, all these veterans and not have to worry about giving up thier 15 point lead.

 

[F-Dog]

The good news is that the Spurs are officially out of the Finley race. I don't know what NVE's contract looks like, but they might have to give up Devin Brown, too.


NVE is a clutch player, but I don't think he's got enough left to make a difference against the Suns. Remember, the Suns had a ton of trouble with Udrih and Brent Barry, so NVE will have a high standard to live up to...

 

[Chaplin]

Look, Nick Van Exel is still a good player, and he effectively replaces Devin Brown. Brown wasn't bad, and he's not as good as Van Exel, but the difference is not that huge.

 

[boisesuns]

Look, Nick Van Exel is still a good player, and he effectively replaces Devin Brown. Brown wasn't bad, and he's not as good as Van Exel, but the difference is not that huge.

I agree chap. Every time the Spurs or any team makes a move, people get so worried, and figure it's all over for the suns. If i remember right, Van Exel has "punk" tendancies, as well as doesn't play "team" very well. This signing won't keep me up at night.

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

The good news is that the Spurs are officially out of the Finley race. I don't know what NVE's contract looks like, but they might have to give up Devin Brown, too.

The report claimed they didn't dip into part of the MLE. My guess is he took a vet min. deal to go there (unless they had their LLE this year).

 

[George O'Brien]

I realize there is more to basketball than stats, but I've never felt Van Exel's actual performance lived up to the hype.

Here is a guy with a career 40.5% shooting percentage, has never shot more than 42% and has been below 40% the past two seasons. He's a career 35.7% three point shooter who shot 38.9% last season but only 30.7% for three the year before.Last season, he had only 4.3 assists per game in 30.5 minutes per game.

He was never on may radar when looking for a PG for the Suns.

 

[AnotherHOMER]

Its what he did in Dallas.

Scares me too.

-****

 

[Joe Mama]

I don't like Nick Van Exel as a starting point guard on a good team, but he has to be one of the better backups in the NBA. Forget about Devin Brown. Where does this leave Beno? I thought he played very well for the San Antonio Spurs last season although he might not be a great creator/distributor.

Joe Mama

 

[fordronken]

I don't like Nick Van Exel as a starting point guard on a good team, but he has to be one of the better backups in the NBA. Forget about Devin Brown. Where does this leave Beno? I thought he played very well for the San Antonio Spurs last season although he might not be a great creator/distributor.

Joe Mama

I remember being extremely surprised whenever Beno hit a jump shot. Compare that to Nick Van Exel.

 

[Joe Mama]

I remember being extremely surprised whenever Beno hit a jump shot. Compare that to Nick Van Exel.

Beno shot 44.4% from the field and 40.8% from three-point range last season. Compare that to Nick Van Exel who shot 38.1% from the field last year and 38.9% from beyond the arc. His career numbers are 40.5% from the field and 35.7% from the three.

Joe Mama