spurs get good solid centers for less than half the price. sounds like
a suave commercial. i'm more geeked about butler than elson. he's got
more potential.

dave
-----------------------------
Article: Spurs get younger with Butler
Spurs get younger with Butler
SpursReport Staff
http://www.broadbandnewsnet.com/new....asp?a=3293&z=1
Wednesday, July 19, 2006


Reports out of San Antonio and New York indicate that Jackie Butler,
the restricted free agent center from New York will now sign with the
Spurs. Knicks' G.M., Isiah Thomas decided not to match the offer
tendered to him by the Spurs.

It was February of 2005 when then 19-year-old Butler, a center from the
CBA, signed with the Knicks to fill a spot on their active roster.

Butler, 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds, had been averaging 18.1 points, 10.7
rebounds and 1.45 blocks for the Great Lakes Storm. Butler finished
high school in Virginia Beach, Va., and was not selected as an early
entry candidate in the 2004 NBA draft.

Thanks to Isiah Thomas and in no small part to the fact that the Knicks
had shipped off Nazr Mohammed to San Antonio during the trade deadline,
Butler's long and winding road had finally led him to the NBA.

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound center had played at Coastal Christian Academy
in Virginia Beach. The Mississippi native, had attended two other high
schools and one other prep school before heading to Hampton Roads.

The former McDonald's All-American committed to Mississippi State --
where his recruitment prompted an NCAA investigation -- then signed
with the University of Tennessee, before declaring early for the NBA
draft.

His agent had promised Butler that he would be an early selection in
the draft, but Butler wasn't taken at all.

"So I got rid of my agent," Butler said. "Things didn't work out. But
that's in the past. I've worked hard, and life is good now."

After leaving Coastal Christian, Butler spent some time on the
Minnesota Timberwolves' summer league team, then signed with the Great
Lakes Storm of the Continental Basketball Association.

With the Storm, Butler flourished. The 19-year-old used his size and
uncanny athleticism to dominate the CBA. He was even selected to start
in the minor league's all-star game.

"Jackie's got the best hands and softest touch of any big man I've ever
coached," said Storm coach Russ Bergman. "He became the best big man in
the CBA. It was just a matter of time until an NBA team came calling."

After signing him, the Knicks immediately put Butler on injured reserve
for patella tendinitis -- although the injury wasn't serious -- instead
they kept him there to prepare him and his game for the level of NBA
competition.

"He's was so raw, so young ... with his size and natural ability, all
he's got is upside," said then New York assistant coach Michael Malone.
"If he keeps progressing, we see some good things. This could be a
long-term thing."

Butler had signed for a pro-rated share of the league-minimum $385,777.
But now, the Spurs have snagged him away from the team who first took a
risk on him. His new agent, Keith Glass secured a three-year offer
sheet worth $7 million from San Antonio this summer. By landing him,
the Spurs get considerably younger at the center position. Will he fit
on a team whose coach will push him, perhaps more than any other he's
had?

"He's hungry," Malone said. "You should have seen the smile on his face
for his first game in Madison Square Garden. He was a little awestruck
at first, but I think he realizes the NBA is where he wants to stay.

"With that attitude and his work ethic, he's got a real chance."


-----------------------------


Ludden: Spurs find center in Elson after Nuggets fail to match
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/...on.18f4d87.html

Spurs find center in Elson after Nuggets fail to match

Web Posted: 07/20/2006 11:55 PM CDT

Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

SALT LAKE CITY - Thursday came and went, leaving behind another
7-foot center and ending the Spurs' tense-yet-successful venture into
restricted free agency.

After trading Rasho Nesterovic, watching Nazr Mohammed take more money
- and, presumably, more minutes - from Detroit and a
thanks-but-no-thanks from Alonzo Mourning, the Spurs filled their
remaining lineup hole when Denver declined to match a two-year, $6
million offer to Francisco Elson.

Elson, 30, is the second center in as many days to join the Spurs. New
York said Wednesday it wasn't keeping Jackie Butler, who received a
three-year, $7 million contract from the Spurs.

The Spurs hope Elson and Butler, 21, can give them production at center
at less than half the combined $12.5 million Mohammed and Nesterovic
will make next season.

The third year of Butler's contract also is at the Spurs' option, so
the team could conceivably have only Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu
Ginobili under contract after the 2007-08 season, allowing them
significant salary-cap room to reshape the roster.

The Nuggets informed Elson's agent, Calvin Andrews, late Thursday
afternoon they didn't plan to match the Spurs' offer unless an
unexpected trade allowed the team to move another of its frontcourt
players. When one didn't materialize, Denver simply allowed the 11:59
p.m. deadline to lapse.

The Nuggets re-signed forward/center Nene to a $60million contract
Thursday and have $72 million invested in forward Kenyon Martin and
another $42million in center Marcus Camby. Keeping Elson would have
moved their payroll close to the luxury-tax threshold and likely ended
their efforts to re-sign forward Reggie Evans.

The Spurs also front-loaded each year of Elson's contract, making a
substantial percentage of it payable in one lump sum before the start
of the season. Carmelo Anthony's contract extension, which doesn't
begin until the 2007-08 season, is structured similarly.

Though Spurs coach Gregg Popovich doesn't guarantee minutes or roles,
Elson appears to be the leading candidate to start next to Duncan,
given his experience and size. The Spurs think Elson's ability to run
the floor could allow him to play with their small lineup while Duncan
rests.

Nesterovic and Mohammed were plodders, a large reason why both spent
much of the Spurs' second-round playoff loss to Dallas on the bench.

In a January victory over the Spurs last season, Elson often beat
Duncan and the rest of the Spurs' big men down the floor while totaling
13 points, six rebounds and two steals.

"When we played them he got a lot of layups because he can run," Bruce
Bowen said. "That's something David (Robinson) used to do real well.
Not to say he is Dave now, but he does have that running quality."

The Spurs don't have plans to put Elson's jersey next to Robinson's in
the AT&T Center rafters anytime soon. Elson is an adequate shot-blocker
and has a decent mid-range shot, which should help him fit in the
Spurs' system. Neither skill, however, is in Robinson's class. Scouts
also don't like his hands and say he sometimes is slow to react.

Elson played in 72 games last season. The Nuggets went 32-22 in the 54
he started. He averaged 5.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24.7 minutes as
a starter.

Born in The Netherlands, Elson attended Kilgore Junior College in Texas
before transferring to the University of California, where he was a
teammate of former Spurs forward Sean Marks. (Marks, who spent three
seasons with the Spurs, is expected to sign with Phoenix.)

The Nuggets drafted Elson in the second round in 1999, but he played
four years in Spain before joining them.

"I think Francisco will fit well with us," Bowen said. "The thing about
the Spurs is we don't ask a lot of our bigs other than to just go out
and give their best effort. He will be able to do that."

The burden on the Spurs' centers will be lessened with Duncan expected
to average 15-plus minutes at the position. Fabricio Oberto also will
have a better opportunity next season to carve out minutes for himself.

The Spurs hope Butler progresses enough to provide some muscle at the
position. But they also concede they might miss Nesterovic's defense,
forcing them to double-team Houston's Yao Ming more often.

The addition of Elson gives the Spurs 14 players with guaranteed
contracts. Guard Melvin Sanders and forwards Rich Melzer and Jamar
Smith, each of whom has a non-guaranteed deal, could compete for the
final roster spot in training camp.

Notebook: The Spurs suffered their third consecutive loss at the Rocky
Mountain Revue on Thursday, falling 90-81 to Dallas. Ian Mahinmi, the
team's first-round pick from a year ago, played better than he did
Tuesday but still finished with seven fouls, five points and three
rebounds in 27 minutes.

Rookie guard Maurice Ager looked like another late first-round steal
for the Mavericks. He scored 24 points and had a vicious dunk over
Mahinmi.

jludden@express-news.net

Staff Writer Mike Monroe contributed to this report.

This is the "best" your pathetic team could do in the offseason??

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha


Cheap bastards!!!


Say hello to the lottery!!


BITCHES!



Dave McNulla wrote:

Not every team can have the foresight and good fortune to sign such marquee
players such as Stromile Swift, Bobby Sura and Rafer Alston!


"Louis the Magnificent" <louis_the_magnificent@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153551285.398570.134620@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...

Manuel Garcia wrote:

I think you're a little late wetback!

Swift is back in Memphis...

Geez Louis, last time this discussion went around - you said we would be
lucky if we were able to land either one and that their old teams would
match our offer just so we couldn't have them. I sense much jealousy in
you.
"Louis the Magnificent" <louis_the_magnificent@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153551285.398570.134620@p79g2000cwp.googlegr oups.com...

And I know you're a lot dense, asshole. You didn't even recognize that was
the signings last summer for your beloved Houston Rockettes! You remember,
the lineup you predicted was going to "shock the NBA".. Of course that was
before the season started, afterwhich you were left with shit on your face!



"Louis the Magnificent" <louis_the_magnificent@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1153632304.024311.6490@h48g2000cwc.googlegrou ps.com...

On Sat, 22 Jul 2006 23:21:16 GMT, "Manuel Garcia"
<MGARCIA160@satx.rr.com> wrote:

My gawd! Could any team hope to sign all of these players in the same
off-season? How could the other 29 teams allow this to happen?

Perhaps by signing the good players?

Peter


--
"There are two good teams in Texas. We have the third."
- Charlie Palillo discussing the NBA
- Houston Sports Talk radio host 790AM

Manuel Said:

Well everyone knows Louis to be a messy eater.
Interestingly enough, that's how he wipes T-Mac's ass.