Celticsblog Mock GM Press Conferences: Southwest Division

[BigAlTheFuture]

Walker Wiggle. Any concerns at all about Arenas, Bynum's, and Foye's recent injuries?

[KCattheStripe]

So, yes, I want it both ways, and, no, there are no plans to deal Gil.

Wasn't making a pitch, I was talking three four years down the line, especially if Fernandez becomes an elite scorer and Westbrook becomes an above average PG, would you trade Gilbert for a LaMarcus Aldrige or another elite PF, or is it a " if we win, we win with Gilbert" situation?

[bucknersrevenge]

I'm going to have to defend Blatche a lot, so let me just say this:

In five extra minutes a game, on a cruddier team and thus more plays run for him, Dorrell Wrights numbers are slightly better than Blatche's.

That being said, I like your team a lot, my only worry is your two superstars have a history of serious knee injuries. Also, Gilbert is going to grow old well before Bynum is in his prime, do you see this as Gilbert's team contending for a title or is it a team waiting for Bynum to fully mature as a player before making their run? If so, is Gilbert in your long term plans?

Absolutely the injuries - you forgot Foye's - are a concern. It's why in each case, the players in question slipped to me.

But I disagree with some of your other conclusions, I can't see any reason why Arenas, who is only 26 shouldn't be able to play meaningful minutes well into this thirties - should his knees hold up - particularly, since I don't expect to have any trouble managing his regular season minutes with Foye and 4th pick Russell Westbrook both available to fill in.

And while Bynum will be only 21 at season's start, and is very much a work in progress, there's every reason to believe he's able to contribute to a winner now. He outproduced the bulk of the league's second-tier centers (Bogut, Okafor, etc.) last season for a pre-Gasol, playoffs bound Lakers team. That said, he's a dominate talent seemingly still more comfortable with a deferential team role, and so I expect both Foye and Fernández to be stronger locker room personalities this season and next. So, yes, I want it both ways, and, no, there are no plans to deal Gil.

With Gil a pretty much uptempo kind of guard and Bynum more of a halfcourt guy what kind of tempo do you want to establish at the beginning of games?

[The Walker Wiggle]

Wasn't making a pitch, I was talking three four years down the line, especially if Fernandez becomes an elite scorer and Westbrook becomes an above average PG, would you trade Gilbert for a LaMarcus Aldrige or another elite PF, or is it a " if we win, we win with Gilbert" situation?

KCat, sorry I ought to have been clearer, no plans to deal Gil now or in the future. I'd more likely deal Westbrook when he outgrows the back-up role.

Also, I forgot to knock Blatche in my last reply. Here's one stat Wright takes hands down, well besides FT% and 3PT%, +/-. Wright was +4.2 last season while Blatche was -9.9. Also, Dorrell just seems to have his head screwed on tighter, which can only improve his odds.

Oh, and thanks for the motto, TP.

Walker Wiggle. Any concerns at all about Arenas, Bynum's, and Foye's recent injuries?

Yes, and I believe I've been up front about that. What do you think otherwise? How do you feel we match-up as division rivals?

[bucknersrevenge]

2008 - 2009 San Antonio Spurs




Depth Chart/Roster:

PG: Chris Paul/Anthony Johnson/Mike James
SG: Jerry Stackhouse/Sasha Pavlovic//Derek Anderson
SF: Peja Stojakovic/Trenton Hassell/Eddie Jones
PF: Andrei Kirlikenko/Kenny Thomas/Darrell Arthur
 C: Ben Wallace/Lorenzen Wright/DeAndre Jordan

General Manager: BigAltheFuture


Draft Philosophy: Our plan going into the draft was to build a young team for the future. I thought we had a great young team that could've contended in the near future but we switched up our strategy in the middle of the draft. We felt Chris Paul was ready to win now and we tried our best to get enough veteran guys that knows how to play the game of basketball to surround him. It was kinda like a mini Danny Ainge move. We drafted young prospects and then traded them away to teams that were looking to go young and got back some veteran players.

Team Philosophy: We tend to have guys play great defense this season but also score on the offensive end. Chris Paul is a great defender but he is also one of the best offensive player in the NBA, today. We have Trenton Hassell coming off the bench, who is a defensive specialist. AK47 who is arguably the best shot blocker in the game, but is a decent offensive player. Ben Wallace is not the player he once was but he still plays terrific defense and rebounds the ball well.

The Spurs will play lock down defense and explosive offense this upcoming season. I think we have the right pieces to do so. We can spread the floor with sharp shooters Peja Stojakovic and Jerry Stackhouse and two players down low with Andrei and Ben. Chris Paul will do a great job distributing the ball this season. The team feels very confident about the upcoming season and hope to get a playoff spot.

Best Move: Our best move would probably have to be trading for Peja Stojakovic. Chris Paul gets a guy who he has played with before and who also gives us a better chance of winning. Giving up Jeff Green kills because we had high hopes for him and think he will be a great player one day but we needed players who can help now.

Worst Move: Our worst move is definitely dealing away too many early draft picks for late ones.

Roster Breakdown:

Chris Paul - We had the 4th pick in the draft and it was a no brainer. We didn't think he would even fall to us because we thought he was going to be a top 3 pick. He is the best point guard in the NBA and is still only 23 years old. Great passer, scorer, defender, and team player. Anyone would love to have a 23 year old MVP player on their team and we glad we have him.

Peja Stojakovic - Great shooter, veteran player, playoff experience. He fits in perfectly with our team. He can explode on offense on any given night. Is good in the clutch and is Chris Paul's teammate in New Orleans.

Andrei Kirilenko - Some of you think he declined a lot over the last two years but I think he can still play like he use to. He just didn't get that many touches over the last few years because of the emergence of Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer. We think we have a REALLY good defender, one the best in the league at the power forward position and can give your 15 points per game.

Ben Wallace - Like AK47, a lot of you think he wasn't the player he use to be and I totally agree. But its not like he can't play anymore. He is still a great piece to have on any team. Four time defensive player of the year, one time NBA champion, and 2 time league rebounding leader.

Jerry Stackhouse - Veteran role player, playoff tested. Is also good in the clutch.

Anthony Johnson - A great veteran backup to have on your team.

Sasha Pavlovic - A young role player with tons of playoffs experience. Can be very useful in the playoffs.

Highlights:

Chris Paul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gYcQCH3b_g

Jerry Stackhouse:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFxlz7yfAoc

Peja Stojakovic:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nOsHBwO2wM&feature=related

Andrei Kirlenko:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXKtONQQVik

Ben Wallace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj1llgNsQ9g

Good to see you Big Al. Certainly tough to switch gears midway like you did. If I have a concern about your team it's a lack of a low post presence, something absolutely critical to a team trying to win sooner than later. I just don't see one here. How do you plan to remedy or get past that problem?

[BigAlTheFuture]

Walker Wiggle. Any concerns at all about Arenas, Bynum's, and Foye's recent injuries?

Yes, and I believe I've been up front about that. What do you think otherwise? How do you feel we match-up as division rivals?

I think I have the better team, but hey thats just me. 

[The Walker Wiggle]

With Gil a pretty much uptempo kind of guard and Bynum more of a halfcourt guy what kind of tempo do you want to establish at the beginning of games?

We're going to push the tempo, as I believe it suits us one through five - Bynum included - and the young legs on our bench. I want to take advantage of having a pair of starting guards that that can do double duty - as playmakers and scorers. So, I guess, I disagree that Bynum is best suited to half-court sets; from what I've seen he runs the floor as well as any center. I was hoping to find a 3/4 court sprint time to show off, but he didn't attend pre-draft camp. Anyone else care to way in on this?

It is true that as a trailer he'll only be effective slashing to the basket, and not spotting up for 3PT shots the way Nowitzki or Harrington might (to choose a couple of de facto centers in uptempo systems). But scoring in transition first requires defensive stops and rebounds, and I expect Bynum to get more of both than either of those guys.

[Roy Hobbs]

My understanding (or recollection since it was 2 weeks ago now) was that POR only offered Gay, Horford and Martell Webster.  Am I wrong, Mr. Hobbs?

The offer was any two of my starters other than Amare, plus Webster.  Horford / Iguodala / Webster (for instance) is a pretty good package for a team that wants to rebuild.  I would have preferred moving T.J., so as not to be left with two point guards, but I would have had to work out a side deal, I think.

In hindsight, I'm glad that the deal didn't go through, because I think that's too much value, frankly.  Paul is good, but I'm not sure that he's worth two young stars (and legitimate stars) plus other talent when I already had an all-star caliber point guard.  On the other hand, in the position the Spurs were in, I see why they'd want to center their team around a legit superstar.

[kw10]

BiAl, are you worried about the lack of scoring coming off the bench?

Walker WIggle, same question goes to you. Your depth?

[BigAlTheFuture]

BiAl, are you worried about the lack of scoring coming off the bench?

Sasha Pavlovic is not that bad of a scorer, and if there's not enough scoring off the bench. I can always start Hassell and let Stackhouse come off the bench to help us with some of our scoring. Or I can take Peja out of the game late in the 1st quarter and let him play with our 2nd string. I don't think it would it be an issue.

I also have Derek Anderson, Mike James, and Eddie Jones. They are all known for their scoring abilities.

[BigAlTheFuture]

Good to see you Big Al. Certainly tough to switch gears midway like you did. If I have a concern about your team it's a lack of a low post presence, something absolutely critical to a team trying to win sooner than later. I just don't see one here. How do you plan to remedy or get past that problem?

I think we can develop our young bigs, Darrell Arthur and DeAndre Jordan into some fine low post players.

[zerophase]

the spurs get my vote as most improved through trades. the team really looked like it had no pieces to trade and bam it pulled off some very good trades to get some quality guys. obviously many gm's viewed the young talent differently.

[BigAlTheFuture]

the spurs get my vote as most improved through trades. the team really looked like it had no pieces to trade and bam it pulled off some very good trades to get some quality guys. obviously many gm's viewed the young talent differently.

Really? I thought I had loads of young talents to trade around. Jeff Green ain't no joke.  .

[RebusRankin]

Good to see you Big Al. Certainly tough to switch gears midway like you did. If I have a concern about your team it's a lack of a low post presence, something absolutely critical to a team trying to win sooner than later. I just don't see one here. How do you plan to remedy or get past that problem?

I think we can develop our young bigs, Darrell Arthur and DeAndre Jordan into some fine low post players.

Is that consistant with a win now team?

[BigAlTheFuture]

Good to see you Big Al. Certainly tough to switch gears midway like you did. If I have a concern about your team it's a lack of a low post presence, something absolutely critical to a team trying to win sooner than later. I just don't see one here. How do you plan to remedy or get past that problem?

I think we can develop our young bigs, Darrell Arthur and DeAndre Jordan into some fine low post players.

Is that consistant with a win now team?

We can work with them in practice, I guess.  . They will probably be in the rotation by the middle of the season. Darrell Arthur already have a pretty decent post game.