Still think the Spurs need more than Splitter + an improved Jefferson to go where they want to go. They got swept by the Phoenix freaking Suns, for pete's sake.

No matter what they end up doing in the offseason, I think the Spurs payroll situation guarantees their status as a 2nd teir team.

IF
Splitter is as good as advertised
IF
Jefferson improves from where he ended the year (was actually playing well)
IF
Tony comes back full force
IF
Anderson can be a rookie contributor like Blair was

Then the Spurs can contend.

Parker
Manu
Hill
Jefferson
Splitter
Duncan
Blair
Dyess

Thats 8 solid players. Just need Parker, Manu, and Duncan to play like all-stars. Hill is a good player. Splitter is supposed to be the best in Europe. Blair and Dyess and decent minutes. Jefferson has to step up.

RJ. 4 years, 40 million.

Looks like Jefferson is wanting 8-10mm/year for the next 5 years.

5y/40mm.

Say NJ wants to give him that to run with Lopez and Harris, but still want to get a MaxFA:

Work out a S&T with the Spurs:
Give RJ 5y/40mm, or ~8mm/year.
If the Spurs signed and traded him, they could increase by 10.5% a year, rather than 8%/year, so the first year salary could be smaller.
6.5mm for the first year for RJeff

Trade him for Kris Humphries at 3.2mm, Quinton Ross at 1.1mm and Courtney Lee at 1.3mm and $3mm cash.

The Nets then have just upgraded from Courtney Lee and Kris Humphries to Richard Jefferson at a cost of only 0.9mm on the cap. Now the pitch of Harris+Lopez becomes a pitch of Harris+Lopez+Jefferson.

Assuming Bron isn't going to NJ, having one more name player would be great for NJ.

Humphries isn't great, but Lee would be a solid starter for the Spurs.

SA Express News is reporting that there are reports of Jefferson signing a 3 year $30MM deal.

baffled by both sides on this

Jefferson loses money and retires a spur

Spurs save money, but get a guy that doesn't fit

Add Splitter, Blair improves by 50% and Jefferson improves 50% you might have something

just for craps and grins bring Shaq home

Ha, Shaq in SA to end his career would be hilarity. That will happen about the time he and David Robinson go vacationing together.

unfortunately, spurs are stuck with RJ. if he were to leave- "now starting at SF, Malik Hairston..." to reference someone close to the situation, RJ is a good player, just not 15 million a year good. the spurs are just stuck. i heard this afternoon that it was 4 years, 40 million. it may have changed since then, but it seemed pretty much done at that point. i haven't checked anything since then.

Don Harris is reporting that the Spurs and Jefferson aren't close.

The other thing is that if Jefferson gets a deal elsewhere, they probably want to S&T him. Since the Spurs can give him the highest raises, they will save more money this year with a S&T than with a signing.

That at least nets the Spurs a nice trade exemption but possibly nets them more. A trade exemption could be turned around to a team that is a seller trying to get rid of players/salary or the spurs could outright fit better for them.

i guess we'll see- san antonio express beat writer reporting that a deal could be imminent, numbers not clear yet.