Should Spurs sign Scola now?

[Reality]

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/basketball/nba/spurs/stories/MYSA032007.WEBSPURSMAILBAG.EN.2f3c826b.html
Johnny Ludden
Express-News Staff Writer

"The buyout clause in Luis’ contract with Tau Ceramica – the same clause that made it next to impossible for the Spurs to sign him two summers ago – has dropped to a little more than $3 million."

Non NBA Euros can sign at anytime.  With Spurs in desperate need of a 3 that can score, should they give Scola a whirl now so he could potentially play in this years playoffs.

[SPURSX3]

The Spurs can only fork up about 300k towards buying him out.  I don't know if they have the cap room to offer Scola a decent contract AND the 3 mill diff after a buyout.  It would be great to FINALLY get this guy on our squad but I stopped hoping for this to happen already.  I don't see the Spurs signing him.  I wish they would, but I just don't see it happenning.

[Lurker]

X3 is right...the team can only pay $300,000 towards the buyout.  The rest has to come from the player.  And the Spurs could only sign him to a minimum contract which is far below $2.7 million.

Besides the simple fact that Scola plays the 4 spot and would be embarrassed trying to guard NBA level SF.

[Reality]

The NBA upped it to 500K this year.
So what are the dollar and year amounts limits on a minimum contract?

Scola made 1.85 mil in 2005-6.   Also that is not taxed and most Euros get free housing and cars.
So why can't he help pay his own buyout?
Xs3 or anyone want to translate what he made the rest of his contract?
http://www.lacoctelera.com/guso/post/2005/09/29/el-nuevo-supermanager-ya-esta-operativo

Besides the simple fact that Scola plays the 4 spot and would be embarrassed trying to guard NBA level SF. 

Could it be anymore embarrasing then Bonzi Wells and Dirk roasting undersized Fins, Manu and Bowen on an open fire last year?

[Lurker]

Besides the simple fact that Scola plays the 4 spot and would be embarrassed trying to guard NBA level SF. 

Could it be anymore embarrasing then Bonzi Wells and Dirk roasting undersized Fins, Manu and Bowen on an open fire last year?

Far, far worse.  Think Jackie Butler or Melvin Ely guarding Dirk.  Or McGrady.  Or Marion.  Or Kobe.

Better yet...just think.

[Reality]

Okay so Scola can't guard Dirk.
What helps the Spurs win the title more this year?

Butler and Ely sitting on the bench or Scola playing?
Fabs or Scola?

[Lurker]

Okay so Scola can't guard Dirk.
What helps the Spurs win the title more this year?

Butler and Ely sitting on the bench or Scola playing?
Fabs or Scola?

Scola would be better than the other 3.  However unless he is willing to pony up big cash out of his pocket then it ain't goin' happen.  He had the same opportunity this last summer and didn't want to pay for his own buyout.


Problem is that 2 of those other 3 won't get off the IR list let alone see any floor time in the playoffs.  And IMHO adding another PF/C isn't the missing piece for a playoff run this year.  Reggie Miller would help the team more than Scola if all you are thinking about is a title run this May/June.

[Reality]

Scola would be better than the other 3. 

Exactly.  That is why it should happen.

  He had the same opportunity this last summer and didn't want to pay for his own buyout.

I thought last summer the buyout was still 14 mil.  If it was down to 3, was the holdup his not wanting to pay anything or the Spurs front office offering nothing?  I think its the latter.

And IMHO adding another PF/C isn't the missing piece for a playoff run this year.   

  It might not be the piece, but it certainly is a piece.  We need a forward who can consistently score.  This puts much pressure on opponents D as it frees up Duncan.  Also, one way to play Dirk/Marion etc is to make them play defense.  Fabs and BadBack Bowen are currently doing zero in that catagoire.

Reggie Miller would help the team more than Scola if all you are thinking about is a title run this May/June. 

  Isn't Finley supposed to do that?

[WayOutWest]

Better yet...just think.

     

[Reality]

June 4th, 2007
And Charles as Luis Scola puts down that slam dunk over Dirk Novitski the Spurs now extend their lead to 20 points as they are about to eliminate the Maveriks 4-1.  Charles, do you think the decision to sign Scola was a good one?

Barkley:  Chip not only was Realitys decision to sign Scola a good one, its one well overdue.   Also the decision to bench Michael Finley and his old lurking legs was long overdue.

[Lurker]

Scola scores in ther paint...the Spurs already have a better inside scorer than Scola.  Maybe you have heard of him...Tim Duncan.

Spurs offered the max that a team could offer towards the buyout.  The holdup was Scola wanting a multi-year contract starting at the entire mid-level exemption.  Spurs were offering around $3-4 mil for a couple seasons.

Scola is not an athletic swingman.  Not sure why you would start 3 PF/C type players in a league that has definately altered the rules to promote athletic, slasher/scorer type players

You just read yesterday how Elson hasn't even completely learned the defensive schemes of the Spurs and you want to bring in someone new to learn in 3 weeks what others take 2 years to figure out.

Scola would make sense for 2 reasons: 1) he could defend perimeter players as well as Bowen and 2) he could shoot from the perimeter as well as Barry/Finley.  And the reality is that he does neither.  So no he is NOT a piece that would help the Spurs win this year.

[Reality]

Scola would be better than the other 3. (Fabs Butler Ely)

contrasted with.

So no he is NOT a piece that would help the Spurs win this year.

The holdup was Scola wanting a multi-year contract starting at the entire mid-level exemption.  Spurs were offering around $3-4 mil for a couple seasons. 

  Source, link?  Is this just bbs fodder?

Scola scores in ther paint...the Spurs already have a better inside scorer than Scola.  Maybe you have heard of him...Tim Duncan. 

  Another inside scorer would not help?

[Lurker]

Scola would be better than the other 3. (Fabs Butler Ely)

contrasted with.

So no he is NOT a piece that would help the Spurs win this year.

Right.  Fabs/Butler/Ely are 3 non-essential pieces this year.  Fabs is probably the only one who will actually see any floor time.  And he could be replaced with just about any journeyman PF/C and the effect would be the same.  KEY pieces would be to upgrade Barry/Finley/Bowen.  Problem is that no one available is an upgrade to those 3.

The holdup was Scola wanting a multi-year contract starting at the entire mid-level exemption.  Spurs were offering around $3-4 mil for a couple seasons. 

  Source, link?  Is this just bbs fodder?

It was reported with regularity last offseason in the local papers and on local newscasts.  I don't have time to search archives to find support.  Might be a good task to keep you busy for awhile.

Scola scores in ther paint...the Spurs already have a better inside scorer than Scola.  Maybe you have heard of him...Tim Duncan. 

  Another inside scorer would not help?

The Spurs have 2 inside scorers...Duncan & Parker.  They don't need another inside scorer...in fact the Spurs don't really need another scorer.  They need a consistant ( <---key word) outside SHOOTER with above average defensive skills.

[Reality]

It was reported with regularity last offseason in the local papers and on local newscasts.  I don't have time to search archives to find support.  Might be a good task to keep you busy for awhile.

Like Barrdogg and Finleys shotting %s.
Correcting your misquotes could take on Randykoastish proportions.  I don't know if i'm up to that.

[Lurker]

From an article dated 9/30/06 based on observations from Dec 2004 on a European scouting tour....

Though the Spurs have some concerns on how Scola will fit next to Tim Duncan, considering both like to play in the post, they think he could be a productive reserve in the NBA. Their biggest worry is signing him to an affordable contract.

As he leaves the arena, Buford doesn't feel any more optimistic. Scola's contract doesn't specify a buyout for being a second-round pick, so Tau's owners claim the first-round figure applies: a staggering 12 million euros.

"It's not going to be easy," Buford says, a comment that will continue to ring true 18 months later (Summer 2006).

He renegotiated his contract to get a lower buyout this summer.  However the Spurs are not going to pay him more than $3-3.5 mil per season.