Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009 at 1:29 pm  |  180 responses

Breaking: Richard Jefferson to Spurs

by Ryne Nelson

The Spurs never cease to be in the picture. They will never become irrelevant. They won’t allow it. Why?

Well, leave it to Chad Ford to break the most breaking news of the offseason as dramatically as possible via his live web chat:

The trade is Richard Jefferson to the Spurs for Bruce Bowen, Fabricio Oberto and Kurt Thomas … more coming in just a second. Deal is agreed to in principle with a trade call coming later today.

[...]

Bowen, Oberto and Thomas are all in the last year of their contracts. It saves them roughly $3 million this year and $15 million next year. And it gives them some flexibility to sign at least one of their restricted free agents — either Charlie Villanueva or Ramon Sessions.

You heard it: Bruce Bowen is no longer a Spur. We knew it would happen someday, possibly, but nonetheless it’s still pretty unthinkable. At this point in his career the Spurs might’ve just awarded him an honorary spot at the end of the bench until Kobe retires, just to annoy the Mamba. But this… you know this is a business now. The Spurs throw away some refuse and dig up a still-spry, high-character wing player. What a piece for the best organization in sports!

People forget Bowen’s early days in Miami, Philly and Boston since Bowen did most of his damage in the white and black, but now he’s officially been given the Damon Jones treatment. This is a sad and happy day for Spurs fans.

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  • la huey

    its an upgrade overall but losing thomas hurts their frontcourt. your chances at winning aren’t good if your 3rd best frontcourt player is scalabr…er…bonner.

  • F.C.

    The Bucks are the most generous team in the NBA. They constantly give away decent players for next to nothing. Please tell me how they benefit from this trade, and I don’t want to hear salary reasons either, because they do nothing with the money they save … ever!

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    Perhaps we’re being to harsh on logan..for all we know he’s a spurs insider hinting at a potential John Amechi comeback

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    or perhaps he’s describing pops’ jocular demenor in postgame pressers using some antiquated vernacular?

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    …or he’s 12. and @ FC–the bucks get the financial capital they need to…stay in business and not contract/move somewhere other than miluakee. Hurrah.

  • Izzo

    Redrum:Why TP or the Spurs do that?

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com/ TADOne

    On the flip side, this actually isn’t a bad move for the Bucks. They have Charlie V and Joe Alexander both waiting in the wings and Redd coming back from injury. They needed cap space to re-sign Sessions and Charlie V. RJ was definitely expendable and his big contract is off the books.

  • Ken

    As a Suns fan I hate the Spurs. But I have to hand it to them, their management does a fantastic job. I’m also happy that Bowen is going to one of the worst teams in the NBA. It really bugs me that such a dirty player got a bunch of rings by riding on Duncan/TP/Manu’s talents.

  • http://www.myspace.com/weezyleezy337 weezy f. leezy

    jefferson must be souped!

  • http://slamonline.com B. Long

    This is a great move for both teams. It doesn’t look like it right now for the Bucks, but when Joe Alexander is blossoming around all-star break next year people will be glad that they made this move. RJ never wanted to be a Buck anyways.

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    TAD–The Bucks always looks better on paper…it seems like all of their top players (sessions, redd, Charlie V, Bogut) would be GREAT as the 2nd or 3rd best player on a contending team, but they don’t have a superstar. A team with that sort of makeup can win (as you well know being a detroit fan), but it requires good coaching and stellar defense…and the bucks have neither.

  • Diesel

    Spurs have 3 second round picks. I’d look to them to pick up Taj Gibson or Josh Heytvelt to add some depth to that front court. Scary scary team

  • http://yahoo.com Logan

    nick: is “spurs are still dumb” better for you so u can relax? perhaps ur a spurs fan.. or perhaps ur just a retard tryin to be funny

  • http://nationofmillions.ca Ciolkstar

    Cub: How do you think Heytvelt would fit with the Spurs? He’d be like a bigger, better Bonner with more upside. I really want us to use our early 2nd rounder (#37 via GState) on him, Draft Express has us taking DaJuan Summers there, but with RJ in the mix I’d have to think a versatile PF like Heytvelt, with 3 point range would be too hard to pass up.
    I like Pendergraph there as well, but he’s a tad undersized and still pretty raw offensively. This draft is actually really strong in the early/mid second,(Toney Douglas, Derrick Brown, Jermaine Taylor, Marcus Thornton, Jerel Mcneal, etc…) and now that the Spurs will have some open roster spots I really hope we can get some value out of the three 2nd rounders.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca Ciolkstar

    How many years (and how much $) are left on RJ’s deal?

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    Ciokstar: 13 mil, expires at the end of the year. I think.

  • dpak

    i bet bowen’s a spur before the year is up.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Cub Buenning

    Coilk, I loved it when you mentioned his name in an earlier comment.
    Personally, Heytvelt would fit with ANYONE!
    My obvious Gonzaga feelings aside, he is the ideal back-up NBA big.
    Can hit open shots (even to 3pt line) and he has the height, size and strength to rebound and defend. Athletic to boot!
    He’d eat Matt Bonner for lunch and be an unbelievable upgrade at that spot.

    REMEMBER! He was a lottery lock during his sophomore campaign before the legal issues snowballed onto the basketball court. By the time he returned, his role on the team had just changed. HUGE STEAL FOR THE SPURS.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com BETCATS

    wow. The Spurs respond to the constant ‘their getting old’ rhetoric by getting rid of 3 old guys and bringing in RJ. This team is gonna do work next year.

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    Y’all are right–Somebody like Heytvelt, or Hansborough if they could move up, would be a good pick–they need someone NBA ready now, and both of those guys fit the bill.

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    Mental image I cannot currently escape: Heytvelt, Pop, Bonner, and Ginobli eating mushrooms on the Spurs team charter.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca Ciolkstar

    Another guy I’d LOVE to see the spurs snag in the 2nd round in Micah Downs, a seriously BAD whiteboy with polished game and a mean streak. he played a complimentary role for the Zags, but he’s got the tools to be very good. I’m actually shocked that I haven’t seen his name mentioned anywhere… maybe he withdrew?

  • http://dsfkl.com Jukai

    Ciolkstar: white boys are always soft and overhyped from the evil white media. Get it right!

  • RedRum

    If they can get Splitter they are sorted. Best big player at the moment in europe.

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    Ciolkstar: from one minute of research, all i can tell is that he’s still in (he hired an agent, so he can’t withdrawl) but isn’t getting a lot of love (projected late 2nd-undrafted). It’s probably not fair, but it seems like 4 year college players who don’t post huge numbers get slept on even if their measurables (6’8, 200, decent athleticism, good 3pt shooter) are solid, because its assumed (perhaps unfairly) that a 4 year player has no more upside.

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    The Red-Rocket will do fine, because everyone leaves him open everytime, and he makes the shot almost every time. Uhhhh, I’m not as “gulp” about this. Does anybody else remember that RJ sucks?

  • http://www.clutchfans.net nick

    And Jukai, it’s a well known fact that all white players with a modicum of talent MUST BE the next Bird, Dirk, Pistol, or Stockton. Because they look vaguely alike. Duh.

  • http://slamonline.com Russ Bengtson

    The Spurs will get at least one of those guys back, I bet.

  • http://nbacheapseats.blogspot.com Chendaddy

    Youth (relatively) and athleticism — that’s exactly what the Spurs needed and they got it. They were desperate for offensive firepower with Manu sidelined and only Parker and Duncan carrying the load in the playoffs this past year. Jefferson’s also a high character guy who’s going to fit perfectly with this organization. Great trade for the Spurs. If Mahinmi still isn’t ready to contribute, John Hollinger has been saying that Tiago Splitter may finally be coming over next year when he’s no longer tied to the rookie scale. Things are coming back around in San Antonio. Milwaukee ……… ehh …?

  • Marco

    And now Pop, what about that trade commission you were talking about last year?

  • http://tudobola.blogspot.com/ Edu

    Will the Bucks next season be worse than the Kings last one? I really envy the Spurs.

  • http://tudobola.blogspot.com/ Edu

    Don’t you think the Spurs can talk about that with the players traded before the trade, Russ? Or even with the Bucks?

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    I’m still not seeing an upside here.

  • dma

    How about Antonio mcd signing? He’s still desperate to get that ring.

  • catalan

    Do you think RJ can score the open shoots? I’m not sure…

  • http://thesportsdiaryonline.blogspot.com Roy

    This trade could be what the Spurs needed…

  • Saku 39

    RJ is a good player but he’s overrated and overpaid. He doesn’t pass or rebound particularly well but he’ll be a good fit for the Spurs in the short term. The Bucks weren’t going anywhere with RJ so I guess they figured they could save some dollars and rebuild.

  • busterjonez

    Spurs currently have 8 players under contract for $68.9 million.

  • http://nationofmillions.ca Ciolkstar

    The best thing about this trade is that we didn’t have to move Roger Mason Jr or George Hill. With another solid signing or draft steal this could be one of the deepest Spurs teams yet.

  • http://www.okayplayer.com doyouwantmore

    LMAO @ Izzo! “Maybe the NBA will leave Milwaukee off the schedule this year and see if they take the hint.”

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    STILL not seeing an upside.

  • http://www.hoopsmanifesto.blogspot.com Jeff Fox

    On paper you’d have to argue that the Spurs now have more talent than the Lakers.

  • Josh D

    WOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
    A massive steal by the spurs

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    That is a STRAIGHT CRACK-HEAD STATEMENT Fox. Not there’s anything wrong with crack-heads.

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    That is a STRAIGHT CRACK-HEAD STATEMENT Fox. Not that there’s anything wrong with crack-heads.

  • http://drexlerwasabeast.com nbk

    if manu’s healthy they might be better then the lakers though

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    Darrius Miles = Richard Jefferson.

  • http://slamonline.com Spaceship Jay

    I’m not a Lakers fan, don’t get me wrong, but I AM a realist; There is no way Richard Jefferson is going to be the piece attained to be better than the Lakers.

  • http://slamonline blaze

    good trade for both teams, but now the spurs need a center since Timmy D insists on playing the four.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Myles Brown

    Parker is obviously more talented than Fisher. Kobe is obviously better than Ginobili. Jefferson is slightly better than Ariza and considering the mileage on him, Id give the edge to Duncan over Gasol, but its closer than it used to be. Bynum may not be turning out as expected, but hes still better than Gooden or Bonner. And Odom is certainly better than anyone on San Ans bench. So the talent is close enough to muster an argument, but not a successful one to me. However as to who’s the better team? Again, if the Spurs get themselves some supporting frontcourt players well certainly see. If not? LA, easily. San An would get killed on the boards and possibly in the paint.

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