Looking to clear space on their roster, the Spurs are shopping DeJuan Blair in trade talks, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports (via Twitter). Blair fell out of the Spurs' rotation this season, and would be open to a move, Wojnarowski adds in a second tweet.
According to Wojnarowski, some of the international players whose rights the Spurs hold could be on their way to the NBA this offseason, meaning the Spurs will need to clear room for them. When Chuck Myron of Hoops Rumors recently compiled a list of the international players whose rights were held by NBA teams, no club had more prospects on the list than the Spurs, with five. According to Jonathan Givony of Draft Express (via Twitter), Erazem Lorbek and Nando De Colo are the two players most likely to be making the leap to the NBA.
As for Blair, he averaged 9.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 21.3 minutes per game during the season, but saw his playing time disappear in the playoffs. He played just three total minutes against the Clippers, and just under 27 total minutes in the Thunder series. He has a non-guaranteed contract for next season worth about $1.05MM.
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I thought Blair should have gotten more playing time against the Thunder. Diaw didn’t really give them the inside toughness that Blair does, and they could have used that at times.
Couldn’t agree more. The loss of Blair during playoffs cost them series against OKC. Chemistry is very important and some of those guys playing the playoffs had barely been there. What was Pop thinking?
I like Blair! It appears that if he lost 10-15 lbs that he would be little quicker. He would still be a load down low but just a little quicker. The Spurs appeared to be a little slow compared to the Thunder and even the Heat. The Euros that are coming over are not exceptionally quick. Patti Mills is quick. I hope he comes back to the Spurs. He can shoot too! What about James Anderson? We are giving up on him? What if he is better than Nando?
There needs to be heavier post D by Blair and Diaw for the Spurs to contend with quicker teams. Let Manu and TP Man the perimeter, Ducan center, and Diaw-Blair on the hoop. You have three solid lines of defense. Anyway…
I don’t see a future with Patty Mills. I can see Cory Joseph being a contributing factor in the coming seasons
POP didn’t use the same rotation he did in the regular season. IT could have made a difference. PLAYERs were used to it and they lost that rhythm playing tired Tony whom OKC succesfully contained.
Can we just get rid of Matt bonner please?! He chokes in the playoffs every year, and when Blair did go in he did work.
Better trade him now , some team will pay him. Few bag’s of peanut’s should do it.