Spurs’ roster stays intact: No deadline trades made despite inquires about Udrih, Butler
Web Posted: 02/23/2007 12:32 AM CST
Johnny Ludden
Express-News
The Spurs won’t need any introductions at this morning’s practice after the NBA’s trading deadline came and went Thursday afternoon without incident.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich made good on his promise not to trade any member of his rotation, and while team officials spent Thursday looking at opportunities to deal Beno Udrih or Jackie Butler, both players remained on the roster after the 2 p.m. deadline passed.
“We had discussions going on as we do every year,” Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said. “But we just didn’t see anything that we thought would make us better.”
The Spurs made one move last week, sending Eric Williams and a 2009 second-round pick to Charlotte for Melvin Ely. But Popovich characterized the trade as swapping “an injured-list player for an injured-list player” and Ely could have a difficult time finding minutes with the Spurs given their current big-man rotation.
Considering the elevated age of a handful of their players and the fact that Williams’ $4.3 million deal had been the only significant expiring contract on their books, the Spurs didn’t have many tradeable assets. Udrih, who has been bumped to third on the team’s point-guard depth chart, drew interest from a handful of teams, but his low salary made it difficult to get fair value in return.
Tony Parker also has recently been slowed by tendinitis in his right knee, and earlier this week, Popovich called Udrih “a great insurance policy.”
“There were some teams interested in Beno, but the bottom line is, he wasn’t traded,” said Udrih’s agent, Marc Cornstein.
“I know it sounds like a cliché, but I tend to believe certain things happen for a reason. Hopefully, he’ll have an opportunity to better his position with the Spurs.”
Philadelphia inquired about Butler, but also was hoping to acquire a draft pick and didn’t come up with an offer the Spurs wanted.
As a result, the Spurs had a relatively quiet deadline day compared to the previous three years: In 2004, the Spurs agreed to trade Malik Rose to New York for Kurt Thomas only to have the Knicks back out of the deal during the conference call with the league’s attorneys; in 2005, the Spurs sent Rose to the Knicks for Nazr Mohammed; and last season, the team told Brent Barry he was being traded (to New Orleans for J.R. Smith) only to have the trade collapse at the last minute.
The Spurs also haven’t ruled out trying to sign 41-year-old forward Scottie Pippen, who announced last week he wanted to come out of retirement to join a championship contender. While team officials said only they will do their “due diligence” with Pippen, they likely won’t seriously consider signing the former Chicago Bulls standout without first seeing him work out.
The Spurs also would have to waive a player to make room for Pippen or any other free agent they might want to add.
“If there is a way we think we can improve the team,” Buford said, “we’ll continue to explore it.”