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As I impatiently await for the Spurs-Timberwolves series to resume, I sit here thinking of ways the Spurs can improve their roster next year to make a title run (or a defending one if we are so fortunate). Before I get to that, I will give you my quick take on Game 1. Duncan reduces Kevin Garnet to being a jumpshooter. Garnet was hitting it for THIS game, but we can live with that. Also, although the T-wolves were hanging in their for a while, there was NEVER any doubt in my mind that the Spurs weren’t going to win. The team came out with not even half the intensity we grew accustomed to during late season surge, yet the Spurs stayed with Minnesota until midway in the third. Then they just turned their motor into high gear, a gear which Minnesota does not have. I still say Spurs in 3.
Back to the matter at hand, the way to make our team even better is to invite a 6-10 German to town. You guessed it, I am talking about Detlef Schrempf. He is very versatile and can play both forward spots. He can score in the post and can drain the three point shot, shooting an excellent 39.5% this season. He runs the floor well and can finish on the fastbreak. On defense, he is very solid thanks to his former coach and one time Spur, George Karl. His 6-10 frame and reasonable speed allow him to defend other small forwards well. And although some power forwards with power inside games such as Charles Barkley can push him around at times, he was able to successfully guard ( as successful as you can be when you are not someone on the level of David Robinson) Karl Malone this season, conceding only the turn around jumpshot which most players, if not all, have difficultly defending against.
Now why would Seattle let a player like this go? Maybe it is his age. Detlef is actually about a year and a half older than David Robinson. He did, however, put up numbers that about equal to last season and did not miss a single game to injury in this compacted season. He missed only 3 games all of last season to injury, that is 5 games fewer than Robinson. He really has not shown any signs of slowing down. He has at the very least two great seasons left in him.
The Supersonics may not even have a say in the matter because Detlef Schrempf, a free agent this summer, may simply want out of Seattle. There have been reports that several players are tired of playing with Gary Payton and describe the point guard as a prima donna who goes into sulks and trades after losses. There is also the fact that new coach Paul Westphal benched Schrempf in place of Billy Owens. Schrempf took the move as a demotion. It was only because of injury to Owens and later to Vin Baker that Detlef was placed back into the starting lineup. Let’s not also forget that this is the first time in ten years (back when he was first traded from Dallas to Indiana) that Detlef has missed the playoffs. Most veterans just want to have a chance at winning a title, he may believe that the window of opportunity has closed in Seattle.
Of course, coming to the Spurs would mean that Detlef would have to take a pay cut from about $3.3 mil to $1.75 mil. Granted, it is not my money that I am talking about, but that isn’t a big cut for a chance to win (or defend) a title. But once on the Spurs, he would make what I believe to be the best frontline rotation (sorry, Houston) even better. First, we would be the primary sub for Sean Elliot. Because Detlef is capable of playing extended minutes, the Spurs can cut down on Elliot’s minutes to cut down the wear on Sean’s quads and keep him healthy. This would also mean that Mario Elie would not have to play significant time at small forward either. Not that Elie can’t play small forward, but Elie’s much traveled body needs the rest to make sure he remains healthy too.
Secondly, Detlef can sub in at power forward when Tim Duncan comes out of the game. When Robinson comes out, Schrempf can come in and allow Duncan to slide into the center position. When both the big guys exit, he could provide consistent scoring off the bench, something Malik Rose and Will Perdue cannot do.
Another intriguing possibility is that the Spurs can come out with a big lineup by but Schrempf at small forward and Sean Elliot at shooting guard. Of course, Avery Johnson at 5-11, doesn't add in to the "big" part, but after him the rest of the lineup would consist of guys 6-8, 6-10, 7-0 and 7-1. This could be very valuable, especially against a team such as the LA Lakers where Glen Rice would have a bigger person to try to shoot over and Kobe Bryant would have to deal with Elliot’s strength and quickness. In fact, except for a few teams like Utah who was a small and very quick shooing guard in Jeff Hornacek, the lineup of Avery, Sean, Detlef, Duncan and Robinson could be our new starting lineup.
The bottom line is that a veteran player with playoff experience who is still very effective and can play in the clutch. He is also a player of good character both on and off the court who involves himself in the local community. In my opinion, he is a perfect fit for the San Antonio Spurs.
By Spurn
Would you like to see Detlef Schrempf in Spurs colors? Step on the Soapbox and have your say.
