TruBlueCowboy said:
I hope this is a dynasty. I'm just worried about the Spurs being able to re-sign their players. I hope Manu doesn't leave town because he wants to be a starter and not come off the bench. I also hope Parker doesn't take any of the Jason Kidd stuff personal when it's his turn to get a new contract. That was a brilliant draft, especially when you consider where the Spurs picked them. If not for Manu and Parker, this team is totally different.
TruBlue: I found this chat on a Spurs website that answers a lot of their contract questions, if you're interested:
Question: Will the Spurs be able to keep Manu Ginobili after this season? I think he is a very important part of the team and he would be a starter in any other team.
— Sagar Khaire, Bellevue, WA
Mike Monroe: They can keep him, but it's going to cost them. Several other teams (Denver and Phoenix, to name two who have lots of cap room) have plenty of interest. Suns Coach Mike D'Antoni has a relationship with Manu from his days coaching in the Italian League when Manu played in Italy. However, he is a restricted free agent, meaning the Spurs can match any team's offer. They intend to do just that, which will discourage other teams from offering in the first place.
Joe Reinagel: The Spurs also think Manu is a valuable part of the team and will make every effort to keep him around. The only snag I can see is if the Spurs decide they want to go after someone like Kobe Bryant, but even then Manu makes sense, so look Manu's crazy style of play in a Spurs uniform for many years to come.
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Question: Will the Spurs attempt to acquire Kobe Bryant during the off-season?
— Omar Rodriguez, Aurora, IL
Mike Monroe: Kobe is one of the best players in the game, and if you have the cap room to make him a maximum offer you would be nuts not to consider it. However, the timing of his sexual assault trial (August at the earliest) means the Spurs would have to renounce Ginobili, Turkoglu and Horry to have the cap space to signing him and would not know the outcome of his trial. That is too great a risk to take, so I don't expect it to happen.
Joe Reinagel: Having Kobe here in San Antonio is a long shot, although who wouldn't want Kobe on their team? So you might expect a small peek at what it would take. My guess is the Lakers will find a way to keep him.
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Question: Please explain how last year's first round trade is going to work for the Spurs in this year's draft. Also what is the status of Luis Scola? If I recall he was a teammate of Manu Ginobili's in Argentina and is the property of the Spurs. Is this accurate?
— Chris, Austin
Mike Monroe: Spurs have Scola's NBA rights, but he is under contract to a team in the Spanish league, so Spurs would have to buy him out of that if he can't negotiate a release. They may want him to get another year of seasoning overseas. Spurs don't have a first round pick this year.
Joe Reinagel: It gets somewhat complicated but the Spurs traded last year's pick to Phoenix for a protected pick, meaning if the Suns have a top 20 pick, it is protected for a number of years, basically it means the Spurs did not want to draft a first rounder and be obligated to pay him. As for Scola, he is the property of the Spurs, just like Manu was for three years until the team and Manu decided it was time to come play in the NBA.
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Question: I can only assume that we will only make a light-hearted attempt at Kobe Bryant this off-season and simply end up signing Manu Ginobili and Hedo Turkuglo to keep the team pretty much intact. But I'm more interested in Tony Parker. He has matured into an elite point guard. When is his contract up and how can we be sure to keep him, considering all the problems between him and Gregg Popovich the past year?
— Scott Karafin, Columbus, Ohio
Mike Monroe: Tony is under contract through next season. There is no way the Spurs will let Tony get away.
Joe Reinagel: Having Kobe here in San Antonio is a long shot, although who wouldn't want Kobe on their team...So you might expect a small peek at what it would take. My guess is the Lakers will find way to keep him.
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Question: Who can we expect to see in terms of new players next season, and which players will we lose?
— Jimmy Fisch, Los Angeles, Calif.
Mike Monroe: The Spurs like their core group and will only "fine tune" the roster this summer. If they can sign a free agent "big" you might see them let Kevin Willis retire.
Joe Reinagel: The one player that I think the Spurs will try and deal is Malik Rose. He has found a spot on the end of Pop's bench plus the fact that he is making a bunch of money.
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Question: Will the Spurs be better off building their nucleus around Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, and Manu Ginobili and continue to spend their money modestly on good roll players? Or do you feel that we should still try to pick up another super star and run the risk of compromising a deep bench, and good roll players in return?
— Richard Valadez, San Antonio
Mike Monroe: I believe Duncan and Parker form the basis of a championship team for years to come and the Spurs should try to keep their core roster together as long as they can. I see Duncan and Parker as this generation's Malone and Stockton. The Jazz didn't win any titles with Malone and Stockton, but that was only because they were unfortunate to have to play the Michael Jordan Bulls.
Joe Reinagel: I have to believe the Spurs will continue to build around these players. Pop and R.C. Buford don't get near the credit they deserve when it comes to assembling players, in fact I don't think they thought this team would be as good as it has become. Having said that, just like last year, if they have a chance to add a star, I think they would be willing to take the shot.
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Question: If Kobe Bryant does join the Spurs, won't he knock heads with Tony Parker and Tim Duncan? Do we really need him?
— Patricia Chapa, San Antonio
Mike Monroe: Kobe is a headstrong player, to be sure. Duncan is a total team player who would adjust easily, as long as Kobe understood Tim needs to get the ball in crunch time. I could see problems between Kobe and Tony. But I think it is moot. I don't believe the Spurs will go after Kobe.
Joe Reinagel: I think you could look at any team and say, 'Yes, we need Kobe Bryant.' He is arguably the best player in the NBA right now and would make any team better. But he would have to fit in with Tim and Tony because Pop wouldn't have it any other way.
But seriously, the Lakers can win it, but it's going to be tough, each and every game. 
