Jun 27, 2007 4:07 pm US/Central
Core Spurs Players Plan To Stick Together
SAN ANTONIO (AP) ―
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Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs might soon be forced to deal with having one of the oldest teams in the NBA, but they aren't likely to start in Thursday's draft.
The core of a team that swept the Cleveland Cavaliers this month for the Spurs' fourth title in nine seasons remains intact -- and fairly young. Tim Duncan is the oldest at 31, followed by Manu Ginobili (29) and finals MVP Tony Parker (25).
If the Spurs find any help with the 28th, 33rd or 58th picks, it's likely to be an injection of youth for a supporting cast led by three longtime -- and aging -- veterans.
Star defender Bruce Bowen, largely credited with making things tough on LeBron James during the finals, turned 36 this month. Robert "Big Shot Rob" Horry, known for an array of clutch shots through the years, will be 37 in August. And Michael Finley, who started all 20 games during the playoffs and won his first championship, is 34.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said shortly after the team won the title that it's difficult to determine when a team needs to get younger.
"If you don't do some things in a proactive manner, then all of the sudden you're too darn old and you waited too long," he said. "But you don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water. So that will be part of our evaluation this summer in moving forward, to make sure we don't get behind that curve."
Parker's not worried, saying he has confidence in Popovich and general manager R.C. Buford, architects of the closest thing to an NBA dynasty since the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s.
"They're going to do a great job to maybe change one or two pieces to make sure we compete," Parker said. "But I think Robert and Bruce, all the old guys, can at least go for one more year -- at least."
When the Spurs were ousted by the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference finals last year, calls grew for the team to get more athletic. Popovich didn't buy it.
"One has to make sure that you evaluate properly," he said. "If we kept this same team, at some point it would be too old and unathletic, but last year was too soon to call that shot."
Given history, discounting the Spurs' draft position would be a mistake. In 2001, Parker was chosen in the same spot the Spurs own Thursday. Ginobili was the 57th pick near the end of the second round in 1999.
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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