Free Agent Difference-Maker Antonio McDyess
Sat, Jul 11, 2009 by Adam Sedie
Antonio McDyess is officially a member of the San Antonio Spurs, strengthening Protect the Paint’s prediction that the Spurs are the team to beat for 2010.
McDyess (and draft choice DeJuan Blair) joins Tim Duncan and Matt Bonner to give San Antonio an incredibly strong, versatile frontcourt. Duncan does everything. He might not rap or be covered in tattoos. He’s never assaulted anyone, so his street-cred is lacking, but he’ll go down as one of the best basketball players ever.
McDyess' shooting touch can now help a contender. (credit:picapp.com)
Bonner started last season, but most likely will come off the bench for the new Spurs. His 44 percent from beyond the arc brings defenders out of the paint freeing up space for Duncan. Blair—the 37th pick in last month’s draft out of Pittsburgh—is a rebounding machine. This is a man who can protect the paint.
Which brings us to McDyess. The number two overall back from the 1995 Draft averaged 9.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game last year in 62 games with Detroit, starting out as a reserve and eventually gaining a starting position because of his steady play. He might not have the same psycho look in his eye Kurt Thomas (traded to Milwaukee) did, but immediately makes the Spurs a much better rebounding team and more physical.
Jefferson will be slashing teams apart at will. (Credit: picapp.com)
Throw in the acquisition of Richard Jefferson—excellent defender, gets out on the break, in his prime—and the Spurs add the athleticism they lacked last season.
Tony Parker and a healthy Manu Ginobili, along with Duncan, McDyess, and Michael Finley gives the team five players who at some point have been All-Stars. The Spurs head into the season with their deepest roster ever, and this is a franchise that has won four NBA titles. 
PROJECTED ROTATION
STARTERS/RESERVES
Tony Parker/George Hill
Roger Mason/Manu Ginobili
Richard Jefferson/Michael Finley
Tim Duncan/DeJuan Blair
Antonio McDyess/Matt Bonner
The five reserves are better than the majority of the starting five for the rest of the league.
McDyess—who will be 35 when the season begins—might not be in his prime, but even though the Lakers added Ron Artest and the Mavs traded for Shawn Marion, it will be incredibly difficult for these two teams or anyone to get past the Spurs in 2009-10.
The combo of Duncan, Ginobili, and Parker has won three titles already, and, provided the injury bug doesn’t bite, should make for at least one more.
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Finally some sense on PTP… The Spurs have had the best offseason imaginable for a team in their position. They started as an aging, championship-window-nearly-closed, small-market team with enough cap space to sign someone but nobody to sign, and through a shrewd trade, a lucky draft and this recent smart signing have become, I would agree, the team to beat in the Western Conference.
Remember, not only was Ginobili out for the end of the season and the playoffs, but Duncan played hurt basically all year long and the team’s lack of youth and depth led to the big three – Parker, Ginobili and Duncan – overextending themselves from start to finish. Put Blair behind Duncan, Jefferson IN FRONT of Ginobili and McDyess in the mix and suddenly you don’t need 35 mpg from Manu and Timmy, both of whom are old enough that taking it just a little easy during the regular season is important if you want them to perform at the highest level during the playoffs.
And perhaps the best part is that McDyess and Blair (though we have yet to see the latter in the NBA, of course) are both tough, hard-working guys that won’t be likely to complain about touches or involvement in the offense. BUT, both have enough offensive game to contribute something (Blair on the interior, McDyess with a solid 15-20-ft shooting game) when asked.
All in all a FANTASTIC offseason for a team that continues to prove you don’t have to be in a major market or willing to break the bank to be a consistent contender.
and finally some sense from kolsky on the PTP board.
hey, thanks for reading.
I’m sorry, but as a Knicks fan, I cannot EVER like, cheer for, or respect Antonio McDyess.
The Knicks brass traded a rookie forward in Nene Hilario, along with Marcus Camby for McDyess…who never once made an impact on anything but the trainer’s table.
Nene has turned into a star (ironically PERFECT for the current Knicks system), and had become a solid player on both offense and defense.
Camby is past his years now, but had plenty of very solid seasons after the trade, and is always a defensive difference-maker.
I am still so angered to this day by the trade and McDyess’ subsequent injuries that I cannot comment on this topic with any objectivity.
no need to be objective.
mcdyess was a terrible knick. some guys just don’t perform well in new york.
The addition of Dyess is big for the Spurs. After watching Blair in the SUmmer League I think he will be able to contribute as a rebounder and he has a promising J but McDyess gives them a guy you know you can trust. And a guy who can play some 5. But that is a problem to me, the Spurs still will struggle when they run into teams with two good bigs. Now this is a very short list of teams but its the list they are looking to overcome. Maybe oberto will make his way back to SA but even then Im not sure its what they are looking for.
Very thought-provoking article. I will come back to this site very soon.