Pop Waives Pops

The Spurs released forward Pops Mensah-Bonsu today, most likely to make room for veteran free agent forward Drew Gooden.

Pops showed a lot of energy in the three games he played. And as Michael Finley reportedly told him, Pops' time as a Spur was an "audition, not only for this team but for a lot of teams."

"I'm 6ft 9in, 245lbs," Mensah Bonsu says. "If you look at some of the better power forwards in the league, they're the same height and weight.

"Amar'e Stoudemire is one of my favourite players. Six feet, nine inches, 245lbs. And he's dominated this league for a while now. I'm not sure how big you have to be to play in the NBA now but I feel like I'm able to succeed and have an impact. It's not about how big you are, it's about what you can do. Once I get a chance to prove myself, I'll see what happens."

I think we'll see Pops again soon, even if he's not in a Spurs uniform.

Is Drew Gooden Headed to San Antonio?

Adrian Wojnarowski reports for Yahoo! Sports ("Gooden has chance to sign with contender"):

Drew Gooden agreed to a buyout with the Sacramento Kings and the San Antonio Spurs are the favorite to sign him for the rest of the regular season and playoffs, two league executives said on Sunday night.

The Spurs have wanted badly to add frontcourt help, and nearly pulled off a trade deadline deal for Los Angeles Clippers center Marcus Camby. Gooden could give the Spurs much-needed size if they face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference playoffs.

The Oklahoma City Thunder also reached a buyout with veteran forward Joe Smith, and several league executives believe Smith is headed to the Cavaliers. If the Cavs and Smith reach an agreement quickly, Gooden would almost certainly wind up with the Spurs.

Would Gooden be a good fit for the Spurs? Andrew Katz of Dime thinks so. "Now that Drew is more clean-cut, he’ll fit in with the Spurs - both his personal style and style of play - as another Kurt Thomas type."

So who would the Spurs drop to make room for Gooden? You'll find a few possibile answers at 48 Minutes of Hell:

Drew Gooden? I want the Spurs to sign him, but they’re already at 15.

I want them to retain Pops Mensah-Bonsu.

I want the Spurs to hold onto Malik Hairston.

Numbers. 16 is too many.

(Exhales)

Ime Udoka would be an inexpensive buyout.

Jacque Vaughn makes more money than Udoka, if only by a smidge. But in this economy, the distance between a smidge and a smudge is short.

JV, if waived, would not be playoff eligible, but I’m not sure who would want him. His main value to this year’s squad is as special assistant to George Hill. JV is a coach-in-waiting. And then there is the question of value.

Ginobili and Mason can each run point in emergency situations. Is there a moment in the future when we say, “Man, I wish the Spurs could bring in JV to ice this thing.” I don’t see it.

As my friend Bruno points out, Gooden is Luis Scola with a bad beard.

Gooden: 27 years old, 6'10" PF, averages 13.1/8.7 in 29.5 mpg this year.
Scola: 28 years old, 6'9" PF, averages 12.5/8.4 in 29.4 mpg this year.

Yes, that Luis Scola.

If our recent polling data is any indicator -- but I'm not saying it is -- I'd guess that Gooden in a Spurs uniform will mean that Vaughn, Udoka or Oberto will be looking for work.