meloanyk wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:Someone always drops in the draft and they always get him.

Drafting Manu Ginobili with 57th pick of 1999 draft (joined Spurs in 02) and Tony Parker with 28th pick of 2001 draft along with picking Duncan 1st in 1997 gave them the nucleus. So many other moves over the years just added or supported this trio including trading a good young player George Hill for a draft prospect named Kwahi Leonard. Sharp front office and coaching , organizational stabilty and players willing to play as a team and stay together at under market prices were keys to their long run. Somewhat of an anomaly

The Spurs have done an excellent job with player development, but getting a group of guys to stay together under market value is an anomaly. However, I think the team is starting to decline because they can't find another Duncan-type player. They signed Aldridge to a very big contract and Gasol, the role players weren't nearly as good last year and Leonard isn't the generational player that Duncan was.