Lesson #1.- Chasing the #1
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"If you have a chance to talk to the No. 1 pont guard in the whole league, you've got to do it. We didn't think the chances were great, but you still do it," Popovich said.
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Lesson #2.- Use your main asset
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Kidd visited San Antonio for two days, dined with Popovich and Tim Duncan and toured the team's practice facility.
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Lesson #3.- Have a backup plan. Save.
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That left the Spurs to turn to a backup rebuilding plan. San Antonio signed free agent center Rasho Nesterovic on Wednesday and still has more than $10 million in salary cap space available.
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Lesson #4.- Convince them (no matter how).
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"From what I saw and heard, I think I can fit better in San Antonio than anywhere else," Nesterovic said Thursday.
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Lesson #5.- Always patch things up.
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But the Spurs also have the internal issue of trying to patch things up with Parker, who said he believed the team's free agent priorities would change if they won the championship.
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Lesson #6.- Add talent whenever it can be possible. The team is the priority, not the players.
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"For every player the possibilities always are that we can add more talent and it could change your position, or you could be here forever, or you could get traded...."
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Lesson #7.- School the players, always.
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It happens for every player, and we've tried to school him in his two years in all these areas...
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Lesson #8.- Upgrade every needed position.
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Popovich, speaking to The Associated Press, said the Spurs are now looking at one or two trades to upgrade their offensive talent, then will add a backup point guard and an additional big man.
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Lesson #9.- Be smart with the money.
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Because the Spurs are so far under the salary cap, they have flexibility in trade talks because they do not have to take an equal amount of salary in return.
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Lesson #10.- Be smart with the system.
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"Yeah, I think there are some bodies out there, but other teams have to be willing," he said. "We need people to fit the way we play, and that's what we're really looking for more than anything."
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Lesson #11.- Make clear your path and position.
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Popovich said there was no truth to reports that the New York Knicks offered Latrell Sprewell for Manu Ginobili, going so far as to say Ginobili is all but untouchable.
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Lesson #12.- Predict. Replan.
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He said the Spurs were resigned to losing backup point guard Speedy Claxton through free agency, and he indicated that a sign-and-trade scenario involving shooting guard Stephen Jackson is a possibility.
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Lesson #13.- Support your players, no matter what.
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As for the 21-year-old Parker, Popovich said a trade is out of the question despite his disappointment with Parker's comments.
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Some of them are very good.
But Popovich consistency is amazing. I mean, with this I can realize that SA have had not only luck.