The biggest need for the San Antonio Spurs is size. Aside from Tim Duncan and Tiago
Splitter, the Spurs depth at big men is scarce with an undersized DeJuan Blair (if the team doesn't trade him) and a one-dimensional player like Matt Bonner.
And with the team striking out in available big men in the offseason (Chris Kaman and Andray Blatche), the Spurs are set to work out center Kyrylo Fesenko next week according to SI.com.
Fesenko is a 25-year old, 7-1, 280 lbs., big man who last played with the Pacers (though saw a lot of time on the bench). He got his start in the NBA with the Jazz and for his career, he averages (per 36 minutes) 9.9 points, 1.7 blocks, 1.3 assists, 8.7 rebounds, and is a 49% shooter. His best season was in 2008-09 with the Jazz where he averaged 11.3 points, 3.5 blocks and 8.5 rebounds per 36 minutes.
Overall, he averages 2.3 points, 2.0 rebounds, and averages 49% from the field per game for his career.
Aside from San Antonio, other teams interested in the big man include Cleveland, Atlanta and Miami.
At this point, Fesenko might be the Spurs best option to help fill the need for size. The Western Conference is stacked with big teams such as the Thunder, Lakers, Grizzlies, and to a lesser degree the Mavericks. If the Spurs are to contend with the bigger teams, the crop of bigs they have now will not be enough.
Granted, the Spurs are loaded with guards which should prove to be a nuisance for the bigger teams in the NBA but in the end, size matter and the Spurs do not have it.
Fesenko might not be a glamorous player to sign, but he will do the dirty work, is young, and can help spell Duncan in the paint and use those six fouls against the likes of Dwight Howard and Marc Gasol.
What do you have to say Spurs fans? Think the Spurs should sign Fesenko or continue the hunt for help in the paint?
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
