FanHouse IanMahinmi

That Spurs draftee Tiago Splitter has reportedly decided to choose Spain over San Antonio qualified as a minor defeat in the face of last night's Game 4 failure. It has gotten attention -- notably from TrueHoop and The Sporting Blog -- but obviously takes a backseat to Barry/Fisher. But something's been ignored in all the frim-fram over the loss of Splitter: his would-be training camp competition, current Spur Ian Mahinmi.

By my watch, Mahinmi is a better Spur today, tomorrow, and in three years. Remember Amir Johnson? As a D-League youth, Amir set the midwest ablaze, creating a spectacle of brimstone and glory which had locals speaking in tongues. He graduated to the Pistons this year and in limited minutes proceeded to light up every player rating system known to Man, according to the awesome Count the Basket (via Shoals).

Why does this matter? Because Monsieur Mahinmi set the midwest ablaze as a D-League youth this season. He finished third in PER for his work with the Austin Toros, shooting extraordinarily well from the floor, drawing fouls and hitting FTs, racking up steals and blocks, all while offering 17 and 8.

Splitter played just fine in Spain this season, but he's a season behind on American/San Antonio integration (Mahinmi spent training camp, early November, and May with the big club) and a step back on adjusting to the NBA-style game (which is employed at some scale in the D-League). The Spurs would love to have both Tiago and Ian in the fold as Robert Horry retires (we can pray) and Tim Duncan walks closer to retirement (not too fast, Big Fun). But Splitter's resistance isn't the death of San Antonio big men of the future. Mahinmi will represent just fine.

With the NBA trade deadline looming, Trade Machinations rounds up real rumors (and creates fake ones) of moves that'd make the NBA a better, brighter place.

A rumor floating like Forrest Gump's feather on Monday, it would appear this whole Ron Artest to San Antonio shindig might actually go down. The Sacramento Bee's Sam Amick blogs from an airport:

The Spurs may be nearing a deal for Artest, although it's also believed Denver may finally be willing to give up Linas Kleiza. Of course, my flight from Portland to Sacramento is at this very moment, so we'll see where things stand when I land.

San Antonio has the requisite expiring contracts and a late first-round pick, which is basically what Denver has offered to date (according to most reports). You'd assume Geoff Petrie's decision to be receptive to the Spurs' advances means they included an extra asset -- maybe another pick, maybe Ziller lust object Ian Mahinmi, maybe the rights to Tiago Splitter. That opens the door to Kleiza, the player Petrie's reportedly held out for. Patience, I suppose, is half the battle.

No matter the bounty, if it were to happen -- San Antonio would steal some Lakers thunder, at the least. Can you imagine that team replacing a flagging Bruce Bowen with a (contract year) Artest? I just got scared, and my team's nowhere near the playoffs.

Will it happen? No flippin' clue, but perhaps the weight of the viewing world can will it so.

For the next four days, you will be assaulted with rumors -- some seemingly ridiculous and some as brilliant as diamonds (or at least cubic zirconium). Consider this ESPN/Chad Ford joint (In$ider, natch) a warning volley:

Believe it or not, Ron Artest's name has come up in San Antonio. Some believe that given the team's system, he can be controlled and would give them more toughness on the wing, where Bruce Bowen is slowing down.

Ford goes on to mention Stephen Jackson was once a starter for a San Antonio title team. (He neglects this was before Jack's major reputation hits with Indiana; he also fails to mention Jackson has been lauded as a teammate in every town, while Ron-Ron... yeah, not so much.)

You'd think Sacramento would jump at an expiring contract (San Antonio always has plenty) and either Ian Mahinmi or the rights to Tiago Splitter; whether the Spurs count the loss of either as worthy risk for a six-month rental of Artest is questionable. Of course, given last year's surprisingly competitive first-round matchup with Denver, and also considered Denver appears to be the leading contender for Artest's services... it might serve as a doubled victory to sew Ron-Ron up before the trade deadline. In a world where the Phoenix Suns trade for Shaquille O'Neal, I suppose you just never know.

I have watched two full San Antonio games this young season. Don't apologize, it wasn't so bad. For all the crap flung about the unsexy style of the Spurs, they can entrance more than you'd suspect. Tim Duncan, of course, is a work of art... a robotish Rodin. Manu Ginobili, perturbing as he might be, is like a one-man circus.

Yes, Tony Parker's persona makes even his sickly fleet feet annoying and Bruce Bowen is a scourge which must be lifted from this planet for humanity to survive. But there's another way: Garbage time.

Look at the lineup San Antonio strutted out much of the fourth quarter in its Friday night Sacramento blowout.

The Spurs, those shrewd manufacturers of cheap talent, just signed Frenchman Ian Mahinmi to a multi-year deal. Mahinmi was virtually unknown when San Antonio drafted him in 2005, an 18-year-old kid who wasn't even listed in the 128-player draft guide.

The Spurs' R.C. Buford says the plan will put Ian on the Austin Toros of the Development League this season. In essence, Mahinmi replaces Jackie Butler. Butler, a PF/C project, was traded to Houston in the Luis Scola deal. Getting Ian over here in the States provides an insurance policy should Tim Duncan and a buddy go down for a spell -- the rest of SA's bigs rotation includes Francisco Elson, Fabricio Oberto, ancient Robert Horry, and Matt Bonner.

More likely, Mahinmi will step in alongside fellow foreign acquisition Tiago Splitter next fall. Horry should retire then, and Elson's deal expires next summer. Not a bad pair to plug in. Where will we see Mahinmi first, though? EuroBasket 2007, where he'll join new teammate Tony Parker a bit early in trying to qualify for the Olympics.