ouch.
I still beleive that our troubles really began when they signed houston to that 100 mill. deal. I mean, we got so handcuffed by it that there was really not much we could do. Spreewell also got overpaid, but it was more reasonable then the houston contract.
Trouble began with the 1999 run to the Finals. Following the loss to the Spurs, the notion that Ewing was "getting in the way" was starting to gain steam. Then, that draft... we take F-Weiss and JR Koch. We pass on Ron Artest and Manu Ginobili.
We would still be set at SG-SF had we drafted those 2 players.
PG
Manu
Artest
PF
Camby
We would still start those 3.
From there, the Ewing trade was stupid. Just keep him for final year and let him walk. Instead we bring back bad contract, which we tured around for more bad contracts and everything spiralled out of control.
The final death blow came with the stupid Mcdyess trade. As if we were 1 player away.... And we trade for a guy coming off a majory injury.
Poor drafts, foolish trades.... A serious of blunders that goes all the way back to 1999.