Popovich Upset About Scola Trade

This isn't dissension remotely resembling anything you'd see on the average NBA team, but it looks like the Luis Scola trade has gotten Gregg Popovich's goat. San Antonio Express-News columnist Buck Harvey peers into Pops' apparent frustration with the summer move which sent Scola to intrastate rival Houston for only cash savings.

Scola put up 20 points against the Spurs last week. It's early, and the Spurs won the game. But Scola had been everything Popovich loves. He'd been active and tough, and making 10 of 11 shots didn't hurt, either.

Afterward, Popovich praised Scola, which is typical. But then Popovich said something else. "It kills me to have him on that team," Popovich said. "Enough to make you spit." It was if Popovich was talking to Buford through the media.

I said in July this was a dangerous move, and I assumed then Popovich was fully on board! Few have praised R.C. Buford more than I; he's nearly beyond reproach at this point. But... those tight pockets in San Antonio may have done some major damage here. Luis followed that 20-point outburst against the Spurs by dropping 20/11/4 against the Suns. He almost looks like Shareef Abdur-Rahim, which would also make sense considering Houston lost both of Scola's 20-point games.

In most cases, I'd say San Antonio's forced thrift is a feature, not a bug. They must keep sane in the market; there's no other choice, there's literally no money to hand out. But the pitfalls of counting dimes and nickels may have caught up to the Spurs.