Paolo/Harper swap? unlikely but kind of makes sense

[Knightro]

I disagree.

Banchero looks like Randall to me.

Randle from the 2025 playoffs hopefully?

24-6-6 with a .620 TS% and good defense?

And no, the Magic would not do this trade.

[Texas Chuck]

Spurs making themselves super expensive without having a true #1 option feels wrong to me. Like how can you be opposed to Giannis but pro Banchero? The only way is if the only think you care about is age, which seems foolish to me.

You don't consider Wemby a probable true #1 option bases on a year and a half of NBA play? If not Wemby, whom?

I mean he might get there, but right now he's clearly not a contending level 1st option offensively. Right now most of his value is his defense. I suspect it will always be his defense. And if the Spurs are smart they will make sure they form a roster where he doesn't have to be the go-to guy every night.

But he's already so good on defense that the Spurs should be thinking win now. Especially since history tells us they probably have a lot less quality Wemby years than your typical superstar. Guys with that frame and over 7 feet who play that way(not Bradley types), have never stayed healthy. I hope he breaks that mold, but I'd make plans as if he won't.

[wemby]

But he's already so good on defense that the Spurs should be thinking win now. Especially since history tells us they probably have a lot less quality Wemby years than your typical superstar. Guys with that frame and over 7 feet who play that way(not Bradley types), have never stayed healthy. I hope he breaks that mold, but I'd make plans as if he won't.

"Guys with that frame and over 7 feet who play that way(not Bradley types), have never stayed healthy"... what does that sample look like? Do you have specific guys in mind?

[Texas Chuck]

But he's already so good on defense that the Spurs should be thinking win now. Especially since history tells us they probably have a lot less quality Wemby years than your typical superstar. Guys with that frame and over 7 feet who play that way(not Bradley types), have never stayed healthy. I hope he breaks that mold, but I'd make plans as if he won't.

"Guys with that frame and over 7 feet who play that way(not Bradley types), have never stayed healthy"... what does that sample look like? Do you have specific guys in mind?

I mean the obvious two to start with are Ralph Sampson and KP. Both fluid athletes standing well over 7 feet. Then we look at Chet who played 82 games one year, but missed his entire rookie year and a big chunk of this one. Wemby already missing a bunch of games.

[LightTheBeam]

Don't think Orlando considers this. Paolo may never get there, but he's a damn good player with a chance to.

What a great move for the Spurs. Yes Giannis makes sense also, but it's fine to consider alternatives. I'd even add in more picks.

Fox - Castle - Banchero - Wemby

Maybe there isn't a traditional title winning first option (NY doesn't really have one, many think Celtics didn't either), but you have 3 guys who can score with the best of them and another kid whose potential is sky high. And I agree you also save other contracts like Vassell, Sochan, Keldon which allow you the salary to add those Caruso type pieces you need.

I'm convinced this new apron is changing the way we know the NBA.

[wemby]

But he's already so good on defense that the Spurs should be thinking win now. Especially since history tells us they probably have a lot less quality Wemby years than your typical superstar. Guys with that frame and over 7 feet who play that way(not Bradley types), have never stayed healthy. I hope he breaks that mold, but I'd make plans as if he won't.

"Guys with that frame and over 7 feet who play that way(not Bradley types), have never stayed healthy"... what does that sample look like? Do you have specific guys in mind?

I mean the obvious two to start with are Ralph Sampson and KP. Both fluid athletes standing well over 7 feet. Then we look at Chet who played 82 games one year, but missed his entire rookie year and a big chunk of this one. Wemby already missing a bunch of games.

Wemby's health issue is completely unrelated to those. Still, Chet's frame is nothing like Wemby's, also a lot his issues have come as a result of his playing style, I bet he would have a much better career outlook if he were wiser in picking when and how to contest. You can bring up Ralph Sampson, I could bring up Kareem. Point is, there's a small sample of players like Wemby, I'll even say I have less concerns about injuries than I did before being drafted, he seems durable and smart. That is, if this blood clot issue is 100% resolved, which still does concern me.

You see this and think "let's go all in before something happens" while I think "let's see what happens before we go all in". Imagine you trade Harper, a month later Wemby's issue surfaces again, and Fox demands a trade. How stupid would the Spurs look? Honestly, best course of action right now for the Spurs is to keep their options open, draft Harper and see how it all goes. In a year maybe Wemby is completely fine, you have clarity on what your best long term backcourt is, and you can trade the third guard plus assets for a star. That would be much more sensible to me than these trade proposals. So unless you make a move that also keeps you in good position long term (like Banchero here), I'd stand pat.

[Chinook]

There's a flipside. Just because Wemby might not have a long career doesn't mean he's ready earlier. So if his window is only five years instead of 10, then you absolutely can't afford to sell all your assets too early. You won't be able to recover in time. You need to be ultra reactive.

Like if you had told Dallas they'd only have eight years with Luka, they might have avoided the KP trade to focus on having assets for a real star or stars in the last three years. They had enough liquidity to make somr moves around Luka, and they had some good runs, but they were also constrained by their outstanding obligations to the Knicks and eventually other teams as their lack of present assets led them to trade future assets.

There's nothing wrong with signing or trading for developmental stars. KP was that for Luka. Fox is that for Wemby. I think Durant could be even better in that regard. But they can only make so many mega trades. Making one too early is arguably worse than making one too late.

[Texas Chuck]

yeah we just look at it differently. I'm always going to be win now if I think a team has the talent, and I absolutely think the Spurs have the talent (and the assets to fill in the gaps) to compete now. We love talking of long windows, but history tells us those can close fast.

And while I hope Wemby is Kareem in terms of durability, I would plan as if he wasn't. Kareem was a classic back to the basket player as well, which is why I was citing guys who have perimeter based games. I hope the Spurs realize that should be a secondary part of his attack and that he needs to play around the basket more where he can be much more effective. That might help his durability as well.

I know we love the unicorns, I do too. But a lot of these guys who do a bunch of things don't really do them all great, and doing less would lead to more. Think Boogie Cousins as the best recent example.

[nate33]

Something like this but with Franz in place of Paulo makes more sense, IMO.

[BigGargamel]

And what if Harper is a bust? This would set Orlando back years.