RealGM

Spurs trade: #2, #38, Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley
Wizards trade: #6, #18, Bilal Coulibaly

Why for SAS? Pair Wemby with his old buddy and French teammate Coulibaly, who has struggled with efficiency in a rough environment but showed flashes. They decide to roll with a Fox/Castle backcourt and can draft an elite wing shooting prospect in Kon Kneppel or Tre Johnson at 6 along with an additional asset later in the first round.

Why for WAS? Simple - get a blue chip prospect in Harper which they desperately need to pair with Carrington in the backcourt and fellow #2 pick Sarr for the future. They take a flier on Branham and Wesley though they were mostly included for salary balance

Saints14 wrote:Spurs trade: #2, #38, Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley
Wizards trade: #6, #18, Bilal Coulibaly

Why for SAS? Pair Wemby with his old buddy and French teammate Coulibaly, who has struggled with efficiency in a rough environment but showed flashes. They decide to roll with a Fox/Castle backcourt and can draft an elite wing shooting prospect in Kon Kneppel or Tre Johnson at 6 along with an additional asset later in the first round.

Why for WAS? Simple - get a blue chip prospect in Harper which they desperately need to pair with Carrington in the backcourt and fellow #2 pick Sarr for the future. They take a flier on Branham and Wesley though they were mostly included for salary balance

Wemby won't be pleased by the Spurs making a bad trade. How about replacing the #2 with the #14, and taking out #5.

If SA believes the hype on Harper they stay put. If they don't then they will be a lot of bidding for #2, this offer might be close if SA really likes Bilal.

IMO I would pass if I was SA. Let the cream rise to the top and you can find everyone plenty of minutes.

I like Coulibaly but he doesn't move you up from #6 to #2.

Remember, SAS already has #14, which devalues #18 for them.

#2, Keldon for #6, WSH 2027 1st (Top 1 protected, Unprotected in 2028), Kispert, Coulibaly

Washington can tank again in 2026 but then need to put something competitive out there in 2027, which makes sense since they would have back-to-back #2 picks in Sarr/2025 #2.

Spurs gamble on the Wizards continuing to struggle.

ReggiesKnicks wrote:I like Coulibaly but he doesn't move you up from #6 to #2.

Remember, SAS already has #14, which devalues #18 for them.

#2, Keldon for #6, WSH 2027 1st (Top 1 protected, Unprotected in 2028), Kispert, Coulibaly

theoretically they can only trade 2028 1st (or 2026 1-8, but not 2027) until the 2026 obligation to NYK is resolved

It isn't about numbers, it's about players. If you could draft Tre Johnson at 6, I'd consider it (though I think I ultimately pass). Otherwise, the gap is too large for Coulibaly to bridge it and it shouldn't warrant consideration.

What about 2 for Sarr and Coulibaly?

Spurs don't have enough top end talent to be diluting it just yet. And I think this whole trade for this guy because he's from the same country or they ride banana boats in the summer stuff gets overblown and used to justify a trade.

I wouldn't consider this as the Spurs. No brainer for the Wizards who need a franchise player. Harper might not be one, but that stuff they give up is far less likely to yield one.

Spurs called about Bilal.

Wizards wanted five firsts per Evan Townsend.

Spurs hung up.

G R E Y wrote:Spurs called about Bilal.

Wizards wanted five firsts per Evan Townsend.

Spurs hung up.

You sure they didn't call Danny Ainge by mistake??? That's outrageous!

axeman23 wrote:

G R E Y wrote:Spurs called about Bilal.

Wizards wanted five firsts per Evan Townsend.

Spurs hung up.

You sure they didn't call Danny Ainge by mistake??? That's outrageous!

Lmao right?!

Teams draft players they know others want and try to extract an exorbitant price. I like Bilal, but not at a Giannis picks price.

Why not just draft Raynaud at 38 or trading down from 14?

G R E Y wrote:Spurs called about Bilal.

Wizards wanted five firsts per Evan Townsend.

Spurs hung up.

When was that? Spurs should then ask them for 15 FRPs for Harper.

wemby wrote:

G R E Y wrote:Spurs called about Bilal.

Wizards wanted five firsts per Evan Townsend.

Spurs hung up.

When was that? Spurs should then ask them for 15 FRPs for Harper.

Evan didn't say when exactly (at least I don't recall) but obviously it would have to be from that draft night onward. They got quite a good package for Deni who was farther along in development so sounds like they wanted to bend us over a barrell since Bilal and Wemby were tight and Wemby said Bilal would be one of the top players in that draft.

Eh it is what it is. Blazers took another of Wemby's friends. This is just another variable in trying to gain leverage/keep or build good FO relationships. There are ways to keep, build, or damage them...

If it was from that draft night, Washington traded up to get Coulibaly in the first place so Spurs could have dealt with the Pacers and the cost was nowhere near 5 picks.

#8 (Jarace Walker) and future draft considerations (2 2nds) for #7 (Bilal Coulibaly).

penbeast0 wrote:If it was from that draft night, Washington traded up to get Coulibaly in the first place so Spurs could have dealt with the Pacers and the cost was nowhere near 5 picks.

#8 (Jarace Walker) and future draft considerations (2 2nds) for #7 (Bilal Coulibaly).

Could have and what was subsequently asked for, specifically from us, ended up being quite different. The point Evan made was that teams targeted players they thought we wanted to then try to get more from us in a trade.

We had

If SA wanted Couli, wouldn’t it make more sense for both teams to work it for a Castle swap?
SA opens a spot for Harper.
Washington gets the young guard it needs.
Washington would need to add: 18?, second best of 2029 por/bos/mil?

Or, SA gets Couli, 6
Was gets castle (add 14 or ?)

Harper has a much higher ceiling that Bilal or anyone available at 6, plus I doubt they want three first rounders this year. Easy pass for the Spurs

This is an easy pass for WAS too. I don't think Harper is such a can't-miss prospect that I would trade #6 and Coulibaly for him. Coulibaly is really good.