Slept on it. Have a gnawing feeling in my gut.
Ok this wasn't a player who'd been established with us, and some didn't see the big prospect deal with Primo. But I am trying not to think of his physical profile, mental approach, and unique playing style as a big "WHAT IF?"
If I am thinking it, I can only imagine how much more difficult it was for PATFO who reportedly loved Primo and considered him a cornerstone piece of our future. He was averaging a career high 7PPG, tied with Devin for second best on the team with 4.5 assists per game on 23.3 MPG. These don't jump out at you, but again, he was still one of the youngest players on the team and in the league.
Primo was on billboards. Primo was the face of SELF, our jersey sponsor. Primo was with the team in Uvalde and participated in other team community outreach initiatives. Primo was already in the 6th man role. Pretty much being brought along to be a key part of our future.
And yet despite all that, PATFO suddenly not just let him take time off from the team, not suspend him, not even see if we could get something for him or involve him in a trade, but flat out waived him. Cut ties.
Think how hard that must have been. How damaging something has to be for us to do this, to consider a clean break the better, perhaps only, alternative.
Things we know:
Per
Tom Orsborn's article,
- this is not basketball related
- no statement response from his agent, Todd Ramasar
- it is likely either a very recent incident - Primo was on the bench when we just played in Minny on the 26th, or we just recently found out about it. It may be something Spurs got wind of and did some digging and didn't like what they found out. Either way, the decisive action the Spurs took is telling.
And today, this:
Things we can discern from statements, actions, and timing:
- Spurs release a terse statement announcing the waiving. I think it is important that it was released not by GM Brian Wright (who has been silent throughout), but by RC Buford, the highest ranking official.
- Pop was uncharacteristically but understandably over a half hour late for the pre-game 5:45pm presser. He was terse in addressing the issue. The statement RC made stood for the whole team.
- the statement of waiving Primo was made after 5pm. Any speculations of arrests, making bail, public records of them are covered by this:
I guess we will see what is revealed on Monday, if anything.
- Primo made a statement to ESPN later in the day. It's curious that it wasn't made through his agent as is usually stated, and nothing in his statement mnetioned the Spurs or team mates or his agent.
- these two statements read like there's a clear silent border between the two sides. It also makes me think that Primo didn't ask to be released
- I'm both loathe to see mental health and trauma used as an umbrella and loathe to even suspect it may be used as such.
- It's curious that Orsborn's tweet above addresses the professional help that Spurs players have access to, both league mandated and those that the Spurs took initiative in providing. Seems like a clear line is drawn about this, too.
- Some on the GB Primo thread have speculated that the mental health trauma event was something related to suicide attempt. I have an impossible time believing that the Spurs would cut ties with a player undergoing a serious mental health issue. Just don't see it. More likely it seems like something he got triggered by and lashed out or is using the mental health/trauma to explain an action we don't yet know about.
- Primo removed all Spurs related content from twitter and Instagram. He removed most followers and all posts, including ties to his long-term GF. She doesn't apear to be on IG anymore either. Either she just doesn't want to deal with the fallout and he's protecting her or the consequences extend to her (again, speculation. I'm not saying it has anything to do with her, just that this is a response to recent events)
- Is it reasonable to assume that Primo asked to be released if his agent has no comment, if he released a mental health/trauma statement directly to ESPN (no through his agent) without mentioning a word about the Spurs? Sounds more like this was initiated from the team based on what they found out.
- Some have speculated that it is a gambling addiction and that Primo was betting on Spurs games. I don't see how that relates to his stated trauma or his GF being wiped from his social media and going off it herself.
- Both the Spurs and NBA online stores (North America) have NO Primo merchandise as of yesterday. What?!
- Spurs have wiped Primo from their IG and YouTube except for those videos or photo compilations that involve the group.
This isn't going away. But there are clear reasons we don't yet know of as to why the Spurs dropped a player they were so high on, did so decisively with a statement from the highest authority on the team, have made it clear we have had mental health directives in place after Primo's statement was released, and cut ties rather than engage in a treatment program, cut ties at the team and league level with all saleable materials.
There's also this in consideration of everything:
This is unprecedented. Not basketball related. Let's proceed with dispelling rumours and addressing what we do know which is that this was not easy, but was the direction the team chose despite all the investment (we just picked up next year's contract, this after all the promos and developemnt) and being so high on him and his future with us.