SPURS 2021-2022 SEASON REVIEW: PATTERNS, STRENGTHS, WEAKNESSES & AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT

[G R E Y]

Some pundits had us as a bottom five team given our roster, which by the end of this season had FOUR players who were with the team but two years ago: DJ, Jakob, Keldon, and Lonnie.

Lots of changes, lots of growth, lots of growing pains, and lots to be positive about.

By the time the season ended, we met and exceeded some benchmarks, external and internal, have zero bad contracts (both annual pay and length), a well-stocked picks cupboard, and lots of options going forward.

Year 1 of our rebuild is done. How did we fare in development and results? What did we do better than expected? Where can we improve?

[imagump1313]

Trade or release McDermott. If we keep all out picks we are going to need a roster spot.

[G R E Y]

Trade or release McDermott. If we keep all out picks we are going to need a roster spot.

Yeah I plan on going over the players by position in closer detail, but overall although I liked the signing and thought it was good for us especially to start the season since we could use the size, off-ball movement, and shooting, as the season and our younger guys progressed, Doug was becoming increasingly less of a factor.

If we can net an asset while shoring up the position with some size, strength, mobility, defense, and scoring, I'm all for it. Basically let's trade Doug for 2022 TD lol

[G R E Y]

Team. So in terms of reaching overall goals, I think we exceeded several while identifying team needs and deciding who we go forward with, at least at this point in our progression. Given our goals, it was a successful if at times trying season and we still get a lotto pick from it.

We had ELEVEN different players from last season; FOURTEEN different players from two seasons ago. The only constants from two seasons ago are DJ, Keldon, Jakob, and Lonnie, and we added to them Devin, Tre, and Keita last season who made it to the current roster.

Think about what a significant change that is. PATFO weren't kidding when they said they were in evaluation mode in terms of who to keep or not because of culture or game fit or to maximize in a trade. Yet there is continuity in culture. We handed over the leadership to DJ who we’ve brought along patiently and who has done a wonderful job in the role on and off the court; we turned the starting C role over to Jakob in the latter portion of last season and have since unlocked more of his game; Keldon emerged as a legitimate starter and surprise 3s marksman; Lonnie got more room post-Derrick trade for an important bench role.

And that's it for players experienced in the Spurs Way. The rest we were incorporating into bigger roles as the season progressed, surrounded by vet acquisitions to balance out the roster, all of whom helped us improve despite illnesses, trades, and new line-ups.

Betting pundits had us at 28.5 wins which we exceeded. Dejounte was sure to point it out, too. Pop was mocked for his assertion in a pre-season interview that he wasn't sure where the scoring was going to come from with four experienced scorers going elsewhere in UFA. Well this ended up being the highest scoring team Pop's ever coached in the NBA. Always a pleasure to wipe the smirks off.

We averaged 113.2PPG, good for 8th overall (better than last season's 111.1 which was 20th), and our pace was 100.0, good for 5th overall (better than last season's 98.9 which was 15th).

Some other improvements this season: we were 25th with 32 3s attempted per game (up from 30th the previous season with 28.4); 18th with 35.2% from 3 this season (up from 24th at 35% last season); 25th in FTAs with 20.4 per game and 25th with 75.4% in efficiency (a drop from 12th at 22FTAs per game and 10th in efficiency at 79.2%); 9th in total rebounds per game with 45.3, and 7th in O boards at 11 per game; 2nd in assists with 27.9; 5th in TO’s with 12.7 per game; tied for 11th with 7.6 steals per game; and 10th with 4.9 blocks per game.

Other standout stats:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

Again – FIRST year of a rebuild with many changes and ongoing challenges and we still managed to put together better O and D than last season and reached the same play-in level.

"Together" was the mantra for scoring, defending, and weathering the ups and downs of the season, including a tough schedule and roster changes. While this was a strength we developed, it was also at times a shortcoming.

We started the season 4-13 and finished the first 20 games 7-13, so our first win streak came with winning our fifth game late in November. It’s no surprise that consistency was elusive earlier in the season in terms of finishing with fundamentals, staying with defensive assignments, learning to play with leads, and finishing close games. We improved in each while both losing and winning by big numbers along the way. Still, we were in most games this season. That few were outright blowouts is a testament to the players buying in even as they were learning how to properly execute.

DJ emerged as the galvanizing force around whom the team coalesced, and became our leading and often go-to scorer. But our top-for-Pop scoring was really a team effort. We grew to be a threat when everyone was contributing because it’s tougher for defenses to game plan for multiple threats. But when we struggled to score it was tough not having that go-to player, or other go-to player that we could rely on to tread water and keep us in more games. Defensively we have better personnel but without a proper big defensive PF there were times when we were either overpowered or got caught on some mismatches. We still helped one another better and were to a man more responsible but it does take time and experience to get to that dogged, cohesive level.

So despite our record, we still ended up with a net positive rating – just barely at 0.1, but on the right side nevertheless, with a slightly improved defensive rating of 112.3, good for 16th (we were 17th at 112.8 last season).
It’s interesting how Pop commented unprompted that this is a drama-free team (I think he compared it to last season specifically, and to some before that surely). He also said it’s a coachable team and it showed.

We did what we could with the personnel we had to start the season and later changes to it. You can’t address every team need in one off-season even as we’d been trying to fix some of them for a while. We tried to shore up the 4/5 and did better with the latter with Zach and Jock, freeing us up to include Drew in the Thad trade that garnered us a first round pick (20th).

But attempts at strengthening the 4 have eluded us: draftees Metu and Luka didn’t work out whether for talent or flat out lack of competitiveness (mystifying how Luka bamboozled us somehow despite us reportedly scouting him since he was 16 and his meeting with Pop and Timmy for dinner); Trey was lazy and soft; Carroll was a poor decision given the apparent dive his game took over a summer; Morris deceived us. Keldon was a revelation as both a starter and a 4 plug-in because of his strength and exuberance; it’s an option for occasional small ball.

So we signed Doug, a 6’7” 3 / 4, though he’s played mostly PF the last three years and with us became a full-time starter for the first time in his career. He brought a great attitude, a great fit character-wise, excellent movement, and some solid 3s shooting (he had second best 3s efficiency on the team). He wasn’t the best defender so when he struggled to score his overall impact dropped. As the season progressed and other players increased their 3s volume and efficiency, Doug’s impact lessened with what he was best at providing. In addition to Keldon splitting his time mostly at the 3 / 4, Keita was a backup 4 as well.

Team needs: Strength. Some we can get through guys following their off-season programs and maturing physically over time. So Devin, Primo, and Tre, for instance, fall into this category. Romeo is bigger and stronger than I anticipated as well. Some guys will be able to bulk up their frames, others like DJ and J Rich are leaner types who have that wiry strength. Keldon obviously has a lot of brawn to him and Lonnie has a strong physique as well.

We have a lot of guards in that 6’4” – 6’6” range so that position is strong.

But you can’t teach height and bigger skeletal frame, and this is something we need to shore up whether through FA, trades, or draft. One thing that stands out in the playoffs, and one thing that Pop pointed out after our play-in game, is physicality.

Part of strength is also mindset, a certain willing relentlessness to initiate, take, and absorb contact and play through it. This helps actual physical impact. Some guys play smaller or bigger than their stature. You can be a smaller relentless guy and that wears opponents down or you can be a bigger relentless guy and opponents feel it all the more.

It’s no secret we’re more of a finesse team, and while we are better with our Js and 3s, it looked at times as if we settled for outside shots because of an inability to penetrate or be more impactful inside. Part of that is getting defenses moving, and part is moving them with our drives. We got walled up enough that our needing more muscle and hustle stood out, not just in 4s and 5s but throughout the line-up. Keldon playing the 3 half the time helped, but he needs more help from others.

A certain type of nastiness will help, too. Some of it will come from experience and responding to the disappointment of how we played in the final game of the season. It’s a mentality that comes with maturity and knowing what to expect and how to prepare for it. We played to our pace, slashing, movement, and finesse strengths, and we need to add some size, and as Jock put it, piss and vinegar. We need to be harder to play against, mentally and physically.

Strength in knowing our system, guys knowing one another’s tendencies, knowing our plays, executing them rather than going rogue by giving into temptation of an open shot that breaks up what we’re running is an internal factor that will improve with added reps.

Proper PF. A modern two-way big who stretches the floor, provides spacing, has a presence down low, can help protect the rim, can get his own points with some handles and go-to moves. Basically, let’s go out and find a unicorn. No seriously, size, scoring, and rim protection are crucial for us to help get to another level.

Talent. I trust our development implicitly. I trust our culture and ability to bring out the strengths of our best players with an adjusted system. That said, there’s a reason why players we traded or let walk in RFA were starters for us but are bench players on their new teams. They’re valuable contributors, but other players are better as starters.

DJ is our best player. I’m fine with that for where we are. But if he’s the best player throughout his tenure with us, we aren’t getting too far. I love what he’s provided, and if he continues to grow his game, great. But he’s not at a level of best player on a contending team, unless he has a gear we’ve yet to see.

That Derrick, Kyle Anderson, Thad, and Bryn were all once starters and now have various bench roles elsewhere speaks to the level of talent upgrade we need to eventually get to. That Doug has always had a bench role and has started with us speaks to that as well, as much as it does our need at the position.

I’ve seen fans pining for Kyle as a player that got away but I think that his not starting for his team now (despite being lured away for a bigger role) shows his proper place on a talented team. His stats have largely remained steady throughout his career. Others have pined for Clarke who we could have drafted instead of Luka. That year’s draft didn’t pan out with our own picks (Luka and Weatherspoon) but they sure panned out with our acquired pick, Keldon. Thank God. Anyway, Clarke’s already 25 so of course it makes sense for him to be a more ready contributor. I’m ok with us not having either Kyle or Clarke (also a bench role) and finding other players for the role.

I think we did great in maximizing Derrick whose age, shaped out game, and contract were factors fit for a trade, and this is coming someone who liked him best. J Rich has been terrific for us with more steady 3s, not needing the ball in his hands, being fine with a bench role, and providing tenacious D. Not sure what happens with Romeo, but the first round pick and potential future pick swap while acquiring players on shorter contracts was a smart, if difficult, move.

Internal development of Devin who has two-way impact already will show how much more of his game, along with Primo’s and Keldon’s we can expect to get, but a higher ceiling on a rookie contract made the trade appealing.

Are LaVine and/or Ayton the best use of our max cap space? They’ll put butts in seats, and from ownership POV I see the lure. LaVine would raise our talent and give us another go-to scorer which is important, but his D is suspect, he’s coming off a knee injury, and plays a position where we have a lot of youth coming up whose games might be stifled. I think we are in a position to get to another level, but I’m not convinced LaVine is the way to do it all things considered.

It is concerning that Ayton previously got caught for doping and now in the PO’s disappeared at times. His coach allegedly said he quit on the team (a reported exchange of ‘Do you want to play?’ ‘No.’ Yikes!). If he can’t get along with Monty, how will he respond to a tougher Pop? But he’s only 23 and already averaging a double double so even if he’s a more traditional C in that he needs guards to involve him, he can hit the 3, defend, and protect the rim. His intensity when on is impressive; the lack of it in their final game was eyebrow raising. But you can’t fault players for feeling overwhelmed in such a circumstance, and you don’t want to judge all of who someone is based on one of their worst professional games. And as the #1 pick whose game has grown on both ends, it has to sting to not get an extension when he was eligible. It’s a cumulative impression that PATFO will need to get – that’s assuming we go after him.

Pop was clearly disappointed in how we played in the play-in, pointing out bluntly that we regressed and reverted to how we had played three months prior, with a lack of physicality and urgency and competitiveness. It felt like we expended so much energy getting to the play-in that there wasn’t enough left or we weren’t ready or experienced enough to rise to the occasion collectively. We saw a bit of that struggle as we got closer to breaking the wins record for Pop, and then we played loose and better after getting it. That it was in a come-from-behind clutch performance was all the more satisfying.

But about our group: DJ is a dog, Keldon is high-spirited, and we have a really nice team filled with guys who all get along. These are factors that make you want to be on the team and make you want to play for one another. And to a man, the next level is the playoffs. I like the lack of satisfaction and healthy disappointment as it shows a hunger for more. How can we help them get it?

How we balance internal growth with the external assets we have – players eligible for trades or extensions, picks, cap space – to complement the foundation we’ve laid is our next step.

Breaking the all-time regular season wins record for Pop? Check.
A season of development? Check.

Identifying which players we go forward with? Check, and in progress (who we re-sign now and for how much).

Identifying team needs? Check.

Growing cap space and stockpiling picks? Check.

My sense is that for the 50th anniversary season we make some noise to field a more competitive team, add to the foundation we’ve laid in terms of character fit, team needs, and style of play; not give up on development, rather enhance it and rev it up where possible. I’d love it if we added some nastiness and brought a tough FU energy to usher in the 50th season. Still developing, still progressing, but start at a higher level to give ourselves a better shot at the post-season and give fans an even more exciting team to support as we mark an important milestone.

[G R E Y]

Coaches.

Continuing with a look at our team, top down is the coaching.

GOAT Pop is GOAT. And having remained resilient through arguably the overlap of the roughest personal and professional period of his career, Pop withstood it, perhaps with coaching to focus on as a big help, and pushed through to not only get Olympic Gold - a long awaited for achievement whose decades long delay made it and the shutting up of naysayers all the sweeter - and of course the team pushing through to break the all time regular season wins record atop which Pop now stands as well.

He mentioned several times that he felt needed this season, that he liked actually teaching the young guys, that they absorbed it well, and, tellingly, this was a drama-free team compared to last season (and I'm sure a couple of others before).

I've outlined in more detail why I think and hope Pop will return to coach again at least for next season, most notably that of course having Pop at the helm for our 50th Anniversary is crucial.

The rest in detail is here, but to sum up:

1. He's felt needed, loves what he does, and we need him. Do what you love. Health permitting, he's still got the fire as to by so many players after the season and even on his vacation, there he was with Zarko Paspalj:

Read on Twitter

2.The pressure of reaching the all time wins record is behind us, as is - and I'm adding the following to what I wrote earlier - the steep learning curve of learning to play together, this a team that had but four returning players from two seasons ago.

3. 50th Anniversary Season. It is right to have Pop at the helm for a historic season. It just is. Doesn't need much explaining.

4. We have tons of cap space and lots of picks. Pop is still our best recruiting tool. Not only do FAs want to play for him (see link above) but the draftees have also commented about wanting to play for Pop.

5. Unfinished business. I'd love to see Pop reach the playoffs pinnacle again at a minimum. Getting FAs and a quality crop of draftees on board and incorporating them into our system and reaching where we belong should include Pop.

6. This is "5" in the link above, but it has to do with Messina and other coaches.

I want to continue off of "6" into another section:

Brain drain.

Not only are some former players and those who want to coach using us for a spring board to depart elsewhere, but we've had some unexpected departures as well. It's not that we can't keep talent; it's that we're getting poached or used.

Borrego got a HC job; Messina left after signing a three-year deal to be HC and GM of Milano, sad but expected as in we at least knew it was a potentiality; Udoka left rather abruptly, and left to be an assistant elsewhere. The thing is, had he stayed he would have been a lead assistant with us but whatever; then he bounced around year here and a year there before landing in Boston. I don't begrudge his rise just felt his departure was abrupt.

Not as abrupt as Will Hardy's, though. He'd been with us from film room up for like a decade and I don't think we saw it coming. Either it's an innocent slip up or I missed it, but it's the only time Spurs twitter didn't tweet a congratulatory departure message.

Hammon had weird things transpire with her interview in Portland and subsequent info unfortunately got leaked. It wasn't flattering, something about negligence about the day-to-day details of the job. And we as the not-leaking party remained silent about it. Well it led to several interviews that were basically of the sending your resume out there / 'I can do this job' variety, including with persona non grata Jabari Young, someone she knew **** on the Spurs when he covered the team.

Then she left. It's her right, that's not the issue. But what is is not being there for out play-in game -- something we worked hard to get, the most important game of our season - and she **** bailed. I don't care that technically the regular season had ended, or that she had WNBA business to tend to as their draft was coming up. She knew the goal of us wanting the play-in, knew the schedule, the WNBA schedule, and even if PATFO said ok. This was a HUGE **** unprofessional move, sort of a **** you for not standing up for me (yes I'm imputing motives, I'm pissed), regardless of motives, it was shockingly unprofessional.

Yes we've played games without the lead assistant before. But there was this whole emotional roller coaster goodbye that after all her years there surely affected the team. Like you couldn't have stayed for ONE more game?! I'm big on loyalty (not at any cost, mind) and this is the coach in Pop and the team in the Spurs who she approached and was given a shot with. If you can't take constructive criticism (truth) even if it went public, or understand why the team wouldn't make a public statement about it, and then go an a press tour about your qualifications and leave before the final day, it sort of says something not altogether flattering in addition to whatever the Portland interview details were.

Again, not begrudging her rise as coach and GM of the Vegas team, it's good for her family with a shorter season, and she makes more than any WNBA player so she is well compensated.

Maybe I'm just a loyalty idiot but this I just don't understand. Telling when you have security elsewhere how you treat those who opened a door.

You're all welcome.

Anyway, we now have some opportunities for others.

Opportunities.

Outside of Chip, I don't think any of our younger assistant coaches are experienced enough to be lead assistant.

During the Spurs' request of Bexas County officials to play four home games away from home, it was revealed that RC Buford was in Australia visiting his son.

Well, Chase Buford is making a solid name for himself. Some background on his coaching development:

A native of San Antonio, Texas, Buford graduated from the University of Kansas where he played basketball collegiately for three seasons and was a member of the 2008 NCAA Championship Team. He began his career in professional basketball in 2012 with the Atlanta Hawks as a regional scout and was promoted to video intern. He was the coordinator of player development for the Chicago Bulls from 2015-17 and went on to G League assistant coaching positions with the Erie BayHawks (2017-18) and Delaware Blue Coats (2018-19).

In his lone season with the Herd, Buford, 32, led Wisconsin to a league-best 33-10 record before the season was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The team led the G League in rebounds (52.5 rpg) and opponent field goal shooting (42.9%) and ranked second in scoring (120.9 ppg). Buford was named G League Coach of the Month in January 2020, and three Herd players earned NBA call-ups during his stint in Oshkosh.

https://www.nba.com/bucks/news/chase-buford-named-head-coach-sydney-kings

A Texas native, Buford has spent the last two years as Head Coach of the Wisconsin Herd. During the 2019-20 season, he led the team to a league-best 33-10 record; this was the biggest win improvement year-to-year (21 wins) in G League history, turning the Club from the worst to best record in his first season at the helm.

https://nbl.com.au/news/chase-buford-named-head-coach-of-sydney-kings

The discrepancy in the one-two years with Wisconsin Herd is because the team "opted out of single-site season" in 2020-2021.

The Wisconsin Herd went from a 12-win season before Buford to a 33-win season with him as coach to an 8-win season after him. In fairness I haven't looked into the roster or other factors. Still, broadly speaking the great turnaround season caught notice.

And he was then offered the coaching position of the Sydney Kings of the NBL. In his first year, Buford led the Sydney Kings to a 19-9 record and improved from not making the playoffs the year prior to winning the NBL championship.

He's signed to a multi-year deal, but the NBA is the NBA. I don't care about the nepotism optics. He's earned his way.

When they signed Buford, team owner Paul Smith said,

“We are proud to welcome Chase as the Head Coach of the Brydens Lawyers Sydney Kings,” Smith said.

“Chase is a widely respected coach and has shown a special ability to develop players both on and off the court. His proven success, leadership, communication skills and basketball intellect make him the right fit to lead our team into the future”.

“The G-League has produced a number of elite coaches and as a Club we have had success in recruiting US based coaches into our program. We remain committed to producing and developing talent, whether that be players, coaches, staff” Smith commented.

https://nbl.com.au/news/chase-buford-named-head-coach-of-sydney-kings

How about we lure him back?

Speaking of Australians, what's Brett Brown up to? Several former Head Coaches have accepted assistant coaching positions. Not sure how many years left BB had after being let go by Philly (ie/ is he still currently being paid by them?) but he knows our system.

The losing several present and potential assistant coaches reminds me of 2013 when Bud and then Brett Brown left for HC positions. Adding some experience and familiarity with Pop takes away some of the teaching Pop will have to do with the bench as well. More seamless if PATFO choose to add some experience.

Maybe Chad Forcier?

And then there's this tidbit. A full circle moment from the first tweet in this post:

Read on Twitter

After edging out Olympiacos, the winning side’s head coach Ergin Ataman continued the well-documented countdown to the title and also noted legendary Gregg Popovich present in Belgrade’s Stark Arena for the Final Four.

“Gregg Popovich being here to watch the games is a great pleasure for me. He is a basketball legend. Maybe after reaching the Final a third consecutive time, he can think to ‘take a European coach in the NBA’,” he suggested jokingly, “He also helped me four years ago when I went to San Antonio. I stayed with the team for ten days. An amazing person not only a great coach.”

https://www.eurohoops.net/en/euroleague/1347545/ergin-ataman-giorgos-bartzokas-talk-anadolu-efes-versus-olympiacos-euroleague-semifinal-final-four/

And so of course cue the rumoured interest from the league:

Read on Twitter

No teams are listed but the article does say his contract is up this summer. But he publicly commented about assisting Pop first. Let's call this kismet...

[Ballings7]

Some thoughts on improvement areas at different areas of the game...

Definitely need more talent, agility and size in the frontcourt. We've missed that since Kawhi, Aldridge (after 2019 slow down), Duncan, etc. it is what it is. Upper-level talent in the front-court is needed, no doubt.

obviously if there is an upgrade in the wings, do it; and some more is needed even there, but the glaring weaknesses are in the frontcourt. More sustainability and talent is at the wings right now, for right now where the frontcourt really has to begin catching up from a capaibility standpoint. Collectively it is mediocre at best in the front court.

Ideally get both areas better.

Poetl I really like as a main rotation supporting center in some capacity (off bench or starting with the right talent mix), but I don't think he's a definite starter on a legit playoff team, without playing next to smaller forwards/one big-time forward, that will bring offense in the paint, and also rebounding/defensive versatility. His defense, rebounding, passing, and agility is consistently impactful, but

We'll see how he goes this season if he sticks around, which he probably will if had to lean.

Otherwise: I would not mind at all, if we brought in Ayton or Gobert - I think either of those guys with the Spurs system and culture would be enhanced just like DeMar was - physically, skill wise, decisions, awareness, composure, etc. I think Ayton needs an org. like the Spurs to get better and evolve as a pro NBA big, similar to Ben Simmons, but less baggage from the past coming in. I think he'd have a great chance to become a multi-time allstar, reliable NBA big on both ends, in the least.

Gobert i think would be a great addition, and we would just need to find a star hybrid forward to pair him with in the longer-term past getting him.

I believe Gobert's offensive ability would really shine here, especially his passing and finishing on rim runs and rolls... I'd see him like Splitter and Oberto mold but 3x as good with better finishing ability around the paint, and a bit more polish offensively on hooks and such. I think he would be revitalized here from some of the stigma around him in Utah and with the makeup of their team the last couple years.

Jerami Grant? I like his game, quite a bit, brings what we need - but he isn't going to be close to a special talent. Better fit on a legit playoff team or one that is close. If Keldon wasn't here and we had more frontcourt talent and agility, I'd say go after him.

Regardless, whoever is at the center spot (or big spot), eventually someone at the other big spot or that hybrid big wing, will need to be REALLY good or great to compliment that other frontcourt player. Its just a requirement now, basically.

I think it is likely there is some decent changes to the team as far as improvement and talent + upside pool to come.

[G R E Y]

Some thoughts on improvement areas at different areas of the game...

Definitely need more talent, agility and size in the frontcourt. We've missed that since Kawhi, Aldridge (after 2019 slow down), Duncan, etc. it is what it is. Upper-level talent in the front-court is needed, no doubt.

obviously if there is an upgrade in the wings, do it; and some more is needed even there, but the glaring weaknesses are in the frontcourt. More sustainability and talent is at the wings right now, for right now where the frontcourt really has to begin catching up from a capaibility standpoint. Collectively it is mediocre at best in the front court.

Ideally get both areas better.

Poetl I really like as a main rotation supporting center in some capacity (off bench or starting with the right talent mix), but I don't think he's a definite starter on a legit playoff team, without playing next to smaller forwards/one big-time forward, that will bring offense in the paint, and also rebounding/defensive versatility. His defense, rebounding, passing, and agility is consistently impactful, but

We'll see how he goes this season if he sticks around, which he probably will if had to lean.

Otherwise: I would not mind at all, if we brought in Ayton or Gobert - I think either of those guys with the Spurs system and culture would be enhanced just like DeMar was - physically, skill wise, decisions, awareness, composure, etc. I think Ayton needs an org. like the Spurs to get better and evolve as a pro NBA big, similar to Ben Simmons, but less baggage from the past coming in. I think he'd have a great chance to become a multi-time allstar, reliable NBA big on both ends, in the least.

Gobert i think would be a great addition, and we would just need to find a star hybrid forward to pair him with in the longer-term past getting him.

I believe Gobert's offensive ability would really shine here, especially his passing and finishing on rim runs and rolls... I'd see him like Splitter and Oberto mold but 3x as good with better finishing ability around the paint, and a bit more polish offensively on hooks and such. I think he would be revitalized here from some of the stigma around him in Utah and with the makeup of their team the last couple years.

Jerami Grant? I like his game, quite a bit, brings what we need - but he isn't going to be close to a special talent. Better fit on a legit playoff team or one that is close. If Keldon wasn't here and we had more frontcourt talent and agility, I'd say go after him.

Regardless, whoever is at the center spot (or big spot), eventually someone at the other big spot or that hybrid big wing, will need to be REALLY good or great to compliment that other frontcourt player. Its just a requirement now, basically.

I think it is likely there is some decent changes to the team as far as improvement and talent + upside pool to come.

Solid ideas and on the whole I agree. I'd switch out Ayton for Gobert, though, as he's going to be 30 when the season starts to Ayton's 24 and this season's salary is already higher than whatever Ayton's max will eventually be finishing at! And Gobert's contract finishes at $46.6M. OVER FORTY-SIX MILLION! I mean... that's just disgusting.

My main concern about Ayton is his apparent mentality. If he chafed under Monty, I can only imagine what some missed assignments under Pop would be like. Also he seems to have a gaming issue. He's admittedly lost almost all night's worth of sleep during the POs from it. Sometimes he plays up to his size; sometimes he doesn't. I think with a bigger role he'd take on the responsibility. Seems like he's not fully utilized and it affects his level of engagement but he's shown when locked in he is a force.

Overall though I think if we were to gamble on a big he'd be the preferred choice between the two.

I like Grant's game a lot. Some familiarity with Pop from Team USA though he didn't play much. Still being around a Pop team gives insight into standards and play schemes.

So what do we do with Jakob? He's changed agents mid-season. Surely he knows as we do that he's been underpaid for what he's provided. We got a team bargain for a player just coming into starting full time. As wonderful as Jakob is on D and in transition, and being near the top of the league with rim protection and blocks as well as assists. Excellent attitude. Still, there's a clear ceiling to his game in terms of woeful FTs and no 3s. Also, he has hardly any post up game to speak of. I think he gets at least $15M/yr on his next contract. And it would be hard to get him to be a back up again if we were to land Ayton. If he's traded in a S&T for Ayton, it largely leaves us with the same back up issues which we do, however, have a chance to address in this draft (John Butler Jr.? Walker Kessler?)

If we keep drafting SGs then we're either not all in on the current talent level or see another opportunity to strike on present assets with we did with Derrick, possibly with some guards going out in a S&T, but on the whole the forwards position is one I agree we also need to address. We have a LOT of 6'4"-6'6" players and it's not that they're redundant but you can't make them higher. Looking around the league, we need more brawn and height to compete better.

Really not sure who we can at forward target here. Too many options, and I've yet to guess right which way we go. Someone suggested Cam Johnson in another thread here. Like him and his game. Age 26 as he was drafted as an older rookie, still on a rookie contract. It would take a lot to pry him from the Suns for that reason alone lol

The most important thing for me really is getting players who have some mental fortitude and sandpaper to their game and who like to defend. I still think about what a huge disappointment emo Luka was. Wasted talent; waste of a pick. We have a huge opportunity with all our picks and cap assets to go in a variety of ways. Makes your head spin, but it's a way better place to be than stuck no picks no cap hell.

We'll be a better team going into this season.

[G R E Y]

Haven't listened to this in its entirety, but I was wrong in assuming and asserting that Hardy's departure blindsighted us:

Read on Twitter

I didn't really think that he just showed up and announced his departure. Two things to separate here: of course he (and Udoka before him) talked to Pop about their prospects and of course Pop laid down the pros and cons and gave them his blessing.

But really, what else was expected? Surely Hardy didn't really think that Pop would make him feel bad for going to a situation where he'd be on a team farther along than ours? There's an element of looking to have guilty feelings assuaged here that's a bit weird even as I understand the pull of options.

Again, I don't begrudge people their career opportunities, but it would be nice if all that teaching and opened doors and opportunities provided would actually be rewarded with some reciprocity in giving back to the team, all the more so now that we're in a rebuilding position.

Speaking of which, I gave a whole list of reasons I thought may appeal to Pop to return. Turns out all but being here for the 50th Anniversary now stand! He loves teaching, is rejuvenated by the young guys, and having a fresh start with a new youth movement has been described as like his Pomona days. Full circle moment. Glad we have who we do for it.