Lineup for 2024 Season

[Bornstellar]

With Wemby on the horizon, I figured we could get a thread to discuss potential lineups for next season. Feel free to use FAs that we can reasonably obtain

I am going under the assumption that SA will basically run it back to see how the players fit around Wemby. I have seen some opine that SA would play Wemby at PF to start and not C but I'm wondering how realistic that is. If that is the case, how would you feel about moving Jones to the bench and letting SA run without a traditional PG in the SL?

Collins
Wemby
Sochan
Keldon
Vassell

Allow Sochan/Wemby to basically handle the playmaking duties. That or bench Collins, move Wemby to C, and start Branham as a combo guard at point. I don't think Tre Jones has much upside as a starter and would be best served as a backup PG. What do you all think?

[G R E Y]

Yeah we've gone from having holes in various places to having a nice problem in terms of depth at the 4/5 in particular.

After the season ended, and before the draft, Pop said he told Zach he'd be our starting C next season. He may yet be. We're going to be patient with Wemby. Yes he's been a pro for I think 2+ years, but he's not Timmy-level ready, even though by year 2 or 3 I expect his growth to be exponential.

I expect Wemby to begin his career at the 5 with Sochan at the 4, KJ at 3, Devin at 2, and Tre for now at 1.

Keldon at the 2 would get burned even more on D. I just checked and surprisingly he actually played almost a quarter of his time at the 2 last season, but it was also a function of our back court issues that arose, Malaki playing less then more with the team, etc. It's great that he got the experience this past season, and he has size to take advantage on O, but I think he's our long-term 3 -- which we need to shore up behind him.

Devin played only 15% at the 1 and though his handles have improved, he flourishes at the 2 and can't wait to see him a full season in there.

Sochan will start at the 4, though long-term I can see us using him as more of a point-forward hybrid and Wemby taking over more at the 4. Tre has been amazing as has his growth, and I would love to keep him, though I have doubts about his being the long-term starting PG for reasons I'll be getting into in another thread.

So I agree with you that Tre is the one player who eventually won't be a starter, but I'm for now, assuming Wemby starts, that it looks more like Wemby, Sochan, KJ, Devin, and Tre. It's a disservice to Zach but team first. And if Wemby happens to struggle at some point, or needs rest, or for matchup purposes, Zach is there, as is Bassey behind them which is a good trio.

What I like about your line-up as well is the height, and that 4 of 5 players who are two-way. But Keldon would leave his D back court partner having to make up a lot. Whatever position Keldon plays, he HAS to bring up his D...

Malaki is a scoring scorcher who really gets tunnel vision a lot as a PG though I'd like to open up his facilitating vision. Blake was a lot more green and his getting injured early hindered his growth but he has good tools to build on, but that's our backup 1-2 on paper.

All of which is to say, right now:

Wemby/Zach/Sandro/Bassey/Dieng?

Sochan/Wemby/KBD?/Dominick/Keldon small ball 4

Keldon/Doug/Julian?/KBD?

Devin/Malaki/Romeo?

Tre/Blake/Devonte'/Romeo

This is a static look at our lineup before we address UFA/RFA/draft/trades, so that's the caveat.

[imagump1313]

Way too early to tell and who knows what players we will be working with come September.

I don't see them starting Wembanyama at the 5 right off. Teams will try to get him in foul trouble in the first quarter.
Without seeing them play together, I would think Collins at the 5 and Wemby at either 4 or 3.(he could handle either)

Sochan would be the 4 right now IMO and I would try Keldon Johnson at the 2 with Vassell at 1.

Otherwise you have to convince Johnson or Sochan to embrace a sixth man role.

So for now I would think:

Collins
Sochan
Wembanyama
Johnson
Vassell

Now this is all without seeing Wemby play against NBA players. If he can handle the 5 after awhile then you can slide Johnson back to the 3 and Vassell to 2 inserting Jones at 1 for the time being.

[vtime]

I wouldn’t rule out a healthy Devonte putting up the 18 and 8 season he put up a couple of years ago that eventually led to a 4 year deal. Not quite those numbers, but he’s a capable starter and a great backup.

[Phreak50]

With Wemby on the horizon, I figured we could get a thread to discuss potential lineups for next season. Feel free to use FAs that we can reasonably obtain

I am going under the assumption that SA will basically run it back to see how the players fit around Wemby. I have seen some opine that SA would play Wemby at PF to start and not C but I'm wondering how realistic that is. If that is the case, how would you feel about moving Jones to the bench and letting SA run without a traditional PG in the SL?

Collins
Wemby
Sochan
Keldon
Vassell

Allow Sochan/Wemby to basically handle the playmaking duties. That or bench Collins, move Wemby to C, and start Branham as a combo guard at point. I don't think Tre Jones has much upside as a starter and would be best served as a backup PG. What do you all think?

More than often agree with your posts Born but there is no reliable ball handler in that lineup.

I am hated on these boards and am totally cool with that. That’s my life right now.

We need to get Lebron.

He interviewed with Pop before and with Wemby and our future picks we could almost guarantee picking his son since Bronny is better than any of our current point guard options.

I reckon he’d jump at that opportunity and probably win another 2 or 3 rings before he is done.

[imagump1313]

With Wemby on the horizon, I figured we could get a thread to discuss potential lineups for next season. Feel free to use FAs that we can reasonably obtain

I am going under the assumption that SA will basically run it back to see how the players fit around Wemby. I have seen some opine that SA would play Wemby at PF to start and not C but I'm wondering how realistic that is. If that is the case, how would you feel about moving Jones to the bench and letting SA run without a traditional PG in the SL?

Collins
Wemby
Sochan
Keldon
Vassell

Allow Sochan/Wemby to basically handle the playmaking duties. That or bench Collins, move Wemby to C, and start Branham as a combo guard at point. I don't think Tre Jones has much upside as a starter and would be best served as a backup PG. What do you all think?

More than often agree with your posts Born but there is no reliable ball handler in that lineup.

I am hated on these boards and am totally cool with that. That’s my life right now.

We need to get Lebron.

He interviewed with Pop before and with Wemby and our future picks we could almost guarantee picking his son since Bronny is better than any of our current point guard options.

I reckon he’d jump at that opportunity and probably win another 2 or 3 rings before he is done.

I don't hate you Phreak!

But I do hate Lebron so please NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[Phreak50]

Lol.

This team is going nowhere without a proven star.

KJ wouldn’t start on any other team and we currently have the worst point guards in the league.

[G R E Y]

"Without a proven star" lol we're about to get a generational, franchise altering talent so let's get a 38-year one getting pasted in the playoffs.

"Going nowhere" like this is the final iteration. Brilliant.

No proof that KJ wouldn't start on any other team. It's gone from KJ's not a #1 option on a contender observation, which no one asserted, to he wouldn't start.

We just went through year 1 of a rebuild so obviously PG is a team need that will be addressed, as all other positions have been - through deliberate moves.

Feelings have nothing to do with these takes, but lack of any proof of them while continuing to assert them because players aren't liked is what's worn out.

Let's stick to lineups.

[mzfk69]

Lol.

This team is going nowhere without a proven star.

KJ wouldn’t start on any other team and we currently have the worst point guards in the league.

Which of these players is unconditionally better than Keldon?

Isaac Okoro, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cameron Johnson, De'Andre Hunter, Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith, Aaron Nesmith, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, Jarred Vanderbilt, Talen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, Reggie Bullock, Tim Hardaway Jr., Luguentz Dort, Kyle Anderson, Jaden McDaniels, Harrison Barnes, Dillon Brooks

[imagump1313]

Lol.

This team is going nowhere without a proven star.

KJ wouldn’t start on any other team and we currently have the worst point guards in the league.

Which of these players is unconditionally better than Keldon?

Isaac Okoro, Dorian Finney-Smith, Cameron Johnson, De'Andre Hunter, Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith, Aaron Nesmith, Deni Avdija, Kyle Kuzma, Jerami Grant, Matisse Thybulle, Jarred Vanderbilt, Talen Horton-Tucker, Ochai Agbaji, Reggie Bullock, Tim Hardaway Jr., Luguentz Dort, Kyle Anderson, Jaden McDaniels, Harrison Barnes, Dillon Brooks

Sadly there isnt one player on that list I would go out of my way to sign. And Johnson is already signed through 26/27.

Also with Wembanyama around Johnson's defensive liabilities are going to be much less noticeable as I believe he was asked to do too much this year.

Also his turnovers should drop and FG percentage should rise if we can get him to stop trying to be the man and competing against, instead of playing with Vassell. Wemby should help indirectly with this also just being on the floor.

[will]

Excited to see what Tre Jones does with such a weapon in Victor on the floor. Opens up a lot of space for Jeremy and Keldon to galavant.

Hell, Vassell (so long as he is not injured) could be brilliant.

Truthfully, I love Keldon as a 6h man getting buckets.

[Phreak50]

Sign Jack White who I believe was only on a 1 year deal with Denver.

Perfect player and age for this team.

I suggested Joe Ingles here over 10 years ago before there was even talk of him joining the nba and look how his career turned out.

White is going to be a really good player.

[G R E Y]

Excited to see what Tre Jones does with such a weapon in Victor on the floor. Opens up a lot of space for Jeremy and Keldon to galavant.

Hell, Vassell (so long as he is not injured) could be brilliant.

Truthfully, I love Keldon as a 6h man getting buckets.

Yeah I'd love to bring Tre back, that's the most immediate team priority - handling RFAs and UFAs. Assuming we do, and regardless (for the purposes of this discussion) of how we shore up the PG position long-term, Tre passing to Wemby is going to be lots of fun.

Keldon is in an interesting position. It's clear he was overtasked and overtaxed last season, yet another in which he was very reliable on O for us. And we need more of his bruiser type of driving and physicality. That he's also a much improved 3s shooter adds to his game being a lot easier with Wemby getting a lot of attention and guys playing off him rather than being targets themselves.

And even though Keldon's D can be better hidden/absorbed now, it has to get better so he doesn't get targeted on switches or need to get bailed out.

Overall it's a nice problem to have, but I doubt we put our leading scorer as 6th man. Is there a 20PPG guy coming off the bench right now in the league? That'll likely to even go up because his scoring chances will be easier (if fewer given the shot distribution from now on).

Malaki as 6th man is going to pop this season, watch...

[imagump1313]

Sign Jack White who I believe was only on a 1 year deal with Denver.

Perfect player and age for this team.

I suggested Joe Ingles here over 10 years ago before there was even talk of him joining the nba and look how his career turned out.

White is going to be a really good player.

I would be in on Jack White if he becomes available. I doubt Denver is going to let him walk though.

Playing at Duke and the with some Aussie National teams means he has had good coaching and that is ok in my book.

He is also a fabulous guitar player

[will]

Excited to see what Tre Jones does with such a weapon in Victor on the floor. Opens up a lot of space for Jeremy and Keldon to galavant.

Hell, Vassell (so long as he is not injured) could be brilliant.

Truthfully, I love Keldon as a 6h man getting buckets.

Yeah I'd love to bring Tre back, that's the most immediate team priority - handling RFAs and UFAs. Assuming we do, and regardless (for the purposes of this discussion) of how we shore up the PG position long-term, Tre passing to Wemby is going to be lots of fun.

Keldon is in an interesting position. It's clear he was overtasked and overtaxed last season, yet another in which he was very reliable on O for us. And we need more of his bruiser type of driving and physicality. That he's also a much improved 3s shooter adds to his game being a lot easier with Wemby getting a lot of attention and guys playing off him rather than being targets themselves.

And even though Keldon's D can be better hidden/absorbed now, it has to get better so he doesn't get targeted on switches or need to get bailed out.

Overall it's a nice problem to have, but I doubt we put our leading scorer as 6th man. Is there a 20PPG guy coming off the bench right now in the league? That'll likely to even go up because his scoring chances will be easier (if fewer given the shot distribution from now on).

Malaki as 6th man is going to pop this season, watch...

I forgot about Malaki Branham. Had some decent scoring games this past season.

Putting on my seatbelt on the Spurs bandwagon.

[mikejames23]

We're headed in the right direction. A Wemby pick makes me feel comfortable about this franchise's direction. 9th seed days are long gone.

[Phreak50]

I said it 6 months ago and still stand by it. The Front Office is doing everything they can to also get Scoot.

They’d be wheeling and dealing ideas around the league right now, knowing they could put any player on the table and their future picks.

Sochan, KJ or Vassell and future picks could get it done. Anyone with half a brain would give up those guys to get the best two players in one draft. It’s not entirely out of the question either. The only thing that may stop it is the league itself.

[imagump1313]

I said it 6 months ago and still stand by it. The Front Office is doing everything they can to also get Scoot.

They’d be wheeling and dealing ideas around the league right now, knowing they could put any player on the table and their future picks.

Sochan, KJ or Vassell and future picks could get it done. Anyone with half a brain would give up those guys to get the best two players in one draft. It’s not entirely out of the question either. The only thing that may stop it is the league itself.

I'm not sold on Henderson at all. I see a bust waiting to happen. He is listed as a PG because of his height but he plays like a two even though he can't shoot. I don't think he is a good passer or play maker at all. He doesn't get other players involved and seems to make everything about him. Maybe I just don't like his attitude.

I could be 100% wrong but if it were me I would stay far away from that guy.

[G R E Y]

Well this could shake things up:

Read on Twitter

I'd rather we move up in the draft for PG talent and use the cap space/assets for, say, shoring up SF but there will be lots of rumours for the next week or so and then come FA period.

[Ballings7]

Right now...

PG: Tre Jones
SG: Vassell
SF: Keldon
PF: Wemby
C: Sochan

That to me is the most balanced and likely line-up: overall stability from last season and to continue to growth; playmakers and handlers at basically all 5 positions (varying levels but each able); decent defensive versaility to compliment Wemby as he gets going, switching, leading-offensive-guys; spacing with Sochan's cutting, Wemby, Keldon, and Vassell.. maybe an improved Tre Jones range.

Still need that second prominent guy, preferably at SF or lead guard - but in time.

I think the Collins starting at C was before Wembanyama was going to be drafted - maybe it still ends up that way, though. Collins could also be a solid piece in a deal for a contending team or mid-level PO team with assets.

----

Wouldn't mind CP3 coming in... he wouldn't push the team to mid-level in all likelyhood, and maybe just be a play-in contender but not for sure to make the play-in either.

Would rather roll with a few tweaks and not get "too good, too soon" I'd say though. Be a solid spot for CP to retire to, as well.

Getting another top 7-10 pick would be a good and safe move unless Wemby's impact is so consistent and high that it doesn't truly matter, then off to the races again for real..