Spurs Offseason 2024

[jayjaysee]

If Topic/Vassell/Matas/Sochan/Victor has a winning record 25-30 games, yeah I’d get aggressive.

That is a circle. You claimed SAS future picks are the best available but the picks aren't set.

No. Because I keep saying, I wouldn’t make win now moves if the team is still bad next season. That is what causes SAS’ pick to be the most valuable asset they have.. The other teams have no reason to tank. SAS has no reason to rush into contention. Trade for a star once Victor is actually translating to wins or once the fan base gets bored of a long rebuild..

I cannot see any method Atlanta gets better next year. If they move Young, they will be tanking. If they move Murray/Hunter/Capela, they are getting picks and salary, so again, not improving..

So Atlanta has..

2024 late lottery pick
2024 Sac pick
2029 and 2031 firsts
Bufkin, Griffin..

Once you add in whatever value their salary matching (2-3 of Capela, OO, Bogdan, Murray) has.. they have a trade package that can land a true star if they really want to push in around Trae/Jalen..

Or they could just go for defense and trade for Grant/Thybulle a lot cheaper... Or they could offer Chicago Griffin+20th+2nd for Caruso.. Or.. etc?

I know Atlanta has had a really bad season, but they made playoffs 3 years in a row before this. So don’t see why everyone thinks there’s no hope for them..

[louc1970]

If Topic/Vassell/Matas/Sochan/Victor has a winning record 25-30 games, yeah I’d get aggressive.

That is a circle. You claimed SAS future picks are the best available but the picks aren't set.

No. Because I keep saying, I wouldn’t make win now moves if the team is still bad next season. That is what causes SAS’ pick to be the most valuable asset they have.. The other teams have no reason to tank. SAS has no reason to rush into contention. Trade for a star once Victor is actually translating to wins or once the fan base gets bored of a long rebuild..

I cannot see any method Atlanta gets better next year. If they move Young, they will be tanking. If they move Murray/Hunter/Capela, they are getting picks and salary, so again, not improving..

So Atlanta has..

2024 late lottery pick
2024 Sac pick
2029 and 2031 firsts
Bufkin, Griffin..

Once you add in whatever value their salary matching (2-3 of Capela, OO, Bogdan, Murray) has.. they have a trade package that can land a true star if they really want to push in around Trae/Jalen..

Or they could just go for defense and trade for Grant/Thybulle a lot cheaper... Or they could offer Chicago Griffin+20th+2nd for Caruso.. Or.. etc?

I know Atlanta has had a really bad season, but they made playoffs 3 years in a row before this. So don’t see why everyone thinks there’s no hope for them..

Atlanta has no hope because they are so poorly put together. Who does Atlanta take at (currently) #10 that is going to improve them enough to be out of the play-in game at best? Anyone they pick is going to be less than the players they currently have.
In the 10 pick range is Buzelis (who can't shoot), Salaun (who will not play in front of Johnson), Walter (same and also behind Murray), a couple of PGs (they are not being picked unless Young is being moved) and a couple of bigs (Atlanta would have to move Capela and/or Okongo) just to give them playing time.
The pick does not help next year.

The only avenue for Atlanta is come off the high price for Murray. Give Murray to NOP for Jones/Murphy 3. A nice 3-man rotation of Johnson, Murphy, Jones.

[165bows]

Yeah I don’t think Grant is the piece for their cap space. I think Giddey could be an interesting target for them. Wemby can hide the defensive limitations, and he gets a point.

Giddy is a really interesting target for the Spurs. I like it, if OKC get what they want as well.

I don't think Giddy is a good target for the Spurs. SA needs their guards to shoot just like OKC does, and the draft has plenty of young guards with various combinations of measurables and skills. Giddy isn't a fresh rookie and he's not a high-impact star. There's no question I'd prefer the Spurs to get Grant and draft a PG than to trade for Giddy.

Giddy makes no sense other than just take him in exchange for some other fungible vet and just pass the time for a year or two while they do other things.

[jayjaysee]

That is a circle. You claimed SAS future picks are the best available but the picks aren't set.

No. Because I keep saying, I wouldn’t make win now moves if the team is still bad next season. That is what causes SAS’ pick to be the most valuable asset they have.. The other teams have no reason to tank. SAS has no reason to rush into contention. Trade for a star once Victor is actually translating to wins or once the fan base gets bored of a long rebuild..

I cannot see any method Atlanta gets better next year. If they move Young, they will be tanking. If they move Murray/Hunter/Capela, they are getting picks and salary, so again, not improving..

So Atlanta has..

2024 late lottery pick
2024 Sac pick
2029 and 2031 firsts
Bufkin, Griffin..

Once you add in whatever value their salary matching (2-3 of Capela, OO, Bogdan, Murray) has.. they have a trade package that can land a true star if they really want to push in around Trae/Jalen..

Or they could just go for defense and trade for Grant/Thybulle a lot cheaper... Or they could offer Chicago Griffin+20th+2nd for Caruso.. Or.. etc?

I know Atlanta has had a really bad season, but they made playoffs 3 years in a row before this. So don’t see why everyone thinks there’s no hope for them..

Atlanta has no hope because they are so poorly put together. Who does Atlanta take at (currently) #10 that is going to improve them enough to be out of the play-in game at best? Anyone they pick is going to be less than the players they currently have.
In the 10 pick range is Buzelis (who can't shoot), Salaun (who will not play in front of Johnson), Walter (same and also behind Murray), a couple of PGs (they are not being picked unless Young is being moved) and a couple of bigs (Atlanta would have to move Capela and/or Okongo) just to give them playing time.
The pick does not help next year.

The only avenue for Atlanta is come off the high price for Murray. Give Murray to NOP for Jones/Murphy 3. A nice 3-man rotation of Johnson, Murphy, Jones.

(DJM isn’t bringing back Herb Jones and TM)

This is kind of confusing... You just quoted me listing 4 first round picks.. and responded that Atlanta has no hope of improving… Why wouldn’t Atlanta trade the pick to improve?

That’s what most teams do, it’s what you’re suggesting SAS does. Why is Atlanta trading players to keep rookies?

Atlanta can offer 4 firsts for any star that’s available. They can match without including Trae, Murray, Jalen, or OO or Capela..

If Atlanta wanted to offer Brooklyn Bogdan, Griffin, 10th, 20th and the 2029 unprotected first for Bridges - is anyone topping that? No one should since Bridges isn’t worth that. But it gives Atlanta the ideal wing for their current group.. If he’s worth that, is he worth it with the 2031 first added? Probably not..

How much better is Atlanta swapping Hunter and Bogdan for Grant and Thybulle? They easily have the assets to do it and it improves their defense while Grant offers some offense..

Or you trade Murray for whatever two firsts he can return, and now you can outbid teams for KAT or… Or keep the 29/31 firsts out of it and try and pull off
Murray+10+20 for a different “better fitting” star..

[NYG]

I say sign CP3 and other locker room vets (take on PJ Tucker?) and roll it into 2025

How do Spurs fans feel about something like this?

[Chinook]

The Spurs need real vets, not old guys to sit on the bench. The team needs guys who are going to come in, win jobs and execute on the floor while being able to provide wisdom in the locker room and on the practice court. Ideally, I'd like the Spurs to get a play-making wing to start at SF and draft a high-upside PG to start. Then get a defense-minded PF and center.

Dillingham (Spurs pick), Jones, Wesley
Vassell, Branham, Champangie
DeRozan, Johnson, Cissoko
Sochan, O'Neal, Buzelis (Raptors pick)
Wembanyama, Colllins, Bamba

I don't love DeRozan in that role, but there just aren't a lot of good players in that mold around the league right now. I'd would be better if it were someone like Middleton who has championship experience, but he's only available if he's completely done, and the Spurs should want their vet to have some juice. That Spurs team wouldn't be a contender, but it would put the guys in a spot where they could grow within a contending framework. That feels like a far, far better transitional phase than one where they spend a ton on Young and aren't a better team despite having way higher expectations.

[Dan Z]

The Spurs need real vets, not old guys to sit on the bench. The team needs guys who are going to come in, win jobs and execute on the floor while being able to provide wisdom in the locker room and on the practice court. Ideally, I'd like the Spurs to get a play-making wing to start at SF and draft a high-upside PG to start. Then get a defense-minded PF and center.

Dillingham (Spurs pick), Jones, Wesley
Vassell, Branham, Champangie
DeRozan, Johnson, Cissoko
Sochan, O'Neal, Buzelis (Raptors pick)
Wembanyama, Colllins, Bamba

I don't love DeRozan in that role, but there just aren't a lot of good players in that mold around the league right now. I'd would be better if it were someone like Middleton who has championship experience, but he's only available if he's completely done, and the Spurs should want their vet to have some juice. That Spurs team wouldn't be a contender, but it would put the guys in a spot where they could grow within a contending framework. That feels like a far, far better transitional phase than one where they spend a ton on Young and aren't a better team despite having way higher expectations.

I think players like Chris Paul won't agree to go to SA and the Spurs should only take Tucker if the Clippers give them assets to do so.

DeRozan is an interesting idea. How much do you think he'll get in free agency? Based on everything the Bulls front office has said I bet they re-sign him, but there's been lots of talk on the Bulls board about the amount and years that he should get.

My two cents is that I think the Spurs should inquire about Trae Young and Lauri Markkanen and if the price is too high then move on. Whatever they do I think they should keep one of their lottery picks (preferably the higher one). After the draft figure out the rest of the roster with smaller moves such as offering Drummond a contract. Then if the team is competitive in the first half of 2025 keep going. If not then aim for another high pick.

[OriAr]

1. Call Atlanta and do a diligence call about Trae Young. If the price is too high move on, no need to blow up the picks' stack yet*, otherwise do it and completely change course.
2. Assuming Atlanta doesn't want to do it, draft Sheppard with the Spurs' pick, take a gamble on some wing with the Raptors' pick if it conveys, signs some vets in FA so Wemby will have some actual NBA talent surrounding him, and see how the first 30 games go, if the Spurs are actually competitive, assess what the landscape looks like nearing the trade deadline and be ready to do a big move if needed. If they aren't, just aim for another high draft pick and draft accordingly.
3. If the Hawks DO want to trade Trae for a reasonable price, do it, draft according to need (No idea who'd that be) and be more aggressive in FA (Throw $$$ at OG for example and dare him to turn down $150m/4 years) and aggressively look around for opportunities to put around a contender tier talent around Wemby and Trae. If Sochan hasn't made a forward leap yet, put him on the trade block and look around for a well-rounded PF to compliment Wemby in the frontcourt, as well as a 3 and D guy for SF if OG said no for example.

* - One exception for the rule, if Luka somehow DOES ask out of Dallas this summer, completely divert and offer everything except Wemby to get almost an insta contender around Wemby and Luka, if it happens then spend the rest of the summer putting in complementary role players around the Luka/Victor duo.

[louc1970]

Some horrible picks. Reed is slow and takes advantage of playing against the team's weakest defenders. Buzelis is not shooting well enough to be considered a lottery pick even in this draft. He will be, but his shooting is Scoot Henderson bad.

[BlazersBroncos]

Some horrible picks. Reed is slow and takes advantage of playing against the team's weakest defenders. Buzelis is not shooting well enough to be considered a lottery pick even in this draft. He will be, but his shooting is Scoot Henderson bad.

.
Reed is small and lacks length but people consistently undersell him as an athlete.

Matas need to work on his shot but at his size and with his other skills if he was shooting well he would be the consensus #1 pick.

[louc1970]

Some horrible picks. Reed is slow and takes advantage of playing against the team's weakest defenders. Buzelis is not shooting well enough to be considered a lottery pick even in this draft. He will be, but his shooting is Scoot Henderson bad.

.
Reed is small and lacks length but people consistently undersell him as an athlete.

Matas need to work on his shot but at his size and with his other skills if he was shooting well he would be the consensus #1 pick.

Buyer beware.

[Chinook]

This thread is evidence for why so many FOs make the mistake of trying to aggressively build around their young blue-chip prospect immediately while also for some reason prioritizing bringing in young players who've never won anything on their own.

To me, you either go win-now and bring in vets who are proven championship players, or you build organically with draft picks and improvement. Going for a young star splits the difference in a way that's the worst of both worlds. Get a Shaq for Wemby's Wade or give Wright a chance to find Wemby's Ginobili and Parker.

I really think there's a disconnect that comes from actually watching Wemby and seeing the places he needs to improve in and the nature of the conversation around him. Dude is extremely talented and productive. That's not the same thing as being ready to lead a contender. People are confusing how good Wemby looks for the step he's on with the idea that he's skipping steps. The reality, is there's a good chance that Wemby won't be ready to win a title until his fourth, sixth or even eighth year just like most other superstars.

By that time, guys like Young and Markkanen will be much older and more expensive. They aren't good buys. If you're going to spend to bring in another star, making in a legit championship centerpiece and let Wemby win as a number 2/1B. The prime title-winning centerpieces like Giannis and Jokic (with Embiid and Doncic in the same talent bracket but without the hardware) are not obtainable, but the older guard does contain players the Spurs could trade for if things break the right way.