Cam Johnson

[Astaluego]

I understand... but a question, if that is the plan, why trade for a 27-year-old point guard whose greatest virtue is speed and athleticism, if they don't plan to go all out... 3 and waste 2/3 years of his best moment?

Spurs didn't go hard at Fox, the opportunity presented itself and it cost the Spurs 2 FRPs (their own 27 + a far out pick from the Wolves) + 1 pick unlikely to convey (if the Bulls were trying to rid themselves of Lavine and Vucevic that pick was a hot potato) + 5 SRPs (Hornets pick is only a first for PR purposes). Also they rid themselves of a negative contract in Zach Collins that would have cost them a first by itself to do so. At that price, it's a good deal from an assets standpoint, you do the deal and figure it out later. If Spurs re-sign him and it doesn't work out, they can flip him for twice that price tag easily.

Thanks for your reply, from that point of view, it makes a lot of sense... I personally thought that with a couple of adjustments here and there + the development of Castle/Vassell and especially Victor + Fox... The Spurs could consolidate themselves as a semi-contender at least as good as Houston/Grizzlies this year.

[Dan Z]

The Bulls pick wasn't a "hot potato". It was top 10 protected this year and right now the Bulls are at #8. If they didn't trade Zach (which may have happened had the Fox deal not happened) then there's a chance the Spurs get the pick.

The following year I think it was top 6 protected? Or was it 8? 6 means that even if the Bulls don't play well (which is a good possibility ) then it still might convey to the Spurs.

The pick was top 10 protected this year, then top 8 for 2 more years. Chances that pick conveys at 11 are slim to none (0.4% assuming they end at 8th, below 0.05 % if they end at 7th). That's incredibly low. The next couple of years Bulls would have to pick 9th or lower for it to convey. With Lavine gone and Vucevic aging, do you foresee the Bulls pick being 9th or lower? Chances are very, very low IMO unless they land Cooper Flagg and a top pick next year as well. Thanks, but I'd take bird in hand over those odds. I'm glad you're happy with your pick back, though.

I'm sure Fox would be happy to hear that next year the Spurs plan on tanking....

I never said the Spurs should tank next year, I said the Spurs should tank THIS year, and not rush the timeline thinking it's all or nothing next year. If Wemby comes back healthy, plus Fox, plus Castle's growth, plus you add a couple talented pieces that fit (say 2 out of the 3 I mentioned) and sign someone in free agency (say NAW) and add COMPETENT COACH, next year Spurs should be this season's Rockets. Easily. And you don't need to overpay for vets to do that.

That's why I said if they kept Zach. If he's still on the team they probably don't stay at #8, but I agree that it would still be a slim chance that it ends up at 11. The following two years...who knows. The front office wants to win now (which I don't agree with) and doesn't tank (even though they've been bad).

I agree that the improvements (that you mentioned above) might make the Spurs competitive next year, but I don't think Cam is a bad idea if the cost isn't that high.

[Xman]

[quote="Dan Z"][quote="wemby"][quote="Dan Z"]

Right now the Spurs have 24 wins.

The Blazers have 24, Suns 27, Kings 28, Bulls 22 and Hawks 26.

The Blazers have played well recently, so it's possible that they pass the Hawks, but I doubt they'd go higher than that.

The Spurs will probably drop, but I doubt it'll be lower than the Bulls, Nets or Philly. It's possible, but a long shot IMO.

I bet they end up at 9th.

I'm not saying they should trade 9 for Cam and was just looking at the standings/odds.

The Hawks pick (lets say it's 10th or 11th) plus Keldon...that might be something to consider for Cam. My guess is the Spurs would like to be competitive next year and one thing they could use is better outside shooting (which Cam can do). Should the Nets take a deal like that? Maybe. Keep in mind they already have 4 picks in the 2025 draft.[/quote]
Spurs were already thin at C and they lost their best player and only quality big, and they're starting a 10 day vet who was out of the league recently. They're getting killed on the boards and have no rim protection, if they're smart they sit Fox (has a finger injury) and win maybe 4 more games all the way to the end.

The bottom 4 are set in stone, lets review the lot from 5-10:
5) Raptors: 18-39
6) 76ers: 20-36
7) Nets: 21-35
8) Bulls: 22-35
9) Blazers: 24-33
10) Spurs: 24-31

In reverse order:
Blazers: They'd have to claim the whole roster got persistent COVID and sit them all to stand any chance of ending up higher (in lottery odds).
Bulls: in free fall, probably stay ahead of the Spurs
Nets: won 7 of their last 10 while Spurs won 3, they're only 3 games apart and Spurs have a tougher schedule. Also, they're more willing to win games than other tankers. I think there's a fair chance Spurs overtake them, at this pace it may not take 10 games to do so.
76ers: Too many things going on, probably stay ahead.
Raptors: Right now they're 6 games ahead of the Spurs (in lottery odds) but they have lots of easy games ahead:
Wizards
Hornets (x2)
76ers
Nets (x2)
Spurs (x2)
Bulls
Jazz
Blazers
Suns
May end up winning a lot of them even without trying. It's debatable, but if Spurs commit to the tank and lose their 2 head to head games, it'd be challenging for them not to win a lot of those easy games.

All in all, I think Spurs end up 8th at the lowest, with a chance at 7th. I'll take those odds.

As for the Hawks pick, I think they're a lock to make the play in, and the pick may end up 11-15 (even if they finish 11th if they make the playoffs the pick could land at 15). If they can land a McNeely, Tre Johnson or Maluach with it, that's sounds like a better long term bet to me than Cam Johnson. Spurs won't win in the next couple of years, they should aim at the best player 3-7 years from now, and IMO that's not Cam.[/quote]

I'd be surprised if Tre Johnson is there for either of the Spurs picks. Most mocks that I've seen have him in the top 6. McNeely or Maluach...maybe.

The Spurs could get one of those players and try to use the other one to acquire Cam, but it sounds like you'd be against that idea. Fair enough, but I don't think it's a terrible idea.

Also, the Nets might not even be interested because they already have 4 picks in this draft.[/quote]

Spurs picks currently projected 11, 12.
Keldon and 12 seems fair. Might even ask bkn to include their lowest first.

Rockets might prefer moving 12. Cam for 12, filler (Landale, zeller, Tate).

[Xman]

Another.
OKC gets cam for topic, bad j Williams, k Williams, dieng, clippers first (projected 20)

Adds another first and gets pg of the future.
Plus, a “fab five” of firsts.

[Astaluego]

Cam to Pistons
Fontecchio/Sasser+Future FRP ol
Or
Ivey/Fontecchio...

Kuminga/TJD to BULLS
Vuc + Blazers FRP+SRP(Warriors)To NETS
Johnson/Lonzo to Warriors