BOS / CHI / SAS: Zingspur

[williambh3]

BOS
Out: Porzingis
In: Jalen Smith, $22m cap

CHI
Out: Jalen Smith, Jevon Carter
In: Barnes, #38

SAS
Out: Barnes, Wesley or Branham, #38, future 2nds
In: Porzingis

Carter and Wesley / Branham all on low dollar 1-year deals are moved into exceptions / cap space for other teams with a 2nd if needed

Boston saves $22m in cap and crucially replaces Porzingis with a poor man’s version on a two-year deal.

Chicago takes a look at an early 2nd this year and clears even more cap for next summer.

San Antonio gets Porzingis, who brings a lot of what Durant would at a fraction of the cost. Giant floor spacer next to Wemby, offensive focal point for all the non-Wemby minutes.

[One_and_Done]

Zinger is a bench player for the Spurs though.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Would need to hear from Spurs fans what they think Barnes brings. Porzingis is better, but is he a better enough fit to justify expending (even modest) assets?

I like this for Boston and Chicago.

[Kineto]

I don't see the point to invest 30M of salary cap into a player who play at the same spot than wemby best position.

[brackdan70]

I don't see the point to invest 30M of salary cap into a player who play at the same spot than wemby best position.

Twin towers…every team want it

[brackdan70]

Zinger is a bench player for the Spurs though.

Is that an issue?
Zinger can space the floor, play low or high post.
I think he could start for the spurs or be a sixth man, what ever they need.

[brackdan70]

I dont love it for Boston as the take on 26/27 salary, which they are trying to clear. If this came after a trade that cleared a bunch already, then sure.
But in a vacuum I don’t think the Celtics would do this. Smith is useful and I guess could be moved later so maybe.
Do we really need the picks involved for this?
Could be straight between SAS and Boston as well.
Are the Bulls needed.

[ChettheJet]

This only works for the Bulls if they intend to keep Vucevic, who doesn't fit their style of play, where Smith does or they do trade Vucevic and then find a backup center(s) for Zach Collins. Barnes is old and expiring, he's not going to get them to the Finals so he shouldn't take minutes from Williams or Phillips.

They have 14 players under contract #12 and #45 so getting #38 making it two SRPs to look at in the G League not a great move. They 're better off with Smith

[Texas Chuck]

I see the logic here for everyone. Chicago should then talk to Barnes about if he wants to stick around and be a vet leader and if yes, give him a two year extension to be the pro's pro for the kids. If not, then flip him to a contender for different expirings and a 2nd or two.

But whether KP starts or not, he's a good add for the Spurs.
And Smith can play a bit and it saves Boston close to 9 figures I'd imagine. And he makes so little his future money is easily dealt with if need be.

[hugepatsfan]

I understand the pushback for the Spurs as "what's the point", but this does seem like the type of low cost upside move that makes sense for them in their scenario. They probably don't want to push a ton of chips in while Wemby recovers unless it's a star (Giannis on the high end, maybe Markannen on the low end) but they probably still want to improve. Porzingis for Barnes is an upside play for sure, and it's hardly any real cost.

If SA does make any bigger deals this year, my guess is Porzingis is more functional in those deals anyway because his salary is larger for matching.

[williambh3]

I don’t see why Porzingis can’t start and then stagger so he plays all the non-Wemby minutes. The Towns / Gobert Twolves were the best defensive team in the league. Porzingis should be able to replicate Barnes’ spacing in the Wemby minutes, and then take on the offensive load when Wemby sits, which would be about half Porzingis’ time. Spurs were real bad when Wemby wasn’t out there.

[wemby]

Is Porzingis on the Spurs long term plans? If he is, this is a deal they should consider. If he isn't, then you don't use assets and salary cap for a one year rental. Personally I like Tingus Pingus as a player, but I'm not sure I'd like him at the 30 millon plus he's surely looking for beyond next season, so I'd probably target someone a lot less expensive, a lot more available, that can fill in as a long term backup center with good rim protection. But this isn't a senseless proposition, it's worht discussing at least.

[djFan71]

Is Porzingis on the Spurs long term plans? If he is, this is a deal they should consider. If he isn't, then you don't use assets and salary cap for a one year rental. Personally I like Tingus Pingus as a player, but I'm not sure I'd like him at the 30 millon plus he's surely looking for beyond next season, so I'd probably target someone a lot less expensive, a lot more available, that can fill in as a long term backup center with good rim protection. But this isn't a senseless proposition, it's worht discussing at least.

I think you'd need an extension from him. I do think his next few years will have to be a lot cheaper due to injury concerns. MLE to < $20M/year range. If you can do that, it makes sense. But as an expiring, I agree with you.

My sneaky (unrealistic / illegal) plan is to dump him for salary relief, then sign him for MLE in summer 26.

[williambh3]

Is Porzingis on the Spurs long term plans? If he is, this is a deal they should consider. If he isn't, then you don't use assets and salary cap for a one year rental. Personally I like Tingus Pingus as a player, but I'm not sure I'd like him at the 30 millon plus he's surely looking for beyond next season, so I'd probably target someone a lot less expensive, a lot more available, that can fill in as a long term backup center with good rim protection. But this isn't a senseless proposition, it's worht discussing at least.

My thought is this wouldn’t be an immediate extension situation, but the two parties could evaluate the fit for a year and then make a decision. I think it works out, but it’s unconventional so a measured approach might be best.

Kind of eye opening for me that the Twolves were 1st in the league in defense by far, and then traded Towns, who is much maligned defensively, and dropped to the 5th/6th range.

Porzingis has had a big positive on / off defensive impact for the C’s, and obviously he would be huge for the offense when Wemby sits.

Yes, he’s injury prone, but he’s played more games than Durant over the past 6 years and just a couple fewer than Lauri.

[williambh3]

I think he’s better than Lauri, and probably will be better over the next 3-4 years than Durant at half the cost in both salary and trade assets.

[Kineto]

I would prefer thid deal with vassel as the counterpart for the spurs.

At least, it will help them for the 2026 FA if the porzingis experience doesnt work.

But Vassel will probably cost a lot more to salary dump than Barnes.