What do Spurs need to do to build a winning roster around Wemby?

[peZt]

I love this Spurs core. I think they have 3 players that can be really special in Wemby-Harper-Castle. Who also complement each other really well. They have 2 really good veterans in Fox and Barnes and a handful of solid to good young players who are great complimentary pieces around Wemby and/or can be used as trade stock like Keldon Johnson, Vassell, Sochan, Champagne (and Carter Bryant). They might even have the best bench in the league.

I think its clear that if Wemby stays healthy, he has GOAT potential. At least individually. But you need a bunch of MVPs and rings to be in that conversation. While I love the Spurs core, I feel like they are missing one more great piece at the wing to really have a team around Wemby that can win 5 rings in the next decade.

What are the moves the Spurs can do?

As for Free Agency: In 2027 and 2028 there are a bunch of forwards on the market like
Brandon Ingram
DeAndre Hunter
Miles Bridges
Deni Avdija

Do they wait for those or do a trade before? Are these 4 worth waiting the free agency for?

As for trades: Who is a realistic target for the Spurs in the next 1-2 years? I would imagine they would package Fox, one of Keldon/Vassell/Sochan/Champagne/Bryant, and a bunch of picks which should be enough to get a all star level wing. But who could that be? Lauri would probably make the most sense, tho he is a PF but would fit perfectly in that team.

[SlimShady83]

Man I'm afraid somehow you guys (Spurs, noticed you a 76er fan:)) gonna wind up getting Giannis and if this happens GG NBA haha, that said I'm a Kessler fan If Spurs can trade for Kessler (right time frame with Wemby) which they can with billion picks they have and young players, I'd be all in on Kessler, but as a Laker fan I don't want this actually I've said Bos/Den/Clip and now Spurs haha

Imagine Kessler/Wemby combo ? omg you not stopping that front court, not sure what players Spurs would swap, but they have a billion picks (last I checked) and not sure why they wouldn't consider this, especially since Wemby already shooting 3's on offense etc, man I'm scared Spurs might do this or something to shock entire NBA.

[BruttoNostra]

I love this Spurs core. I think they have 3 players that can be really special in Wemby-Harper-Castle. Who also complement each other really well. They have 2 really good veterans in Fox and Barnes and a handful of solid to good young players who are great complimentary pieces around Wemby and/or can be used as trade stock like Keldon Johnson, Vassell, Sochan, Champagne (and Carter Bryant). They might even have the best bench in the league.

I think its clear that if Wemby stays healthy, he has GOAT potential. At least individually. But you need a bunch of MVPs and rings to be in that conversation. While I love the Spurs core, I feel like they are missing one more great piece at the wing to really have a team around Wemby that can win 5 rings in the next decade.

What are the moves the Spurs can do?

As for Free Agency: In 2027 and 2028 there are a bunch of forwards on the market like
Brandon Ingram
DeAndre Hunter
Miles Bridges
Deni Avdija

Do they wait for those or do a trade before? Are these 4 worth waiting the free agency for?

As for trades: Who is a realistic target for the Spurs in the next 1-2 years? I would imagine they would package Fox, two of Keldon/Vassell/Sochan/Champagne/Bryant, and a bunch of picks which should be enough to get a all star level wing. But who could that be? Lauri would probably make the most sense, tho he is a PF but would fit perfectly in that team.

I hope for Wemby that Spurs FO doesn't go after empty calories players like Ingram. Same with having players like Bridges anywhere near Wemby.
Hunter isn't that much of an upgrade over what they already have.
Avdija though might be a missing piece.

But agree with your notion of making moves while Harper and Castle are still on rookie scale contracts. And it must be a trade - it's 2025 and majority of good starters and above are leaving teams via trades (including S&T) and not in a free agency, unlike in the past.

[Kineto]

Give me Trey Murphy and a healthy Wemby, and this spurs team is a top 3 teams in the west.

[2LeTTeRS]

I think the best move is to stay the course and make sure Mitch Johnson is truly the right guy for the job. The fit still feels a bit clunky right now, but there’s plenty of talent on the roster. If those players develop as expected, they should end up with a great blend of length, athleticism, and defensive IQ. The shooting is definitely a concern, but their other strengths can help make up for it.

I could be wrong if Harper, Castle, and Bryant (and to a lesser extent Sochan) don’t progress the way I expect, but it’s hard to imagine all of them falling short. And honestly, if that many players underperform, it would suggest that the issue wasn’t just the roster -- it was the coaching.

[KGtabake]

Give Fox + one of Vassell, Castle along with 3-4 picks to Milwaukee and get Giannis.
Wemby will probably get in the Duncan trajectory this way and start dominating from an early age.
Giannis is better than David Robinson was in 1999. Wemby will be as good as Duncan was in the early '00s with a player like that next to him.

[Sign5]

If Miami stinks this year see if they can pry Bam from them for Harper, sochan and a couple FRP/swaps.

Fox/Castle
Castle/JC
Barnes/Vassell
Bam/Olynk
Wemby/Kornet

Not bad imo.

[chilluminati]

Not saying the comp here is 1:1, buuut ...

Cade struggled a lot during his first few years. Outside of crazy management and injuries, he needed one simple thing: shooters.

Much like Detroit's rosters over the past 3-4 years, the Spurs have a surprising lack of shooting. Their last few draft picks are not known for being snipers, and they went out and got one of the worst 3pt shooting PG's in Fox. Just like my old Pistons, the Spurs have a ton of talent packed into players who aren't spacing the floor. Spacing is important for Wemby, whether he's playing inside or out.

Detroit didn't even do any crazy trades/signings last season, they went out and got THJ and Beasley. It made an enormous difference. Getting someone like Fox isn't the worst choice, but definitely isn't the best fit.

Basically, the Spurs have talent, and alot of these guys are so young that they could become good shooters. But the path forward to utilizing Wemby to his fullest is surrounding him with the correct complementary players. I really wouldn't want a world class center being surrounded by a bunch of cutters and slashers. I have faith in the young pieces becoming more than they are, just not Fox.

[kane0801]

If Miami stinks this year see if they can pry Bam from them for Harper, sochan and a couple FRP/swaps.

Fox/Castle
Castle/JC
Barnes/Vassell
Bam/Olynk
Wemby/Kornet

Not bad imo.

Fox+Castle+Bam is very poor spacing,it won't work

[Blame Rasho]

They need shooting and spacing.

I also think they need a better 3/4 who can help with rebounding.

I absolutely hate the idea that Wemby might be the best shooter on the floor on some lineups.

Your PG/SG shouldn’t be worse shooters than your Center.

[JRoy]

Quality shooting from the guards that do not otherwise stink (ie Simons etc).

[Bornstellar]

Maybe they already have. When he played last season they were hovering around .500. They added some depth, Fox, and the #2 pick in the draft. They have looked really good in preseason so far (yeah I know it's preseason). Let's give them a few RS games at full strength before we judge them

They definitely do need to upgrade the 4 position. Carter Bryant has potential but he's a bit raw still

[Chuck Everett]

If he's going to play primarily on the perimeter, then it won't matter. If he plays 15 feet and in, with the occasional 3, then you're talking about a guy who is most likely dominating.

[Wolveswin]

Spurs need to strike when the iron is hot. And if they feel Wemby has a shorter/sooner window (injury/health/longevity concerns), they can’t sit around too long - if at all.

So what does ‘strike when iron is hot’ mean? When a star becomes available, go all-in. Even if said star isn’t ‘perfect’ because sitting around for perfect may never happen.

Fox, ironically, is exactly what they did here - many feel Fox isn’t a great fit or pulling trade trigger was too soon. But this is NBA, stars of Fox or better level don’t grow on trees and become ‘available’ often. Yes, I get the argument, how nice it would be to let all Spurs youth incubate and grow with team organically, but, see Wemby concern already mentioned.

Giannis could be that all-in star to trade for. He isn’t perfect. Little on older side, doesn’t shoot well from outside, flight risk concerns. Maybe it’s him - maybe not. If not, Who will be next star they can trade for - and when?

[Catchall]

They need another impact big next to Wemby and a couple guys who are knock-down shooters. They've got cagey defenders, but their offense is still too limited.

[Blame Rasho]

Spurs need to strike when the iron is hot. And if they feel Wemby has a shorter/sooner window (injury/health/longevity concerns), they can’t sit around too long - if at all.

So what does ‘strike when iron is hot’ mean? When a star becomes available, go all-in. Even if said star isn’t ‘perfect’ because sitting around for perfect may never happen.

Fox, ironically, is exactly what they did here - many feel Fox isn’t a great fit or pulling trade trigger was too soon. But this is NBA, stars of Fox or better level don’t grow on trees and become ‘available’ often. Yes, I get the argument, how nice it would be to let all Spurs youth incubate and grow with team organically, but, see Wemby concern already mentioned.

Giannis could be that all-in star to trade for. He isn’t perfect. Little on older side, doesn’t shoot well from outside, flight risk concerns. Maybe it’s him - maybe not. If not, Who will be next star they can trade for - and when?

You kinda gloss over Giannis as just an allstar. He is a mofo. He would instantly make any half decent team a finals contender. It is a shame that the Bucks have utterly failed with and their lack of assets and resources their long term future looks so bleak. I just don’t see the bucks trading him unless he said, I want out. I can see him saying send me to NYC at the trade deadline though.

I concur with you that I don’t see Wemby having a long career projection. I have significant concerns for his career. I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets a long term injury. This has to be the year the Spurs must show something. I hate the pieces around him. Fox is a guy who wants to be there, and they didn’t give much for him. Dislike his contract but that was the price that needed to be paid. I didn’t want Jones to be starting another year.

[DrModesty]

The Spurs should play it slow. Remember that he is only 21 years old at the moment. The apparent long term building blocks he has alongside are even younger. The Spurs could improve slightly each year and win the title in 4 years time and Wemby would still be on a goat trajectory. Even Fox would only just be entering his 30's in that time frame.

But they need to give Castle and Harper time to actualize. They need to give Carter Bryant time to see if he can become a solid 3&D wing. They need to work out if Johnson is a good enough coach. They need to work out if any of Keldon, Sochan or Vassell will be able to fit long term as winning rotation guys as Castle/Harper/Fox absorb shots and usage.

The last thing they should do is bring in another ancillary star player. That will curtail the development of Castle and Harper (who the Spurs both hope will end up better than Fox), or if those 2 do manage to usurp Fox and the other ancillary star, suddenly Fox and that other player will end up being relegated to role player duties while being paid a fortune. If they want to chase new personnel to improve the team they need to look for their version of a guy like Nesmith who doesn't threaten the development of the team long term. They are probably hoping Carter Bryant is that guy in 3 years time.

They have a chance to build a sustainable contender until 2040 if they don't blow it chasing the dragon.

[NoDopeOnSundays]

They need Fox, Harper and Castle to turn into respectable 3 point shooters. The more I think of what they have, the more I think the 3 guard lineup could work. With Harper being 6'6" in shoes, and Castle being 6'7" in shoes they've got the size at the 2 & 3 to play them with Fox, the shooting is the big question. Having 3 different guys that can create off the dribble? That's pretty rare and hard to defend if they are just decent catch and shoot guys it turns every drive and kick into a mad scramble.


I'd hold off on trading for Giannis if I were them, I think the depth they're building right now is how you win in the NBA with the current CBA.

[ShootersShoot]

Spurs need to strike when the iron is hot. And if they feel Wemby has a shorter/sooner window (injury/health/longevity concerns), they can’t sit around too long - if at all.

So what does ‘strike when iron is hot’ mean? When a star becomes available, go all-in. Even if said star isn’t ‘perfect’ because sitting around for perfect may never happen.

Fox, ironically, is exactly what they did here - many feel Fox isn’t a great fit or pulling trade trigger was too soon. But this is NBA, stars of Fox or better level don’t grow on trees and become ‘available’ often. Yes, I get the argument, how nice it would be to let all Spurs youth incubate and grow with team organically, but, see Wemby concern already mentioned.

Giannis could be that all-in star to trade for. He isn’t perfect. Little on older side, doesn’t shoot well from outside, flight risk concerns. Maybe it’s him - maybe not. If not, Who will be next star they can trade for - and when?

Siakam, ingram, butler, KD, bane are examples of guys just as good or better than fox being traded in just the past year or so. Other all star level players that were traded for each other Kat, randle, luka, AD. Saying a guy like fox is rarely available to trade for is not true at all. We see these types of trades every season. Foxs contract is not worth it imo and is going to be very difficult to move. I understand wanting talent but its going to come at the expense of the developments of castle and harper

[hardenASG13]

They've already got it, people just don't realize it yet. They have massively upgraded the roster since the last time Wemby played (he and Fox barely played together and probably had 3 practices together before Wemby went out). Castle isn't gonna be worse. Harper is a stud. Theyve added Olynyk, Kornet and Bryant too. They have significantly upgraded and are going to compete as contenders starting this year.