This Air Alamo article has three prospective players we should pursue in free agency. Of course, with the current pandemic and its ripple effects on the cap going forward, there's no telling which teams will end up with what space. Nevertheless, here are the players they suggest. I think these are from most to least realistic given the fit, opportunity (in terms of the role they can play for us and whether we may be able to offer them enough of a financial incentive to come to us).
These three players are great fits for San Antonio and could slot in for the silver and black without taking away from other players in the lineup.
Christian Wood, Detroit Pistons
During 62 games with the Pistons, Wood averaged 13.1 points per game on 56.7 percent shooting from the field and a noteworthy 38.6 percent shooting from deep. He’s a skilled rebounder, averaging 14.5 boards per 100 possessions which would rank second on the Spurs of qualifying players.
What stood out the most was his sustained scoring prowess once the keys to the team were handed over to him. Wood posted 22.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and a block over his final 15 games of the season and even increased his shooting percentages in the process. He’s a versatile scorer and an even more versatile defensive player at 24-years-old.
If I were the Spurs, Wood instantly becomes my No. 1 target in free agency this year. I’d do whatever it takes to get him in San Antonio because of his upside, versatility and ability to play both big man positions alongside LaMarcus Aldridge, Jakob Poeltl and Trey Lyles.
https://airalamo.com/2020/05/16/san-antonio-spurs-three-must-sign-free-agency-targets-20-offseason/2/Though he's bounced around the league for the first three years of his career, he looks to have put more of his game together and has had a career year:
SUMMARY G PTS TRB AST FG% FG3% FT% eFG% PER WS
2019-20 62 13.1 6.3 1.0 56.7 38.6 74.4 62.0 23.2 5.1
Career 113 9.5 4.8 0.6 54.6 36.8 73.4 59.4 22.0 6.4
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/w/woodch01.html#all_contracts_detThe thing is, regardless of whatever adjustments will happen to the cap, Detroit is fourth in terms of space. They'll have more money to throw at Wood. I guess it depends on the opportunity and growth and team culture he feels is best for him. I'd much rather develop under Pop and Timmy, but I'm biased. He'd have an instant starting role here, I think, slotting LMA back to his natural position and Trey could move to the bench with Jakob. OR Wood could be part of an important bench unit alongside Jakob. Christian would have to be excited about the opportunity over the money, at least initially, because we will have far more cap space in 2021. Made only $1,645,357 this season. Will be only 25 by the time next season starts.
Jerami Grant, Denver Nuggets
Everything that the San Antonio Spurs need In a frontcourt player, forward Jerami Grant can provide to them. A lengthy stretch-four who’s not afraid to play up against bigger opponents, Grant is the ideal modern frontcourt player for his floor spacing and versatile defensive imprint on every team he joins....
In 26 minutes per game, Grant averaged 11.6 points and 3.5 boards while logging 31 percent of his minutes at the small forward spot. He had some unsavory on-court/off-court number this year that would lead the Nuggets to let him walk but under the guidance of coach Popovich and the Spurs, Grant could become the high-level starter that basketball junkies have believed that he could be for years now.
Grant has a player option worth $9.3 million for next season, which is in the range of what should be expected. If he opts out, he’ll likely be looking for a raise that the Spurs would need to maneuver some contracts to make work. Moving off of Rudy Gay and replacing his minutes with Grant would be a major upgrade to the team’s defense and gives the team an added level of depth that they’re sorely lacking right now.
Plugging in a player who can defend multiple positions at a high level while draining 40 percent of his triples would be invaluable for the retooling Spurs.
https://airalamo.com/2020/05/16/san-antonio-spurs-three-must-sign-free-agency-targets-20-offseason/3/Another player with a career year:
SUMMARY G PTS TRB AST FG% FG3% FT% eFG% PER WS
2019-20 64 11.6 3.5 1.2 47.1 40.0 74.4 55.0 14.2 4.0
Career 447 9.2 3.9 1.1 46.3 34.8 66.6 52.1 12.8 22.3
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/g/grantje01.html#all_contracts_denAs much as I appreciate Rudy's contributions and the work he put in to recover and be a solid vet, he had a big dip in PPG and efficiency in 2s and 3s - especially for $14M(!) this year and next. Yeah. We need to move on from that. The sole best part is that his contract expires for the pivotal 2021 summer. BUT, if we can make a move to free up some space (article doesn't suggest how we'd move on from Rudy's salary without bringing comparable back, so caveat there), but we need to start considering/preparing for a higher floor moving forward.
Bogdan Bogdanovic, Sacramento Kings
Bogdanovic has been open about wanting a bigger role and rightfully so. The 27-year-old is a talented three-level scorer whose shot attempts went down from his sophomore season to now. Granted the Kings will have the right to match any offer that he may accept, the Spurs could try to lure him away with an enticing contract offer and more importantly, the chance to play for a competent organization that will help him excel.
San Antonio doesn’t have a true small forward on their roster and Bogdanovic could help them fill that role, pushing DeMar DeRozan back to his natural two-guard position for his presumptive last season with the team. He’s an accurate three-point shooter and a natural scorer who can play off of teammates or command the offense by himself.
Going out and getting a player entering his prime sends the message that the Spurs are ready to compete now. If DeRozan does opt to walk, Bogdanovic is an ideal candidate to join the team because he poses a scoring threat while spacing the floor and fitting in nicely with the likes of Derrick White and Lonnie Walker at the shooting guard and small forward spots.
He’d also be a huge upgrade from starting two-guard Bryn Forbes, whose defense is abysmal despite his deadly three-point jumper.
https://airalamo.com/2020/05/16/san-antonio-spurs-three-must-sign-free-agency-targets-20-offseason/4/SUMMARY G PTS TRB AST FG% FG3% FT% eFG% PER WS
2019-20 53 14.5 3.2 3.2 43.3 36.1 72.4 54.1 14.3 2.4
Career 201 13.3 3.2 3.5 43.2 37.0 80.3 52.0 13.9 8.0
https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/bogdabo01.htmlWell, Kings can match and have said they would (pre-pandemic). Bogdanovic is a 2/3 (article says he is a 'true 3' - is he?) and the case the article makes for slotting him in either spot makes sense, but with DeMar likely opting in, I guess the argument is not paying Bryn to fit BB in? I think gump suggested BB at some point (via trade?), and I think at the time I was not for it because of the money he'd command. Who knows in the current unpredictable climate? I think BB opts in but with the Kings committed to matching, this is the least likely option.
p.s. Lonnie has a comparable FG% and better 3% (much smaller sample size), and growing as a committed defender for what it's worth. At some point, we have to give more room to the players we've been developing.
I think we've drafted really well, and though Brian Wright made some creative moves to make space for the colossal a-hole who backed out on his word, it was an epic letdown of FA last summer. Not sure which move - getting hoodwinked by MM's word of his commitment or DC's word of his game - was worse (and losing DB - who was not so classy about his time with us and perfectly happy about a bigger role even if it was on a bad team), but Wright has some pressure, I think, in following up with a solid off-season. It felt as if our floor got lower with the misses, and though the ideas were solid to compete (and some things were beyond our control and just accrued), the reality left us with Trey (a pleasant surprise overall) and the feeling of needing to come back stronger.
The first two moves suggested in the Air Alamo article are solid and desirable to raise that floor and ceiling moving forward. Good for positional need at 4/5 and 3/4 and team fit in terms of playing a two-way, movement-oriented, transitional style.
