2021 SPURS OFF-SEASON ROSTER NEWS - CHANGES, RUMOURS, TRADES, SIGNINGS

[Tomjas]

As for some rumours, there are more of the what we haven't / won't do variety right now:

* Zach Lowe reported that we turned down protected first round picks for some of our young guys. I should bloody well hope so. We're not in the business of giving developing assets away for the mystery behind door number 1,2, or 3. We're in a youth movement, not a lose-now movement. Right when we're on the cusp of handing the responsibilities to the young guys we're supposed to give them away for protected picks? Why? For better overall assets, ok, but this doesn't make sense for us.

* Bobby Marks reports that Keldon Johnson is a no-go in any potential Ben Simmons trade. It's encouraging that Keldon is staying, and that we're still in the hunt for Ben. I think. It's a hot mess, getting hotter. And yet if he'd be open to us and a willing player, he'd be great for and with us.

It’s impossible to know what’s going on with Ben as he rarely speak publicly but if the “leaks” from his side are to be believed, he simply doesn’t want to play for the Sixers anymore

It’s a Kawhi situation but with Ben having 4 years left on his contract

Unlike Kawhi, there’s no ambiguity or mystery

He just wants to be traded

Aside from the fact that he’s got a contract, I can sort of respect the way that he’s going about it as he’s not disrupting training camp with his presence, making excuses or dissing anyone on the Sixers

He’s even helping some of the other Sixers with their games

Personally think that Spurs would be a good landing point for him due to structure/team oriented game plan & would be surprised if he was a disruptive influence

He’s just not that personality type

[G R E Y]

As for some rumours, there are more of the what we haven't / won't do variety right now:

* Zach Lowe reported that we turned down protected first round picks for some of our young guys. I should bloody well hope so. We're not in the business of giving developing assets away for the mystery behind door number 1,2, or 3. We're in a youth movement, not a lose-now movement. Right when we're on the cusp of handing the responsibilities to the young guys we're supposed to give them away for protected picks? Why? For better overall assets, ok, but this doesn't make sense for us.

* Bobby Marks reports that Keldon Johnson is a no-go in any potential Ben Simmons trade. It's encouraging that Keldon is staying, and that we're still in the hunt for Ben. I think. It's a hot mess, getting hotter. And yet if he'd be open to us and a willing player, he'd be great for and with us.

It’s impossible to know what’s going on with Ben as he rarely speak publicly but if the “leaks” from his side are to be believed, he simply doesn’t want to play for the Sixers anymore

It’s a Kawhi situation but with Ben having 4 years left on his contract

Unlike Kawhi, there’s no ambiguity or mystery

He just wants to be traded

Aside from the fact that he’s got a contract, I can sort of respect the way that he’s going about it as he’s not disrupting training camp with his presence, making excuses or dissing anyone on the Sixers

He’s even helping some of the other Sixers with their games

Personally think that Spurs would be a good landing point for him due to structure/team oriented game plan & would be surprised if he was a disruptive influence

He’s just not that personality type

Hey well few Spurs fans now believe the 'medical mystery' behind the #2/Spurs split given what we know of his group wanting him in a bigger market since at least 2016, driving a rift between player and team for years. He started ignoring team calls since summer of 2017, walking around fine in China then limping from October onwards. Spurs doctors, outside experts on his condition, and seven subsequent doctors whose opinions #2 sought didn't contradict Spurs docs. He was cleared to play, but then that eighth doctor, etc. So we couldn't even go the fine him route for obvious reasons.

Yeah they're similar in the desire to get away from their teams, but the reasons are different. Ben doesn't want to play for the 76ers with Embiid as the clear #1 and Ben wanting to be the one around whom a team is built. The way things were aired after the season ended was really just an expediting factor, I think.

I agree that at least Ben is just forthright about not wanting to play for the 76ers and wiling to take the fines until he's traded. It makes me twitch when I hear a player holding out his services, though. I think we learned a lot from the #2 fiasco and so that we're still in pursuit of Ben says something about how we think we can manage the situation better. I think we have a good working relationship with Rich Paul/Klutch, too, so that may help.

[G R E Y]

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Sounds assertive. I like it.

[G R E Y]

Expected. G-League bound hopefully:

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[G R E Y]

Interesting info about potentially moving Thad:

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[G R E Y]

Another Thad nugget:

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Hmm well that's interesting. Neither Thad nor Aminu played yesterday, the only healthy players not to. I wondered whether it was to make sure they're healthy and so perhaps a trade was imminent. But it sounds as if we're perfectly content to have That at least play for us at some point until we either 1. use him as part of a trade package or 2. get the deal we want for him ie/ at least a 1st round pick without taking on salary beyond this season.

I'm curious to see how he looks with us...

[ecuhus1981]

I did my best to be fair to all teams and players involved, including KAI. Irving may not want to leave, but Philly is a competitive landing spot that I think he would accept. He can play all 82 games unvaccinated in PA should he choose, thereby retaining over $17mil, and still be close to family. The Spurs have done well with reclamation projects, and are in need of starpower. Ben gets to be THE man, in an organization that can help him mature and won't stress his shooting hesitancy.

Please let me know your thoughts:

https://fanspo.com/nba/s/nets/trades/ElQ2eNEzdiltpy/nets-sixers-and-spurs

Brooklyn breaks up the Big 3 to fortify the defense and draw down their luxury tax exposure.
Harden, Murray, Durant, Griffin, Claxton
Mills, Brown, Harris, Millsap, Aldridge


Philadelphia balances the floor and the scoring load for Joel. Kyrie stays close to home, and agrees to full participation in exchange for an extension.
Irving, Green, Thybulle, Harris, Embiid
Maxey, Milton, Korkmaz, Young, Drummond


San Antonio adds an athletic playmaking All-Star who could use a fresh start.
Simmons, White, Johnson, McDermott, Poeltl
Curry, Walker, Primo, Eubanks, Samanic

[G R E Y]

I did my best to be fair to all teams and players involved, including KAI. Irving may not want to leave, but Philly is a competitive landing spot that I think he would accept. He can play all 82 games unvaccinated in PA should he choose, thereby retaining over $17mil, and still be close to family. The Spurs have done well with reclamation projects, and are in need of starpower. Ben gets to be THE man, in an organization that can help him mature and won't stress his shooting hesitancy.

Please let me know your thoughts:

https://fanspo.com/nba/s/nets/trades/ElQ2eNEzdiltpy/nets-sixers-and-spurs

Brooklyn breaks up the Big 3 to fortify the defense and draw down their luxury tax exposure.
Harden, Murray, Durant, Griffin, Claxton
Mills, Brown, Harris, Millsap, Aldridge


Philadelphia balances the floor and the scoring load for Joel. Kyrie stays close to home, and agrees to full participation in exchange for an extension.
Irving, Green, Thybulle, Harris, Embiid
Maxey, Milton, Korkmaz, Young, Drummond


San Antonio adds an athletic playmaking All-Star who could use a fresh start.
Simmons, White, Johnson, McDermott, Poeltl
Curry, Walker, Primo, Eubanks, Samanic

Hey, if you substitute Lonnie for Devin I feel like the Spurs would have already done that deal. The more teams involved, the more players, the bigger potential hangups. I feel like involving a third team would help the Spurs here as Philly would perhaps be more insistent on Vassell and it would hopefully matter less to the Nets. So for us it would be ok.

However, for 76ers it feels like the issue is two-fold: Kyrie threatening to quit playing if he were traded, and the 76ers wanting a treasure trove of picks in most reported trade scenarios. They'd 'settle' for an All-Star, and Irving certainly is that, but he also comes with baggage to which some insurance via prospect or pick would need to be attached.

For the Nets, that's a good haul which plugs in necessary positions, unifies more Spurs with former Spurs so familiarity on the court and in the FO, and doesn't hurt their contender chances. Provided they'd be ok with Lonnie (I think we're higher on Devin long-term than we are on Lonnie), it's a nice package of prospects and picks.

The main issues would be KD being ok with moving Irving, and then Irving committing to show up.

I *still* have reservations about acquiring Ben. Patterns of behaviour are a harbinger for better or worse. He's yet to have his own team so perhaps that unlocks some openness to work with team personnel ie/ on his shot, on off-season program. While he'd be the best player on the Spurs, he'd have to make some improvements, a willingness he's yet to show. It's a big risk also to acquire a player who's stated he wants CA. Been there, done that. Maybe there's a cautionary tale here for us; maybe we've learned enough to be confident we can work with him...

[G R E Y]

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[G R E Y]

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EDIT to add:

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Austin bound most likely.

Roster trim. More on this...

[G R E Y]

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This article discusses the two potential players who may be cut to trim the roster before the season starts. The candidates are Aminu, Drew, Jock, KBD, and Luka.

I think it's safe to say Drew has played his way to a roster spot. We just signed Jock as FA. Unless he showed himself to be Carroll-level useless he was staying. That he's shown himself to be serviceable and assertive, a great passer, solid rebounder, and floor spacer, impactful each time he gets minutes has only strengthened his case.

Aminu is almost certainly a lock, but perhaps he can still be traded as part of a bigger package (Thad?) But say Aminu is cut.

That leaves KBD and Luka fighting for the final roster spot. Frankly speaking, KBD has shown more hustle in his minutes, mistakes and all. He's made some good D stops, hit some shots and had some TOs. But the effort is there each time he gets minutes.

Can't say the same about Luka. He's bulked up and all but was sucking air in his showcasing start. It's been a chicken/egg argument. Some say well he hasn't been given consistent minutes and line-ups so of course he'll struggle. Others (and I'm more in this camp) say he has to earn minutes. How? Well show some **** heart. It's not 'understandable' that he gives lax effort in the last few minutes of the game. The game was close and each play was impactful. He was good defensively, but the guy looks like he's dejected or relegated to a small role or just has resting sad face.

Keldon was drafted 29th in the same year, and he willed his way to not only the big club but to a starting position. He puts in 100% effort every time he's out there. Luka has to realize his career is soon on the line because of his weird inexplicable lack of 100% effort: he stands under the basket for O rebounds and watches or barely jumps; he passes up open shots; he passes to teammates in end of clock situations when he can't figure out what to do with the ball on post ups. He's still got the deer in headlights going into his third year. What did he expect? That he's just be given minutes? Why? Because he a natural PF and we have a need at the position? Well that's what Lyles thought, showed up out of shape to training camp last season and rode pine for most of it. A harbinger for Luka if something doesn't click in his head about all out effort every time he gets minutes. Time's ticking.

[Ballings7]

Welp, Luka is indeed cut.

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/264350/Spurs-Waive-Luka-Samanic


Overall he showed flashes of talent a bunch of times, on both ends... but also doesn't seem to be ready for the league right now; still seems a bit too raw and too "young". Too inconsistent as well.

I would guess Aminu is next, definitely much better served on a legit playoff team's mid-to-end bench.

[Ballings7]

Also, really can't see Eubanks getting cut.. guy is a solid, traditional big man with nice size and agility, doesn't back down, and knows his role... he is fairly consistent and should have a respectable nba career. Also can tell he's grateful and wants to get better.

Also, he is truly needed due to the team being generally on the smaller side from SF to C, collectively.

Reminds me of Aron Baynes but a bit smaller and more agile.

[imagump1313]

Sorry to see Samanic go but he just isn't ready for the NBA and wasn't getting any better. He was getting better physically and he is still young. Maybe a couple years back overseas and he could have another go?

There aren't many details. Did he say no to the G-League? Is that maybe the reason?
Obviously Bates-Diop and Aminu are better players right now but we aren't winning anything this year anyway and we know what those guys are already. Its not like we needed that last spot to put us over the top or anything. I would rather develop a player then pay some vet who isn't going to be here when we get good again.

So im guessing he either said no to going to Austin or they just don't think he is ever going to amount to anything.

[G R E Y]

Sorry to see Samanic go but he just isn't ready for the NBA and wasn't getting any better. He was getting better physically and he is still young. Maybe a couple years back overseas and he could have another go?

There aren't many details. Did he say no to the G-League? Is that maybe the reason?
Obviously Bates-Diop and Aminu are better players right now but we aren't winning anything this year anyway and we know what those guys are already. Its not like we needed that last spot to put us over the top or anything. I would rather develop a player then pay some vet who isn't going to be here when we get good again.

So im guessing he either said no to going to Austin or they just don't think he is ever going to amount to anything.

Thanks, gents, for your insights. There I was sleeping off a Thanksgiving carb coma when this news hit.

Imagine the message communicated that we let him go now ahead of Aminu of all people, that we had until the end of October to pick up his option for next season, that we didn't even want to give him a second more of playing time in the last pre-season game and in this season. And we NEED a PF! OOF!

This is the play where everyone was like WTF?!

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And keep in mind he was supposed to be hanging his hat on his defense. Close game. Playing for his career. Gives up on the **** play. Madness. Just bewildering.

I wonder if he thought that because he was a 1st round pick that he was safe? That there were two other candidates who were on the outside looking in of lesser investment long-term in KBD and Aminu that he didn't have to worry? Or was it just that he didn't give a ****? And that we never saw a full on hustle consistently, that he talked about working on being a good team mate, that he was sucking air in his start two games ago, that we let him go a day after that above play all point to something serious behind the scenes that made us cut ties now.

Not serious as in bad character, but serious as in cut your losses now based on what we know and he's shown or not shown. And we're even willing to eat this season's salary for it:

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I'm astonished Luka let this happen. Imagine getting such a golden opportunity and blowing it with the wrong attitude and not enough effort, both well within his control.

Thank goodness we had another pick in that draft and we ended up with Keldon.

[Phreak50]

Such a load of crap.

I don't think much of him as a player, but they need to stop with the BS stories like that tweet about him giving up on the play.

So we cut a guy with a bad attitude who just happens to be a below average player?

But Murray can sulk and act like a spoilt kid on social media and we still roll out the red carpet for him?

[G R E Y]

Such a load of crap.

I don't think much of him as a player, but they need to stop with the BS stories like that tweet about him giving up on the play.

So we cut a guy with a bad attitude who just happens to be a below average player?

But Murray can sulk and act like a spoilt kid on social media and we still roll out the red carpet for him?

I don't see what DJ's social media has anything to do with anything here. DJ's on court effort has never been questioned. Luka's body of work damned him. It's not just about a single play, emblematic as it was, but given there were too many players with guaranteed contracts, we signed players to strengthen the 4/5 in the off-season, and Luka STILL showed up to training camp out of shape, not bothering to rebound on O like AT ALL, and took plays off after two seasons of up and down attitude, compete level.

There have been complaints about Lonnie's disappearing at times, but to his credit, he's been improving in the areas he's been asked to. Though he didn't like the inconsistent playing time and made some passive aggressive SM posts about it in the past, he's stayed with it.

That's it, stay with it. Luka's just not shown nearly enough. And if we cut him half way through his contract, imagine what we saw or didn't see behind the scenes in addition to what he showed / didn't show on the court. We made a mistake, we took decisive action to rectify it.

[G R E Y]

Make that back-to-back pathetic effort plays:

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These are so bad they look deliberate. He's been solid on D, but taking plays off when you're battling for a spot means he either miscalculated thinking he had a spot and there was no point in making stops in a 'meaningless' pre-season game, or he got wind that he was on the way out and went passive aggressive DGAF mode, or he was rebelling at the up and down minutes or whatever. Even if it's either of the latter two, he's still auditioning for any other team out there.

As to eating his salary this season, we save whatever he would have earned next season, so there's that. But anyway we're willing to eat his contract and not have him on the team anymore. We'd rather pay him to not be here than pay him to be here. Let that sink in. Damning.

[imagump1313]

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"bro just ain't want it"

High quality reporting there.......

[G R E Y]

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"bro just ain't want it"

High quality reporting there.......

This was a fan responding to the report. I find SM a necessary annoyance to keep up with latest news, real or rumoured. The pertinent part isn't the comment but the video which speaks for itself. I wonder if Luka saw writing on the wall and just either froze or gave up? He actually looked sort of promising in Austin last season. I was hopeful he'd made a positive turn Disappointing but decisive ending.