2020 NBA Free Agency Thread: Expected Timeline for Spurs Moves

[gambit1990]

It's hard to call something purgatory when they aren't stuck there. The term for that is "transition", and that's way more apt for SA than "purgatory" is.
the spurs are stuck for this season though. if the spurs make don't make a trade then this season is still purgatory and next season would the actual transition.

it's great young guys get PT but demar and la still having higher aspirations.

[Dejounte]

the spurs are stuck for this season though. if the spurs make don't make a trade then this season is still purgatory and next season would the actual transition.

it's great young guys get PT but demar and la still having higher aspirations.

Holy shit, I swear posts like this makes me lose brain cells

[tonight...you]

Lol... wow.

[Rummpd]

Bleacher Report (I know they suck) latest power rankings expresses exactly how I feel.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2919967-nba-power-rankings-post-free-agency

"The San Antonio Spurs seem content to remain in NBA purgatory, keeping both DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge to avoid a rebuild and failing to add any veteran outside help to try starting a new playoff streak.

Devin Vassell was a terrific pickup after he fell to No. 11 overall, but he may start the year buried on the depth chart with so many guards and wings, led by DeRozan, in front of him.

San Antonio will forever play hard, but a 24th-ranked defense wasn't addressed in free agency. The Spurs need to embrace a rebuild and seek new homes for both DeRozan and Aldridge before they become free agents next summer.

With the Phoenix Suns and New Orleans Pelicans both fighting for the eighth seed and the Golden State Warriors getting a healthy Stephen Curry back, the Spurs will miss the playoffs for the second straight year."

It's that NBA purgatory that I hate. You either are in or out not lets see if we can get that 8th seed and miss out on better draft capital.

BR too soft on the major fail is this FO last couple of years - they made minor tweaks when the smart play aka OKC is to blow up and get some draft picks at least. Might be a different situation if we had a non HOF coach now stuck playing retreads instead of developing youth. Nothing to get excited at all about the purgatory that is the 2020-21 Spurs.

[BacktoBasics]

lol, the spurs are 100% in nba purgatory.

better than last year? yeah. but both "stars" are in decline and this is a team that no one has really high hopes for.

Horseshit. They have financial flexibility going forward. Even if they don’t make a splash in FA’s that’s far better than off loading potential cap space for a late 1st rounder that’ll be partnered with 1 or more unfavorable contracts.

At least with cap space they can become a third in a trade if outright signing their targets don’t pan out.

I’m all for unloading our vet baggage but not if it means taking mediocre talent on unappetizing contacts simply to land a 25-30 or a 2nd rounder. I’d rather have financial freedom.

If moving either of those guys returned a top 14 pick they would have done it by now.

[Dejounte]

People need to look up the word 'purgatory'. Y'all dumb as fuck.

https://media0.giphy.com/media/xT9DPJVjlYHwWsZRxm/giphy.gif

https://media.tenor.com/images/c653d014acbb5fe4b9758908a9ff5206/tenor.gif

https://media0.giphy.com/media/WRp58hy5gmfjpMzHAZ/giphy.gif

[NASpurs]

https://mobile.twitter.com/RealGM/status/1333532383488974848

1333532383488974848


First draft favorite Jordan Bell gets cut and now Zhaire Smith?

[NASpurs]

Don’t know why I posted that in this thread tbh.

[Dejounte]

https://mobile.twitter.com/RealGM/status/1333532383488974848

1333532383488974848


First draft favorite Jordan Bell gets cut and now Zhaire Smith?

I remember some here wanted Zhaire over Lonnie Walker.

[NASpurs]

I remember some here wanted Zhaire over Lonnie Walker.

And wanted him as a sweetner in a Kawhi deal to Philly.

[tonight...you]

https://mobile.twitter.com/RealGM/status/1333532383488974848

1333532383488974848


First draft favorite Jordan Bell gets cut and now Zhaire Smith?
He is now... in purgatory.

[Dejounte]

And wanted him as a sweetner in a Kawhi deal to Philly.

I even remember the comparisons to Kawhi Leonard and how so many pundits said he would be a similar player. Goes to show people put too much stock in scouting reports by paid professionals. They don't remember this shit though...

[Robz4000]

https://mobile.twitter.com/RealGM/status/1333532383488974848

1333532383488974848


First draft favorite Jordan Bell gets cut and now Zhaire Smith?

Would be nice if the Spurs threw him a training camp invite tbh.

[gambit1990]

lol at y'all not getting it.

i said this season is purgatory if no moves are made. why? because the spurs will only be a little more successful that last season. yeah, spurs have flexibility... that counts after the season is over.

the spurs future flexibility doesn't make this current team a 3rd seed. i'm talking about the present, i know there's relief in the future.

i never said spurs are in purgatory for years to come, i said this season.

[gambit1990]

spurs entered purgatory when they acquired demar. and will remain until he is gone.

[tonight...you]

So... one year purgatory.

Well I hope you survive!

[MannyIsGod]

the spurs are stuck for this season though. if the spurs make don't make a trade then this season is still purgatory and next season would the actual transition.

it's great young guys get PT but demar and la still having higher aspirations.

So if they make a trade they are not stuck? In other words, they're not stuck at all?

[Chinook]

lol at y'all not getting it.

i said this season is purgatory if no moves are made. why? because the spurs will only be a little more successful that last season. yeah, spurs have flexibility... that counts after the season is over.

the spurs future flexibility doesn't make this current team a 3rd seed. i'm talking about the present, i know there's relief in the future.

i never said spurs are in purgatory for years to come, i said this season.

Do you think you're in purgatory every time you go somewhere?

"I'm neither where I was or where I want to be. This is literally purgatory. The only way I can escape is if I get where I'm going. That or somehow acquire Russell Westbrook."

[Atl Spur]

I even remember the comparisons to Kawhi Leonard and how so many pundits said he would be a similar player. Goes to show people put too much stock in scouting reports by paid professionals. They don't remember this shit though...

Oh they remember, they’re just hoping you forgot! Keep them honest.....

[Dejounte]

Do you think you're in purgatory every time you go somewhere?

"I'm neither where I was or where I want to be. This is literally purgatory. The only way I can escape is if I get where I'm going. That or somehow acquire Russell Westbrook."

From the end of the 2019-2020 NBA season to November 20, 2020 is gambit's purgatory.

It was the period of when gambit wouldn't shut up about Dwight Howard.

Only to realize on November 20,2020 that none of the contenders wanted Dwight Howard because they know he's garbage and not a game changer... which left gambit in shock.

[XDT76]

lol at y'all not getting it.

i said this season is purgatory if no moves are made. why? because the spurs will only be a little more successful that last season. yeah, spurs have flexibility... that counts after the season is over.

the spurs future flexibility doesn't make this current team a 3rd seed. i'm talking about the present, i know there's relief in the future.

i never said spurs are in purgatory for years to come, i said this season.

Can you give a non fantasy trade scenario that does not keep the Spurs in purgatory for this year? You cannot develop players if you told them to delibrately lose. But if you ask the young players to give their all, they are likely to end up non-playoff late lottery. Which according to your definition purgatory for this year.

[Sugus]

I'm not lookin to over-hammer this nail, but...


spurs entered purgatory when they acquired demar. and will remain until he is gone.

...Literally contradicts your earlier quote,


spurs aren't a clear playoff team and aren't a clear high draft pick team. literal purgatory.

Spurs got DeMar DeRozan and became a clear playoff team. Made the playoffs, even, almost second round. Either you don't know what the word "literal" means, or "purgatory"... The consensus here seems to be the latter, and I agree, tbh. Lol at "1 year of purgatory" :lmao

[Biggems]

How does the trade exemption work?....let's say boston was interested in LMA, doubtful, but let's say it's so....can we trade LMA straight up for the exemption, an if so, what do we even do with it?

[gambit1990]

...Literally contradicts your earlier quote
no, i was saying the spurs aren't in purgatory for years to come today.

[gambit1990]

So if they make a trade they are not stuck? In other words, they're not stuck at all?
everyone acting like the spurs mindset isn't so much more rigid than other FOs :lol

yeah, the spurs could totally move demar and la. no one here really thinks that will still end up happening though.

[gambit1990]

From the end of the 2019-2020 NBA season to November 20, 2020 is gambit's purgatory.

It was the period of when gambit wouldn't shut up about Dwight Howard.

Only to realize on November 20,2020 that none of the contenders wanted Dwight Howard because they know he's garbage and not a game changer... which left gambit in shock.
lakers don't ring without howard tbh.

[gambit1990]

Spurs got DeMar DeRozan and became a clear playoff team. Made the playoffs, even, almost second round. Either you don't know what the word "literal" means, or "purgatory"... The consensus here seems to be the latter, and I agree, tbh. Lol at "1 year of purgatory" :lmao
i said: "spurs aren't a clear playoff team and aren't a clear high draft pick team. literal purgatory."

that doesn't mean that being a playoff teams means you're out of purgatory either.

[Chinook]

How does the trade exemption work?....let's say boston was interested in LMA, doubtful, but let's say it's so....can we trade LMA straight up for the exemption, an if so, what do we even do with it?

TEs aren't items. It was wrong to frame the Hayward trade as Boston receiving the exception. In reality, trading Hayward and not getting back salary CREATED a trade exception because it basically left a credit on the Celtics' trade account they can use for a future transaction. If they traded for Aldridge, the TE could be used to take his salary, but then it would go away (or rather be reduced by $24 Million). SA would then have a new $24-Million TE created they could use in a subsequent transaction. But it's important that that TE isn't given to them by Boston. It's just an accounting thing. So in order to actually make a legal trade, the Celtics have to give SA something of value. That can be some cash or a throw-away second like what Charlotte did to make the Hayward trade legal. But it has to be something.

The TE can be used to take back up to $24 Million in salary (assuming at this point we're talking about the one created from an Aldridge-to-Boston deal) in trades for up to a year after it's created. This would include potential sign-and-trade deals next off-season -- thought SA would likely lose the TE anyway due to being under the cap by so much. Finally, they could use it to claim a waived player. So if for some reason there's a buyout candidate who the Spurs like but who doesn't plan to sign with them over the other teams, SA could put in a waiver claim and take that player against their will. Dallas reportedly told Corey Brewer back in 2011 that they'd claim him if he didn't agree to sign with Dallas, and that's what allegedly made him pick them over the Spurs, though Brewer also got a long-term deal as part of the exchange and won a ring as part of one of the weirdest careers of a journeyman that I can think of.

Anyway, yeah. The TE would have some use, but it would likely only be to take back salary or claim waived folks this season and wouldn't extend into next summer in all likelihood. In my opinion, they shouldn't trade Aldridge with the goal of having that TE. Boston would have to give up something of value to make it worthwhile, or rope in a third team to give SA something. Maybe SA would decide they need the money badly enough anyway.

[gambit1990]

the raptors were in nba purgatory with demar too... and then traded for kawhi and won it all. i never cared about how "well" they played in the RS or about their playoff seeding, they were never a contender before kawhi.

when i said the spurs are in literal purgatory i meant nba purgatory. not a purgatory where you can't manage to fix things :lmao wtf is wrong with y'all?

[gambit1990]

bud's hawks were in nba purgatory too, despite franchise record in wins or whatever. no one EVER thought they were contenders. they were just a team that was not good enough and had to be broken up.

[FireMicoHalili]

the raptors were in nba purgatory with demar too... and then traded for kawhi and won it all. i never cared about how "well" they played in the RS or about their playoff seeding, they were never a contender before kawhi.

when i said the spurs are in literal purgatory i meant nba purgatory. not a purgatory where you can't manage to fix things :lmao wtf is wrong with y'all?
"The Spurs FO knows what it's doing"
"The bubble team wasn't at full strength. It's wise to see how they mesh with Aldridge on the team."
"Internal growth and development"
"Who did you have in mind we should be trading for then?"

Man some people don't even give you the right to be frustrated the way the roster was managed. You can support the team and be critical of it at the same time.

[Prime BEEF]

Would really like the FO to workout a sign and trade for Collins.

I think Collins is looking for around $27M to $30M per year. That matches well with a straight DDR for Collins swap. Think Atlanta might do that seeing as how it sounds like they don’t want to pay him that much and the signed Gallo to a big contract.

[Leetonidas]

By gambits definition of purgatory it seems like 26 teams or so are in nba purgatory :lol

[CGD]

Would be nice if the Spurs threw him a training camp invite tbh.

Damn, what happened? Thought this kid was a lotto pick two years ago?

[Robz4000]

Damn, what happened? Thought this kid was a lotto pick two years ago?

Plenty of lotto picks bust out tbh, so it isn't that much of a surprise. Not sure what happened in his particular case.

[CGD]

Plenty of lotto picks bust out tbh, so it isn't that much of a surprise. Not sure what happened in his particular case.

Looks like he had bad foot issues and hadn’t recovered. Ouch. You know it’s bad with pistons waive you.

[Robz4000]

Looks like he had bad foot issues and hadn’t recovered. Ouch. You know it’s bad with pistons waive you.

Eh, Pistons just let Christian Wood walk to sign a bunch of washed up vets. They clearly have no idea what they're doing.

[K...]

So gambits "purgatory" is " if i can see it wasn't going to work in hindsight, then regardless of the teams success, youre in purgatory,"

Basically he doesn't like DeMar, and doesn't think demar can be on a championship core team. He could totally be a third star, but otherwise we all agree DeRozan isn't a top 10 talent. That has nothing to do with purgatory.

The term purgatory evolved from teams who over pay bad talent from a time when the draft odds were weighted towards losing more than today.

[TD 21]

Eh, Pistons just let Christian Wood walk to sign a bunch of washed up vets. They clearly have no idea what they're doing.

Only Ellington 33, arguably fits that description. Otherwise: Plumlee 30, Grant 26, Okafor 24, Jackson 23. They also traded for Wright 28 and Musa 21, in addition to their four rookies.



So gambits "purgatory" is " if i can see it wasn't going to work in hindsight, then regardless of the teams success, youre in purgatory,"


Basically he doesn't like DeMar, and doesn't think demar can be on a championship core team. He could totally be a third star, but otherwise we all agree DeRozan isn't a top 10 talent. That has nothing to do with purgatory.

The term purgatory evolved from teams who over pay bad talent from a time when the draft odds were weighted towards losing more than today.

No chance DeRozan could be a third star on a championship contender. It's not about talent level, it's about skill set/mentality. He can't/refuses to even space to 3 off ball, let alone actually shoot them with any degree of regularity. He's also a terrible defender.

[itzsoweezee]

Lol..... cute! Just read the offer above my guy.

Here it is: I bet you $100 that DDR and LMA are on the spurs' roster when the trade deadline expires.

[itzsoweezee]

That's sad that it makes you think that gives you any credibility, fuck face.

Bro, you are a fucking loon

[Sugus]

no, i was saying the spurs aren't in purgatory for years to come today.

There isn't such a thing as "1 year of purgatory". Of course the Spurs aren't in purgatory for years to come: they're not in purgatory at all. That's why we're laughing at your wacky view.


i said: "spurs aren't a clear playoff team and aren't a clear high draft pick team. literal purgatory."

that doesn't mean that being a playoff teams means you're out of purgatory either.

Being a clear playoff team is clearly being out of purgatory. And yes, I mean "NBA purgatory", generally and loosely defined as being too good a team to get a high draft pick, and too bad a team to make the playoffs. If you're making the playoffs, you at least have a punchers' chance to advance, which is simply not what purgatory means. Your definition could be stretched to mean "any team that isn't Conference Finals bound is in purgatory", apparently, and that simply isn't true (you can argue about teams like the previous iteration of OKC, who were consistently bounced in the first round, as your closest example to "purgatory", but even then I'd disagree with it).


the raptors were in nba purgatory with demar too... and then traded for kawhi and won it all. i never cared about how "well" they played in the RS or about their playoff seeding, they were never a contender before kawhi.

when i said the spurs are in literal purgatory i meant nba purgatory. not a purgatory where you can't manage to fix things :lmao wtf is wrong with y'all?

You see, that's the problem with your logic. The Raptors weren't in purgatory - they stayed competitive, made the playoffs consistently, built a winning culture and good team, then made a timely trade that put them over the edge. Had they tore it down if they shared your view that they weren't a "true contender", they never would've gotten a ring. It's this modern mentality that you're either a championship team, or you gotta tear it down and tank... That's not what teams are for. Sure, from a championship perspective it would be ideal, but NBA teams want to make a profit, and win consistently. Not every team's aspiration for a given year is a championship - and to be clear, the true point where a team is in "NBA Purgatory", is when they've actively tried to get out from their situation, and failed, either due to a lack of assets, bad management, bad drafting, or most likely a combination of all. Most "purgatory" teams have a few albatross contracts that tie up dead cap space, an overabundance of vets with a lack of young talent, and a losing mentality due to the bad situation taking its toll on the team. Spurs have literally none of that.

It's so weird to call the Spurs a purgatory team because they've actively changed and modified their roster build, to the point that now we're just a young team in need of development with a couple of vets leading the way. More than 3/4 of the roster are 26 or under - with almost no cap space tied up beyond next season. What part of that is purgatory-worth, exactly? The Spurs have been actively phasing out the vet components of the roster since at least, last season. I understand the frustration with DD and LMA, the two "biggest" vets, still being here, but they also have value to the young players as mentors, and I personally wouldn't mind letting them play out the year, then making a S&T after the season or just letting them walk. But there's no doubt the Spurs are going somewhere - not quite "literal purgatory".

[Atl Spur]

Here it is: I bet you $100 that DDR and LMA are on the spurs' roster when the trade deadline expires.

Come on dude...... you know what the bets for.

[itzsoweezee]

Come on dude...... you know what the bets for.

Take it or leave it. You're not winning this bet just because Demar and LMA get bought out so they can go play for some contenders, which is probably what this incompetent from office will do

[TD 21]

There isn't such a thing as "1 year of purgatory". Of course the Spurs aren't in purgatory for years to come: they're not in purgatory at all. That's why we're laughing at your wacky view.



Being a clear playoff team is clearly being out of purgatory. And yes, I mean "NBA purgatory", generally and loosely defined as being too good a team to get a high draft pick, and too bad a team to make the playoffs. If you're making the playoffs, you at least have a punchers' chance to advance, which is simply not what purgatory means. Your definition could be stretched to mean "any team that isn't Conference Finals bound is in purgatory", apparently, and that simply isn't true (you can argue about teams like the previous iteration of OKC, who were consistently bounced in the first round, as your closest example to "purgatory", but even then I'd disagree with it).



You see, that's the problem with your logic. The Raptors weren't in purgatory - they stayed competitive, made the playoffs consistently, built a winning culture and good team, then made a timely trade that put them over the edge. Had they tore it down if they shared your view that they weren't a "true contender", they never would've gotten a ring. It's this modern mentality that you're either a championship team, or you gotta tear it down and tank... That's not what teams are for. Sure, from a championship perspective it would be ideal, but NBA teams want to make a profit, and win consistently. Not every team's aspiration for a given year is a championship - and to be clear, the true point where a team is in "NBA Purgatory", is when they've actively tried to get out from their situation, and failed, either due to a lack of assets, bad management, bad drafting, or most likely a combination of all. Most "purgatory" teams have a few albatross contracts that tie up dead cap space, an overabundance of vets with a lack of young talent, and a losing mentality due to the bad situation taking its toll on the team. Spurs have literally none of that.

It's so weird to call the Spurs a purgatory team because they've actively changed and modified their roster build, to the point that now we're just a young team in need of development with a couple of vets leading the way. More than 3/4 of the roster are 26 or under - with almost no cap space tied up beyond next season. What part of that is purgatory-worth, exactly? The Spurs have been actively phasing out the vet components of the roster since at least, last season. I understand the frustration with DD and LMA, the two "biggest" vets, still being here, but they also have value to the young players as mentors, and I personally wouldn't mind letting them play out the year, then making a S&T after the season or just letting them walk. But there's no doubt the Spurs are going somewhere - not quite "literal purgatory".

Nice story. The truth is they're the biggest fluke ever.

Shady Ujiri has been trying to re-build since the moment he left the Nuggets to return to them, only to fall ass backwards into winning at a high enough rate every step of the way in spite of it. The supposed genius literally agreed to trade Lowry to the Knicks, only for Dolan to block it.

Long story short, Scumbag pulls his unethical stunt and they end up with a trade that they otherwise never would have had the audacity to even offer and finally the best team in the league is decimated by injury in the Finals.

Now all of a sudden they're viewed as some blueprint and above reproach because they're in bed with media big wings who have brainwashed the masses.

They were the definition of purgatory until that series of miracles.

[Prime BEEF]

Come on dude...... you know what the bets for.
Not sure what bet you’re talking about but I’ll bet you $100 that the spurs don’t make the playoffs. Spurs will not finish in the top 8 in the west with this current roster.

[Kermit]

Not sure what bet you’re talking about but I’ll bet you $100 that the spurs don’t make the playoffs. Spurs will not finish in the top 8 in the west with this current roster.

There’s a play-in tournament, chief. You better set some parameters.

[Sugus]

Nice story. The truth is they're the biggest fluke ever.

Shady Ujiri has been trying to re-build since the moment he left the Nuggets to return to them, only to fall ass backwards into winning at a high enough rate every step of the way in spite of it. The supposed genius literally agreed to trade Lowry to the Knicks, only for Dolan to block it.

Long story short, Scumbag pulls his unethical stunt and they end up with a trade that they otherwise never would have had the audacity to even offer and finally the best team in the league is decimated by injury in the Finals.

Now all of a sudden they're viewed as some blueprint and above reproach because they're in bed with media big wings who have brainwashed the masses.

They were the definition of purgatory until that series of miracles.

You really make up some wacky narratives in your head, man. I'm almost interested to hear what you think on common issues of the world, since your basketball takes always leave me scratching my head.

Shady Ujiri? What has he done? Lmao. None of what you said contradicts my points at all. Yes, he tried to make some moves - what GM doesn't (don't say the Spurs'...)? All you're saying is, he knew the Raptors as constructed weren't good enough to win it all, but instead of blowing up since they were in ""Purgatory"", they kept retooling and trying to make the team better, until a really good chance came their way, and they took it. The same way you say the Raptors would "never have had the audacity to even offer", you could say they would have never been in a position to make that trade, if the view of "purgatory" as being discussed by my guy Gambit was actually held around the league, and not just his head.

At this point, I can see clearly that you consistently underrate the job and movements of a good FO - it's been a common theme. No team "falls ass-backwards into winning at a high enough rate", however much you want that to be true and speak it like gospel. The Spurs FO didn't, the Raptors FO didn't, and I can't really think of a team that truly did it, tbh. I gotta wonder what your narrative excuse is for GOAT potential players not just "winning it all every year", if it takes so little input from a FO to let great players like Timmy or LeBron to just do their thing... But I'm feeling like we won't agree here, tbh.

At any rate, I sure ain't saying the Raptors are a blueprint. Did they luck out from the Spurs' and Nephew's situation? For sure. But the overarching point - which I'm sure you'll gloss over - is that had they done what Gambit suggests, and blown the team up at the first sign that they weren't going to win a ring with the team as currently constructed, they would have 0 championships today. Many times, keeping the grind up and trying to maximize your chances of winning ends up paying off... Just like it did for the Spurs in '14, after years of fake fans wanting to blow it up. But I'm sure that was just 100% on the players, and not a good job by the FO at all, right?

[Atl Spur]

There’s a play-in tournament, chief. You better set some parameters.

Let him take the bet......lol We will surprise many barring injury��

[Atl Spur]

Not sure what bet you’re talking about but I’ll bet you $100 that the spurs don’t make the playoffs. Spurs will not finish in the top 8 in the west with this current roster.

I’ll take that bet my guy��

[Seventyniner]

I like the 10-team playoff format from the perspective of discouraging tanking. There should be very few teams that have 10-15 games left in the season and have no way of getting to 10th.

And even if a couple truly decide to tank, the teams in 11th-13th have an incentive to push for a play-in berth and a possible two-game hot streak rather than shut it down early.

[tbdog]

Would really like the FO to workout a sign and trade for Collins.

I think Collins is looking for around $27M to $30M per year. That matches well with a straight DDR for Collins swap. Think Atlanta might do that seeing as how it sounds like they don’t want to pay him that much and the signed Gallo to a big contract.

Possible sign and trade scenario, where Spurs could then go with another max contract on the open market to build the team around. It could happen.

[Prime BEEF]

There’s a play-in tournament, chief. You better set some parameters.
Yup. I know. Spurs won’t finish in the top 8 or participate in the normal playoffs. Whether that’s the top 8 prior to the play in round or top 8 after the play in round doesn’t matter.

[Prime BEEF]

I’ll take that bet my guy��
Cool. Sounds good. “The spurs won’t finish in the top 8 in the west or participate in the normal playoffs (1-8 seed tourney)”. That’s the bet.

Play in round does not equal normal playoffs. Obviously I’m making this bet based on the current roster but if the spurs were to miraculously trade DDR and/or LMA and make this team better I’m cool with continuing the bet. I would gladly pay $100 for the FO to actually make some good moves.

[TD 21]

You really make up some wacky narratives in your head, man. I'm almost interested to hear what you think on common issues of the world, since your basketball takes always leave me scratching my head.

Shady Ujiri? What has he done? Lmao. None of what you said contradicts my points at all. Yes, he tried to make some moves - what GM doesn't (don't say the Spurs'...)? All you're saying is, he knew the Raptors as constructed weren't good enough to win it all, but instead of blowing up since they were in ""Purgatory"", they kept retooling and trying to make the team better, until a really good chance came their way, and they took it. The same way you say the Raptors would "never have had the audacity to even offer", you could say they would have never been in a position to make that trade, if the view of "purgatory" as being discussed by my guy Gambit was actually held around the league, and not just his head.

At this point, I can see clearly that you consistently underrate the job and movements of a good FO - it's been a common theme. No team "falls ass-backwards into winning at a high enough rate", however much you want that to be true and speak it like gospel. The Spurs FO didn't, the Raptors FO didn't, and I can't really think of a team that truly did it, tbh. I gotta wonder what your narrative excuse is for GOAT potential players not just "winning it all every year", if it takes so little input from a FO to let great players like Timmy or LeBron to just do their thing... But I'm feeling like we won't agree here, tbh.

At any rate, I sure ain't saying the Raptors are a blueprint. Did they luck out from the Spurs' and Nephew's situation? For sure. But the overarching point - which I'm sure you'll gloss over - is that had they done what Gambit suggests, and blown the team up at the first sign that they weren't going to win a ring with the team as currently constructed, they would have 0 championships today. Many times, keeping the grind up and trying to maximize your chances of winning ends up paying off... Just like it did for the Spurs in '14, after years of fake fans wanting to blow it up. But I'm sure that was just 100% on the players, and not a good job by the FO at all, right?

If that's what you want to call the truth, fine.

Ujiri has been begging for attention since he returned, cozied up with media big wigs to get it, traded their best player to the Knicks, lied to their most beloved player about an agreed to trade with the Spurs, then strung along a well liked coach and made him sit through a difficult post mortem only to fire him a day later.

They didn't keep retooling to try to make the team better, they flat out tried to re-build multiple times but stop me if you've heard this before: Nobody wanted DeRozan (they even offered him for Wiggins), at least for a price he could sell to the teams/ownership/fans. They literally took off when they traded Gay for four spare parts in a salary dump.

No, most times it doesn't pay off. Look at the Grizzlies, Pacers, Hawks, Trail Blazers, Wizards all in the past decade. The only difference between them and the Raptors is a few unprecedented breaks.

I never said front office's don't matter, I said the position mostly comes down to luck. All the supposed intelligent things the Spurs did don't matter if they're not gifted the core they were.

[Sugus]

If that's what you want to call the truth, fine.

Ujiri has been begging for attention since he returned, cozied up with media big wigs to get it, traded their best player to the Knicks, lied to their most beloved player about an agreed to trade with the Spurs, then strung along a well liked coach and made him sit through a difficult post mortem only to fire him a day later.

They didn't keep retooling to try to make the team better, they flat out tried to re-build multiple times but stop me if you've heard this before: Nobody wanted DeRozan (they even offered him for Wiggins), at least for a price he could sell to the teams/ownership/fans. They literally took off when they traded Gay for four spare parts in a salary dump.

No, most times it doesn't pay off. Look at the Grizzlies, Pacers, Hawks, Trail Blazers, Wizards all in the past decade. The only difference between them and the Raptors is a few unprecedented breaks.

I never said front office's don't matter, I said the position mostly comes down to luck. All the supposed intelligent things the Spurs did don't matter if they're not gifted the core they were.

Lol, is your arrogance such that you can't acknowledge any view besides your own as "truth"? Wack. Here's another bit of truth: the Raptors won a single playoff series for their first 20 years of existence, then proceeded to win 9 series, including a championship, in the 5 years since that. You wanna know what changed? Masai did. It's hilarious to me that you're shit-talking the guy to such lengths, when absolutely no one outside of this forum (and absolutely no people who follow the Raptors closer than you do) would agree with any part of your perspective. You really are too far down your own rhethoric and plain disdain of good executives and FOs to see it.

But well, do tell me where they tried to "re-build multiple times" without trading their top 2-3 players, never taking on bad salaries for picks, never actively tanking. Did nobody want DeRozan, or were the offers not good enough for Masai to tear down a playoff team over? Again, not every team's goal for a given season is to win a championship, especially for a team as devoid of success and winning as the Raptors were at the time. You really think they wanted to get back to selecting the Bargnanis of the league and hoping for the best? Bullshit. The Gay trade was great for them lol, Gay is trash... Another of Masai's good moves, not sure why you paint it as a negative.

All the teams you mentioned have tried to tank, and rebuild, multiple times in many instances. Hell, the Wizards are about to blow it up again if they can get a good return on Beal and get out of Wall's contract somehow. None of those teams, when given a successful-yet-not-championship-calibre core like the Raptors had, would actively blow it up only to tank again. Simple as that. Is it the best strategy for ring-hungry fans? Maybe not. But it sure is the best for the team's bottomline, and to many teams, that's all that matters. Process-Sixers tanking ain't getting butts in seats, tbh.

But your last sentence distillates your skewed worldview clearly: attribute things that aren't luck, to luck, to dismiss the work of good FOs. You never answered any of my points in the other post we were discussing this, now that I think about it... You think it was "luck" that the Spurs got Tony, Manu, Timmy (definitely lucky to smart-tank those years, huh?), managed to keep all three together for their entire careers, and build not one, but multiple championship caliber teams around that core, who alone would have gotten nowhere (like so many talented teams and duos/trios do all the time)? Do tell. Also, related question, do you gamble? If luck is such a huge component to you, might as well make a buck off it :lol

[BacktoBasics]

I’ll take that bet my guy��

Make sure he agrees to stand by the bet if there happens to be a trade before the season starts or a mid season trade.

Edit. I see his comment. I think this is an interesting bet.

[spurspl]

^ thats just red jordan hoodie...

[TD 21]

Lol, is your arrogance such that you can't acknowledge any view besides your own as "truth"? Wack. Here's another bit of truth: the Raptors won a single playoff series for their first 20 years of existence, then proceeded to win 9 series, including a championship, in the 5 years since that. You wanna know what changed? Masai did. It's hilarious to me that you're shit-talking the guy to such lengths, when absolutely no one outside of this forum (and absolutely no people who follow the Raptors closer than you do) would agree with any part of your perspective. You really are too far down your own rhethoric and plain disdain of good executives and FOs to see it.

But well, do tell me where they tried to "re-build multiple times" without trading their top 2-3 players, never taking on bad salaries for picks, never actively tanking. Did nobody want DeRozan, or were the offers not good enough for Masai to tear down a playoff team over? Again, not every team's goal for a given season is to win a championship, especially for a team as devoid of success and winning as the Raptors were at the time. You really think they wanted to get back to selecting the Bargnanis of the league and hoping for the best? Bullshit. The Gay trade was great for them lol, Gay is trash... Another of Masai's good moves, not sure why you paint it as a negative.

All the teams you mentioned have tried to tank, and rebuild, multiple times in many instances. Hell, the Wizards are about to blow it up again if they can get a good return on Beal and get out of Wall's contract somehow. None of those teams, when given a successful-yet-not-championship-calibre core like the Raptors had, would actively blow it up only to tank again. Simple as that. Is it the best strategy for ring-hungry fans? Maybe not. But it sure is the best for the team's bottomline, and to many teams, that's all that matters. Process-Sixers tanking ain't getting butts in seats, tbh.

But your last sentence distillates your skewed worldview clearly: attribute things that aren't luck, to luck, to dismiss the work of good FOs. You never answered any of my points in the other post we were discussing this, now that I think about it... You think it was "luck" that the Spurs got Tony, Manu, Timmy (definitely lucky to smart-tank those years, huh?), managed to keep all three together for their entire careers, and build not one, but multiple championship caliber teams around that core, who alone would have gotten nowhere (like so many talented teams and duos/trios do all the time)? Do tell. Also, related question, do you gamble? If luck is such a huge component to you, might as well make a buck off it :lol

:lmao At the emotional, myopic fanboy becoming unhinged because I told him the truth about the Raptors. As if you'd know who thinks what.

The Raptors primarily won because of Lowry (top 15 regular season player the past 6 years) and depth, which was initially spare parts from a salary dump. Neither had anything to do with Ujiri, who by the way was an assistant under Colangelo. Even Ujiri admitted he "didn't see it" with Lowry initially.

Like I said, the Knicks and them agreed to a Lowry trade, only for Dolan to block it because he didn't like the blowback of the Anthony/Bargnani trades with Ujiri. DeRozan, they couldn't find a taker for unless they practically wanted to give him away like they did Gay (didn't paint it as bad, said it was a salary dump and the ensuing success was unintentional). They consistently signed veterans to bad contracts, only to be repeatedly bailed out by others (though they did have to attach a 1st and 2nd to get off of the Carroll albatross).

What are you talking about? I'm not debating the merits of tanking, I'm simply saying that's been Ujiri's intent since he abandoned the Nuggets. It's been said myriad times by the media over the years.

Duncan was due to a career altering Robinson injury and an instant superstar, Parker was due to the Celtics, set to take him, passing at the last second for Forte and Ginobili was a late 2nd, that Buford himself admitted they didn't know much about and who came over after developing overseas. They stayed together because they liked playing together and saw the success they could have. Everything the front office did during their era wouldn't have mattered if not for them.

[tonight...you]

:lmao At the emotional, myopic fanboy becoming unhinged because I told him the truth about the Raptors. As if you'd know who thinks what.

The Raptors primarily won because of Lowry (top 15 regular season player the past 6 years) and depth, which was initially spare parts from a salary dump. Neither had anything to do with Ujiri, who by the way was an assistant under Colangelo. Even Ujiri admitted he "didn't see it" with Lowry initially.

Like I said, the Knicks and them agreed to a Lowry trade, only for Dolan to block it because he didn't like the blowback of the Anthony/Bargnani trades with Ujiri. DeRozan, they couldn't find a taker for unless they practically wanted to give him away like they did Gay (didn't paint it as bad, said it was a salary dump and the ensuing success was unintentional). They consistently signed veterans to bad contracts, only to be repeatedly bailed out by others (though they did have to attach a 1st and 2nd to get off of the Carroll albatross).

What are you talking about? I'm not debating the merits of tanking, I'm simply saying that's been Ujiri's intent since he abandoned the Nuggets. It's been said myriad times by the media over the years.

Duncan was due to a career altering Robinson injury and an instant superstar, Parker was due to the Celtics, set to take him, passing at the last second for Forte and Ginobili was a late 2nd, that Buford himself admitted they didn't know much about and who came over after developing overseas. They stayed together because they liked playing together and saw the success they could have. Everything the front office did during their era wouldn't have mattered if not for them.
I'm just appreciative the San Antonio Spurs were able to gain that collection of players and were able to do what they did.
I will never forget.
My mother died right before the playoffs in '14. She was a huge fan.
Them winning it that year was...
it was something else. It was something I will never forget.
I cried. I cried tears of joy and tears of sorrow at the same time.

San Antonio may never taste a title ever again, but I have those memories and only dementia, or death will take them away from me.

[MoSpur02]

Westbrook to Washington for John Wall per Woj

[Joseph Kony]

Westbrook to Washington for John Wall per Woj

:wow

[EasyMoney]

Houston might miss the playoffs if Wall and cousins doesn't stay healthy.

[Robz4000]

:lol Houston

[PhantomDashCam]

https://media.giphy.com/media/1rNWZu4QQqCUaq434T/giphy.gif

[Dverde]

Good lord Patty had been here 10 seasons. His Jersey getting retired :lol

[PhantomDashCam]

https://twitter.com/Patty_Mills/status/1334285840202280961?s=20

Either Patty going full Microwave 6th man role or is he starting?

If you think of a line up out of the gate with:

DJ, Patty, Demar, Lyles and Poeltl - Starting
Tre J, Vassell, Lonnie, Gay and LA - Bench

It actually doesn't seem that far fetched.

[Mr. Body]

Wall and Cousins were together at Kentucky, weren't they?

[R. DeMurre]

In initial round of tests prior to teams getting together, 48 of 546 players tested positive for Covid... that sucks.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/30438683/nba-says-48-positive-covid-19-initial-re-entry-testing

[ace3g]

Wall and Cousins were together at Kentucky, weren't they?

Yes they did

[NASpurs]

Houston might miss the playoffs if Wall and cousins doesn't stay healthy.

They might be worse than us :)

[NASpurs]

https://twitter.com/Patty_Mills/status/1334285840202280961?s=20

Either Patty going full Microwave 6th man role or is he starting?

If you think of a line up out of the gate with:

DJ, Patty, Demar, Lyles and Poeltl - Starting
Tre J, Vassell, Lonnie, Gay and LA - Bench

It actually doesn't seem that far fetched.

:lol yeah I don't know how to process that quote. My dude is going to chuck like 20 3s a game?

[BacktoBasics]

221 NFL players have tested positive NONE DEAD. They shut the world down for this. Out of approximately 2800 players. Same 9% rate.


Hey everybody, the SKY IS FALLING.

As usual you’re an absolute moron. Trivializing a pandemic because the worlds peak athletes didn’t die is as weak of an argument as it gets. You fucking people and the need to live your life by cult like political allegiances.

All this because you’re too fucking stupid to understand that lives and families are affected by all kinds of variables besides death. You know. The rest of society that isn’t a freak physical speciman.

My god you’re fucking stupid.

[Mr. Body]

221 NFL players have tested positive NONE DEAD. They shut the world down for this. Out of approximately 2800 players. Same 9% rate.


Hey everybody, the SKY IS FALLING.

Morons like you don't understand that death isn't the only bad outcome to the virus. We still don't know, but have been seeing loss of other functions, such as memory and brain function, not to mention whether a pass of COVID through the system leaves survivors permanently weakend to further illnesses.

I think I only have ducks on ignore, because he's not just stupid, but a piece of shit. I'm putting you on ignore now.

[BacktoBasics]

Morons like you don't understand that death isn't the only bad outcome to the virus. We still don't know, but have been seeing loss of other functions, such as memory and brain function, not to mention whether a pass of COVID through the system leaves survivors permanently weakend to further illnesses.

I think I only have ducks on ignore, because he's not just stupid, but a piece of shit. I'm putting you on ignore now.
Him and ducks are nearly one in the same. They’re the human centipedes of the forum.

[BackHome]

https://media.giphy.com/media/1rNWZu4QQqCUaq434T/giphy.gif

Man you had me laughing so hard ya made my day :spin

[Prime BEEF]

They might be worse than us :)
Yes, with two clowns and head cases like wall and harden Houston is added to the worse than us list. Kings, thunder, wolves and rockets.

[Atl Spur]

Man you had me laughing so hard ya made my day :spin

This��������

[KobesAchilles]

The Wall contract IS the worst contract in the NBA. It's a tough pill to swallow but I was wrong about the Rockets. We have now moved up to 3rd place in our division... Not this year of course bc I expect as long as Harden stays the team will make the playoffs. But next year once they trade him the Rockets will be in the cellar for YEARS to come.

[gospursgojas]

The Wall contract IS the worst contract in the NBA. It's a tough pill to swallow but I was wrong about the Rockets. We have now moved up to 3rd place in our division... Not this year of course bc I expect as long as Harden stays the team will make the playoffs. But next year once they trade him the Rockets will be in the cellar for YEARS to come.

Idk. I feel a reckoning coming for Harden. People, media, league seem to be growing tired of him and his style of play. I can see him not getting the calls he got for 5 seasons this year thus, ruining his whole game. His game is predicated on ref’s whistle so much, if there’s even a minor dip in calls it can impact him and the rockets greatly.

Maybe wishful thinking ����#♂️

[Prime BEEF]

Idk. I feel a reckoning coming for Harden. People, media, league seem to be growing tired of him and his style of play. I can see him not getting the calls he got for 5 seasons this year thus, ruining his whole game. His game is predicated on ref’s whistle so much, if there’s even a minor dip in calls it can impact him and the rockets greatly.

Maybe wishful thinking ����#♂️
Agreed. Everyone is getting tired of his fake flopping for free throws and the boring style of dribbling forever. Don’t know how much of the calls will stop going his way but he isn’t an nba darling anymore that’s for sure.

[Sugus]

Idk. I feel a reckoning coming for Harden. People, media, league seem to be growing tired of him and his style of play. I can see him not getting the calls he got for 5 seasons this year thus, ruining his whole game. His game is predicated on ref’s whistle so much, if there’s even a minor dip in calls it can impact him and the rockets greatly.

Maybe wishful thinking ����#♂️

I doubt the regular season officiating changes for him in a drastic manner this season. Refs are softer than ever and, even if they dislike a certain player, they call the calls (we see this with CP3 as well). But I certainly agree that the Rockettes are cellar-bound... Harden is unlikely to put in the same effort and grit in this season, being known that he wants out, and especially if Wall/Cousins/the team in general stumbles out of the gates. Then after the season's end, Rockettes are kind of forced to trade him somewhere instead of losing him for nothing, which would be disastrous considering they have no picks nor assets of their own, not even to unload their other bad contracts (bad for a rebuilding team), like Tucker or Gordon. And to think they committed like 40M to Wood, and barring a championship run this season, will be losing the main player that would make him work in that system...

I still can't wrap my head around trading WB for Wall this season. Like, they're not even blowing it up entirely now, since they kept Harden, who was also disgruntled - how much worse could it have been to keep WB as well, and try to rehab his value a-la CP3 in the Thunder last season? They had literally nothing to lose, and WB was injured and got COVID before the playoffs, which absolutely tanked any value he might've had. Dictionary definition of selling low as can be. Now they're banking on a player post-Achilles and post-knee surgery, who relied on athleticism as the only elite part of his game, coming back at even a fraction of his previous level, to even make a playoff push.

:lmao :lmao Rockettes :lmao :lmao

[Dejounte]

I doubt the regular season officiating changes for him in a drastic manner this season. Refs are softer than ever and, even if they dislike a certain player, they call the calls (we see this with CP3 as well). But I certainly agree that the Rockettes are cellar-bound... Harden is unlikely to put in the same effort and grit in this season, being known that he wants out, and especially if Wall/Cousins/the team in general stumbles out of the gates. Then after the season's end, Rockettes are kind of forced to trade him somewhere instead of losing him for nothing, which would be disastrous considering they have no picks nor assets of their own, not even to unload their other bad contracts (bad for a rebuilding team), like Tucker or Gordon. And to think they committed like 40M to Wood, and barring a championship run this season, will be losing the main player that would make him work in that system...

I still can't wrap my head around trading WB for Wall this season. Like, they're not even blowing it up entirely now, since they kept Harden, who was also disgruntled - how much worse could it have been to keep WB as well, and try to rehab his value a-la CP3 in the Thunder last season? They had literally nothing to lose, and WB was injured and got COVID before the playoffs, which absolutely tanked any value he might've had. Dictionary definition of selling low as can be. Now they're banking on a player post-Achilles and post-knee surgery, who relied on athleticism as the only elite part of his game, coming back at even a fraction of his previous level, to even make a playoff push.

:lmao :lmao Rockettes :lmao :lmao

Well, the reason for the urgency to trade WB was because he wasn't showing up to training camp. He was being a malcontent.

[Sugus]

Well, the reason for the urgency to trade WB was because he wasn't showing up to training camp. He was being a malcontent.

Wow, hadn't heard that. Awful, especially coming from someone like WB. Oh well, same outcome... Can't imagine what went down behind the scenes for things to sour out to such an extent that he'd not even attend training camp after being there for only a year. Really lends some weight to the Harden not being a good teammate/player to play with stuff.

[Gibbz]

Russ has to have the ball a ton and is pretty washed up. Pairing him with Harden--probably the most ball-dominant player in the NBA--was bound to fail. I actually think Washington looks somewhat decent for a lower-tier Eastern Conference team. Russ, Beal, Bertans, Rui, Bryant isn't horrible. The bench does look bad but I guess we'll see what Avdija brings.

[Prime BEEF]

Russ has to have the ball a ton and is pretty washed up. Pairing him with Harden--probably the most ball-dominant player in the NBA--was bound to fail. I actually think Washington looks somewhat decent for a lower-tier Eastern Conference team. Russ, Beal, Bertans, Rui, Bryant isn't horrible. The bench does look bad but I guess we'll see what Avdija brings.
Washed up? He’s a super hero for being able to average 27ppg on a James harden team. Oh and almost avareaged another triple double. But yeah washed up

I think he’s a douche but he’s a legit elite nba player. Decent chance wizards make the playoffs next year now.

[Gibbz]

The numbers are eye-popping but Houston was worse when he was on the floor. He's also been a complete disaster in the postseason for a few years now. I'm somewhat interested in seeing what he can do in Washington, though. Bertans is really gonna eat.

[Coach X]

Russell Westbrook...
hmmm have a look to this clip from ONE game and ask Rocket fans about him...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jsnto4pfahU

[ragas]

Washed up? He’s a super hero for being able to average 27ppg on a James harden team. Oh and almost avareaged another triple double. But yeah washed up

I think he’s a douche but he’s a legit elite nba player. Decent chance wizards make the playoffs next year now.

I mean, he was basically the same player as Demar with a worse netrating
Per 100: https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=derozde01&p1yrfrom=2020&player_id2=westbru01&p2yrfrom=2020#stats-per_poss::none

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I mean, he was basically the same player as Demar with a worse netrating
Per 100: https://stathead.com/basketball/pcm_finder.cgi?request=1&sum=0&player_id1=derozde01&p1yrfrom=2020&player_id2=westbru01&p2yrfrom=2020#stats-per_poss::none

Unpopular opinion, but Demar's been better than Houston Russ.

[Drom John]

FiveThirtyEight Raptor WAR 2019-2020

89T 3.3 Jae Crowder, DeMar DeRozan, Aaron Holiday, JaVale McGee
137 T 2.1 Andre Drummond, Gary Harris, Cory Joseph, Maxi Kleber, Derrick Rose, Gary Trent Jr., Russell Westbrook

Offensive Raptor (rate stat compared to mean NBA player, where WAR uses PT compared to 391st best NBA player)
28T +2.8 Davis Bertans, DeMar DeRozan
147T -0.4 Thomas Bryant, Daniel House Jr., Kevin Huerter, Kelly Oubre Jr., Russell Westbrook, Cody Zeller

Defensive Raptor
152T -0.6 Brad Wanamaker, Russell Westbrook
232T -2.7 DeMar DeRozan, Lou Williams

[Ignazzz]

And Forbes?

[Drom John]

And Forbes?

Why would you compare Forbes to Westbrook?

[Ignazzz]

Why would you compare Forbes to Westbrook?

i am having 1579* reasons to do it.

* minutes as a starter in NBA team last season from Pop

[R. DeMurre]

I doubt the regular season officiating changes for him in a drastic manner this season. Refs are softer than ever and, even if they dislike a certain player, they call the calls (we see this with CP3 as well). But I certainly agree that the Rockettes are cellar-bound... Harden is unlikely to put in the same effort and grit in this season, being known that he wants out, and especially if Wall/Cousins/the team in general stumbles out of the gates. Then after the season's end, Rockettes are kind of forced to trade him somewhere instead of losing him for nothing, which would be disastrous considering they have no picks nor assets of their own, not even to unload their other bad contracts (bad for a rebuilding team), like Tucker or Gordon. And to think they committed like 40M to Wood, and barring a championship run this season, will be losing the main player that would make him work in that system...


:lmao :lmao Rockettes :lmao :lmao

Coach/broadcaster Al McGuire once quipped that you can have one bad attitude on a team, but you can't have two-- because then they breed.

[Drom John]

i am having 1579* reasons to do it.

* minutes as a starter in NBA team last season from Pop

I look forward to your report.

[Sugus]

Coach/broadcaster Al McGuire once quipped that you can have one bad attitude on a team, but you can't have two-- because then they breed.

Love the quote. Thanks. I'd say though, that depending on the attitude, you can't even have one on the team. It might just be like plants, and reproduce on its own. Though that doesn't make for a nice quote...

[BWS-1994]

Read that some G League teams will not participate in the proposed G League bubble. Any word if the Austin Spurs will?

[B1gduff]

I don't understand by some of yall are comparing WB and Forbes? Onces an All-star, Potential HOf, while the other is a role player..............

[bluebellmaniac]

I don't understand by some of yall are comparing WB and Forbes? Onces an All-star, Potential HOf, while the other is a role player..............

Only on ST can an undrafted player signed to a 2-way contract be compared against All-Star caliber ones and be criticized for not meeting that standard. It comes with territory around here. Lots of things don't make sense. A bit twilight zone-ish. But if you can't roll with it, this place will make you dizzy.

Not that Forbes is a 2-way contract player. But you get the idea.

[Prime BEEF]

I don't understand by some of yall are comparing WB and Forbes? Onces an All-star, Potential HOf, while the other is a role player..............
If Westbrook’s career ended today and he didn’t play another game, he’s still in the HOF.

[cd021]

Read that some G League teams will not participate in the proposed G League bubble. Any word if the Austin Spurs will?
There's going to be a G-league bubble?

[R. DeMurre]

There's going to be a G-league bubble?


https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/several_teams_expected_to_opt_out_of_g_league_bubb le/s1_14822_33490661

[R. DeMurre]

Wow-- James Harden is sure giving the Rockets a gigantic "fuck you" on social media. First he was shown at a rapper's birthday party over the weekend in Atlanta (maskless, as were most of the party-goers), breaking the NBA's Covid protocol, and then last night he was partying in Las Vegas. He has already missed their first team practice, and now has to quarantine before he can join them.

[BillMc]

Wow-- James Harden is sure giving the Rockets a gigantic "fuck you" on social media. First he was shown at a rapper's birthday party over the weekend in Atlanta (maskless, as were most of the party-goers), breaking the NBA's Covid protocol, and then last night he was partying in Las Vegas. He has already missed their first team practice, and now has to quarantine before he can join them.

Man that's some leadership. Was Harden pissed they got rid of D'Antoni? Morey? What was the reason for all this? Just wants to scratch his itch for yet another superteam (yawn, this is what the NBA has come to?) in Brooklyn?

[TimDunkem]

Just wants to scratch his itch for yet another superteam (yawn, this is what the NBA has come to?) in Brooklyn?
This.

[timtonymanu]

:lol today’s NBA

God I hate most of the “stars” in today’s league

[cd021]

https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/several_teams_expected_to_opt_out_of_g_league_bubb le/s1_14822_33490661
$500,000 buy in for teams that want to participate seems like a hard sell, and teams like Boston and LA have already noped out. Would definitely be great for the Spurs, gives players like KBD, Reynolds, Jones and Vassell a lot of playing time in a 12-16 game mini season.

[cd021]

Man that's some leadership. Was Harden pissed they got rid of D'Antoni? Morey? What was the reason for all this? Just wants to scratch his itch for yet another superteam (yawn, this is what the NBA has come to?) in Brooklyn?

Still think Philly makes the most sense. Simmons for Harden...

[John B]

Still think Philly makes the most sense. Simmons for Harden...
Harden, Butler and Adebayo would be something. Miami has a lot of youth, but not a lot of picks

[BatManu20]

:lol today’s NBA

God I hate most of the “stars” in today’s league

[tbdog]

Man that's some leadership. Was Harden pissed they got rid of D'Antoni? Morey? What was the reason for all this? Just wants to scratch his itch for yet another superteam (yawn, this is what the NBA has come to?) in Brooklyn?

Likely his personal reason was he demanded that the Rockets to continue building a championship team. I mean, they got close. But they've spent lots of money and used lots of picks. They've hit the wall and the rockets have decided to get some assets while remaining relevant. The GM knew it. Pringles did too. They have moved on. He isn't happy with that and thus is having a tanty.

[Mr. Body]

Likely his personal reason was he demanded that the Rockets to continue building a championship team. I mean, they got close. But they've spent lots of money and used lots of picks. They've hit the wall and the rockets have decided to get some assets while remaining relevant. The GM knew it. Pringles did too. They have moved on. He isn't happy with that and thus is having a tanty.

Harden was the reason the Rockets never won a championship. He's the biggest bitch in the clutch since Karl Malone, maybe even worse. You'd see Harden shrivel in the clutch. Warriors were like superpredators hunting him down like a mouse.

[dbestpro]

All to often you ask for so much you get nothing.

[Mal]

Hezonja waived. Any news about Spurs possibly picking him ?

[Dejounte]

Hezonja waived. Any news about Spurs possibly picking him ?

They should. He's got a great relationship with Luka

[tbdog]

He is a dud.

[Prime BEEF]

He is a dud.
Luka or Hez? Or both?

[tbdog]

Luka or Hez? Or both?

Hez

[R. DeMurre]

Harry Giles killin' it the first two games of preseason with Portland.

Game 1: 18 pts, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks in 25 minutes
Game 2: 19 pts, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block in 26 minutes

[Chinook]

Dude had talent. He wasn't attainable for the Spurs once they re-signed Poeltl. The difference in his salary and Eubanks would've prevented them even having a path to fill that 15th spot. His health is always going to be a question mark that makes it hard to depend on him. Could see him being the next Christian Wood though.

[Ocotillo]

Harry Giles killin' it the first two games of preseason with Portland.

Game 1: 18 pts, 14 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 steals, 2 blocks in 25 minutes
Game 2: 19 pts, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 1 block in 26 minutes

Is that that guy who posed in a dress that people are arguing about in the political sites?

[Atl Spur]

If we want Giles he’ll be available in free agency next year. We have money.....think grant from this year����

[R. DeMurre]

If we want Giles he’ll be available in free agency next year. We have money.....think grant from this year����

Yeah, I think Giles was betting on himself by taking one year at the minimum, in homes of landing a longer & bigger deal next season. If he manages to stay healthy, it's pretty much a given.

[R. DeMurre]

Is that that guy who posed in a dress that people are arguing about in the political sites?

Yes, exactly! Harry is the only current gender fluid double double machine in the league!

[gambit1990]

spurs entered purgatory when they acquired demar. and will remain until he is gone.
do all y'all still wanna jump on my neck after getting blown out by the rockets? :lmao

[Prime BEEF]

do all y'all still wanna jump on my neck after getting blown out by the rockets? :lmao
There’s still some hope. Not for this season but there’s still hope until after next offseason is done. Spurs will have lots of money. Won’t be a lot of options left but hope isn’t technically gone yet until after they sign a bunch of overpaid multi year contracts next offseason. I’m not happy with the lack of effort by the FO to get better and get better assets through trades but there’s still time to turn the ship around. They won’t but technically there’s still time....at least until next offseason is over.

[TimDunkem]

There’s still some hope. Not for this season but there’s still hope until after next offseason is done. Spurs will have lots of money. Won’t be a lot of options left but hope isn’t technically gone yet until after they sign a bunch of overpaid multi year contracts next offseason. I’m not happy with the lack of effort by the FO to get better and get better assets through trades but there’s still time to turn the ship around. They won’t but technically there’s still time....at least until next offseason is over.
We've been a year away for the last 4 years. :lol

[Prime BEEF]

We've been a year away for the last 4 years. :lol
You know what I’m referring to that we haven’t had in the last 4yrs. DDR, LMA, Gay, Mills and Lyles contracts all end after this season. That’s a big deal. It forces this lethargic FO to do something. Now I think they won’t do anything that moves the needle and will likely hamstring is with bad contracts but that hasn’t happened yet. Yet being the key word.

[TimDunkem]

You know what I’m referring to that we haven’t had in the last 4yrs. DDR, LMA, Gay, Mills and Lyles contracts all end after this season. That’s a big deal. It forces this lethargic FO to do something. Now I think they won’t do anything that moves the needle and will likely hamstring is with bad contracts but that hasn’t happened yet. Yet being the key word.

That's what I'm referring to. "Our summer" continues to get pushed back because of bad moves they made. Gasol was pretty shit and pushed "our summer" back.

Years later, they're still paying him and other bums, AND "our summer" still isn't here yet.

With that said, no one of consequence is signing here.

[Ocotillo]

You know what I’m referring to that we haven’t had in the last 4yrs. DDR, LMA, Gay, Mills and Lyles contracts all end after this season. That’s a big deal. It forces this lethargic FO to do something. Now I think they won’t do anything that moves the needle and will likely hamstring is with bad contracts but that hasn’t happened yet. Yet being the key word.

Doesn't Carroll's contract come off too?

[Biggems]

I cannot believe the great move the Rockets were able to do to get Wood. Why couldn't we have traded DDR and filler to Detwaw for Wood? First, we miss out on the Wiseman trade, if there was really any substance to it, and then the Wood trade.

I really like Wood's game. He seems to know how to find the hoop with the ball when he is 5 ft or closer, something our bigs struggle with.

[Prime BEEF]

Doesn't Carroll's contract come off too?
I think so but I’ll defer to the smart cap wizards we have on here

[Shakril]

I cannot believe the great move the Rockets were able to do to get Wood. Why couldn't we have traded DDR and filler to Detwaw for Wood? First, we miss out on the Wiseman trade, if there was really any substance to it, and then the Wood trade.

I really like Wood's game. He seems to know how to find the hoop with the ball when he is 5 ft or closer, something our bigs struggle with.

You are a prisoner of the moment. Yes he had good preseason games, but over the last 6 years he has done nothing to warrant that comment. Also the way the Spurs Defense was playing, everybody would have been dominating. It was just awful on the spurs part.

[SPURSCHAMP]

You are a prisoner of the moment. Yes he had good preseason games, but over the last 6 years he has done nothing to warrant that comment. Also the way the Spurs Defense was playing, everybody would have been dominating. It was just awful on the spurs part.

Yeah, that's just false. Wood killed it on the Pistons especially after Griffin went down and Drummond got traded. Sure, you can say empty numbers on a bad team, but he showed he has legitimate talent and skills in that sole preseason game and toyed with a perennial All-Star.

[SPURSCHAMP]

In the 15 game sample size from 2/3/2020 onwards over a 15 game period where he actually got playing time, Wood put up 22/10/2/1/1 on 56% FG in 35min a game. Small sample size but that's pretty much what Ingram showed post-ASB before he broke out lasts year. Don't think any of the Spurs youngsters could do that at this point in time over 15 games tbh

[Dejounte]

I'm curious... for those who believe LMA and DeMar are still perennial all-stars: what will it take for them to lose this tag? A strong case can be made for DeMar, and LMA did indeed carry the team on his back a little bit last season. What would they have to show that they're no more on the level of other stars? Would that be a slow deflating balloon or will it be a quick pop? I could easily see LMA falling off the cliff (sort of like what happened with Pau Gasol) this season.

It's why I question why people prop up the Rockets because they think Cousins is still a star, but from what I've seen, he's so far removed from it. He still has good games, sure. But so does role players.

I post this with the idea that I don't think the bar is very high for any of our young players for them to surpass these two. If Derrick White builds on last year and averages 15/5/5 with great defense, in my mind he's already better than both.

In the bubble (which people hate to use as a sample size), White averaged 19/5/4.
J_Paco

[TimDunkem]

Wait people still think LMA and DD are all stars?

[Dejounte]

Wait people still think LMA and DD are all stars?

Or borderline stars.

Guess if someone can pull up the list of roles in NBA 2K, that would help lol.

[Degoat]

I'm curious... for those who believe LMA and DeMar are still perennial all-stars: what will it take for them to lose this tag? A strong case can be made for DeMar, and LMA did indeed carry the team on his back a little bit last season. What would they have to show that they're no more on the level of other stars? Would that be a slow deflating balloon or will it be a quick pop? I could easily see LMA falling off the cliff (sort of like what happened with Pau Gasol) this season.

It's why I question why people prop up the Rockets because they think Cousins is still a star, but from what I've seen, he's so far removed from it. He still has good games, sure. But so does role players.

I post this with the idea that I don't think the bar is very high for any of our young players for them to surpass these two. If Derrick White builds on last year and averages 15/5/5 with great defense, in my mind he's already better than both.

In the bubble (which people hate to use as a sample size), White averaged 19/5/4.
J_Paco (https://www.spurstalk.com/forums/member.php?u=11044)


idk if I’d say either of them are still all stars anymore but in the case for Demar he averaged at least 20ppg, 5Ast, and 5 RBs per game, only other guys who did that last season was Harden, Luka, Lebron, Giannis, and Westbrook. That’s pretty good company imo lol

[talkspurs]

Doesn't Carroll's contract come off too?

This should be the last year of full pay. Next year it will be the guarantee. So it will go from 6.1 mil to 1.2 mil.

[J_Paco]

I'm curious... for those who believe LMA and DeMar are still perennial all-stars: what will it take for them to lose this tag? A strong case can be made for DeMar, and LMA did indeed carry the team on his back a little bit last season. What would they have to show that they're no more on the level of other stars? Would that be a slow deflating balloon or will it be a quick pop? I could easily see LMA falling off the cliff (sort of like what happened with Pau Gasol) this season.

It's why I question why people prop up the Rockets because they think Cousins is still a star, but from what I've seen, he's so far removed from it. He still has good games, sure. But so does role players.

I post this with the idea that I don't think the bar is very high for any of our young players for them to surpass these two. If Derrick White builds on last year and averages 15/5/5 with great defense, in my mind he's already better than both.

In the bubble (which people hate to use as a sample size), White averaged 19/5/4.
J_Paco


Wait people still think LMA and DD are all stars?

Neither LaMarcus or DeMar are "perennial" all-stars any longer - DeMar hasn't made an all-star team since switching conferences & LaMarcus has gone without being selected (or voted) for three years (I believe) - so that ship has sailed, but they've both helped anchor playoff caliber rosters for years.

Now, I would love to say that Derrick is the best player on the roster or an all-star caliber player but that simply isn't reality. 10/3/3 isn't getting it done to be vaulted to that status, or leaping over a guys that averaged 20/5/5 and 19/7 last year, yet with more minutes & a large role he could surpass them very soon.

He hasn't yet & is marginally better (*shocker*) than DeJounte Murray, who everyone on ST hates & bashes.

Note: I believe Derrick is the 3rd best player on the team and could become the best. It'll take him being the version of him we saw in the NBA Bubble, doing it over an entire NBA season and (possible but not likely) playoffs. And I want any two of the young guys to breakout and give the organization some direction or anchors. Right now, due to COVID-19 & other shit, the entire organization feels stuck in neutral or has stagnated mightily.