Lowe: Where Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs go from here

[TD 21]

Lowe: Where Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs go from here (espn.com) (https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/story/_/id/32299872/lowe-where-gregg-popovich-san-antonio-spurs-go-here)

[Flawless]

It's stuck behind a paywall, anything interesting?

[KingKev]

Who actually pays for this junk?

Here is where we go:

Pop retires in the next 1-2 seasons as the all-time winningest coach and a true rebuild begins. The end.

[Dverde]

Lowe is a hack living off his reputation. Love this gem…But it's time to ask: What, exactly, are the Spurs doing here? Spurs fans been saying this for two years now…

[Mr. Body]

ESPN is atrocious.

[MultiTroll]

Gregg will go to a barber at least twice this season i hope.
For the beard.

[exstatic]

Lowe was always better at player analysis/evaluation than story breaking.

[LkrFan]

https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/status/1443199193900851211?s=19

[LkrFan]

Spurs could have had Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, and a million picks. This would have bent the Lakers over for years considering that Nephew is broken.

Now the Lakers are contending anyway and Pop leading a once proud franchise to the lottery. :cry

[rankingtear]

It's stuck behind a paywall, anything interesting?

- The most common heir apparents mentioned in league and coaching circles today: Will Hardy, the longtime San Antonio assistant now working under Ime Udoka in Boston; Brett Brown; and Manu Ginobili, who rejoined San Antonio last week as an advisor.

- THE SPURS TALKED with the Philadelphia 76ers (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) about Ben Simmons (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907387/ben-simmons), but those talks have not gotten far, sources said. They sniffed around intriguing young free agents -- including Lauri Markkanen (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066336/lauri-markkanen) and John Collins (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3908845/john-collins), sources said -- but snared neither.

- The Spurs have also -- justifiably -- turned down offers of single protected first-round picks for some of their core young guys, sources said.

-The howling over McDermott's signing is misplaced, and reminds of the reaction to another rebuilding team -- the Detroit Pistons (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons) -- splurging on Kelly Olynyk (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2489663/kelly-olynyk). The best way to help young attacking ball handlers is to give them space. McDermott and Olynyk do that without adding so many wins as to harm lottery odds. McDermott has also turned into a sneaky-good finisher.

- Opponents will go under screens for Murray, White, Walker, Johnson, and Vassell. They will form a shell above the foul line, and dare those guys to hoist 3s. The result will often be a lot of side-to-side passing that generates little north-south traction.

- Young seems like an obvious trade candidate; contenders have already inquired about him, sources said. (He would be a great fit with the Phoenix Suns (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-suns) playing the Dario Saric (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3032978/dario-saric) role.)

-If this really is a top-five defense, the Spurs will be in the play-in race. If it's closer to 10th or average, this could be a painful season -- though with the reward of a high draft pick. It would seem almost impossible for the Spurs to be worse than Houston, Oklahoma City, Detroit, or the Orlando Magic (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/orl/orlando-magic). Beyond that, nothing is guaranteed.

- If the Grizzlies can't agree to an extension with Jaren Jackson Jr (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277961/jaren-jackson-jr)., the Spurs loom as an intriguing option.

[Leetonidas]

Lowe is a hack living off his reputation. Love this gem…But it's time to ask: What, exactly, are the Spurs doing here? Spurs fans been saying this for two years now…

Seems obvious to Spurs fans at this point.

Pop and Co thought they could still field a competitive playoff roster around LMA and DD and were (obviously) wrong. The offense has been so iso heavy and dependent on LMA and DD for the last 3 or 4 years that the Spurs really don't have a great idea of what their young guys can do without the vets clogging things and taking shots. Spurs finally realized the error of their ways and let all the vets go. Rather than tying up long term big money on guys like Collins or Lauri who don't really move the needle much, they decided to maintain flexibility, give their young guys the reigns to showcase what they truly have, and will decide how to proceed going forward after this season, based on that. Makes sense to me.

[Uriel]

Good read. :tu

[couchman]

I think we'll see some better numbers from a lot of our players because they'll get more shots now with DDR, Gay, and Patty gone.
That will not only let us re-evaluate their ceiling as players but probably increase their trade value as well.

[widowmaker]

Spurs could have had Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, and a million picks. This would have bent the Lakers over for years considering that Nephew is broken.

Now the Lakers are contending anyway and Pop leading a once proud franchise to the lottery. :cry

Kobe shouldn’t have gotten on that helicopter but hey guess what he did lmao!!!!!

[KingKev]

Spurs could have had Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, and a million picks. This would have bent the Lakers over for years considering that Nephew is broken.

Now the Lakers are contending anyway and Pop leading a once proud franchise to the lottery. :cry

In the end we received Thad Young, Aminu, Jak, Keldon who we could have picked at 19 instead of a wasted pick on Luka, and a protected 2025th first; for one of the best two way players of all-time. Not to mention Danny Green and 5mm as a throw in. Time to move on from both the Kahwi sauga and Pop having any meaningful decision making ability in this organization.

[poopbox]

Lowe doesn't have an inside with the Spurs so of course all he can do is rehash the same ol shit everyone else has for years now

[exstatic]

Spurs could have had Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, and a million picks. This would have bent the Lakers over for years considering that Nephew is broken.

Now the Lakers are contending anyway and Pop leading a once proud franchise to the lottery. :cry

They offered Hart, Kuzma, and no picks.

[TD 21]

Every ESPN article I've clicked on for months has been free. This is the first I've heard of it still being behind a paywall for others.

Anyway, the gist is Lowe finally basically admitting they were screwed by Scumbag and hedging his bet by not being particularly high on the youth as a collective, but leaving room in case they luck into a Parker or Scumbag again, so he's covered either way.

[spurspl]

They offered Hart, Kuzma, and no picks.

kuzma was untouchable

[Thomas82]

Hopefully to the top of the lottery.

[Rocalcio]

In the end we received Thad Young, Aminu, Jak, Keldon who we could have picked at 19 instead of a wasted pick on Luka, and a protected 2025th first; for one of the best two way players of all-time. Not to mention Danny Green and 5mm as a throw in. Time to move on from both the Kahwi sauga and Pop having any meaningful decision making ability in this organization.

Samanic will show you this year that it wasn’t a wasted pick.

[Mal]

1st, Young, White, Walker - just for the memes.

[Russ]

kuzma was untouchable

Kuzma was very touchable. (But the good ones weren't available.)

[tim_duncan_fan]

Where we go from here is 44 wins this season.

You heard it here first.

[ducks]

Pop can go to Venesuela since the USA is so terrible !

[spurs10]

Pop can go to Venesuela since the USA is so terrible ! You say the the USA is "terrible?" I admit that the dumbest people in the world live in the United States, but the national parks are incredible.

[RC_Drunkford]

Spurs could have had Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, and a million picks. This would have bent the Lakers over for years considering that Nephew is broken.

Now the Lakers are contending anyway and Pop leading a once proud franchise to the lottery. :cry

:lmao :lmao contending :lmao :lmao with Westbrick, injured AD and 36 year old LeBron :lmao :lmao y'all ain't winning no rings anytime soon

[Rummpd]

The coaching has been bad, the front office has been very sub optimal and the players are at best a work in progress and a strange mix. Then they draft a young semi skilled teenager places ahead of expected and expect us to be happy. Not much to hope for in the short-term

[Dejounte]

The coaching has been bad, the front office has been very sub optimal and the players are at best a work in progress and a strange mix. Then they draft a young semi skilled teenager places ahead of expected and expect us to be happy. Not much to hope for in the short-term

didnt you say you were going to root for the Wizards since they were doing so well with Westbrook :lmao oh wait…

[dbestpro]

You say the the USA is "terrible?" I admit that the dumbest people in the world live in the United States, but the national parks are incredible.

There are dumb people all over the world. The problem in the US is dumb people don't think they're dumb cause they got a cell phone to Google.

[Poolboy5623]

This is what the Spurs are when they don't win the lottery (twice) and have Drob/TD sitting there waiting... just reality.

[Leetonidas]

Spurs could have had Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, and a million picks. This would have bent the Lakers over for years considering that Nephew is broken.

Now the Lakers are contending anyway and Pop leading a once proud franchise to the lottery. :cry

Yeah right:lol Lakers didn't have a million picks to give up and only got AD because Silver gifted them the #4 pick that summer. Besides, fuck that poo poo platter. The Pels drafted a generational player and they were still garbage with the Lakers trash around him and they're paying Ingram 30+ mil a year to lead them to the lottery. :lmao

Lakers are contending because of LBJ, not because of anything else. You know this in your heart, Fernando

[rjv]

There are dumb people all over the world. The problem in the US is dumb people don't think they're dumb cause they got a cell phone to Google.

I'll put our idiots against the rest of the world's idiots any day of the week-and ducks can captain the team. "USA!, USA!"

[MultiTroll]

As always injuries will factor in.

Supposing Gregg has to go in for scans or be out for Covid protocol. (Thankfully mild since he is vaxxed.)

Could swing as many as 10 wins the Spurs way.

[KingKev]

Samanic will show you this year that it wasn’t a wasted pick.

I hope so he has an NBA body for sure I fear they will give up on him before he gets a real chance.

[daslicer]

Yeah right:lol Lakers didn't have a million picks to give up and only got AD because Silver gifted them the #4 pick that summer. Besides, fuck that poo poo platter. The Pels drafted a generational player and they were still garbage with the Lakers trash around him and they're paying Ingram 30+ mil a year to lead them to the lottery. :lmao

Lakers are contending because of LBJ, not because of anything else. You know this in your heart, Fernando

It's amazing how salty Laker fans still are about the Spurs not giving them Kawhi. I have seen them post many threads on realgm and reddit about how the Spurs screwed up by not giving them Kawhi for Ingram. They really come across as that girl whose not use to rejection and can't handle it when it happens to her.

[Rocalcio]

I'll put our idiots against the rest of the world's idiots any day of the week-and ducks can captain the team. "USA!, USA!"

Trust me, you win this one, you definitely have the best idiots in the world…

[CGD]

- The most common heir apparents mentioned in league and coaching circles today: Will Hardy, the longtime San Antonio assistant now working under Ime Udoka in Boston; Brett Brown; and Manu Ginobili, who rejoined San Antonio last week as an advisor.

- THE SPURS TALKED with the Philadelphia 76ers (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/phi/philadelphia-76ers) about Ben Simmons (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3907387/ben-simmons), but those talks have not gotten far, sources said. They sniffed around intriguing young free agents -- including Lauri Markkanen (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4066336/lauri-markkanen) and John Collins (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3908845/john-collins), sources said -- but snared neither.

- The Spurs have also -- justifiably -- turned down offers of single protected first-round picks for some of their core young guys, sources said.

-The howling over McDermott's signing is misplaced, and reminds of the reaction to another rebuilding team -- the Detroit Pistons (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/det/detroit-pistons) -- splurging on Kelly Olynyk (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/2489663/kelly-olynyk). The best way to help young attacking ball handlers is to give them space. McDermott and Olynyk do that without adding so many wins as to harm lottery odds. McDermott has also turned into a sneaky-good finisher.

- Opponents will go under screens for Murray, White, Walker, Johnson, and Vassell. They will form a shell above the foul line, and dare those guys to hoist 3s. The result will often be a lot of side-to-side passing that generates little north-south traction.

- Young seems like an obvious trade candidate; contenders have already inquired about him, sources said. (He would be a great fit with the Phoenix Suns (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/phx/phoenix-suns) playing the Dario Saric (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/3032978/dario-saric) role.)

-If this really is a top-five defense, the Spurs will be in the play-in race. If it's closer to 10th or average, this could be a painful season -- though with the reward of a high draft pick. It would seem almost impossible for the Spurs to be worse than Houston, Oklahoma City, Detroit, or the Orlando Magic (https://www.espn.com/nba/team/_/name/orl/orlando-magic). Beyond that, nothing is guaranteed.

- If the Grizzlies can't agree to an extension with Jaren Jackson Jr (https://www.espn.com/nba/player/_/id/4277961/jaren-jackson-jr)., the Spurs loom as an intriguing option.

Lot of interesting things to unpack here:

- 1sts were offered for some young guys
- jaren Jackson piece is interesting

[ismael-robert]

1,2,3 Cancun

[RD2191]

Trust me, you win this one, you definitely have the best idiots in the world…
:wakeup

[ducks]

You say the the USA is "terrible?" I admit that the dumbest people in the world live in the United States, but the national parks are incredible.

USA is ok headed down the toilet right now
Biden and Harris are destroying it

[tbdog]

Lot of interesting things to unpack here:

- 1sts were offered for some young guys
- jaren Jackson piece is interesting

I got a feeling Grizzlies are better with kyle Anderson at the 4 than Jackson. Jackson D is pretty poor. I wonder what trade spurs could offer the grizzlies. Poeltl might be a enough if Landale and Smith work out. I wouldn't give Johnson or vassell. Aminiu contact works here, same as thad young. But grizzlies don't want vets. I think Luka and Walker work out salary wise too.

[DMC]

Was this one lifted from Spurstalk as well?

[Rocalcio]

:wakeup

Perfect example ! Thanks !

[raybies]

i see rob and rocalcio got the bad blood still cause Rob think vinnies pic is his ... one of the most underrated aspects of st tbh :wakeup

[Rocalcio]

i see rob and rocalcio got the bad blood still cause Rob think vinnies pic is his ... one of the most underrated aspects of st tbh :wakeup

Nobody owns Vinny !

[SAGirl]

I got a feeling Grizzlies are better with kyle Anderson at the 4 than Jackson. Jackson D is pretty poor. I wonder what trade spurs could offer the grizzlies. Poeltl might be a enough if Landale and Smith work out. I wouldn't give Johnson or vassell. Aminiu contact works here, same as thad young. But grizzlies don't want vets. I think Luka and Walker work out salary wise too.
None of those guys gets you Jackson. If the Grizzlies do move on from him it will not be for Spurs surplus. I just hate these kind of suggestions that are completely unrealistic. He’s too young to give up on. More likely he will end up getting overpaid rather than traded. If they do trade him it just won’t be for that. He could be the centerpiece to move with picks for a disgruntled (not Simmons) star.

[exstatic]

None of those guys gets you Jackson. If the Grizzlies do move on from him it will not be for Spurs surplus. I just hate these kind of suggestions that are completely unrealistic. He’s too young to give up on. More likely he will end up getting overpaid rather than traded. If they do trade him it just won’t be for that. He could be the centerpiece to move with picks for a disgruntled (not Simmons) star.

Another unicorn who failed up. Weren’t he and Porzingas supposed to be able to do anything? JJJ’s game is as weak as Simmons mind. You’re probably right, though. Memphis will make the same mistake as Philly, and throw a buttload of money at him, making him untradeable. That’s the number one mistake that NBA teams make: not being able to cast off a failed project and cut their losses.

[baseline bum]

It's amazing how salty Laker fans still are about the Spurs not giving them Kawhi. I have seen them post many threads on realgm and reddit about how the Spurs screwed up by not giving them Kawhi for Ingram. They really come across as that girl whose not use to rejection and can't handle it when it happens to her.

What's funny is Ingram seems like he's even more empty stats than DeRozan was. Ingram has played with a way better cast and won less games every year than DeRozan since the trade.

[Trainwreck2100]

Spurs could have had Ingram, Lonzo, Hart, and a million picks. This would have bent the Lakers over for years considering that Nephew is broken.

Now the Lakers are contending anyway and Pop leading a once proud franchise to the lottery. :cry


Lakers could have had kawhi leonard and kept Lonzo, but your boy tried to play hardball, instead of saying "you know what kawhi and lebron on the same team"

[lmbebo]

Lakers could have had kawhi leonard and kept Lonzo, but your boy tried to play hardball, instead of saying "you know what kawhi and lebron on the same team"


Lakers weren't offering anything close to what they gave up for AD. They thought they could get Kwahi on the cheap ("injured", sitting out, etc).

In hind sight, I'd say a hypothetical clippers trade was better option