Should Spurs Take a Swing at Sabonis?

[Leetonidas]

Per Kevin O'Connor, Sabonis wants out of Indy. Coupled with the fact they are going to blow their team up and rebuild, he is clearly available for the right price.

Most contenders do not have the high picks or assets to give up, save for maybe GS, but I'm not convinced they want to mess up their chemistry. There are plenty of bad teams that have the assets but probably wouldnt want to give up their prospects for an AS in his prime as they are still rebuilding.

Spurs are in a somewhat unique situation as they are team full of role players and are missing a high end talent to center their game around, and could likely make the playoffs if they had a go-to guy that played within the offesne.

Problem is, he is strictly a C despite playing next to Turner, his defense is poor, and he does not shoot very well and is basically unplayable with Poeltl (then again, not like the Pacers are doing great and he has the perfect C to compliment his skills next to him). But, he is a double double machine and an excellent passer.

So....should Spurs make a run at him? If so, what would you be willing to give up to get him?

[Mugen]

It's important to find out what Brian Wright thinks they should do and hopefully the Spurs do the complete opposite :lol

[baseline bum]

LMAO Phoenix newspaper thinks they can get Sabonis for Jalen Smith, Dario Saric, and Cam Johnson. :rollin

[MultiTroll]

So far my would-not-give-ups are
DJM duh
KJ i'd like to see as a 3 with a competent coach.
Vassel

Should there be any reason to talk any further? Because surely Indy will want at least one if not 2 of the above.
Moon shot for Indy would be all 3. :lol

[KingKev]

Hard pass. Our FRPs are gold the next 2-3 yrs while we rebuild. Can’t see how two rebuilding teams can really help each-other here. Turner would probably come cheaper and might be had for Jak and a young guy like Keldon/Primo/DV which is still costly.

I’d do Jak, Walker IV and Detroit’s 22SRP for Myles but that won’t get it done.

[MultiTroll]

Problem is, he is strictly a C
What becomes of Poodle?
Backup?

I'm fine with Poodle being a backup.

[MultiTroll]

Will Sabonis become a Laker for a Kwame Brown type deal?

I think we came this close .. to having a shot at dealing Bryn Bryn last night.
Ellington completely airballed a would-be game tying assist from Lebron. I mean it missed by 2 feet, bizzare shot. Lebron did not look happy.
Enter Hardaway Jr. to completely bail out Ellington the next time up the court with 2 seconds left in the game.

[bluebellmaniac]

Per Kevin O'Connor, Sabonis wants out of Indy. Coupled with the fact they are going to blow their team up and rebuild, he is clearly available for the right price.

Most contenders do not have the high picks or assets to give up, save for maybe GS, but I'm not convinced they want to mess up their chemistry. There are plenty of bad teams that have the assets but probably wouldnt want to give up their prospects for an AS in his prime as they are still rebuilding.

Spurs are in a somewhat unique situation as they are team full of role players and are missing a high end talent to center their game around, and could likely make the playoffs if they had a go-to guy that played within the offesne.

Problem is, he is strictly a C despite playing next to Turner, his defense is poor, and he does not shoot very well and is basically unplayable with Poeltl (then again, not like the Pacers are doing great and he has the perfect C to compliment his skills next to him). But, he is a double double machine and an excellent passer.

So....should Spurs make a run at him? If so, what would you be willing to give up to get him?

That part answers any questions. If he was an UFA, maybe, but now with those issues.

[Dex]

Always struck me as an empty calorie player. His three point shooting has also fallen off a cliff.

The Pacers tried to build around him and, well...you saw where that got them.

Maybe a good #3 on a team, but not someone to build around and certainly not worth giving up a lot of assets for.

[dbestpro]

Yes.

[John B]

Yes. I would give up Keldon while his stock is high. Keldon is a tweener, too short for a PF and too slow laterally for a SF. Thad is expiring, Bulls 1st and our 2nd. Would that be enough?

[ginobilized]

Nope. He strikes me as a modern-day Kevin Love. Great numbers, hard to build around and a perpetually disgruntled type.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Problem is, he is strictly a C despite playing next to Turner, his defense is poor, and he does not shoot very well

Yup, pretty much why he's not as valuable as his raw numbers suggest. He could be a nice get for a team that has a star or two and infrastructure but lack something else, say Boston, but for this current Spurs team he wouldn't be worth the price.

[Russ]

There are three high-upside bigs in this year's draft. Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren. Each can play next to Poeltl if need be.

If the season continues to spiral downward, the Spurs would seem to have about a one in three chance of landing one of them in the draft.

That should be their (somewhat) realistic strategy.

[KingKev]

There are three high-upside bigs in this year's draft. Jabari Smith, Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren. Each can play next to Poeltl if need be.

If the season continues to spiral downward, the Spurs would seem to have about a one in three chance of landing one of them in the draft.

That should be their (somewhat) realistic strategy.

I’m worried prideful PATFO trades our 22 FRP in a sad attempt to make a playoff run.

[buttsR4rebounding]

I’m worried prideful PATFO trades our 22 FRP in a sad attempt to make a playoff run.

Highly unlikely. Spurs tend to value their 1st round picks more than other teams IMO.

[exstatic]

I’m worried prideful PATFO trades our 22 FRP in a sad attempt to make a playoff run.

When have they ever done anything remotely like that?

[CGD]

I like Sabonis, but i think this is the year to see what type of draft pick they get first. Hopefully they can bring in a long term building block, and then from that trim/add to the roster over the summer.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Always struck me as an empty calorie player. His three point shooting has also fallen off a cliff.

The Pacers tried to build around him and, well...you saw where that got them.

Maybe a good #3 on a team, but not someone to build around and certainly not worth giving up a lot of assets for.

Agreed.

The Spurs need to get longer, but not necessarily with a guy who's more of a C, with limited defensive skills. Not really the talent we need to be sliding a lot of our chips across the table for.

[Seventyniner]

If Sabonis could play alongside Poeltl he would be a great fit imo.

Of course, it all depends on what the Spurs would have to give up. I doubt Indiana would accept a deal that I would find acceptable, for example.

[Ocotillo]

I saw Twitter, not sure of the credibility of it that DeAndre Hunter from Atlanta might be available. If true, that would be an interesting player.

[MannyIsGod]

I don't think he's strictly a center. He's undersized as a Center. I think he could play next to Poeltl

[mo7888]

I saw Twitter, not sure of the credibility of it that DeAndre Hunter from Atlanta might be available. If true, that would be an interesting player.

I saw that as well...if he could ever get healthy I'd like him more than Collins ..

[offset formation]

What becomes of Poodle?
Backup?

I'm fine with Poodle being a backup.

would rather have Valanciunas but I'd take Sabonis. He could concievably play the 4

[Dverde]

Sabonis is a talented player, but not a good fit with Poodle hooping it up. He’d be a good free agents acquisition, but not worth the capital you would have to trade to get him.

[Chinook]

Sabonis would be the best player on the Spurs pretty easily. But they don't have the roster to do any better than the Pacers have, and trading for Sabonis only takes them further from that. If we knew the young Spurs guards would develop into great complimentary players who can work with Dom on both sides, then taking a step back with White/Murray going out could make sense. But the team badly needs a defensive PF to go with Sabonis and the theoretical guards, and this season is one of the best chances for them to get that player. They aren't going to do it if they trade their first.

Knowing what I know, I wouldn't want them to trade any reasonable package for him. But if they did trade for him, I would be way more excited than sad.

[jjspur]

Smart GM's know what Sabonis value is. Dumb and desperate ones will over pay. I like Sabonis, he is a pretty good player and I think Pop could somehow make it work with our players. The problem is that Indiana has the same problem that Philly has in that they want a ton of players and assets for a player that's pretty good but not great player. Sadly it wouldn't really move us in the top echelon of NBA teams. Unless they are practically giving him away (which they're not) I'd pass on that deal.
Keep looking to deal Thaddeus Young. Hopefully we can get something of value for him sooner rather than later.

[poopbox]

Only if we trade him for things we will not have any use for after this season. Thad Young ( won't be here next year ), Lonnie Walker (won't be here next year ), KBD (won't be here next year and not a good player, Forbes (won't be here next year and not a good player). If we could trade 3 of the 4 for Sabonis we should. We should NOT offer anything more than that though. Soon as Indiana ask for even a second round pick hang up the phone.

Poeltl and Sabonis are not an ideal fit...but it's better than Poeltl and Keldon together so...got to start somewhere...

0% chance we do this trade though...Spurs are going to see what Zach Collins can give them as a big and are not going to trade for another one to compete with him for playing time and the Pacers can get a better deal from literally every other nba team

[playbonner15]

Pacers will get better offers from other teams......

[gambit1990]

i like him but spurs need myles turner.

[gambit1990]

mcdermott, poeltl, forbes, lonnie + IND's 2023 2nd round pick for myles & domantas :tu:tu

[tbdog]

If we had ddr, it would have made sense. But now we are rebuilding. Spurs need to find a future 4 by the start of next season.

[exstatic]

I don't think he's strictly a center. He's undersized as a Center. I think he could play next to Poeltl

His lack of lateral mobility doesn’t allow him to defend present day 4s.

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

I don’t think Sabonis would play that well with Jakob. I mean he mostly plays center for the Indiana with a big guy who is a better shooter than Jakob. The last few years both the coaches for the Pacers tried to play Domas and Myles together but ended up splitting their time Sharon the court.

Don’t get it twisted Sabonis is a really good player but I don’t think he fits what we need and unless the team is going to totally rebuild around him I think it wouldn’t be wise (giving up lots of younger players and draft picks isn’t wise) to trade from him.

[Leetonidas]

I took a more in depth look at his advanced defensive stats and they're actually not that bad tbh. He is not a great defender but he also does not appear to be a complete slouch. His lateral movement is slow and he is undersized so he isnt going to protect the rim or cut off guards on the perimeter but he is a good positional defender and knows where to be generally. it also seems like he has a solid shot out to the midrange, he just isnt much of a three point threat though he does hover around 31% for his career which obviously isnt great but isnt Demar level bad.

idk, the more i think about it, the more i want the spurs to try and make a move for him. I mean how many bigs can put up 20/12/6 on 60+ TS%? he is a pretty efficient offensive player and an otherworldly passer. I think he would fit very nicely here, though next to Poeltl would be an odd fit for sure

[Teamduncan21]

Forbes (won't be here next year and not a good player).

Bold of you to assume

[Biggems]

no they should not.

[spurraider21]

Blair bonner Neal and a second

[Gagnrath]

Add me to the no votes. He's not good enough on defense for what Indiana wants for him. He's a c who can pull some of minutes but isn't really defensive enough to anchor a defense. We don't have a strong defensive power forward to play with him. We don't really have a center who fits well with him. In theory Landale and Z.Collins should be ok fits next to him on offense but both of them are big?

It's to bad that he is more c than of because I want to see Keldon as a three but I don't think a package the Spurs can offer/ take will be one that the pacers find agreeable.

[XDT76]

No more undersize 5 please. If Myles Turner cannot make it work with him I don't see any 4/5 can make it work with him.

[playbonner15]

Blair bonner Neal and a second
And Spurs get Varejao........

[SpursBills]

Not unless they can also get vanderbilt from the wolves

[rankingtear]

IND has historically the worst defense with him at C last year as i recall.

[objective]

I'm not in love with a move for all the reasons everyone has said. Hasn't worked out great next to a rim protecting spacer in Turner, how would it be next to a non-spacer like Poeltl? Just watching pacers clips with Turner out at the 3 point line and everyone else spaced for a Sabonis pnr doesn't look like it'll work here. And Sabonis doesn't shoot well and isn't a defender.

And yet ...

I don't think it's a bad idea depending on the cost.

It's probably worth noting that the Pacers were thinking they were close to pseudo-contenders when Oladipo was healthy and an all-nba player in 17-18 when they went 7 with the Cavs. They haven't really been healthy since, with someone always out in the playoffs if they made it. IF the Spurs think that they have an eventual all NBA talent in Murray or Vassell etc then Sabonis as a supporting player is good get.

Other things to keep in mind:

The Sabonis-to-McDermott pairing was the #1 assister to assistee duo in the league last year. There's probably no better way to maximize McDermott than pairing him with Sabonis.

Sabonis is enough of a post up threat in the halfcourt and the team could really use another option like that.

Staggering Poeltl and Sabonis would probably only result in them playing 6-8 minutes per half together, that's something that should be manageable.

He has 2 more years at less than 20 per year ... I don't see the Spurs doing any better with that kind of cap money. Hell, they can do a lot worse, and he's only 25 so he's in line with a youth movement.

And while he's good ... Let's not kid ourselves, Indiana was a lottery team with him last year and now. He's not guaranteed to 'hurt the tank' if picks are protected properly. Spurs could still be picking 10-12 in the odds and get lucky and move up into the top 4.

He's not as good a fit as John Collins would have been, but he's only $20 million instead of $30 of whatever the number was to back Atlanta off.

And if the price was as cheap as Young, Walker and the bulls collection of picks from the DDR trade then I say it's worth it. Keldon probably alters the equation of picks.

[slick'81]

I mean hes not a bad player. Still a shit ton of speculation over a guy we dont even know the spurs are after.

[TDMVPDPOY]

spurs need an enforcer down low who can board and block shots, get easy baskets

[Robz4000]

He'd make a lot of sense if the Spurs had a shot-blocking PF but they don't. At this point I want the Spurs to roll with what they have and see where things end up at the end of the season. Still think they finish with a bottom 5 record but then they get a great chance at landing that PF they need.

[slick'81]

He'd make a lot of sense if the Spurs had a shot-blocking PF but they don't. At this point I want the Spurs to roll with what they have and see where things end up at the end of the season. Still think they finish with a bottom 5 record but then they get a great chance at landing that PF they need.

bottom 5 in the league? No way. In the west? Maybe

[Robz4000]

bottom 5 in the league? No way. In the west? Maybe

East is better than the West this year tbh. Only two teams in the East have a worse record than SA.

[Seventyniner]

Forget Sabonis, I want Turner if anything.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Taking a swing at Sabonis would likely result in a Flagrant 2, so I'm not sure it's worth it.

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

Forget Sabonis, I want Turner if anything.

Turner would fit well In Charlotte but what would they have to give up to get him?

[mo7888]

I still don't see the Sabonis fit here unless we're moving Poeltl but, I'm starting to wonder if we should become buyers for a player like Grant, Woods, or someone else who'd be an upgrade at the 4 with some size..

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I still don't see the Sabonis fit here unless we're moving Poeltl but, I'm starting to wonder if we should become buyers for a player like Grant, Woods, or someone else who'd be an upgrade at the 4 with some size..

Grant and Wood would probably be too expensive but something like Thad + Bryn + Chicago's 2025 first for Harrison Barnes would be great. Probably a bit too low an offer for what Sacramento would want, but I wouldn't trade a Spurs 1st regardless of protections. The deal would have to be more complicated though, with a third team taking Thad and sending another asset to Sacramento, because they have no use for him.

Agree about Sabonis - he should be a center with a strong defensive 4 next to him. Not a great fit on the current Spurs.

[John B]

Who needs Sabonis if we had KBD? :lol

But seriously I’m warming up with this group and I suspect that PATFO is also. I’m sure Pop would love to acquire either Simmons, Sabonis or Turner. But to gut this young group? Not unless DJM himself asked for a trade.

[RC_Drunkford]

Grant is the 1 player I would want. That's exactly the type of guy this team needs. Insert Grant for McDermott and this team could get the 6th seed

[jjspur]

Sabonis, Turner, Grant. Either of those would be difficult to acquire without giving up something of real value. Bottom line is the spurs need a decent power forward. It will take lots of luck and then a bit of patience to get one through the next draft. Houston , we have a problem.

[mo7888]

Grant and Wood would probably be too expensive but something like Thad + Bryn + Chicago's 2025 first for Harrison Barnes would be great. Probably a bit too low an offer for what Sacramento would want, but I wouldn't trade a Spurs 1st regardless of protections. The deal would have to be more complicated though, with a third team taking Thad and sending another asset to Sacramento, because they have no use for him.

Agree about Sabonis - he should be a center with a strong defensive 4 next to him. Not a great fit on the current Spurs.

I'd be good with that Barnes offer. As far as our pick goes, I'd be willingbto include it in certain packages (not Barnes though) with protections. There are a few players in the lottery that could really make a difference for us at the 4 spot...after that I don't value this draft alot when it comes to the mid first rd.

[DAF86]

Nah, bad fit. Turner on the other hand...

[KingKev]

Nah, bad fit. Turner on the other hand...

I wonder what the ask is for Turner. Doubt this would get it done but i’d start at Jak, Walker or Tre Jones and Detroit’s 2022 SRP. He’ll be a FA in 2023 so I wouldnt overpay when we will likely have the cap to sign him outright.

[tbdog]

I wonder what the ask is for Turner. Doubt this would get it done but i’d start at Jak, Walker or Tre Jones and Detroit’s 2022 SRP. He’ll be a FA in 2023 so I wouldnt overpay when we will likely have the cap to sign him outright.

I think grizz could get him. They have picks and Adams contract. They top 4 in the west atm and the trade pushes them into a possible finals appearance.

[KingKev]

I think grizz could get him. They have picks and Adams contract. They top 4 in the west atm and the trade pushes them into a possible finals appearance.

Yeah nice to get an FRP but I would think they’d prefer an expiring or a young player also versus Adam’s contract. A first is almost the compensation to eat his last year and a half.

[tbdog]

Yeah nice to get an FRP but I would think they’d prefer an expiring or a young player also versus Adam’s contract. A first is almost the compensation to eat his last year and a half.

Grizzlies has their own pick, jazz pick, and Lakers unprotected pick, all for 2022 draft. They can make it happen.

[KingKev]

Grizzlies has their own pick, jazz pick, and Lakers unprotected pick, all for 2022 draft. They can make it happen.

They could so if 2 FRPs and a bad, although short contract is the market I’d pass if i’m the Spurs.