Grades: Spurs vs. Wizards - July 11, 2023

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-wizards-summer-league-5/

[cutewizard]

Goooooooooooooooooooooooo Spurs go!

[Dejounte]

https://youtu.be/lQZSOdCMHhA

Bran calls Dom LaMarcus Aldridge and Sidy Manu Ginobili :lmao

Bran definitely posts on Spurstalk tbh. These are Spurstalk-level takes

[AusSpur]

Dom Barlow is found money. Expected nothing from him when the Spurs picked him up and he is already showing he will be a nice rotation player with a high ceiling.

[CGD]

And my boy Johnny Davis still sucks ass.

[Darkwaters]

Cissoko: After his offensive explosion last game (8 points on 3-3 shooting, including 2 threes) he regressed to his typical 1 point performance. But the biggest win here was only two fouls for the game. It was only a couple of games ago that he had 9 fouls and almost fouled out of summer league. So watching him adjust here was big. The truth is that Cissoko is a project, and the two places he needs to improve the most are fouling too much and shooting. We've seen flashes of his ability to improve in both areas. Now he just has to start stringing those flashes together. I'm a lot more hopeful as summer league progresses.

Branham: Glad he got his revenge. But he looked really shaky early. And he's still getting his shot blocked way too much.

Wesley: When he lost the ball on an over and back because of sheer sloppiness I got pissed. He's just so loose and lazy with his possessions much of the time.

Barlow: Why is he still not signed? Have they not seen enough?

Champagnie: I'm loving what I'm seeing from him more and more. Too many shooters simply disappear when their shot isn't falling. But Julian seems to elevate his play and contribute more on the boards and with assists. He could grow into a really nice complementary piece for the Spurs. Very excited he's locked up for 4 years.

Sir'Jabari Rice: Is he going to play? My understanding is he's officially signed his contract now. So where is he?

The Summer Spurs definitely have enough talent to win the whole summer league. So long as guys like Julian Champagnie and Malaki Branham are hot at the right times and don't go Houdini on us.

[John B]

Happy to see the Spurs moving so well again. I thought they tried too hard to incorporate Wemby the previous game and disrupted the chemistry. But last night, they were back trying to get their buckets, especially Brahnam. Which brings out the point, I think Brahnam is most effective when he knows he needs to score, when he’s the 1st option on the court. Thus he would be best coming off the bench come regular season. I think he would be lost with the other starters carrying more offensive responsibilities. As much as I want his game, I think he’s better off as spark plug from the bench.

Sidy’s passing and defense was infectious. He just needs to work on his outside shots this off-season and he could be a good glue guy from the bench. He needs more confidence getting his baskets. I think a season in Austin where he could dominate will do him good.

Barlow got the memo. With Wemby out of the line-up, Dom started working. The 1st hoop was a perimeter from him. Just keep hoisting them up. Great find.

Champagnie found other ways to contribute when his shots were not falling, rebounding, assists, and defending. I wasn’t expecting all those when Spurs picked him up. I thought he was another volume shooter. It’s becoming clearer why the Spurs locked him up with a contract. He is a baller, playing man among boys, unexpectedly athletic and defensive. He is another big 6’9” who can dribble, defend and shoot. He would be getting KBD’s minutes.

Add McD (and arguably Keldon) to this, and Spurs have a very good bench coming in the regular season. Good stuff.

[exstatic]

And my boy Johnny Davis still sucks ass.

Yeah, when the draft gods had 11 ping pong balls in the hopper back in May, and 6 of them would have give Washington the first pick, they were like "nope".

[John B]

Wesley: When he lost the ball on an over and back because of sheer sloppiness I got pissed. He's just so loose and lazy with his possessions much of the time.



I remember that turnover. But I think that was Justin Kier. He was sporting almost the same hairstyle like Wesley, and could easily mistake from afar. Wesley’s handles are fine.

It’s his finishing in the rim that is always blocked. Somehow he shows them too early and doesn’t throw his body to the defender to protect the ball. But he is Uber competitive and fearless, I have no doubt he’ll figure with the development coaches. He also seems to have gained some muscles and affected his shots. That too I think he’ll settle once he’s set to the muscle mass they are bringing him up to get NBA strong. We have to remember these kids are bulking up this Summer and could affect their shooting touches in the beginning. I am not worried.

[John B]

And my boy Johnny Davis still sucks ass.

I still like the kid. His outside shots are suspect, but his finishing in the rim is money. I think with Beal going and other moves that Wizards made, Davis will get his minutes this coming season. Already he increased his production at the latter part of the season with increased minutes.

[Darkwaters]

I remember that turnover. But I think that was Justin Kier. He was sporting almost the same hairstyle like Wesley, and could easily mistake from afar. Wesley’s handles are fine.


I am 99% sure it was Wesley and not Kier. Big difference between "14" and "5" on the jersey. But I'll watch the tape and confirm that I'm not mis-remembering.

[John B]

I am 99% sure it was Wesley and not Kier. Big difference between "14" and "5" on the jersey. But I'll watch the tape and confirm that I'm not mis-remembering.

Yeah let me know. I thought at first it was Wesley too but I could be wrong.

[Obstructed_View]

I am 99% sure it was Wesley and not Kier. Big difference between "14" and "5" on the jersey. But I'll watch the tape and confirm that I'm not mis-remembering.

Wesley had two over and backs. The first one was a bad call IMO because the ball got poked out of his hands. The second he got pressed and just seemed to lose his balance. This is why summer league is so valuable, especially if we want Wesley to bring the ball up.

[Atl Spur]

Yeah, when the draft gods had 11 ping pong balls in the hopper back in May, and 6 of them would have give Washington the first pick, they were like "nope".

Washington just aren’t that great at drafting….. a few people were still on the board.

[Atl Spur]

Sidy needs to be allocated more runway to run the offense / hunt for shots within reason. Right now he defers quite a bit

[DAF86]

How does this SL tourney work? Are there playoffs or something like that? I'm guessing the Spurs are in the fight.

[Mr. Body]

Well, I never expected Dominick Barlow to have a completely money midrange shot. He's like Luc Longley out there.

[BackHome]

Question now that Barlow mid range looks so sweet do you think his true position is PF vs C? He has really stood out his shooting his handles and his passing look really good to me I think he would make a great backup at PF

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

It will be fun to watch a team interested in winning again.

[rjv]

And my boy Johnny Davis still sucks ass.

thanks god the spurs took a flyer on davis; that dude sucks.

[Proxy]

Wemby was on the bench? Nice... Nephew would've gone to a Dodgers game for his quad

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Wemby was on the bench? Nice... Nephew would've gone to a Dodgers game for his quad

The needle's already pointing to Wemby being more of a Duncan-like leader than a Kawhi-type "leader". You can actually imagine Wemby leading, as opposed to Nephew's version of the term.

[GAustex]

The squad for the most part worked well together unlike disjointed a bit when the big guy was on the court

[LaMarcus Bryant]

Can anyone steal Barlow from us?

Need to sign this kid to a legit contract.
He's legit.

[exstatic]

Can anyone steal Barlow from us?

Need to sign this kid to a legit contract.
He's legit.

No. Worst case is someone signs him to an offer sheet, and we match. Don’t see anyone offering him more than we paid Champagnie or Bassey.

[Fireball]

Happy to see the Spurs moving so well again. I thought they tried too hard to incorporate Wemby the previous game and disrupted the chemistry. But last night, they were back trying to get their buckets, especially Brahnam. Which brings out the point, I think Brahnam is most effective when he knows he needs to score, when he’s the 1st option on the court. Thus he would be best coming off the bench come regular season. I think he would be lost with the other starters carrying more offensive responsibilities. As much as I want his game, I think he’s better off as spark plug from the bench.

You realize this sounds pretty bad what you just described there ... in a winning Spurs team he should never be the 1st option in any lineup. I think he will contribute well in the future, but he has to be effective without being the 1st banana offensively.

[wildbill2u]

Barlow could even put the SF position into turmoil. He seems to be agile enough to defend SFs and has a nice height advantage over a lot of opponents at that position. At any rate, he is another valuable piece that can probably play at several positions.

[stnick2261]

Barlow could even put the SF position into turmoil. He seems to be agile enough to defend SFs and has a nice height advantage over a lot of opponents at that position. At any rate, he is another valuable piece that can probably play at several positions.

Barlow prides himself on being able to guard all 5 positions. Could you imagine seeing this lineup for a stretch:

PG - Sochan (6'9")
SG - Vassell (6'7")
SF - Barlow (6'10")
PF - Wemby (7'5")
C - Collins (6'11")

Sochan would be the only one who couldn't shoot/stretch the floor.

[spurraider21]

why not re-sign Dieng while we're at it and play him at SG since he can shoot 3's

[stnick2261]

why not re-sign Dieng while we're at it and play him at SG since he can shoot 3's

I know you are just being an idiot, but Dieng shoots 28% from 3pt. He's also not quick enough to play SG. What I posted was an actual valid lineup.

[JPB]

Maybe Barlow didn't sign a new contract yet because he doesn't like what spurs offered him. And he could be right after his brilliant SL where he didn't go unnoticed... We all agree to say the Champagnie deal was a steal, and Julian may already regret. Spurs may have offered the same deal and Barlow declined, which he honestly would be smart to. I can see someone giving him 3/15 or 4/20.

[spurraider21]

I know you are just being an idiot, but Dieng shoots 28% from 3pt. He's also not quick enough to play SG. What I posted was an actual valid lineup.
sochan is a stretch at SF as it is, let alone PG. and barlow is a big PF or a small ball C

[spurraider21]

Maybe Barlow didn't sign a new contract yet because he doesn't like what spurs offered him. And he could be right after his brilliant SL where he didn' go unnoticed... We all agree to say the Champagnie deal was a steal, and Julian may already regret. Spurs may have offered the same deal and Barlow declined, which he honestly would be smart to.
its not like teams are banging down the door to offer barlow a guaranteed NBA contract either, and if they did sign him to an offer sheet, the spurs can match. SA has a ton of leverage here, like they did with champagnie

right now its probably a stand off where the spurs want him on a 2-way, he wants an nba contract, and to compromise, the spurs want longer term cheap control like they do with bassey/champ, and theyre haggling over that

[stnick2261]

sochan is a stretch at SF as it is, let alone PG. and barlow is a big PF or a small ball C

Everyone is PG

[JPB]

its not like teams are banging down the door to offer barlow a guaranteed NBA contract either, and if they did sign him to an offer sheet, the spurs can match. SA has a ton of leverage here, like they did with champagnie

right now its probably a stand off where the spurs want him on a 2-way, he wants an nba contract, and to compromise, the spurs want longer term cheap control like they do with bassey/champ, and theyre haggling over that

I wouldn't be surprised if teams are starting to call after the SL tbh and they may already are (not like ESPN would be all over it). We can't rave at his play over here and expect the rest of the NBA not to see him, or him to accept some cheap 2 way contract. He definitely can get an NBA contract, that's for sure. specially when he sees Sidy getting one. I mean, there must be a reason why he still not signed by SA.

[spurraider21]

I wouldn't be surprised if teams are starting to call after the SL tbh and they may already are (not like ESPN would be all over it). We can't rave at his play over here and expect the rest of the NBA not to see him, or him to accept some cheap 2 way contract. He definitely can get an NBA contract, that's for sure. specially when he sees Sidy getting one. I mean, there must be a reason why he still not signed by SA.
sidy has more leverage since he was drafted

[stnick2261]

I wouldn't be surprised if teams are starting to call after the SL tbh and they may already are (not like ESPN would be all over it). We can't rave at his play over here and expect the rest of the NBA not to see him, or him to accept some cheap 2 way contract He definitely can get an NBA contract, that's for sure. specially when he sees Sidy getting one.

Sidy has to have a guaranteed contract because the CBA doesn't allow an NBA team to pay a European buyout and then give the player a 2-way contract. Barlow is RFA, correct? Spurs probably have no worries about waiting.

[JPB]

Sidy has to have a guaranteed contract because the CBA doesn't allow an NBA team to pay a European buyout and then give the player a 2-way contract. Barlow is RFA, correct? Spurs probably have no worries about waiting.

Correct, I forgot about that

[JPB]

And yeah Barlow is an RFA. SA extended his $1.8 million Qualifying Offer... Sure spurs can play the waiting game, but with the SL Barlow is having they may regret not giving him a decent offer to lock him in, before some crazy/bad GM pulls an offer SA may have a hard time matching, or that might hurt anyway comparing to what they could have him under.

[RC_Drunkford]

its not like teams are banging down the door to offer barlow a guaranteed NBA contract either, and if they did sign him to an offer sheet, the spurs can match. SA has a ton of leverage here, like they did with champagnie

right now its probably a stand off where the spurs want him on a 2-way, he wants an nba contract, and to compromise, the spurs want longer term cheap control like they do with bassey/champ, and theyre haggling over that

I always wonder what kind of medication people here take to come up with these weird, fictional scenarios

[MannyIsGod]

Yaeh Barlow isn't getting 4/20 lol