Grades: Spurs vs. Thunder - July 16, 2023

[timvp]

https://www.spurstalk.com/grades-spurs-thunder-summer-league-7/

Pretty entertaining set of summer league games this season, tbh :toast

[Cry Havoc]

Cissoko, finally!

Definitely starting to remind me a bit of good ol' Boris. xD

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Glad for Cissoko and glad for Rice both having impactful games. Neat to end SL with a win.

[Cry Havoc]

Glad for Cissoko and glad for Rice both having impactful games. Neat to end SL with a win.

It might be wemby-fever but I really do feel like the FO has done a great job of giving us some extremely good young talent to build up with Wemby. At worst, we can combine a few of them with the 8 million draft picks we have and snag a big option on offense and take this team deep in the playoffs... which are wide open now with 0 superteams left in the league.

[Mr. Body]

Cason Wallace, Ousmane Dieng, and TyTy Washington were relatively quiet despite being the only first round picks on the floor, and two of them lottery picks.

[exstatic]

Cason Wallace, Ousmane Dieng, and TyTy Washington were relatively quiet despite being the only first round picks on the floor, and two of them lottery picks.

I’d be worried about Dieng if I were OKC. Even Jabari Smith showed improvement, after shitting the bed last season.

[spurraider21]

I’d be worried about Dieng if I were OKC. Even Jabari Smith showed improvement, after shitting the bed last season.
Dieng looked quite good most of summer league. Ended on a dud though

[CorrectCrusader]

I’d be worried about Dieng if I were OKC. Even Jabari Smith showed improvement, after shitting the bed last season.

Ousman has had a good summer league. He's just no match for the MVP Cissoko

[Spurs Homer]

My wish is that Pop would take Cissoko under his tutelage and throw him out there to bully some point guards...

Cissoko has some intangibles and some raw power when attacking the rim and at a young age!

Free the bully!

[exstatic]

Ousman has had a good summer league. He's just no match for the MVP Cissoko
He had one good game that skewed his stats. I’d be worried that he couldn’t seem to do anything against our scrub rotation in the consolation game. He should have dominated.

[Mr. Body]

He had one good game that skewed his stats. I’d be worried that he couldn’t seem to do anything against our scrub rotation in the consolation game. He should have dominated.

Dieng is still 19 and entering his second year. He seemed a bit of a project in his NZ league. He was sort of drafted into the same player type as Pokushevski, who isn't very good, so his timeline isn't that short. The problem is OKC may need to make decisions sooner than they'd like on some players. They have tons of guards and a lot of picks upcoming.

[exstatic]

Dieng is still 19 and entering his second year. He seemed a bit of a project in his NZ league. He was sort of drafted into the same player type as Pokushevski, who isn't very good, so his timeline isn't that short. The problem is OKC may need to make decisions sooner than they'd like on some players. They have tons of guards and a lot of picks upcoming.

They paid 3 FRPs to acquire him. I'm tired of Presti and his crap. He doesn't do well without very high picks, but seems to take joy in screwing with the Spurs. I hope both the Dieng and Cason Wallace picks blow up in his face.

[Dejounte]

OKC is overrated as hell. We hear the same shit every year about how they have a “bright future” for the past decade. I’ll believe it when I see it. Last year’s “run” is a fluke unless they keep raising that bar they reached this year and next.

[Mr. Body]

They paid 3 FRPs to acquire him. I'm tired of Presti and his crap. He doesn't do well without very high picks, but seems to take joy in screwing with the Spurs. I hope both the Dieng and Cason Wallace picks blow up in his face.

SGA and Chet will be a great two man core. I hope they fall on their face, though, and hope my sense that J Will and Giddey are close to their ceiling is true. I hope Williams is basically Chris Duarte.

As for Cason Wallace, the Thunder didn't steal him from the Spurs. After the trade it came out that Utah was the one wanting to move up.

1. It had widely been suggested they would go for Jarace or Hendricks if available at 9 and then take a guard with their 16.

2. They were reported to really like Wallace.

3. They already had the 16 so moving up was easy.

4. Orlando, not moving back after all, still took a player who was widely considered available at 16, in Howard, instead of Gradey Dick, who was considered the better player. Suggesting they just took at 11 who they thought they'd get at 16.

5. If the Spurs really had a deal with Orlando for 11, they would have had to come in out of nowhere, costing a lot.

6. More to the point, if they missed on Wallace but still had a deal at 11, then there were other guards they could have still taken. Maybe they only valued Wallace but I doubt it.

There's no indication the Spurs were robbed. That was just instant message board speculation that has held fast. Indication came right away that it was Utah. And by all signs this makes much more sense.

[baseline bum]

OKC is overrated as hell. We hear the same shit every year about how they have a “bright future” for the past decade. I’ll believe it when I see it. Last year’s “run” is a fluke unless they keep raising that bar they reached this year and next.

They look pretty good to me just between SGA, Holmgren, Giddey, and Williams. Of course no way they'll ever be able to keep that team together in the second apron era, but right now while everyone's cheap that looks like a 50 win team to me. Especially with the Lakers and Warriors a year older. I think they're going to be a really fun team to watch this season.

[Mr. Body]

They look pretty good to me just between SGA, Holmgren, Giddey, and Williams. Of course no way they'll ever be able to keep that team together in the second apron era, but right now while everyone's cheap that looks like a 50 win team to me. Especially with the Lakers and Warriors a year older. I think they're going to be a really fun team to watch this season.

I think they'll be a top 4 team this year.

The WC is much flimsier and fragile than people think. And yes, agreed that they're going to have trouble keeping players together. Too bad teams gifted them so many great firsts.

[spurraider21]

okc improved from 26 wins to 40 wins and holmgren didnt even play. why are we pretending they arent an ascending team? because presti is a meanie? lol

[baseline bum]

okc improved from 26 wins to 40 wins and holmgren didnt even play. why are we pretending they arent an ascending team? because presti is a meanie? lol

I know it's just summer league, but Chet has looked pretty impressive too.

[Mr. Body]

okc improved from 26 wins to 40 wins and holmgren didnt even play. why are we pretending they arent an ascending team? because presti is a meanie? lol

Who is pretending they're not an ascending team?

[spurraider21]

Who is pretending they're not an ascending team?


OKC is overrated as hell. We hear the same shit every year about how they have a “bright future” for the past decade. I’ll believe it when I see it. Last year’s “run” is a fluke unless they keep raising that bar they reached this year and next.

[Dejounte]

It’s just my opinion that that team’s ceiling is akin to the Grizzlies we’ve seen. Lot of would-be solid players, but none truly to build around. They have players that are easy to root for, and play eye-pleasing basketball— but in the end, franchise players is what this league is all about and I see none on that roster. Call it an unpopular opinion.

Even with the gazillion picks they have, their scouting dept seems more skilled in finding good players than they do in finding actual franchise players.

[spurs10]

Thanks for the grades. I missed the game because I don't have NBA TV, so it was nice to hear the details. Will look for highlights. Appreciate the great work on the Summer League games timvp! Enjoyed every game I saw.

[spurraider21]

SGA made all-nba first team and just turned 25 :lol

mr body saying he thinks jalen williams is already near his ceiling is another strange one given that he's coming off his rookie season

just a lot of weird takes around OKC. dont think they're championship contenders this year or anything like that but they're ascending with a ton of young players who should still only improve and a trove of assets to boot

[Mr. Body]

It’s just my opinion that that team’s ceiling is akin to the Grizzlies we’ve seen. Lot of would-be solid players, but none truly to build around. They have players that are easy to root for, and play eye-pleasing basketball— but in the end, franchise players is what this league is all about and I see none on that roster. Call it an unpopular opinion.

Even with the gazillion picks they have, their scouting dept seems more skilled in finding good players than they do in finding actual franchise players.

OKC begins and ends with Shai. He's terrific, possibly an MVP candidate, and with Chet they may have their second guy, but Shai's success greatly depends on the ridiculous way the NBA calls games nowadays. If a defensive player so much as moves in any direction even as they are launched against in drives, it's a foul on them. SGA gets 10 ftas a game, which is fucking ridiculous. He's up there with Ja, who does the same thing, and Embiid, who flops all the fucking time.

Shai is dangerous, but much more pedestrian without free points and players having to contort themselves to avoid these bullshit calls. And it may hurt down the line when those calls no longer are made in the playoffs.

[Mr. Body]

SGA made all-nba first team and just turned 25 :lol

mr body saying he thinks jalen williams is already near his ceiling is another strange one given that he's coming off his rookie season

just a lot of weird takes around OKC. dont think they're championship contenders this year or anything like that but they're ascending with a ton of young players who should still only improve and a trove of assets to boot

I compared him to Chris Duarte, who you may know if you follow the league. Williams came into his rookie season big, strong, and skilled for a rookie, unsurprising given his age. Does he have more room to improve? Probably. But teams will gameplan for him now. Sometimes players get figured out and it wouldn't be surprising to see Williams remain a good player around his current level. I'd be surprised if he becomes an All-Star, but I guess he could.

If you want to become a Thunder fan, by all means, we won't miss you.

[spurraider21]

I compared him to Chris Duarte, who you may know if you follow the league. Williams came into his rookie season big, strong, and skilled for a rookie, unsurprising given his age. Does he have more room to improve? Probably. But teams will gameplan for him now. Sometimes players get figured out and it wouldn't be surprising to see Williams remain a good player around his current level. I'd be surprised if he becomes an All-Star, but I guess he could.

If you want to become a Thunder fan, by all means, we won't miss you.
thinking that a team is good or has a bright future means you have to become a fan of them

noted

right up there with chump's "are you going to stop being a spurs fan" retort to FO criticisms

[Atl Spur]

Okc should roll with sga, giddy, Jw, chet, and a rim protecting center. Use some of those picks for vet specialist. Nice core but not the correct blend of vets.

[Atl Spur]

Indiana…. Will be top 5 in the east very soon if not this year.

[Mr. Body]

Okc should roll with sga, giddy, he, Chet, and a rim protecting center. Use some of those picks for vet specialist. Nice core but not the correct blend of vets.

Presti doesn't use centers. They often ran four guard sets last year with a guy like Jaylin Williams, who the OKC hype machine is now calling an incredible steal. He is also allergic to drafting shooters.

They'll probably run four guards/wings and Chet, or possibly go with what they had last year with Williams and then Chet as a 4-type.

And spurraider can masturbate furiously over them.

[Dejounte]

SGA… an All NBA player… MVP Candidate… great accolades. Still likely a similar result: catch fire and then sizzle a couple years later, tbh

[spurraider21]

SGA… an All NBA player… MVP Candidate… great accolades. Still likely a similar result: catch fire and then sizzle a couple years later, tbh
how many guys who made all nba first teams at or before age 25 sizzled out a couple of years later?

[Dejounte]

how many guys who made all nba first teams at or before age 25 sizzled out a couple of years later?

My apologies, I should have made my post clearer: I’m referring to his team. When the team has him as their number one guy, the team is what I’m referring to as catching fire (happened this past season and may continue this year) and then will sizzle later.

[CorrectCrusader]

It’s just my opinion that that team’s ceiling is akin to the Grizzlies we’ve seen. Lot of would-be solid players, but none truly to build around. They have players that are easy to root for, and play eye-pleasing basketball— but in the end, franchise players is what this league is all about and I see none on that roster. Call it an unpopular opinion.

Even with the gazillion picks they have, their scouting dept seems more skilled in finding good players than they do in finding actual franchise players.
They have a billion glue guys and secondary stars and zero jokic's giannis' or curry's

[Ariel]

My apologies, I should have made my post clearer: I’m referring to his team. When the team has him as their number one guy, the team is what I’m referring to as catching fire (happened this past season and may continue this year) and then will sizzle later.
Those teams rarely have the kind of ammo OKC does. Presti has been stockpiling assets with shrewd trades for years, if he plays his cards right there's no reason OKC can't sustain a deep playoff run for a while, especially if Chet can remain healthy. They can easily trade for the next couple disgruntled stars.

[sfernald]

I compared him to Chris Duarte, who you may know if you follow the league. Williams came into his rookie season big, strong, and skilled for a rookie, unsurprising given his age. Does he have more room to improve? Probably. But teams will gameplan for him now. Sometimes players get figured out and it wouldn't be surprising to see Williams remain a good player around his current level. I'd be surprised if he becomes an All-Star, but I guess he could.

If you want to become a Thunder fan, by all means, we won't miss you.

Dude Williams is really good. Last year unlike most all rookies he blew through the rookie wall without blinking. Then he played one summer league game but was too good in it to go on any further in summer league. Anything to the contrary is just bias talking. You can live in a cloud if you want of course.

[Dejounte]

Those teams rarely have the kind of ammo OKC does. Presti has been stockpiling assets with shrewd trades for years, if he plays his cards right there's no reason OKC can't sustain a deep playoff run for a while, especially if Chet can remain healthy. They can easily trade for the next couple disgruntled stars.

Disgruntled stars, as we’re seeing this offseason, only want to get traded to cities with proven history or teams with players they have relationships with. I could be wrong, but I don’t see any star saying they want to be traded to OKC for the next decade. And I think OKC even prefers it that way, with how they are building the team with diverse foreign talent. Again, I don’t have much faith in their ability to make those types of trades or draft selections. They do wow you with the smaller types that don’t amount to much in the long run. I bet we’ll still be saying the same thing five years later.

[Ocotillo]

I think OKC has tons of potential. What I see as a bump in the road for them is the owner cheaping out when these guys need to be paid. This is the guy that shipped Harden out back in the day when they had the three headed monster of KD, Russ and the Beard. Have they learned their lesson? Let's hope not.