Around the League / Regular Season Thread (Upstairs Version)

[timtonymanu]

They were the second best team in the West till Christmas and OKC toughest matchup. It's all gone just like that.

Yep you can’t convince me that it wasn’t a play by the NBA to save their precious Lakers from falling out of the playoffs another year. Really hope OKC or Denver wax them to prevent another Celtics Lakers possible finals.

[LeBowen]

Kyrie is done, ACL tear.

He'll surely pick up the player option now and miss the entire next season.

[BatManu20]

Yea when it rains it pours man. Mavs fans going through it right now.

1896952446494372033

[Leetonidas]

Man, with the Suns imploding, the Mavs taking themselves out plus injuries, and the general meh-ness of the Twolves this year, had Victor not gone down for the season we had a legit shot to make the playoffs :depressed

[exstatic]

Season from hell for Mavs. Just one gut punch after the other.

The first punch, which cascaded into #2, was self inflicted. I’d hate to work in the Mavs season ticket department. It’ll be awful quiet for next year.

[scott]

The first punch, which cascaded into #2, was self inflicted. I’d hate to work in the Mavs season ticket department. It’ll be awful quiet for next year.

They just sent out notices of an 8% increase in prices next year too. Oof.

[LeBowen]

With these developments in Phoenix and Dallas, I'm really annoyed that shit happened to Wemby, would've easily made the play-in.

[spursistan]

The first punch, which cascaded into #2, was self inflicted. I’d hate to work in the Mavs season ticket department. It’ll be awful quiet for next year.
I am really starting to get tempted by the conspiracy theory part of it :lol. The type of owners they have is where you begin to home in on that angle


This continues to be the wildest and the most dubious element of the trade. You have an empty cupboard of assets and you only get one 1 FRP-- and it's from the team you're sending an in-his-peak superstar to? Really? This where you are allowed to go beyond the 'sheer stupidity' explanation and actually entertain the theory of plan hatched-up in some smoky room the goal of which is to deliberately torch the franchise to the ground in Dallas and moved it to Vegas by 2031 (clean slate)..

https://x.com/MavsFilmRoom/status/1896762261609554129

[Mugen]

With these developments in Phoenix and Dallas, I'm really annoyed that shit happened to Wemby, would've easily made the play-in.

Maybe. I don't think they'd have been better than Portland with the way Wemby was playing in January and the shit coaching.

[LeBowen]

Maybe. I don't think they'd have been better than Portland with the way Wemby was playing in January and the shit coaching.

I'll attribute the drop in Wemby's level of play to the blood clot situation.
But yeah, Mitch would've found a way to keep us out of the play-in.

[spursistan]

I'll attribute the drop in Wemby's level of play to the blood clot situation.
But yeah, Mitch would've found a way to keep us out of the play-in.
Next season has to be 'playoffs or bust'. No one on the FA market is going to move the needle for our competitors.

On paper, only OKC, Denver, LAL, Houston, Grizz are better. Mavericks/Phoenix/Warriors/Clippers project to be worse with combination of age and injuries. We should be in the Wolves/Pelicans mix vying for 6th seed.

[scott]

Next season has to be 'playoffs or bust'. No one on the FA market is going to move the needle for our competitors.

On paper, only OKC, Denver, LAL, Houston, Grizz are better. Mavericks/Phoenix/Warriors/Clippers project to be worse with combination of age and injuries. We should be in the Wolves/Pelicans mix vying for 6th seed.

Agree. Top 6 should absolutely be the expectation next season. I wish we had a writer covering the Spurs for E-N who would flat out write an article about that. Instead we'll probably get some story about how we're all still just being patient. Accountability is an unheard of concept with our media members.

[ChumpDumper]

I am really starting to get tempted by the conspiracy theory part of it :lol. The type of owners they have is where you begin to home in on that angle

They're going to move to Irving.

[Mal]

I wonder if Nico is the guy to do rebuild of Mavs around Anthony Davis :lol

[Mal]

Welp, it's not good for Atlanta`s pick. Mavs will probably shuting down Davis and move their championship window to the future :lol

[LeBowen]

We need someone to convince PJ Washington to ask for a trade. He'll be on an expiring contract this summer, Mavs can't ask for much and he'd be perfect for the Spurs.

[Mal]

We need someone to convince PJ Washington to ask for a trade. He'll be on an expiring contract this summer, Mavs can't ask for much and he'd be perfect for the Spurs.

The swap in 2030 ? Las Vegas would like to start franchise having to pick their player.

[RC_Drunkford]

Watching the Mavs franchise crumble in space of a month is another reminder how fleeting and momentary these so-called Championships windows can be. If the Spurs get Wemby back healthy and playing at borderline MVP level, we should absolutely fast-track the timeline and go for it.

Gotta wait for Pop coming back from his stroke first

[TD 21]

Watching the Mavs franchise crumble in space of a month is another reminder how fleeting and momentary these so-called Championships windows can be. If the Spurs get Wemby back healthy and playing at borderline MVP level, we should absolutely fast-track the timeline and go for it.

Agreed. Sure it was the Mavericks' decision, but it still should be a cautionary tale. We've seen too many examples of supposed wide open windows that slammed shut far sooner than expected for one reason or another.

The style of play now is already conducive to more injuries and that's before considering Wembanyama's unique body type.

The goal should be to win a championship within' 3 years. Get that and they'll one, always have the bare minimum no matter how the remainder of his era plays out and two, presumably go a ways towards getting him to spend his entire career here.

[Mr. Body]

They just sent out notices of an 8% increase in prices next year too. Oof.

They're massive Trump donors, so it makes sense. "No one wants to trade with us. I know, we'll raise prices."

[scott]

They're massive Trump donors, so it makes sense. "No one wants to trade with us. I know, we'll raise prices."

As say this as someone who spent most of his life rooting for the Dallas Cowboys, but I hope Jerry Jones and the Adelson families suffer years of putrid mediocrity. I feel bad for true fans of Dallas sports who have to suffer for their owners' sins, but thems the breaks!

[baseline bum]

Watching the Mavs franchise crumble in space of a month is another reminder how fleeting and momentary these so-called Championships windows can be. If the Spurs get Wemby back healthy and playing at borderline MVP level, we should absolutely fast-track the timeline and go for it.

Which is why all I care about is winning one more. One title is so unbelievably hard if you're not the Lakers and we got spoiled by seeing five from one of the greatest runs in the history of sports. But a lot of that was luck, like everyone being scared to draft Tony and the Spurs hitting the ultimate shot in the dark with Manu, who you could have argued was the greatest draft pick in NBA history until Jokic. You look at how many ridiculously good teams never won one. The Payton & Kemp Sonics. The unbelievable Bibby & Webber Kings. The Durant/Westbrook/Harden/Ibaka Thunder (this one is still the most shocking). The MAGA & Warm Karl Jazz. The Ewing & Mark Jackson Knicks. Nash & Amare's Suns. I really don't want these Spurs to be the next what if should they take title contention for granted just because they have an unbelievable #1 guy.

[baseline bum]

They just sent out notices of an 8% increase in prices next year too. Oof.

8% on average. Wonder if the good seats went up way more.

[baseline bum]

As say this as someone who spent most of his life rooting for the Dallas Cowboys, but I hope Jerry Jones and the Adelson families suffer years of putrid mediocrity. I feel bad for true fans of Dallas sports who have to suffer for their owners' sins, but thems the breaks!

I hope the Adelsons and Jones suffer a lot more than that. Fucking Jerry Jones profiting off Texans dying when the electric grid shit the bed in 2021.

[Ice009]

Yep, I thought this might happen when AD went down. I was like, man, what if Kyrie gets hurt trying to carry these guys. Wow. Mavs fans must be in a bad way right now. They've always been a heated rival, but I genuinely feel bad for them. They didn't deserve this shit.

I'm assuming Kyrie will be out for most of next season too?

[John B]

I hate to be Mavs fan. After being in the Finals, trading Luka for the corpse of AD, and now losing Kyrie for the rest of the season with torn ACL. Damn..

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the NBA season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee, the team announced on Tuesday (https://x.com/MavsPR/status/1896999170579542016).

[scott]

Tre Jones and Zach Collins both starting tonight, for anyone wants to go back and relive the glory of the 2022-23 Spurs season.

[Maddog]

I hate to be Mavs fan. After being in the Finals, trading Luka for the corpse of AD, and now losing Kyrie for the rest of the season with torn ACL. Damn..

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the NBA season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee, the team announced on Tuesday (https://x.com/MavsPR/status/1896999170579542016).

The only minor saving grace for Mavs fan is they still retain their 25 and 26 first round picks
If I was them, I'd move AD for more picks

What tiny window they had (if they even had one) is gone.

[mo7888]

The only minor saving grace for Mavs fan is they still retain their 25 and 26 first round picks
If I was them, I'd move AD for more picks

What tiny window they had (if they even had one) is gone.

I'd pay more for AD then for KD... it'll never happen though

[baseline bum]

I hate to be Mavs fan. After being in the Finals, trading Luka for the corpse of AD, and now losing Kyrie for the rest of the season with torn ACL. Damn..

Dallas Mavericks star Kyrie Irving will miss the rest of the NBA season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee,the team announced on Tuesday (https://x.com/MavsPR/status/1896999170579542016).

And being that Kyrie won't be back until his age 34 season, how good can we reasonably expect him to ever be again? Especially since everyone looks like a shadow of their former self that first year back after an ACL tear.

[spurraider21]

And being that Kyrie won't be back until his age 34 season, how good can we reasonably expect him to ever be again? Especially since everyone looks like a shadow of their former self that first year back after an ACL tear.
i mean he'll be 33 at the start of next season. you think he's out all of next year as well?

this one dude seems to think that could be the case given the video

1897089715561517065

[RC_Drunkford]

i mean he'll be 33 at the start of next season. you think he's out all of next year as well?

this one dude seems to think that could be the case given the video

1897089715561517065

he would need another whole season to even get back to form and still would look washed giving his age. An ACL takes 1 year of rehab and another year of playing til you get back to being yourself. The Mavs are cooked.

[heyheymymy]

KD pushing bud away in a to huddle

PHX imploding

[heyheymymy]

Dallas Mavericks in 2025:

- Dereck Lively II suffers ankle stress fracture
- Luka Doncic traded
- Anthony Davis suffers strained adductor
- Daniel Gafford suffers sprained MCL
- Quentin Grimes scores 44 points
- Jalen Brunson named Player of the Week
- Lakers move up to 2 seed
- Mavs announce season ticket price increase
- Kyrie Irving tears ACL
- Jaden Hardy sprains ankle
- Klay Thompson/Dinwiddi/Christie show

[spurraider21]

KD pushing bud away in a to huddle

PHX imploding
they came back and won the game on the back of durant

[CGD]

Dallas Mavericks in 2025:

- Dereck Lively II suffers ankle stress fracture
- Luka Doncic traded
- Anthony Davis suffers strained adductor
- Daniel Gafford suffers sprained MCL
- Quentin Grimes scores 44 points
- Jalen Brunson named Player of the Week
- Lakers move up to 2 seed
- Mavs announce season ticket price increase
- Kyrie Irving tears ACL
- Jaden Hardy sprains ankle
- Klay Thompson/Dinwiddi/Christie show

Brutal

[heyheymymy]

they came back and won the game on the back of durant

I saw that. LAC was up 20 plus and controlled portions of the game!

But there feels like trouble brewing in PHX and I'm not sure that win last night can fix the perception Bud may be on his way out and that core, including KD, is a walking extinction right now. Things can always change but there is like over half a billion tied up in Book/Beal/KD grand total and the results are unacceptable yet somewhat predictable. Gotta sense a reset approaching but perhaps they can pivot out of it more smoothly. It's the Suns, I'm not holding my breath.

[Mr. Body]

Cuban put in work to make the Mavs respectable, then sold to some crazy idiotic casino-obsessed Trumper ghouls. Kind of hilarious.

[rascal]

Mavs are bad, Spurs may even catch them now.

[scott]

he would need another whole season to even get back to form and still would look washed giving his age. An ACL takes 1 year of rehab and another year of playing til you get back to being yourself. The Mavs are cooked.

So, obviously Kyrie likely opts into the last year of his deal with Dallas, but then they're off the hook from him. They can apply for a disable player exemption and have the ability to sign someone with the non-taxpayer MLE for 1 season, that won't do them too much good though. Definitely a rough spot to be in, going all in around Kyrie and AD, and then Kyrie's career in Dallas might be over.

[Dex]

Cuban put in work to make the Mavs respectable, then sold to some crazy idiotic casino-obsessed Trumper ghouls. Kind of hilarious.

Nico Harrison doing a speedrun to see how quickly he can ruin a franchise

[ace3g]

https://x.com/NBAPR/status/1897483758539788643

[mystargtr34]

Mavericks should and probably will go all out tank mode this off-season by trading Davis and Kyries expiring contract for picks. What’s the point in keeping AD next season without Kyrie, that’s just destined for the 10th seed at best and play in exit.

They have their own pick in this years draft and the 2026 draft then in 2027 their first goes to Charlotte top 2 protected.

They’ll get a top 5 pick in next years draft and they have to hope they hit and rebuild from there.

I do think their new ownership is trying to tank the team with the Luka trade so this would all align with that plan.

[mystargtr34]

https://x.com/NBAPR/status/1897483758539788643

That is an absolutely wild stat given the Celtics history.

[heyheymymy]

Hope this doesn't cause DAL to reload too soon with regards to the value of SA holding their pick for the 2030 DAL or MIN FRP swap rights

I loved the idea of hording picks at first but now it has made me a nervous wreck trying to anticipate the respective team's collapses and timing them right to exact the best possible value lol

that and dancing around protections like the TOR saga rollercoaster

[heyheymymy]

That is an absolutely wild stat given the Celtics history.

totally agree. I guess whenever they were good, they were pretty complete teams so any two both hitting 40 would be a bad sign since more distributed scoring would tend to indicate the dominance of their legacy teams?

But how has Brown Tatum not duo'd for double 40s? McHale avg 26ppg in 86-87 though, he could've hit it with Bird one time? How does Garnett/Pierce not hit that at least once?

[Ice009]

Crazy enough that Pritchard got 40, but Derrick too, in the same game is even wilder. These aren't even their best players. It's amazing the Celtics have someone as good as Pritchard that low down on their depth chart on the roster. Spurs have no-one like that.

If the Mavs blow it up, what would it take to get Anthony Davis? Would you guys want him?

[exstatic]

Crazy enough that Pritchard got 40, but Derrick too, in the same game is even wilder. These aren't even their best players. It's amazing the Celtics have someone as good as Pritchard that low down on their depth chart on the roster. Spurs have no-one like that.

If the Mavs blow it up, what would it take to get Anthony Davis? Would you guys want him?
No. He’s a tease with that talent and ability, and then he’ll play 58 games.

[spursparker9]

WTF.....Celtics is fucking stacked tbh. They have legit 6, 7 players who could score 30 pts at any given nights

[cutewizard]

Who shall be the last 3 NBA champions>>?

2025
2026
2027

[exstatic]

WTF.....Celtics is fucking stacked tbh. They have legit 6, 7 players who could score 30 pts at any given nights

They’re also second apron, already, and need to be streamlined and stripped down, which is why their owner is selling. He doesn’t have the stomach for it.

[ambchang]

Dallas Mavericks in 2025:

- Dereck Lively II suffers ankle stress fracture
- Luka Doncic traded
- Anthony Davis suffers strained adductor
- Daniel Gafford suffers sprained MCL
- Quentin Grimes scores 44 points
- Jalen Brunson named Player of the Week
- Lakers move up to 2 seed
- Mavs announce season ticket price increase
- Kyrie Irving tears ACL
- Jaden Hardy sprains ankle
- Klay Thompson/Dinwiddi/Christie show

Man, 2025 is worse than 2020 for Mavs fans.

[ambchang]

It’s good that the 2nd apron rules in place so that teams just can’t buy championships. The money partly evens out the odds between big and small market teams.

On the other hand, this only allows the small market teams to sign those second tier stars as their lead guys unless they were able to draft them in the first place. It also means that the high level role players will sign with large market teams because the money is the same everywhere and they might as well get the big city perks and the bigger sponsorship markets. Just that now the small markets can’t throw crazy money to build the team either. The odds are evened out, but not totally. Big markets will always have an advantage regardless.

Also it’s almost impossible or at least very difficult for teams to build dynasties now.

[BatManu20]

T-Wolves to pursue KD hard this offseason according to Windy.

[Ice009]

Who shall be the last 3 NBA champions>>?

2025
2026
2027

Last 3?

[ginobilized]

T-Wolves to pursue KD hard this offseason according to Windy.

That makes some sense. KD might just help gut them, get us Ant and turn our 20130 pick into gold. Gotta admit I don't understand the mindset of the superstar journeyman. But, that dude can play.

[Seventyniner]

That makes some sense. KD might just help gut them, get us Ant and turn our 20130 pick into gold. Gotta admit I don't understand the mindset of the superstar journeyman. But, that dude can play.

The Spurs included the 20131 MIN pick in the trade for Fox.

[ginobilized]

The Spurs included the 20131 MIN pick in the trade for Fox.

Oh, right! Might be time for that brain scan.

[scott]

Mavericks should and probably will go all out tank mode this off-season by trading Davis and Kyries expiring contract for picks. What’s the point in keeping AD next season without Kyrie, that’s just destined for the 10th seed at best and play in exit.

They have their own pick in this years draft and the 2026 draft then in 2027 their first goes to Charlotte top 2 protected.

They’ll get a top 5 pick in next years draft and they have to hope they hit and rebuild from there.

I do think their new ownership is trying to tank the team with the Luka trade so this would all align with that plan.

I'm trying to think of who DAL could possibly unload Kryie's last year to when he'll likely miss the entire season.


I am not nearly down on Vassell and Keldon enough to just swap them for Kyrie to be off of them.
Would UTA do some kind of Kyrie for Lauri swap to avoid long term money? DAL would certainly need to send picks to UTA to make this happen, as there is no way UTA is going to just salary dump Lauri after one meh season
PHX taking Kyrie for Beal would be a gift from God if Dallas were desperate to put something around AD. Don't know if Beal would agree to that, or if Nico Harrison's brain injury is THAT bad...
Jordan Poole?

[scott]

The Spurs included the 20131 MIN pick in the trade for Fox.

We still have the 20130 swap with MIN though

[Seventyniner]

We still have the 20130 swap with MIN though

Good point, I forgot about that. The Spurs still have a bit of a vested interest in the Wolves being bad several years from now.

[spurraider21]

i know we're well on the path to tank for the rest of the season, but our next few games are against Sacramento, Minnesota, Dallas, and Dallas, each of which are currently in or fighting for the play-in bracket.

with dallas and phoenix falling apart...

[spurs10]

We still have the 20130 swap with MIN though I'll be a couple years older, actually several, so hopefully we will make some moves before then. If not, I'll be patient.

[scott]

Keith Smith has a really good article on Spotrac about just how royally fucked PHI is: https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2694/philadelphias-joel-embiid-dilemma

[mo7888]

Keith Smith has a really good article on Spotrac about just how royally fucked PHI is: https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2694/philadelphias-joel-embiid-dilemma

"Going that route opens up a couple of questions: Can Philadelphia trade Embiid? And who would trade for an injury-prone max contract center in today’s apron-fearing, perimeter-based NBA?"

Nico Harrison on line 2...

[Seventyniner]

"Going that route opens up a couple of questions: Can Philadelphia trade Embiid? And who would trade for an injury-prone max contract center in today’s apron-fearing, perimeter-based NBA?"

Nico Harrison on line 2...

I can just imagine a blockbuster centered around Embiid + PG for Kyrie + AD. Mavs fuck up their future even more in the pursuit of saving face for the massive unforced error.

[Dex]

Keith Smith has a really good article on Spotrac about just how royally fucked PHI is: https://www.spotrac.com/news/_/id/2694/philadelphias-joel-embiid-dilemma

Embiid has always been fool's gold.

Came into the NBA injured. Spends his entire career injured. Will retire injured on a max contract.

Yes, he got his one pity MVP award but otherwise...he is Kawhi without the playoff success or rings. I'd be amazed if any team was stupid enough to take on that contract...but then again, the Suns thought bringing in Bradley Beal and his no-trade-clause was a good idea so who knows

[heyheymymy]

Last 3?

2027 pole shift extinction level event, the sentinels are coming brah

cutewizard'd

[Robz4000]

Hart has no offensive awareness tbh.

[Robz4000]

:lol we're really gonna have to watch this Lakers team win the title, aren't we?

[Bill_Brasky]

:lol we're really gonna have to watch this Lakers team win the title, aren't we?

LeBroncic, imo

[timtonymanu]

So ready for the Lebron era in the NBA to be over. Doesn’t sit right with me that this guy will just gladly dump teammates/teams past their usefulness every single time. Can’t imagine Timmy just telling the Spurs to trade Parker and Manu because they aren’t helping them win or are in their prime anymore.

[Ice009]

2027 pole shift extinction level event, the sentinels are coming brah

cutewizard'd

Oh, right. So that is what CuteWizard was referring to. Well, hopefully that shit ain't true. I thought maybe the NBA is going to go bust by then or something ;).

[RC_Drunkford]

how are the Lakers winning games with that abomination of a roster?

[mo7888]

I can just imagine a blockbuster centered around Embiid + PG for Kyrie + AD. Mavs fuck up their future even more in the pursuit of saving face for the massive unforced error.

Yes please...

[Bill_Brasky]

how are the Lakers winning games with that abomination of a roster?

Turns out that while AD is a great defender in the half court, he is really slow and their transition defense is a lot better without him.

Also Lebron not having to orchestrate every offensive possession and just letting Luka be the primary ball handler lets him save a little energy for defense.

Honestly Redick has done a good job.

[John B]

Turns out that while AD is a great defender in the half court, he is really slow and their transition defense is a lot better without him.

Also Lebron not having to orchestrate every offensive possession and just letting Luka be the primary ball handler lets him save a little energy for defense.

Honestly Redick has done a good job.

This. Luka is a great general despite all his prima dona’s, but which superstar is not (not named Duncan)?

[spurraider21]

1898056530534289548

[spursparker9]

:lol Joker with 31 pts, 21 rebs, 22 asts

Unreal.

But SGA will be the MVP :lol

[Robz4000]

Jokic just needs to win a few more rings and he's in the GOAT convo tbh.

[BatManu20]

Joker is fucking insane. We're witnessing one of the all-time great seasons in NBA history and a top-5 peak ever, maybe even top-3.

1898254634155733322

[Ice009]

That is an unbelievable performance from Jokic. I don't know why I don't watch Denver games. I wonder if TD watches many of his games as he said shortly after he retired that Jokic is his favourite player to watch.

[cutewizard]

https://youtu.be/fW3-6OSJL9U?si=oZJl3i6uZDsH0bwN

[heyheymymy]

https://i.ibb.co/5h7kzqPw/fox-injury-update-could-be-shut-down-soon-per-orsborn-v0-fqykkcnsxene1-jpeg.webp

[spursparker9]

Jokic should be able to play till 40 (if he wants to).

His offensive output (individual and assist synergy with teammates) has already exceeded MJ tbh

[Mal]

But SGA will be the MVP :lol

Trump may sign executive order not to give MVP to Canadian

[Mal]

Only salary cap can stop OKC for dominating this league for years to come

[John B]

https://i.ibb.co/5h7kzqPw/fox-injury-update-could-be-shut-down-soon-per-orsborn-v0-fqykkcnsxene1-jpeg.webp

It’s just a matter of time before FO shuts him down and give more chances to Castle to further develop his game.

[TD 21]

Only salary cap can stop OKC for dominating this league for years to come

I hate to say it, but I've never seen a team so well positioned short and long term.

The notion that they're anything but overwhelming favorites to minimally make the Finals, is absurd and I'd argue they, not the Celtics, should be championship favorites.

[Ice009]

I hate to say it, but I've never seen a team so well positioned short and long term.

The notion that they're anything but overwhelming favorites to minimally make the Finals, is absurd and I'd argue they, not the Celtics, should be championship favorites.

People keep overlooking them (I do too), but they a positioned to make the finals and possibly win them. You are right, they're a darn legit team and unfortunately for us, they're positioned to be great for years to come :(.

Is there any way that the Spurs could have kept Sam Presti back in the day? He done such a great job rebuilding it all after the owner screwed up a possible dynasty by trading away Harden. They're quite possibly even in a better situation now which is crazy to say after they had KD, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka etc.

[exstatic]

Only salary cap can stop OKC for dominating this league for years to come

It’ll do that quite effectively.

[Maddog]

Trump may sign executive order not to give MVP to Canadian

or he'll have to pay a tariff

[Ice009]

I shouldn't say it, but it kinds of sucks for OKC that they'll get penalized for all their great work/trades with the second apron handicapping them. They're not going to be able to afford all the players they've drafted and worked with to help become good/great players.

[exstatic]

I shouldn't say it, but it kinds of sucks for OKC that they'll get penalized for all their great work/trades with the second apron handicapping them. They're not going to be able to afford all the players they've drafted and worked with to help become good/great players.
Good for us,though. I think the NBA FO looked at the NFL and it’s popularity, and thought that maybe the super teams and dynasties weren’t a good thing.

I’m intrigued to see what happens with Chet and Jalen this offseason. They’re both extension eligible, but they’re already paying SGA the SuperMax. They’re going to have to make some hard choices in the next year or two.

[Ice009]

Good for us,though. I think the NBA FO looked at the NFL and it’s popularity, and thought that maybe the super teams and dynasties weren’t a good thing.

I’m intrigued to see what happens with Chet and Jalen this offseason. They’re both extension eligible, but they’re already paying SGA the SuperMax. They’re going to have to make some hard choices in the next year or two.

You know what, I've already changed my mind on that just by going into the Spurs pick odds thread. So OKC could finish 1st and still get a higher pick than the Spurs this upcoming draft via that Philadelphia pick (that would suck). I'm glad they're not allowed to keep all their players and are going to have to trade or let some of them go.

How do you think they're going to do it? For example, Chet and Jalen Williams, if they don't want to pay one of them, are they just going to try and trade either of them for draft picks and keep doing that, or do you think some kind of sign and trade for another serviceable player that's not on a max contract? What would yield them better results?

And come to think of it, you're probably right about the NBA looking at the NFL model. This is much better giving other teams a chance. It's sucks that it's likely to cut OKC off a bit as they're not one of these big market teams (Lakers) that always seems to get lucky with free agents and trades. They had to work to put themselves in this situation with good drafting and trades. They're not a team like the Lakers that just somehow always manage to get a great player/have a great player fall into their laps without having to really build and work for it.

[mo7888]

You know what, I've already changed my mind on that just by going into the Spurs pick odds thread. So OKC could finish 1st and still get a higher pick than the Spurs this upcoming draft via that Philadelphia pick (that would suck). I'm glad they're not allowed to keep all their players and are going to have to trade or let some of them go.

How do you think they're going to do it? For example, Chet and Jalen Williams, if they don't want to pay one of them, are they just going to try and trade either of them for draft picks and keep doing that, or do you think some kind of sign and trade for another serviceable player that's not on a max contract? What would yield them better results?

And come to think of it, you're probably right about the NBA looking at the NFL model. This is much better giving other teams a chance. It's sucks that it's likely to cut OKC off a bit as they're not one of these big market teams (Lakers) that always seems to get lucky with free agents and trades. They had to work to put themselves in this situation with good drafting and trades. They're not a team like the Lakers that just somehow always manage to get a great player/have a great player fall into their laps without having to really build and work for it.

I think they'll try and trade one of them for good draft picks and use their more mediocre picks to add serviceable role players..

[exstatic]

You know what, I've already changed my mind on that just by going into the Spurs pick odds thread. So OKC could finish 1st and still get a higher pick than the Spurs this upcoming draft via that Philadelphia pick (that would suck). I'm glad they're not allowed to keep all their players and are going to have to trade or let some of them go.

How do you think they're going to do it? For example, Chet and Jalen Williams, if they don't want to pay one of them, are they just going to try and trade either of them for draft picks and keep doing that, or do you think some kind of sign and trade for another serviceable player that's not on a max contract? What would yield them better results?

And come to think of it, you're probably right about the NBA looking at the NFL model. This is much better giving other teams a chance. It's sucks that it's likely to cut OKC off a bit as they're not one of these big market teams (Lakers) that always seems to get lucky with free agents and trades. They had to work to put themselves in this situation with good drafting and trades. They're not a team like the Lakers that just somehow always manage to get a great player/have a great player fall into their laps without having to really build and work for it.

If they’re smart, they’ll keep turning over players into draft picks and young players, repeating the Paul George cycle. I’d honestly flip Jalen at this point, since that’s an easier archetype to fill. There are like 8 guys in the league like him, big scoring wings. There’s one guy in the league like Chet.

[scott]

Concerns about OKC's cap are overblown. They'll easily be able to retain their big 3, and everything else is supporting pieces from a pipeline they are continuously replenishing. Chet's played in less than 50% of his available games, he's not getting a rookie max this summer. If you want to see OKC crumble, you should hope that OKC and Chet can't reach an extension this summer and then he balls out next year and becomes Rookie SuperMax eligible next year (though I don't see him making an All NBA team or winning DPOY is Wemby is healthy). Their next two highest paid players (IHart and Dort) roll off the year Shai's SuperMax kicks in, almost like Sam Presti's not an idiot and has been preparing for this.

[exstatic]

Concerns about OKC's cap are overblown. They'll easily be able to retain their big 3, and everything else is supporting pieces from a pipeline they are continuously replenishing. Chet's played in less than 50% of his available games, he's not getting a rookie max this summer. If you want to see OKC crumble, you should hope that OKC and Chet can't reach an extension this summer and then he balls out next year and becomes Rookie SuperMax eligible next year (though I don't see him making an All NBA team or winning DPOY is Wemby is healthy). Their next two highest paid players (IHart and Dort) roll off the year Shai's SuperMax kicks in, almost like Sam Presti's not an idiot and has been preparing for this.

If I’m Chet, I don’t sign for $1 less than the Max. Young players should never give a discount, because that carries forward to future contracts. I’d go into RFA and get an offer. 2026 seems to be the year when teams have saved cap room. He’s not Wemby, but he’s the next closest thing.

[SpursBills]

I gotta give it to Lu Dort - him turning into a deadeye shooter over the last two seasons while maintaining his defense is not what I would have expected of him just looking at his college numbers.

[scott]

If I’m Chet, I don’t sign for $1 less than the Max. Young players should never give a discount, because that carries forward to future contracts. I’d go into RFA and get an offer. 2026 seems to be the year when teams have saved cap room. He’s not Wemby, but he’s the next closest thing.

If I’m Chet’s agent, that the hand I’d try to play too… but he’d be taking a major gamble. He can likely secure something like 5/180 this summer (life changing money)… or he can risk getting injured again and hit RFA as damaged goods.

[Mugen]

I gotta give it to Lu Dort - him turning into a deadeye shooter over the last two seasons while maintaining his defense is not what I would have expected of him just looking at his college numbers.

Chip special

[Gandalf]

Chip special

Is there any chance we could get Chip back with a new coach? Give him a raise, etc.

[spurraider21]

Is there any chance we could get Chip back with a new coach? Give him a raise, etc.
https://media.tenor.com/wIxFiobxxbIAAAAM/john-jonah-jameson-lol.gif

[RC_Drunkford]

Is there any chance we could get Chip back with a new coach? Give him a raise, etc.

Chip got tired of the old man like everybody else. The first thing you gotta do is cut out the cancer from the top and tell Pop to retire

[Gandalf]

Chip got tired of the old man like everybody else. The first thing you gotta do is cut out the cancer from the top and tell Pop to retire

I remember getting that impression. That’s why I was wondering if there was any way to get him back after Pop ‘retired’ - voluntarily or not. Aside from offering Chip more money, I imagine there’s some draw to working with Wemby, Castle, etc. Also, there are pretty parts of Oklahoma, but I don’t think OKC is one of them.

[baseline bum]

If I’m Chet’s agent, that the hand I’d try to play too… but he’d be taking a major gamble. He can likely secure something like 5/180 this summer (life changing money)… or he can risk getting injured again and hit RFA as damaged goods.

He'll still get max, there is no gamble. Zion got max as a lazy fat fuck.

[exstatic]

If I’m Chet’s agent, that the hand I’d try to play too… but he’d be taking a major gamble. He can likely secure something like 5/180 this summer (life changing money)… or he can risk getting injured again and hit RFA as damaged goods.

If they’re going to hold the line on money, I’d insist on a 3 year extension with an opt out for the 3rd year, like Jalen Green signed with Houston. You can have me cheap,or you can have me for 5 years,but not both. That would allow him to hit UFA after year 6. It gives him flexibility, and gives OKC cover if he does turn out to be anorexic Zion.

[scott]

Jazz fined $100k for unnecessarily sitting Lauri (aka, tanking).

Both Fox and CP3* are subject to the Star Player Participation Policy, so the Spurs might be extra conscious about sitting either of these guys without good cause (Fox getting surgery will obviously be good cause). Just something to be aware of as CP3 goes full Iron Man on us this year.

*I have an asterisk for CP3 because technically the rule is if you've been in all-star in the last 3 years... I think that would capture CP3 because I assume it counts the three years BEFORE this one, not including this one.

[baseline bum]

Jazz fined $100k for unnecessarily sitting Lauri (aka, tanking).

Both Fox and CP3* are subject to the Star Player Participation Policy, so the Spurs might be extra conscious about sitting either of these guys without good cause (Fox getting surgery will obviously be good cause). Just something to be aware of as CP3 goes full Iron Man on us this year.

*I have an asterisk for CP3 because technically the rule is if you've been in all-star in the last 3 years... I think that would capture CP3 because I assume it counts the three years BEFORE this one, not including this one.

So no more DNP - Old damn

[exstatic]

It’s not like you can’t rest players. You just have to be smart about it, and the league would prefer you do it at home so other team’s fans don’t miss out.

[scott]

It’s not like you can’t rest players. You just have to be smart about it, and the league would prefer you do it at home so other team’s fans don’t miss out.

Technically the policy is you can't do it for Nationally Televised Games or have multiple players subject to the policy out the same game. Those two things trigger an automatic investigation (which even then doesn't mean you'll get fined).

[mystargtr34]

The Jazz seem to be the most blatant tankers.

[Ocotillo]

CP3 seems to more often than not have a history of getting injured close to or during the playoffs. Watch him play the whole season this year.

[LeBowen]

Ainge probably has a framed Flagg picture in his office, tbh.

[dn0774]

The Jazz seem to be the most blatant tankers.

I am an atheist myself but I absolutely believe in the basketball gods...and they don't look kindly on this level of tanking.

[scott]

The Jazz seem to be the most blatant tankers.

Fascinatingly, the Jazz have the "best worst" record of all time - meaning that their worst record in franchise history is better than every other team's worst record in their franchises' histories. The only franchise who has never lost 60 games, and one of only 6 teams to never get the #1 pick.

Also, fuck the Jazz.

[Gibbz]

Boston/OKC is in the 2Q tied at 33 and Boston hasn't made a 2pt FG. So gross.

[baseline bum]

I am an atheist myself but I absolutely believe in the basketball gods...and they don't look kindly on this level of tanking.

I mean they gave us Wemby and Steph after two blatant tanks, I think they look pretty kindly on it myself.

[lefty20]

SGA goes to bench and OKC goes on a 11-2 run against a top tier team.... SGA checks in and the Celtics come right back.

#notmyMVP

[R. DeMurre]

I feel bad for Markkanen. The guy is 27 and turns 28 in May. From a general athletic historic point, this should be one of his most productive seasons, but instead he's sitting while his team tanks. I can't imagine it's building a big sense of loyalty for him.

[Gibbz]

I feel bad for Markkanen. The guy is 27 and turns 28 in May. From a general athletic historic point, this should be one of his most productive seasons, but instead he's sitting while his team tanks. I can't imagine it's building a big sense of loyalty for him.

He's a tank commander and being paid insanely well to do so--4/196m. That'll be coming off the books about when Utah is planning on being good.

[spurraider21]

He's a tank commander and being paid insanely well to do so--4/196m. That'll be coming off the books about when Utah is planning on being good.
they should have traded him earlier. trading him on his previous contract was much more enticing to teams. he was always going to extend, but coming up with 50mil in salary to match is going to require teams to probably give away guys they dont want to give away, making the deal more complicated

[Gibbz]

they should have traded him earlier. trading him on his previous contract was much more enticing to teams. he was always going to extend, but coming up with 50mil in salary to match is going to require teams to probably give away guys they dont want to give away, making the deal more complicated

Definitely should have traded him--I liked the idea of him here but that price is pretty rough. They're so bad right now he's basically there to hit the salary floor for the next few seasons.

[baseline bum]

they should have traded him earlier. trading him on his previous contract was much more enticing to teams. he was always going to extend, but coming up with 50mil in salary to match is going to require teams to probably give away guys they dont want to give away, making the deal more complicated

Sounds like a case for Evin and Kelon

[spurraider21]

hopefully Kelon continues his strong post ASB play

[exstatic]

Thank you, Chicago!

[poopbox]

I'm watching the warriors and kings play and it don't even look like the same sport as when the spurs play basketball. I've seen the warriors rotate on switches and jump in passing lanes correctly more times in literally 1 quarter than I have seen non castle and non wemby spurs players do the entire season.

[cutewizard]

So Curry has accepted a job as Assistant GM? In his HS team

That's possible?

Why not CP3 as our Asst Coach then

[scott]

I'm watching the warriors and kings play and it don't even look like the same sport as when the spurs play basketball. I've seen the warriors rotate on switches and jump in passing lanes correctly more times in literally 1 quarter than I have seen non castle and non wemby spurs players do the entire season.

Yeah, I was watching Jake LaRavia in that game… a backup that SAC got for practically free that MEM declined a 4th year option on, and he was making plays that the majority of our team doesn’t have the BBIQ for.

It cracks me up when I read (mostly on Reddit) Spurs fans who basically just want to run it back next year and we’ll just magically take a leap. Clearly a lot of Spurs fans don’t watch any other teams.

[ginobilized]

Yeah, I was watching Jake LaRavia in that game… a backup that SAC got for practically free that MEM declined a 4th year option on, and he was making plays that the majority of our team doesn’t have the BBIQ for.

It cracks me up when I read (mostly on Reddit) Spurs fans who basically just want to run it back next year and we’ll just magically take a leap. Clearly a lot of Spurs fans don’t watch any other teams.

Yeah, watching others teams is semi-depressing. We are light years behind in our roster, b-ball IQ, and, dare I say, systems on both sides of the court. Having said that, we do have some scrappy tweeters with a lot of heart. That seemed to work in Hoosiers. So there's that.

I imagine that there will soon be a thread on the players (and coaches) to seek in FA and/or trades this summer. Jake is a complete no-brainer for us.

[Ocotillo]

I saw an article that was making the case for the Mavericks to go after Keldon. Pick up the phone Nico.

[Seventyniner]

I saw an article that was making the case for the Mavericks to go after Keldon. Pick up the phone Nico.

Taking advantage of stupid GMs has been the Spurs playbook recently. The Suns will be desperate to deal this summer and the Mavs are just incompetent. Time to try and fleece them.

[rankingtear]

Yeah, I was watching Jake LaRavia in that game… a backup that SAC got for practically free that MEM declined a 4th year option on, and he was making plays that the majority of our team doesn’t have the BBIQ for.

It cracks me up when I read (mostly on Reddit) Spurs fans who basically just want to run it back next year and we’ll just magically take a leap. Clearly a lot of Spurs fans don’t watch any other teams.

I watch CHI they have this small PG and versatile C who willed a bunch of randoms to 4 straight wins. They got them for free too.

[LeBowen]

Taking advantage of stupid GMs has been the Spurs playbook recently. The Suns will be desperate to deal this summer and the Mavs are just incompetent. Time to try and fleece them.

My favorite tweet after Fox trade was how Spurs identify suckers (Chicago and Sacramento) and just keep trading with them over and over. :lol
Should add Dallas to that list.

[Rosewood]

My favorite tweet after Fox trade was how Spurs identify suckers (Chicago and Sacramento) and just keep trading with them over and over. :lol
Should add Dallas to that list. I didn’t save it but I saw a graphic of past Spurs trades and it was wild how often we trade with the same teams. Those two were chief among them, and I think Charlotte too.

[Mr. Body]

Keldon would be a pretty good player on certain teams as a change of pace guy off the bench. I would imagine a Denver could find a way to use him.

[Mr. Body]

I didn’t save it but I saw a graphic of past Spurs trades and it was wild how often we trade with the same teams. Those two were chief among them, and I think Charlotte too.

You'll notice the same thing about other teams, like how Utah gets attached to a lot of Lakers trades lately. Beefing up relationships with 29 other GMs isn't easy, so it's natural to keep hitting the ones you're closest with.

[poopbox]

Yeah, I was watching Jake LaRavia in that game… a backup that SAC got for practically free that MEM declined a 4th year option on, and he was making plays that the majority of our team doesn’t have the BBIQ for.

It cracks me up when I read (mostly on Reddit) Spurs fans who basically just want to run it back next year and we’ll just magically take a leap. Clearly a lot of Spurs fans don’t watch any other teams.

Yeah I had to turn it off cause it was just depressing. It made me think about how we have had a losing record for going on 6 straight years and the only players we have that are clearly above average nba players are Wemby, Fox, and Castle. Getting Wemby was pure luck as we could have just as easily not gotten him, Fox is only here because of Wemby, and Castle was mostly a no brainer pick since literally the only 3 players you should take over him were all drafted before him. Then I started thinking about some of our recent 1st round picks:

Sochan: Extremely limited offensively to the point its hard to run a modern nba offense with him on the floor
Wesley: Bust who never plays unless multiple guards are out
Branhim: Bust who never plays unless multiple guards are out
Devin: Inconsistent 2 guard who has a big game occasionally but about to start getting paid like a two guard who is somewhat consistent.
Keldon: No growth to his game in 3 maybe 4 straight years. If you look at his shot chart the last 3 years you can't tell which one is from 23, 22, or 21 :lol
Primo: not even in the league. Complete waste of a pick.
Luka. not even in the league. Complete waste of a pick.

Out of these 7 players Devin is the best one but most of us want him gone cause his game also seems to have also hit a ceiling. 4 of them are absolute waste of picks that never did anything, 2 out of the league 2 glued to the bench, and even at the time of the picks were questionable (nobody had primo that high, nobody had luka on their radar, wesley clearly was just a guy who ran fast and jumped high, branhim seemed like he could score but he has pretty poor physical traits for a guard). So it's literally 4 players who were unlikely to be any good and all 4 of them ended up not being any good. I then went and looked at other teams last 6 or 7 1st round picks and the Spurs are in the running for worst in the league. Another reason why I don't understand the let's tank crew cause unless we are getting into the top 5, it's highly likely the spurs fuck the pick up and the player isn't very good, cause outside of top 5 picks the spurs have fucked it up and players aren't good.

Not even going to get into how we are in year 6 of losing and at least year 3 of tanking (maybe 4 cause I feel like the tank officially started when we traded Derrick to Boston) and somehow getting a 19 year old who has never played nba basketball before would actually improve the talent on this team. When that is the case you are bottom of the barrel bad. And we are bottom of the barrel bad.

At least we now know the depth of Chris Pauls powers. We thought he could turn around any bad team in the nba. Did it with Phoenix, did it with OKC. We were wrong. We finally found a terrible basketball team even he couldn't turn around. The San Antonio Spurs.

[Mal]

Withers from UNC is a dumbass

[ginobilized]

Losing big to the Hornets, Hawks lose, Castle has 25 pts and started. Perfect night!

[cutewizard]

Wemby
Fox
Castle

Durant?
Reid?
Yabuselle?

Pick1
Pick2

Free agent1

Plus

CP3
Barnes
Sochan
Mamu
Minix!!!!

[djohn2oo8]

Wemby
Fox
Castle

Durant?
Reid?
Yabuselle?

Pick1
Pick2

Free agent1

Plus

CP3
Barnes
Sochan
Mamu
Minix!!!!
Unless you have a coach that’s the Suns part 2

[R. DeMurre]

Yeah, I was watching Jake LaRavia in that game… a backup that SAC got for practically free that MEM declined a 4th year option on, and he was making plays that the majority of our team doesn’t have the BBIQ for.

It cracks me up when I read (mostly on Reddit) Spurs fans who basically just want to run it back next year and we’ll just magically take a leap. Clearly a lot of Spurs fans don’t watch any other teams.



Yeah, watching others teams is semi-depressing. We are light years behind in our roster, b-ball IQ, and, dare I say, systems on both sides of the court. Having said that, we do have some scrappy tweeters with a lot of heart. That seemed to work in Hoosiers. So there's that.

I imagine that there will soon be a thread on the players (and coaches) to seek in FA and/or trades this summer. Jake is a complete no-brainer for us.

I've had an eye on LaRavia for a while now, and I think he's a perfect under-the-radar guy for the Spurs to pursue. He's shown steady progress in his 3 years, and does a little bit of everything without needing the ball-- a perfect complementary player to go with Wemby & Fox. Last week, he had a great game against Denver, where he did a very good job defensively on Jokic while also switching occasionally onto Jamal Murray. He's one of those guys who, if he takes one more step forward, will be a reliably impactful guy for a very reasonable price, and he's still only 23.

Here are some numbers that show his progress through his first three seasons:

ORtg/DRtg
'23: 105/114
'24-- 109/116
'25-- 117/113

BPM
'23: -3.5
'24: -2.5
'25: +0.5

On/Off +/-
'23: -11.7
'24: +0.5
'25: +3.4

WS/48
'23: .054
'24: .062
'25: .107

[timtonymanu]

Yeah, I was watching Jake LaRavia in that game… a backup that SAC got for practically free that MEM declined a 4th year option on, and he was making plays that the majority of our team doesn’t have the BBIQ for.

It cracks me up when I read (mostly on Reddit) Spurs fans who basically just want to run it back next year and we’ll just magically take a leap. Clearly a lot of Spurs fans don’t watch any other teams.

I get downvoted to hell every time I say the roster outside of Wemby, Castle and Fox are expendable and shouldn’t be a player that holds up a trade. It’s like you have to suck the dick of the players to be liked on there even if most of them aren’t worth a damn.

[exstatic]

Lakers dropping like a rock with Bron out. They’ve lost 4 in a row, and if the playoffs started today, they’d be on the road.

[mo7888]

Lakers dropping like a rock with Bron out. They’ve lost 4 in a row, and if the playoffs started today, they’d be on the road.

A glimpse of Luka's future...unless he chooses to change it...Just beautiful!

[lefty]

We ahould get Jamal Murray

:lol He hates the Lakers as much as we do

[scott]

I get downvoted to hell every time I say the roster outside of Wemby, Castle and Fox are expendable and shouldn’t be a player that holds up a trade. It’s like you have to suck the dick of the players to be liked on there even if most of them aren’t worth a damn.

Yeah, Reddit and Spurs Twitter alike are full of the biggest homers I've ever seen. They'll sit around and talk about the untouchable Power of Friendship core like these guys are anything other than career losers :lol

[Ice009]

We ahould get Jamal Murray

:lol He hates the Lakers as much as we do

I was a huge Jamal Murray fan a few years ago. I don't know what happened, but he had a stretch where it seemed like he lost his passion to play a little bit. Not sure if it also took a while to get back from the knee injuries.
He also started getting into MMA a couple of years ago, and I've seen him hanging around with and training a little bit with Alex Volkanovski in some of Alex's videos. He's also walked out to the Octagon with him a few times. I think they've become pretty good friends.

I know Shaq also called him out earlier in the season and I saw he had some big games after that. Those of you that watch the Nuggets on a regular/semi-regular basis, how has he played?

Also, what do you guys think about the Warriors since the Jimmy Butler trade? It seems like they're playing great since he was traded there. You think they have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs?


Yeah, Reddit and Spurs Twitter alike are full of the biggest homers I've ever seen. They'll sit around and talk about the untouchable Power of Friendship core like these guys are anything other than career losers :lol

I'd been thinking of checking out some other places to talk Spurs (Reddit being one of them), but I don't like the sound of what you've just said. Is there anywhere else worth going?

[scott]

I'd been thinking of checking out some other places to talk Spurs (Reddit being one of them), but I don't like the sound of what you've just said. Is there anywhere else worth going?

Honestly Reddit is probably the next best thing to SpursTalk (but it's much lower quality than here). You just have to accept that you're going to run into the sniffiest of sniffers.

[BatManu20]

Branham demoted to the G-League. Better than rotting away on the bench I guess.


The @spurs (https://x.com/spurs) have sent Malaki Branham to the @austin_spurs (https://x.com/austin_spurs), where he’ll be available for tomorrow’s showdown vs. the Valley Suns at 3 PM CT at the H-E-B Center. More playing time ahead.

[lefty]

I was a huge Jamal Murray fan a few years ago. I don't know what happened, but he had a stretch where it seemed like he lost his passion to play a little bit. Not sure if it also took a while to get back from the knee injuries.
He also started getting into MMA a couple of years ago, and I've seen him hanging around with and training a little bit with Alex Volkanovski in some of Alex's videos. He's also walked out to the Octagon with him a few times. I think they've become pretty good friends.

I know Shaq also called him out earlier in the season and I saw he had some big games after that. Those of you that watch the Nuggets on a regular/semi-regular basis, how has he played?

Also, what do you guys think about the Warriors since the Jimmy Butler trade? It seems like they're playing great since he was traded there. You think they have a chance to make some noise in the playoffs?



I'd been thinking of checking out some other places to talk Spurs (Reddit being one of them), but I don't like the sound of what you've just said. Is there anywhere else worth going?

Janal has been inconsistent for sure, MPJ has bern netter this season from what I’ve read, Jamal just turns into prime MJ whenever he sees purple and gold lol

Warriors are one of those trans uou don’t want to face in the playoffs but OKC should win the West

I can see GS beating the Nuggets

If Lakers eventually play GS , if both teams are healthy we should have a great series but I’m picking L.A

But yeah, OKC

[mystargtr34]

Agree lefty. GS is looking like the got their swagger back and I fucking hate it. The only team I hated more than the Steph-Draymond-Klay Warriors are the Kobe-Pau Lakers and the Shaq-Kobe Lakers.

The only teams that can beat the Warriors in a playoff series in the West is OKC, LA, Denver.

Memphis, Houston, Minny, Clippers have no chance.

Boston and Cleveland can beat them in the Finals but no one else from the East will.

Hopefully the Warriors get Denver/LA in the first round. Knowing their luck they will bypass all three of Lakers, Denver, OKC due to injuries and upsets and get to the Finals lol.

[Sugus]

Agree lefty. GS is looking like the got their swagger back and I fucking hate it. The only team I hated more than the Steph-Draymond-Klay Warriors are the Kobe-Pau Lakers and the Shaq-Kobe Lakers.

The only teams that can beat the Warriors in a playoff series in the West is OKC, LA, Denver.

Memphis, Houston, Minny, Clippers have no chance.

Boston and Cleveland can beat them in the Finals but no one else from the East will.

Hopefully the Warriors get Denver/LA in the first round. Knowing their luck they will bypass all three of Lakers, Denver, OKC due to injuries and upsets and get to the Finals lol.

I'm actually loving this Warriors resurgence, NGL.

Half of it because Stephen Curry deserves a competent team and a shot at the playoffs every season until he retires... And the other half, because my wife is a fan :lol and you know the saying. That '22 title was an amazing run and Curry's just a special player to watch. The NBA won't be the same when he hangs it up.

I've never quite gotten that "appreciate him while he's here" feeling with Lebron, but I'm certainly getting it with Curry.

[exstatic]

I'm actually loving this Warriors resurgence, NGL.

Half of it because Stephen Curry deserves a competent team and a shot at the playoffs every season until he retires... And the other half, because my wife is a fan :lol and you know the saying. That '22 title was an amazing run and Curry's just a special player to watch. The NBA won't be the same when he hangs it up.

I've never quite gotten that "appreciate him while he's here" feeling with Lebron, but I'm certainly getting it with Curry.

I despise LeBron, and would like nothing better than to see Curry send him packing. That being said, I fucking Hate Jimmy for ditching Miami and watching our ATL pick get worse as Miami sinks lower.

[Sugus]

I despise LeBron, and would like nothing better than to see Curry send him packing. That being said, I fucking Hate Jimmy for ditching Miami and watching our ATL pick get worse as Miami sinks lower.

Eh, don't you appreciate someone finally "sticking it" to Pat Riley and giving his mafia boss-ass the middle finger, though? Jimmy's a diva, don't get me wrong, but seeing the "hardass" style fail spectacularly and dramatically was quite entertaining, tbh.

I also can't blame him for worsening the ATL pick, I mean, that's collateral damage at best :lol can't expect everything in the league to warp in the Spurs' favor.

Bottomline, personally, Jimmy's antics are far from enough to stop rooting for the Warriors - especially if they match up with the Fakers.

I'm personally hoping for a Warriors-Boston rematch, where I'd root Dubs, but I'd also really enjoy a Cavs-Warriors Finals with the Cavs getting a non-Lebron ring. I really enjoy their playstyle and roster.

[Spursfanfromafar]

Jokic's Denver Nuggets is the only team that I believe can we can root for without any guilt despite being a Spurs fan when the Spurs are down and out. Curry is a fantastic player and a joy to watch, but the Warriors are tainted by the arrogance of Draymond Green and the shenanigans of Jimmy Butler.

A small market fan will always find it near impossible to root for someone like the Lakers and even if I want Doncic to prove that the idiotic Mavericks and their new management are morons, it is difficult to want the Lakers to win another title.

I like the Celtics just because Derrick White plays for them (one of my favourite ex-Spurs apart from the Big Turtle) but they are over-spenders now and I dont like the competitive balance being affected by teams that pay beyond the second apron in order to win.

What the Thunder are doing - as a defense oriented team that is winning through bootstrapping its squad through the draft and smart trades is something to root for, but it is near impossible to support a franchise and an ownership that cheated a city of its team. And so OKC Thunder will always be a "heel" team for me.

The Knicks and Grizzlies won't last long in the postseason and aren't contenders (yet). And in any case no right minded non-NYC dweller will want to root for a team owned by James Dolan, the rottenest apple among governors in the league. The Grizzlies are too brash without having the record that allows them to be that brash and so I dont want to root for them either.

That leaves Jokic's Nuggets and the Cavaliers. The latter have surpassed expectations this season but their modus operandi - shooting threes way more than the opponent isn't all that pleasing.

Its awesome watching Jokic directing the Nuggets in game after game. While they are very different players, Jokic, for me is closest to a Duncan in the way he controls the game through his brain and less of his brawn. Wouldn't mind him winning another championship. Denver is also another small market team unlike the NY, LA behemoths. It serves the NBA's competitive model well.

[John B]

I despise LeBron, and would like nothing better than to see Curry send him packing. That being said, I fucking Hate Jimmy for ditching Miami and watching our ATL pick get worse as Miami sinks lower.

Curry is fine as long as it’s not the trio Curry-Thompson-Draymond Dub-nation. That was as bad as the Kobe-Gasol with the bandwagon fans.

[LeBowen]

Curry is fine as long as it’s not the trio Curry-Thompson-Draymond Dub-nation. That was as bad as the Kobe-Gasol with the bandwagon fans.

Tbh, those are the same bandwagoners. :lol
Like 80% of Lakers casual fanbase switched over to Warriors after Kobe retired.
Then they went back when KD left.

[exstatic]

Eh, don't you appreciate someone finally "sticking it" to Pat Riley and giving his mafia boss-ass the middle finger, though? Jimmy's a diva, don't get me wrong, but seeing the "hardass" style fail spectacularly and dramatically was quite entertaining, tbh.

I also can't blame him for worsening the ATL pick, I mean, that's collateral damage at best :lol can't expect everything in the league to warp in the Spurs' favor.

Bottomline, personally, Jimmy's antics are far from enough to stop rooting for the Warriors - especially if they match up with the Fakers.

I'm personally hoping for a Warriors-Boston rematch, where I'd root Dubs, but I'd also really enjoy a Cavs-Warriors Finals with the Cavs getting a non-Lebron ring. I really enjoy their playstyle and roster.

Oh, I think Riley was an absolute idiot for doing that press conference. I am just mad at Butler completely checking out. You can force your way out without being unprofessional about it. I guess my take is that there doesn’t have to be a good guy and a bad guy, although that is a common narrative forced on us. They’re both idiots.

[djohn2oo8]

Agree lefty. GS is looking like the got their swagger back and I fucking hate it. The only team I hated more than the Steph-Draymond-Klay Warriors are the Kobe-Pau Lakers and the Shaq-Kobe Lakers.

The only teams that can beat the Warriors in a playoff series in the West is OKC, LA, Denver.

Memphis, Houston, Minny, Clippers have no chance.

Boston and Cleveland can beat them in the Finals but no one else from the East will.

Hopefully the Warriors get Denver/LA in the first round. Knowing their luck they will bypass all three of Lakers, Denver, OKC due to injuries and upsets and get to the Finals lol.
Nobody’s scared of the Warriors.

[John B]

Nobody’s scared of the Warriors.

When things go ugly, that Draymond/Butler could be a ticking bomb.

[exstatic]

When things go ugly, that Draymond/Butler could be a ticking bomb.

Yeah, I was kind of imagining that, too.

[Mr. Body]

Warriors have one or two more years of 'contention' - they'll be paying Butler beyond that. Miami wasn't going anywhere with Butler especially when he was doing his diva routine. Maybe could have moved him earlier but getting off him now was fine.

[djohn2oo8]

When things go ugly, that Draymond/Butler could be a ticking bomb.
Exactly

[baseline bum]

Eh, don't you appreciate someone finally "sticking it" to Pat Riley and giving his mafia boss-ass the middle finger, though? Jimmy's a diva, don't get me wrong, but seeing the "hardass" style fail spectacularly and dramatically was quite entertaining, tbh.


Bron already did that when he walked back to Cleveland in 2014. Though I suspect he was also giving the middle finger to Mickey Arison, as he didn't take a pay cut for Arison, he took it to sign Mike Miller. And they could have really used Miller in that 2014 Finals when Chalmers and Cole both went ice cold from the three, but Riley and Arison had amnestied him before the season.

[baseline bum]

When things go ugly, that Draymond/Butler could be a ticking bomb.

Gotta do whatever you can to win when you have someone like Curry, because they're never getting another player like him. I'm not surprised GSW is playing great ball again with Butler, that was an obvious amazing trade for them at the time.

[baseline bum]

I get downvoted to hell every time I say the roster outside of Wemby, Castle and Fox are expendable and shouldn’t be a player that holds up a trade. It’s like you have to suck the dick of the players to be liked on there even if most of them aren’t worth a damn.

Oh man did they love it last year when I'd post about Sochan having billion games. E.g., a game with a statline like 1 to, 0 pts, 0 fg, 0 3fg, 0 ftm, 0 ast, 0 stl, 0 oreb, 0 dreb, 0 blk. I still get downvoted for saying they can't start Sochan next to Castle next year unless they get a real shooter to replace Evin.

[Mr. Body]

Sochan was really good this year starting with Paul, y'all just have lousy and selective memories. Then he got hurt and yeah, playing next to Castle doesn't work. But you're just straight up forgetting, on purpose or whatever, that he was really good first section of the season.

[LeBowen]

Sochan was really good this year starting with Paul, y'all just have lousy and selective memories. Then he got hurt and yeah, playing next to Castle doesn't work. But you're just straight up forgetting, on purpose or whatever, that he was really good first section of the season.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01/gamelog/2025

He averaged 15/8/3 on 55% over his first 17 games of the season. Great stats and yes, he played well.
But the thing is how much of those 15ppg were by design? As in he was almost always the least threatening player on the floor and those players usually get a lot of easy points, which he did.
His best attributes on offense were hustling for rebounds and sometimes taking advantage of size difference, which didn't happen that often.

Then the question presents itself if such offensively limited player is worth accomodating or are we better with him coming off the bench?
I said many times that I think he got the short end of the stick in both last and this season. First that horrific point guard experiment and now being forced to play as a big.
But that mostly happened because modern NBA simply has no place for non-shooting wings unless they're freaks like Giannis or Zion.

[rascal]

Branham demoted to the G-League. Better than rotting away on the bench I guess.

Branham better tear it up because he's playing for his roster spot now.

[rascal]

Sochan was really good this year starting with Paul, y'all just have lousy and selective memories. Then he got hurt and yeah, playing next to Castle doesn't work. But you're just straight up forgetting, on purpose or whatever, that he was really good first section of the season.

That was over a course of limited games against some of the weakest opponents in the League, during the soft part of the schedule in the beginning. His numbers settled into his typical yearly averages.

[Mr. Body]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01/gamelog/2025

He averaged 15/8/3 on 55% over his first 17 games of the season. Great stats and yes, he played well.
But the thing is how much of those 15ppg were by design? As in he was almost always the least threatening player on the floor and those players usually get a lot of easy points, which he did.
His best attributes on offense were hustling for rebounds and sometimes taking advantage of size difference, which didn't happen that often.

Then the question presents itself if such offensively limited player is worth accomodating or are we better with him coming off the bench?
I said many times that I think he got the short end of the stick in both last and this season. First that horrific point guard experiment and now being forced to play as a big.
But that mostly happened because modern NBA simply has no place for non-shooting wings unless they're freaks like Giannis or Zion.

He was connecting really well with Paul, at least somewhat reminiscent of the David West - CP3 connection in New Orleans.

It's simply not correct to say he's bad or had a bad season. Definitely can say figuring out the roster with him and Castle is a puzzle, and certainly one that Mitch doesn't seem in any way capable of doing.

[Mr. Body]

That was over a course of limited games against some of the weakest opponents in the League, during the soft part of the schedule in the beginning. His numbers settled into his typical yearly averages.

Yeah, you're the guy who says Sochan isn't athletic, which is a braindead take. Just stop.

[rascal]

Yeah, you're the guy who says Sochan isn't athletic, which is a braindead take. Just stop.

He isn't

Poor jumper, lacks athleticism vertically , He can't go to the basket and finish on a break, he'll trow it back out because he can't finish dribbling for more than a couple of feet from the basket. Also an awkward shooting style, not smooth

You're just a Sochan fan boy

[lefty]

Sochan is a good swiss army knife player to have off the bench tbh

[spurraider21]

Sochan is a good swiss army knife player to have off the bench tbh
as long as his pay is commensurate with that role/expectation, i'm good with it

[baseline bum]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/s/sochaje01/gamelog/2025

He averaged 15/8/3 on 55% over his first 17 games of the season. Great stats and yes, he played well.
But the thing is how much of those 15ppg were by design? As in he was almost always the least threatening player on the floor and those players usually get a lot of easy points, which he did.
His best attributes on offense were hustling for rebounds and sometimes taking advantage of size difference, which didn't happen that often.

Then the question presents itself if such offensively limited player is worth accomodating or are we better with him coming off the bench?
I said many times that I think he got the short end of the stick in both last and this season. First that horrific point guard experiment and now being forced to play as a big.

But that mostly happened because modern NBA simply has no place for non-shooting wings unless they're freaks like Giannis or Zion.

I mean where else are you going to play him? He's a guy who can finish at the rim if you dump him the ball low. Not a guy who can shoot the three, shoot the midrange, or put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. If he can't play the 4 and 5 he can't be a rotation player in this league.

[scott]

He isn't

Poor jumper, lacks athleticism vertically , He can't go to the basket and finish on a break, he'll trow it back out because he can't finish dribbling for more than a couple of feet from the basket. Also an awkward shooting style, not smooth

You're just a Sochan fan boy

Most of the things you just mentioned have to do with skill and less with athleticism.

[LeBowen]

I mean where else are you going to play him? He's a guy who can finish at the rim if you dump him the ball low. Not a guy who can shoot the three, shoot the midrange, or put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. If he can't play the 4 and 5 he can't be a rotation player in this league.

His best role is as a POA defender and I'd say fake big on offense with a C like Wemby who's a good 3pt shooter.
But as I said, it's not worth adjusting the entire rotation to accomodate an average player.

[rascal]

I mean where else are you going to play him? He's a guy who can finish at the rim if you dump him the ball low. Not a guy who can shoot the three, shoot the midrange, or put the ball on the floor and get to the basket. If he can't play the 4 and 5 he can't be a rotation player in this league.

This is spot on!

[BatManu20]

Happy for Tre. He's been playing well since the trade tbh.

1901835507102859511


Tre Jones vs Utah:

18 PTS
12 AST
3 STL
8-10 FG

First Bull in franchise history with those numbers on 80 FG%.

[Seventyniner]

Better than Jordan tbh

[Mr. Body]

He isn't

Poor jumper, lacks athleticism vertically , He can't go to the basket and finish on a break, he'll trow it back out because he can't finish dribbling for more than a couple of feet from the basket. Also an awkward shooting style, not smooth

You're just a Sochan fan boy

You just never stopped masturbating to Shaeden Sharpe. That's all this is.

[itzsoweezee]

I feel bad for Markkanen. The guy is 27 and turns 28 in May. From a general athletic historic point, this should be one of his most productive seasons, but instead he's sitting while his team tanks. I can't imagine it's building a big sense of loyalty for him.

I don’t feel bad for him. This is what he wanted.

[LeBowen]

OKC resting almost everyone against the Sixers tomorrow, Presti is going to get that pick. :lol

[scott]

OKC resting almost everyone against the Sixers tomorrow, Presti is going to get that pick. :lol

Presti to Morey:

https://www.magicalquote.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/You-think-darkness-is-your-ally-But-you-merely-adopted-the-dark.-I-was-born-in-it.-Molded-by-it.jpg

[mystargtr34]

Lol the Sixers should sit Grimes as well. Ultra level tanking.

[lefty]

:lol Warriors

Starting to reconsider my “Warriors will beat Denver in the playoffs” prediction

Nuggets have won 9 straight vs Golden State, they have their number

[Dex]

Lol the Sixers should sit Grimes as well. Ultra level tanking.

They were already under investigation for sitting PG, Embiid, and Maxey so many games...then mysteriously announced "PG got injections, out for season" :lol

I would love to see them go full tank and accept the fines just to fuck with Silver

[exstatic]

They were already under investigation for sitting PG, Embiid, and Maxey so many games...then mysteriously announced "PG got injections, out for season" :lol

I would love to see them go full tank and accept the fines just to fuck with Silver

Don’t see that happening. The progression is $100K, $250K, then add an additional million on for each additional offense.

[cutewizard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsg7-Fwik68

[mudyez]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsg7-Fwik68

Nah thanks...we good with Castle, Fox and either Wesley or CP3 (for one more year). Hell, we might even end up with Traore or Demin. No need for a defensive challenged guard.

[spurraider21]

struggling to think of player's i'd want less than Simons

[Leetonidas]

Just saw Goldsberrys efficiency landscape for the last 10 games and we have the best offense but worst defense during that span :lol

[LeBowen]

struggling to think of player's i'd want less than Simons

I'd offer Devin for Simons straight up. He's got only 1 more year left on his contract.

[Dex]

https://i.redd.it/t4dxfjfbi2qe1.jpeg

[Seventyniner]

Just saw Goldsberrys efficiency landscape for the last 10 games and we have the best offense but worst defense during that span :lol

The Mamu Effect

[scott]

Some interesting notes in the Celtics sale for $6B

1) Sixth Street, a Private Equity Firm who owns 20% of the Spurs (the maximum the league allows for a PE firm to own), are putting up upwards of $1B in this deal (probably taking 20% of this as well). A PE firm doesn't do this because they're fans. They do it to eventually bet on the appreciation of the franchise's value and then sell. I'd be curious if Sixth Street has the ability to force a sale in these agreements. This would be different than just selling their stake, but it would exert pressure on the Managing Partner to find a sale that may necessitate a majority sale. Something to be aware of with our Spurs.

2) There is some thinking that this will result in some movement on the expansion front. The NBA didn't want to do anything moving towards expansion until this deal was done, as it sets a marker on a potential franchise fee (the money of which gets split up amongst the owners). Now that this deal is done, it will be interesting to follow the expansion story.

[Mr. Body]

Josh Giddey on quadruple double watch.

[mystargtr34]

Damn Giddey had a ridiculous line.

Shocking defense by LA all game. Bulls were shooting 24-32 from 2 and 8-35 from 3 at a point in the 3rd period. Now they’ve caught fire from 3 aswell.

[scott]

DARKO comparison for another 2024 rookie. Any guesses?

Castle has the better O-DPM consistently all season, but the other player has a consistently better D-DPM.

https://i.imgur.com/kmLj5tQ.png

[Spursfanfromafar]

DARKO comparison for another 2024 rookie. Any guesses?

Castle has the better O-DPM consistently all season, but the other player has a consistently better D-DPM.

https://i.imgur.com/kmLj5tQ.png

Jaylen Wells?

[scott]

Jaylen Wells?

The guy in blue is not on the current rookie ladder, and I actually am not sure if he's cracked the top 10 at all this season. His raw numbers are not as impressive as Castle's.

[mystargtr34]

Ryan Dunn?

[heyheymymy]

Buzelis?

[scott]

Buzelis?

Ding ding ding.

Pretty coming on of late. Has had a decent March, and poured in 31 on 5/10 from 3 tonight. Entered tonight's game averaging 12.2/4.8. His 3PT shooting is still suspect, but CHI's gotta be fairly happy with what they're seeing out of him as of late.

[heyheymymy]

Yeah tonight's stat line from Buzelis was staggering and I do wish the best to him in Chicago. Was not very high on Buz in the pre-draft process but can see where I may be wrong to have doubted him. Chicago must be pleased so far and Bulls look kinda inexplicably deadly post trade deadline lol

[heyheymymy]

Ding ding ding.

Pretty coming on of late. Has had a decent March, and poured in 31 on 5/10 from 3 tonight. Entered tonight's game averaging 12.2/4.8. His 3PT shooting is still suspect, but CHI's gotta be fairly happy with what they're seeing out of him as of late.

This was a solid riddle and the progression over that last 20 gms was part of the clue. Devin Carter is a good red herring but I remembered he missed games.

[Dejounte]

Whaddaya know, I was right about another prospect. Was pumping him up all last year with people focusing on his shooting ability (and competition level - stupidest shit ever), I focused on just about every skill he had that I thought would be well suited for the NBA

[Ice009]

Wow. What a game from the Bulls and Giddey so close to a triple double. People here don't want him, but I doubt the Bulls would even want to trade him to the Spurs.

[Robz4000]

Wow. What a game from the Bulls and Giddey so close to a triple double. People here don't want him, but I doubt the Bulls would even want to trade him to the Spurs.

Spurs have Fox and Castle, both superior players tbh.

[exstatic]

Whaddaya know, I was right about another prospect. Was pumping him up all last year with people focusing on his shooting ability (and competition level - stupidest shit ever), I focused on just about every skill he had that I thought would be well suited for the NBA

Buzelis weirded teams out with that Flagg challenge and his interviews. Also, by that time, players from the now defunct Ignite were not held in high regard.

[exstatic]

Also, lol Lakers.

Luka, this is your future if you stay.

[mo7888]

Ding ding ding.

Pretty coming on of late. Has had a decent March, and poured in 31 on 5/10 from 3 tonight. Entered tonight's game averaging 12.2/4.8. His 3PT shooting is still suspect, but CHI's gotta be fairly happy with what they're seeing out of him as of late.

I had him #3 overall last year (not my Spurs board, but just overall)

[djohn2oo8]

Also, lol Lakers.

Luka, this is your future if you stay.
Luka is part of the damn problem lol

[Spursfanfromafar]

Ding ding ding.

Pretty coming on of late. Has had a decent March, and poured in 31 on 5/10 from 3 tonight. Entered tonight's game averaging 12.2/4.8. His 3PT shooting is still suspect, but CHI's gotta be fairly happy with what they're seeing out of him as of late.

EPM isn't that high on him. In fact his EPM rating (-3.1) positions him at the 17th percentile with Earned Wins at 10th percentile. Castle is way ahead (-1.5 and 1.8, 48th and 61st percentile).

[Ice009]

Spurs have Fox and Castle, both superior players tbh.

I'm not saying I want him (I don't), but I read someone else here within the last week mentioned trading for him, and then other posters said he's shit. All I was saying is that even if people here think he's shit, the Bulls likely wouldn't even trade him to the Spurs even if they wanted him. He's not shit.

[dn0774]

Watched the entire Lakers/Bulls game last night which obviously was a nice Buzelis showcase game. His 3 point shot looks awesome, I’d bet on him becoming a shooter at some point sooner rather than later. Put a nice move on Luka, looked like a solid athlete with plenty of room on his frame to fill out.

[LeBowen]

15/10/17/8
Giddey likes his statline the same way he likes his girls, tbh.

[tonight...you]

15/10/17/8
Giddey likes his statline the same way he likes his girls, tbh.

Lol, daaaaaaaaaaayummmm!

[Seventyniner]

15/10/17/8
Giddey likes his statline the same way he likes his girls, tbh.

He was probably missing shots on purpose to keep everything under 18.

[exstatic]

Yeah, Sam Presti is a fucking genius.

[scott]

Buzelis weirded teams out with that Flagg challenge and his interviews. Also, by that time, players from the now defunct Ignite were not held in high regard.

It was Risacher, not Flagg

[scott]

I had him #3 overall last year (not my Spurs board, but just overall)

He was #1 on mine, though I admit I am not among the top tier college talent evaluators on this site.

[exstatic]

It was Risacher, not Flagg

You are correct. It was still very WWE.

[mo7888]

He was #1 on mine, though I admit I am not among the top tier college talent evaluators on this site.

He fluctuated between 1 and 3 for me all year. My top tier had 3 players. Risacher, Sarr, and Buzelis.

[scott]

Yeah, Sam Presti is a fucking genius.

I'm sure Sam Presti is loosing sleep because his team, currently the betting favorite to win the title, doesn't have Josh Giddy :lol

You say the wildest shit sometimes man, never change

[scott]

He fluctuated between 1 and 3 for me all year. My top tier had 3 players. Risacher, Sarr, and Buzelis.

I was so pumped he was there at 8 and I felt like we would definitely take him there... he'd be a nice fit here if his 3pt shot truly develops (I think it will) but I also understand the bandwidth limitations of trying to properly develop two Top 10 picks. Would have loved to have him, but I'm not losing any sleep over it.

[scott]

You are correct. It was still very WWE.

Players 1v1 all the time in pre-draft workouts (recall Branham v Wesley).

This was Buzelis' actual quote:

""Of course, I want to see him one-on-one. He just doesn't want to do that with me. His agent will not do that with me, and I know he won't. It's a business decision,"

Much ado about nothing. I'm sure this bothered exactly zero teams.

[exstatic]

I'm sure Sam Presti is loosing sleep because his team, currently the betting favorite to win the title, doesn't have Josh Giddy :lol

You say the wildest shit sometimes man, never change

They traded him for a 31 YO who has played 45 games,and averaged < 20 minutes, so yeah, I’m calling him out on the return, if nothing else. Oh, and they signed this 31 YO to a four year extension at ~$80 M. A team that is paying SGA the SuperMax and will have to extend both Jalen and Chet this summer signs a 31 YO spare part for 4 years.

[LeBowen]

They traded him for a 31 YO who has played 45 games,and averaged < 20 minutes, so yeah, I’m calling him out on the return, if nothing else. Oh, and they signed this 31 YO to a four year extension at ~$80 M. A team that is paying SGA the SuperMax and will have to extend both Jalen and Chet this summer signs a 31 YO spare part for 4 years.

If they win a ring with Caruso contributing in the playoffs, the trade will be more than worth it.
If they don't, it will be a bad move.

Giddey was unplayable in last year's playoffs and now you're talking as if he's the next star guard just because he's putting up numbers on a tanking team.

[scott]

EPM isn't that high on him. In fact his EPM rating (-3.1) positions him at the 17th percentile with Earned Wins at 10th percentile. Castle is way ahead (-1.5 and 1.8, 48th and 61st percentile).

I think if you look up Actual EPM for the season, it's the composite of the entire season whereas the DARKO chart is a snapshot in time of the projection of the player going forward.

Looking at Estimated EPM would be a more appropriate comparison to DARKO. Buzelis has an EPM of -2.1 (41st percentile). Castle has really shot up on Estimated EPM (-0.1, 70th percentile) mostly by virtue of his offense (+0.6. 80th percentile, compared to -0.8, 16th percentile for his defense). Buzelis is -1.4 on offense (45th %) and -0.6 on defense (37th %). This roughly checks out with the shape of the respective DARKO curves, IMO.

This is one reason I really like CraftedNBA's PlusMinus algo, it's a composite of the others so you smooth out the variances.

https://i.imgur.com/5ObK7wk.png

Also, I'm not suggesting for a moment that I'd take Buzelis over Castle. I was just pointing out that he's really come on of late. Two very different players.

[mo7888]

I was so pumped he was there at 8 and I felt like we would definitely take him there... he'd be a nice fit here if his 3pt shot truly develops (I think it will) but I also understand the bandwidth limitations of trying to properly develop two Top 10 picks. Would have loved to have him, but I'm not losing any sleep over it.

I would have taken him at that point, but the way it turned out, using that pick in the Fox move, worked out very well...so no complaints at the moment.

I'm just gonna add this thought: I just updated my board and broke it into tiers, but when anyone does that it's based on what someone thinks about what other moves/trades are out there or likely to happen and it moves from evaluation into the realm of guessing at that point.

[scott]

They traded him for a 31 YO who has played 45 games,and averaged < 20 minutes, so yeah, I’m calling him out on the return, if nothing else. Oh, and they signed this 31 YO to a four year extension at ~$80 M. A team that is paying SGA the SuperMax and will have to extend both Jalen and Chet this summer signs a 31 YO spare part for 4 years.

Maybe they'll put an asterisks on the banner that says "didn't get a good enough return for Josh Giddy"

[exstatic]

If they win a ring with Caruso contributing in the playoffs, the trade will be more than worth it.
If they don't, it will be a bad move.

Giddey was unplayable in last year's playoffs and now you're talking as if he's the next star guard just because he's putting up numbers on a tanking team.

It’s not the tanking. He’s in a better role for him, lead guard. OKC kept trying to pigeon hole him as an off ball guy, and he isn’t.

[scott]

It’s not the tanking. He’s in a better role for him, lead guard. OKC kept trying to pigeon hole him as an off ball guy, and he isn’t.

It's almost like he didn't fit their team, so Presti traded him. What a moron. Definitely should have forced SGA to adapt to playing with Josh Giddy

[exstatic]

Maybe they'll put an asterisks on the banner that says "didn't get a good enough return for Josh Giddy"

Let’s not put the banner before the horse. They look really good,but I think both Boston and Cleveland have a good shot at taking 5hem out.

[exstatic]

It's almost like he didn't fit their team, so Presti traded him. What a moron. Definitely should have forced SGA to adapt to playing with Josh Giddy

Never said that señor strawman. A team that prides themselves on their horde of FRPs probably should have gotten at least one for a former #6 overall. An awkward fit isn’t the same as a bust, but they got a bust like return.

[LeBowen]

It’s not the tanking. He’s in a better role for him, lead guard. OKC kept trying to pigeon hole him as an off ball guy, and he isn’t.

It's a better role for him, but is he good enough to play that role on a serious playoff team? We'll see.
What was OKC supposed to do? They have an MVP level player in lead guard role, Giddey was on an expiring contract and didn't have much value after last year's playoff failure.

[scott]

Never said that señor strawman. A team that prides themselves on their horde of FRPs probably should have gotten at least one for a former #6 overall. An awkward fit isn’t the same as a bust, but they got a bust like return.

They traded a player who didn't fit with off the court baggage (which you like to remind people of all the time), who's also about to become extension eligible and got... a significantly better player. What morons!

https://i.imgur.com/Vo3sqBb.png

[spurraider21]

dont blame buzelis for wanting to go 1v1 vs risacher. he's a much better 1v1 talent. bigger, more atheltic, better handles and shot creation. but risacher was such an easy projection to becoming a valuable cog. in a draft that didnt seem to have star power, getting a safe starting caliber player like that was an easy call. i had risacher #1 on my board for that reason, even if i didnt think he had any star potential. he hasnt exactly disappointed either. his shooting has come around since his rough start to the season and he's been a nice defender as well.

matas had more raw ability but how he would translate and find his role in the nba was a more difficult projection. i had buzelis on the list of guys i would have liked drafting at #8. bulls getting him at 11 was strong value.

[TD 21]

The Lakers defense was always fools gold given the personnel. They have no anchor and were yielding a ton of open 3's and getting lucky (if Ham were still coaching, it'd have been spun as his being an idiot, but because Redick is, it was spun as a genius move) and progression to the mean has finally hit.

Despite ESPN's wishes, neither them or the Warriors are contenders, though at least the former has a conceivable path to being one again with an MVP caliber player.


Whaddaya know, I was right about another prospect. Was pumping him up all last year with people focusing on his shooting ability (and competition level - stupidest shit ever), I focused on just about every skill he had that I thought would be well suited for the NBA

You were right, based on a small sample size? So if a prospect you were low on were to follow suit, would you claim to be wrong?

[RC_Drunkford]

So apparently Jaime Jaquez is smashing Spoelstra‘s ex wife

[mystargtr34]

So apparently Jaime Jaquez is smashing Spoelstra‘s ex wife

Holy shit hahahah that would explain the cut in minutes lol

[Mr. Body]

dont blame buzelis for wanting to go 1v1 vs risacher. he's a much better 1v1 talent. bigger, more atheltic, better handles and shot creation. but risacher was such an easy projection to becoming a valuable cog. in a draft that didnt seem to have star power, getting a safe starting caliber player like that was an easy call. i had risacher #1 on my board for that reason, even if i didnt think he had any star potential. he hasnt exactly disappointed either. his shooting has come around since his rough start to the season and he's been a nice defender as well.

matas had more raw ability but how he would translate and find his role in the nba was a more difficult projection. i had buzelis on the list of guys i would have liked drafting at #8. bulls getting him at 11 was strong value.

Wanting to 1v1 another player is one thing. Calling out that guy during a draft cycle when you don't even know him was dumb and childish. I've never seen that before.

[ginobilized]

The one real question that I have, and , nobody seems to be asking is this:
Who is the next superstar who demands a trade to the Spurs? Fox may have been only the first domino falling in this previously unimaginable scenario.

[LeBowen]

The one real question that I have, and , nobody seems to be asking is this:
Who is the next superstar who demands a trade to the Spurs? Fox may have been only the first domino falling in this previously unimaginable scenario.

We don't really care, tbh.
Can't have 3 players on max contracts with this CBA and Castle is looking like a star in the making.
The only way I can see it happening is if Fox goes the other way.

What I'm more interested in is how many high end role players will take paycuts in order to ring chase with Wemby.

[ginobilized]

We don't really care, tbh.
Can't have 3 players on max contracts with this CBA and Castle is looking like a star in the making.
The only way I can see it happening is if Fox goes the other way.

What I'm more interested in is how many high end role players will take paycuts in order to ring chase with Wemby.

True, much better frame for this than what I laid out.
Is it plausible that we see some more FA/trades for solid high-end role players wanting to come here this summer? This is not something the Spurs are used to since the glory days. The tenuous coaching situation might be a wet blanket for some players.