Shams: Pop Not Expected to Return this Season; Long-Term Future is in Jeopardy

[BatManu20]

Yea he’s done. We need a new HC tbh.

1893463816710640087

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GkbxRalaoAEDUs2?format=jpg&name=large

[couchman]

Time to hang ‘em up.
Thanks for everything Pop.
We’ll be lucky to find someone half as good as prime Pop.

[Leetonidas]

Not surprising, seemed kinda obvious he wasn't going to return this season. Sucks this is how Pop went out but honestly it's probably for the best if he just hangs it up and lived his life. This is not the kind of job a 76 year old recovering from a stroke should be doing.

Spurs need to throw the bag at Hurley in the offseason

[benefactor]

I don't think there's much if any substance about anything that can be taken from the rest of this season. Mitch will finish it out and hopefully some clarity will happen after the draft, a new coach is hired and Wembys health concerns gain some clarity. All we can do is wait it out and hope for the best.

[John B]

I wish him well to his retirement. He’s done so much for the Spurs, the city of San Antonio and to the basketball community. The Pop tree is legacy to his genius. It’s just not a good timing after the news with Victor. But I get that when it’s time to go, it will be up to his own accord and regardless of the situation. Good luck Pop! Simply the goat!

[LkrFan]

Lakers Spurs rivalry aside, I hope Pop fully recovers. Life >> NBA. Get well soon Pop.

[LkrFan]

Mount Rushmore coaches:

Pop
Phil Jackson
Riles
Red

In that order.

[Uriel]

I wonder if the Wemby situation had anything to do with this. In any case, I hope they move him upstairs into a consultant role and bring in someone like Snyder or Bud to be his successor.

[tbdog]

The whole pop seen driving to the facility was clearly about the Wemby news.

[ducks]

Retire and quite the drama !

[ducks]

I wonder if the Wemby situation had anything to do with this. In any case, I hope they move him upstairs into a consultant role and bring in someone like Snyder or Bud to be his successor.

I hope they move him to cal since he loves cal policies !

[scott]

I wonder if the Wemby situation had anything to do with this. In any case, I hope they move him upstairs into a consultant role and bring in someone like Snyder or Bud to be his successor.

I tuned into the ABC pre-game show where Shams was going into detail, and one thing he reported is that Pop and Wemby have been in frequent communication over the last week since Wemby's issue surfaced. Don't know what, if anything, that plays into things... just sharing what I saw on TV.

[Ice009]

The whole pop seen driving to the facility was clearly about the Wemby news.

What do you mean? He drove there to see how Victor is doing?

[timtonymanu]

Expected and it’s the right decision, but still pretty sad to be honest. Pop was a big part of my basketball following growing up. All the criticisms I’ve had about his coaching the last few years still doesn’t change that he’s the GOAT coach.

[benefactor]

I hope they move him to cal since he loves cal policies !
I hope ass cancer kills you slowly and painfully.

[Ice009]

I don't really want it to end this way for him and would still like him to go out on his own terms coaching out a season (not talking about this season specifically) or some games at least, but if it's not going to be good for his health, I guess he has to look at what's best for him. He's always the guy that talks about there's other things outside of basketball that are more important, so I guess going by his own philosophy, it's not worth continuing to try and coach. It would have been great to see if the passion would have come back for him with a better roster than what he's had to work with in previous seasons with subpar rosters.

I have talked shit about his coaching for a while, but I'm not going to change my tune now. He has been pretty bad for a while now (it could have been due to how bad his teams were and he may have had some better seasons coming up with better rosters). I agreed and loved his philosophy from 1997 to around 2005, but slowly along the way he started losing me from there and I found myself disagreeing with some of the stuff he was doing. Small ball in 2006 in the WCSF against the Mavs was probably where it started. He had a few brilliant seasons mixed in between 2008 to 2018, and some not so good ones too.

[Splits]

I hope they move him to cal since he loves cal policies !

How's your son doing?

[objective]

Please no Mitch

Mitch would be the cheapest option and after years of being very generous with Pop they might try to claw back some savings by being cheap

[Spurs Homer]

Nate mcmillan
stotts
jim carrey - if pacers let him go

would all be good options…

[GAustex]

Should of signed Quinn when the chance was there

[Duncan2177]

I wonder if the Wemby situation had anything to do with this. In any case, I hope they move him upstairs into a consultant role and bring in someone like Snyder or Bud to be his successor.

Would love to see Avery Johnson coach the spurs.

[Strategic]

Yeah I wish him better health. Some of his decisions puzzled me, but when he would do things like pull all 5 of the starters because they weren’t playing D or doing anything right, I was entertained. Damn sure can’t complain about his records. Just WOW! Things turned flux around this organization in the past month: picking up Fox and shedding Collins on the same day, Castle shining in the All-Star events,(Then the gut punches) Wemby’s health scare, and now news on Pop. What an eventful season and not over yet. Let’s keep things civil and GO SPURS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mudyez]

Always will love that man, but probably it's the best to give him his good bye celebration.

Hope he will have a long and happy life.

...and bring Becky back!!!

[SpursBills]

Becky gets paid a million a year, salary wise it probably wouldn't take a massive contract to get her to come over especially if Pop asked. Hurley on the other hand just signed for 6/50, so it'd take a Pop-level contract to bring him over.

[Seventyniner]

imo it would be best for him to coach the regular season finale at home vs the Raptors. Give him the huge farewell that he never wanted but that the fans would love.

But knowing him, I think he has already coached his last game.

[Gandalf]

Would love to see Avery Johnson coach the spurs.

He was pretty good with the Mavericks back in the day. Got fired from Alabama, but maybe it was a recruiting issue he wouldn’t have to worry about in the NBA? No idea, didn’t follow Bama.

[z0sa]

I wonder if the Wemby situation had anything to do with this. In any case, I hope they move him upstairs into a consultant role and bring in someone like Snyder or Bud to be his successor.

Yeah, it feels certain to me that when Wemby went out, Pop decided this shit really is too stressful and called it. He was thinking of molding one of the greats for some years and maybe winning one last title in the process. Instead, it's up in the air how severe the DVT issue for Vic will ultimately be (though signs are positive, based upon what little info we have). Pop's smart enough not to stick around for this - I hope.

[Obstructed_View]

He was pretty good with the Mavericks back in the day. Got fired from Alabama, but maybe it was a recruiting issue he wouldn’t have to worry about in the NBA? No idea, didn’t follow Bama.
That Mavs team that got bounced in the first round was historically good. They just ran into the one team that had their number. They had a chance to lose a game and avoid the Warriors and they didn't. That was AJs big mistake.

[Gandalf]

That Mavs team that got bounced in the first round was historically good. They just ran into the one team that had their number. They had a chance to lose a game and avoid the Warriors and they didn't. That was AJs big mistake.

Yeah, I loved that series, since I hated the Mavs at the time. Baron Davis pulling stuff like falling down near half court and hurling the ball in right before the buzzer was hilarious.

[Killakobe81]

Lakers Spurs rivalry aside, I hope Pop fully recovers. Life >> NBA. Get well soon Pop.

Couldn’t agree more … sone classless asshats made fun of and continue to mock Kobe’s death.
I wouldn’t ever make fun of this strike over a sports rivalry …
That being said I wish Pop recovers enough to do whatever he wants - Coach, open a winery, politics …
God speed to a full recovery

[ChumpDumper]

Would love to see Avery Johnson coach the spurs.:lol

[Chillen]

If Suns miss playoffs they might fire Bud. Spurs should be keeping an eye on that situation. Pop though should retire he's one of if not the greatest NBA coach ever. He has nothing left to prove.

[dn0774]

Hopefully there will be some clarity regarding Wemby this summer when it comes time to assess the coaching landscape. I’ve got to think that if Wemby looks to be a go for next season that would bode well for attracting top coaching candidates. That of course assumes that the powers that be can see that Mitch isn’t the guy long term.

[Mugen]

Good news for the future of the organization tbh. Hope for a full recovery and Enjoy retirement, Pop.

[BackHome]

Yeah, it sucks this happened to Pop he is the Goat and even if I don’t agree with his Politics I can still say he will go down as one of the best NBA coaches ever.

This Summer is going to be super important as they need to do a real search for a coach who will come in and hit the ground running and put in a offense that will really use Wemby skills. Also, don’t want Bud, Brown, Becky, or any of those retreads that would be a terrible decision.

[heyheymymy]

https://i.imgur.com/QxtEuTS.gif

[baseline bum]

Would love to see Avery Johnson coach the spurs.

The fact he hasn't gotten an NBA coaching job in more than 15 years after leading a team to the Finals says everything you need to know about how players view him. I love AJ but he's not an NBA coach.

[baseline bum]

That Mavs team that got bounced in the first round was historically good. They just ran into the one team that had their number. They had a chance to lose a game and avoid the Warriors and they didn't. That was AJs big mistake.

IDK they felt like they peaked early and weren't as good as their record, kind of like the 2011 Spurs, though they didn't fall off quite that hard.

[baseline bum]

If Suns miss playoffs they might fire Bud. Spurs should be keeping an eye on that situation. Pop though should retire he's one of if not the greatest NBA coach ever. He has nothing left to prove.

Isn't Bud on a five year contract? :lmao

Ishbia really has torched that franchise after all the complaints Sons fans had about Sarver. :lol

[RC_Drunkford]

Man would‘ve liked for him to at least coach one home game so we can send him off in style, but I guess that was it. I just hope he gets healthy, can be around the team and we hire a great coach.

[baseline bum]

Yeah, I loved that series, since I hated the Mavs at the time. Baron Davis pulling stuff like falling down near half court and hurling the ball in right before the buzzer was hilarious.

The We Believe Warriors has to be my favorite non Spurs team in NBA history. Not only because of Spurs legend Stephen Jackson skullfucking Dirk, but UCLA legends Baron Davis and Matt Barnes. When healthy Baron was a fucking MVP level player but dude was icy hot going from being LeBron to Mo Williams season to season.

[Chillen]

Isn't Bud on a five year contract? :lmao

Ishbia really has torched that franchise after all the complaints Sons fans had about Sarver. :lol

Yeah he is. Ishbia doesn't care if he wants him gone they will fire him. Dude must have $100's ready for a campfire someplace.

[spurraider21]

The We Believe Warriors has to be my favorite non Spurs team in NBA history. Not only because of Spurs legend Stephen Jackson skullfucking Dirk, but UCLA legends Baron Davis and Matt Barnes. When healthy Baron was a fucking MVP level player but dude was icy hot going from being LeBron to Mo Williams season to season.
pretty fun roster with jason richardson still around too, monta ellis coming along.

[LakerHater]

as an interim, the wins & losses still got to the head coach but what about now?

[cd98]

Becky gets paid a million a year, salary wise it probably wouldn't take a massive contract to get her to come over especially if Pop asked. Hurley on the other hand just signed for 6/50, so it'd take a Pop-level contract to bring him over.

Honestly probably no way they hire Becky or any other female coach. Pop isn’t the one that makes that call.

[slick'81]

It was a good run pop! Enjoy retirement

[heyheymymy]

That 2007 Warriors roster was a lot of fun. 3 point shooters lined up around the arc.

Bierdrins weird ass free throw shooting form lol

[heyheymymy]

They would put decibel measurements in the Oracle arena during those W's games to gauge how loud the crowd was

[tbdog]

What do you mean? He drove there to see how Victor is doing?

For the meeting. To put a hand on him and say it's alright.

[Mal]

It was hell of a ride

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

All the best to Pop. Hope he recovers fully and is able to carry on in his president of Spurs basketball role.

Also, some truly horrible coach suggestions in this thread lol do people actually watch basketball?

[Texas_Ranger]

thanx for everything, but now really is a time to go and enjoy retirement.... Spurs also need to stop fucking around and get a new coach asap. Should have been done years ago.

[Raven]

that really sucks... can't stand mitch

[Obstructed_View]

IDK they felt like they peaked early and weren't as good as their record, kind of like the 2011 Spurs, though they didn't fall off quite that hard.
That could be. They went on an absolute tear, and maybe they took their foot off the gas, but at the time it felt like Don Nelson built the Warriors to kill the Mavs and Dallas was too proud to duck them.

[Obstructed_View]

Yeah, I loved that series, since I hated the Mavs at the time. Baron Davis pulling stuff like falling down near half court and hurling the ball in right before the buzzer was hilarious.
Jack was on that Warriors team too IIRC. Loved watching Dallas get humiliated. But I still love AJ and would like to see him coach.

[ffadicted]

GOATED career with Red & Phil. Hope he gets an amazing farewell start of next season.
Can we convince Phoenix to fire Bud? :bobo

[BatManu20]

1893485130637025468

[Ice009]

Interesting. Shams is saying that he's not returning this season, doesn't know if/when he will return. Says at some point in the future there will be a time and place where he will make determinations and address his long term future.

[scott]

The whole idea of “Pop maybe coming back at some undetermined point in the future… or maybe not, we’ll just wait and see!” Puts the team in such a weird state of limbo that it’s quite frankly irresponsible to let it continue. No serious organization should let this continue. It’s time for RC to pull on his big girl pants and make the call that’s time for a formal retirement.

[baseline bum]

The whole idea of “Pop maybe coming back at some undetermined point in the future… or maybe not, we’ll just wait and see!” Puts the team in such a weird state of limbo that it’s quite frankly irresponsible to let it continue. No serious organization should let this continue. It’s time for RC to pull on his big girl pants and make the call that’s time for a formal retirement.

Ugh this screams money, like maybe Holt Jr isn't willing to pay another coach while Pop still has 3 more years left on his deal after this one. Wonder if we have another Dumont failson kind of situation here. Holt Sr was amazing at being willing to pay the cost to win and the only time he ever really got cheap was with Scola, but with Holt Jr it has yet to be seen.

[LeBowen]

Ugh this screams money, like maybe Holt Jr isn't willing to pay another coach while Pop still has 3 more years left on his deal after this one. Wonder if we have another Dumont failson kind of situation here. Holt Sr was amazing at being willing to pay the cost to win and the only time he ever really got cheap was with Scola, but with Holt Jr it has yet to be seen.

You really think Pop would be shameless enough to keep taking the paychecks even though he's not coaching anymore?

[Chillen]

You really think Pop would be shameless enough to keep taking the paychecks even though he's not coaching anymore?

After all the winning seasons and championships he helped the Spurs get he deserves every penny even if he never coaches again.

[LeBowen]

After all the winning seasons and championships he helped the Spurs get he deserves every penny even if he never coaches again.

What's he going to do with all that money? Take it to the grave?
Spurs have the highest paid coach and front office in the league. Or at least they did, idk if something changed over the past year.
He earned all of it, but it's not like he wasn't fairly compensated for his services.

[dbestpro]

Pop may not be back but Johnson is not the solution either. Maybe Paul could do a Lenny Wilkins.

[scott]

Ugh this screams money, like maybe Holt Jr isn't willing to pay another coach while Pop still has 3 more years left on his deal after this one. Wonder if we have another Dumont failson kind of situation here. Holt Sr was amazing at being willing to pay the cost to win and the only time he ever really got cheap was with Scola, but with Holt Jr it has yet to be seen.


You really think Pop would be shameless enough to keep taking the paychecks even though he's not coaching anymore?

My understanding was that Pop’s deal was a series of 1-year deals with options. Don’t know if it were exclusively his option or the team’s as well though. Is there a CBA for Coaches?

Pop collecting checks while sitting in a hospital bed and Holt Jr being too cheap to hire another coach would be a nightmare scenario.

[Gagnrath]

The We Believe Warriors has to be my favorite non Spurs team in NBA history. Not only because of Spurs legend Stephen Jackson skullfucking Dirk, but UCLA legends Baron Davis and Matt Barnes. When healthy Baron was a fucking MVP level player but dude was icy hot going from being LeBron to Mo Williams season to season.
Hell game to game just all depended on the knees that day.

[Silver&Black Warrior]

I hope ass cancer kills you slowly and painfully.

Amen.

[cd98]

TBH why would Pop coach next season? His health would be a constant issue and it seems kind of selfish to insist on coaching this team when the game has passed him by and there are other coaches waiting for an opportunity in the NBA while he racks up meaningless win numbers on a team that will maybe be a playoff team next season or just as likely not.

[superbigtime]

Chris Paul for coach?

[Donald Sterling.]

Carried by Duncan, a bonafide loser without him.

Only slightly better than Belichick without Brady tbh.

[KobesAchilles]

I’m ready to coach guys. Don’t worry, I got this.

[objective]

The whole idea of “Pop maybe coming back at some undetermined point in the future… or maybe not, we’ll just wait and see!” Puts the team in such a weird state of limbo that it’s quite frankly irresponsible to let it continue. No serious organization should let this continue. It’s time for RC to pull on his big girl pants and make the call that’s time for a formal retirement.

100%

Pulling this schtick of "maybe I'm coming back, look, I just drove by myself like a 15 year old" is sad.

It's selfish, it's making it all about him, and shows that he's not over himself.

Driving by yourself in a luxury vehicle with driver assist, Lane assist, auto braking, giant map screen with directions, air bags, proximity sensors and tons of cameras on a route he's driven thousands of times isn't a great sign that in the middle of a high paced intense madhouse of screaming, whistles, obnoxiously loud music, flashing lights, and rapid running and jumping giants that he's going to be right on top of things with no detrimental delays in reaction time.

Great career, but come on, this is getting depressing.

[ismael-robert]

What do you mean? He drove there to see how Victor is doing?

Case in point...the poster is using some sense/logic to make an inclination...try it
The chams video isn't interesting...he said what title of this thread is and what was said in first post of thread

[Mugen]

Pop pulling a Kobe would be legit hilarious tbh :lol

[ChumpDumper]

The whole idea of “Pop maybe coming back at some undetermined point in the future… or maybe not, we’ll just wait and see!” Puts the team in such a weird state of limbo that it’s quite frankly irresponsible to let it continue. No serious organization should let this continue. It’s time for RC to pull on his big girl pants and make the call that’s time for a formal retirement.

Doesn't matter until the offseason.

[TekXX]

Pop pulling a Kobe would be legit hilarious tbh :lol

Helicopter crash?

[Mugen]

Helicopter crash?

Holding the franchise hostage long past his usefulness stage.

[Robz4000]

Holding the franchise hostage long past his usefulness stage.

He's been doing it 5+ years now tbh.

[Mugen]

He's been doing it 5+ years now tbh.

Good point tbh :lol

[Dverde]

It would bring some closure to him and the fans to let him coach that final game of the regular season.

[RC_Drunkford]

Pop pulling a Kobe would be legit hilarious tbh :lol

he‘s been pulling a Kobe holding the franchise hostage while missing the playoffs 6 years straight. That‘s exactly what Kobe did.

[Obstructed_View]

Hearing "long-term future" for a 76 year old coach who has been pretty shitty for nearly 20 years fills me with fucking dread for the future of the franchise. Just get ready for Wemby and Castle in LA.

[Ice009]

Hearing "long-term future" for a 76 year old coach who has been pretty shitty for nearly 20 years fills me with fucking dread for the future of the franchise. Just get ready for Wemby and Castle in LA.

I thought he hasn't been great for a while now, but do you really think he's sucked for that long?

[cutewizard]

Hurley

Come here baby

[exstatic]

Hearing "long-term future" for a 76 year old coach who has been pretty shitty for nearly 20 years fills me with fucking dread for the future of the franchise. Just get ready for Wemby and Castle in LA.

In the last 20 years, he’s coached SA to 3 of their 5 titles.

[John B]

Hearing "long-term future" for a 76 year old coach who has been pretty shitty for nearly 20 years fills me with fucking dread for the future of the franchise. Just get ready for Wemby and Castle in LA.

Two words, Beautiful Game.

No other coach would I think could’ve totally re-invented the Spurs offense to fit its aging personnel and get to the Finals twice, sending prime Banana Boat in the process.

[Spurminator]

Pop's only been bad for 6 or 7 years as far as I'm concerned. That's when he transitioned somehow to the D2 college coach mindset of building quality men instead of winning basketball games.

It's a noble purpose but more appropriate for a life coach or consultant than an NBA basketball coach. It's time for this franchise to operate with a sense of urgency again.

[Obstructed_View]

I thought he hasn't been great for a while now, but do you really think he's sucked for that long?
He cost the Spurs a threepeat by benching the centers in 2006 against Dallas. He didn't play Tiago Splitter when the Spurs got bounced by an 8 seed in the first round. Yeah. He's fucking awful. He always has been.

[Obstructed_View]

Two words, Beautiful Game.

No other coach would I think could’ve totally re-invented the Spurs offense to fit its aging personnel and get to the Finals twice, sending prime Banana Boat in the process.
That's a team full of veterans playing on their own.
Pop took them to dinner every week.

[baseline bum]

He cost the Spurs a threepeat by benching the centers in 2006 against Dallas. He didn't play Tiago Splitter when the Spurs got bounced by an 8 seed in the first round. Yeah. He's fucking awful. He always has been.

The 06 criticism is fair but Richard Jefferson was an anchor around the team's neck in 2011 and probably deserves most of the blame for that season.

[objective]

He cost the Spurs a threepeat by benching the centers in 2006 against Dallas. He didn't play Tiago Splitter when the Spurs got bounced by an 8 seed in the first round. Yeah. He's fucking awful. He always has been.

On the whole he's probably cost them more series than he won.

He was well on his way to losing 03 by being destroyed in the coaching matchup by Nellie, Spurs probably don't win that series without Manu injuring Dirk on accident, and even then he managed to almost lose

He cost them in 08 when he benched Bowen in the 3rd for picking up a third foul while locking Kobe down tight. Series was blown right there in game 1.

Similar in the last series against Denver. Game 2 up 18 in the first half, puts in the suicide squad to lose the lead. Gets an 18 point lead in the second half, makes no adjustments at all, rolls out the suicide squad, they lose the lead, the game, and the series because of it. If they had secured a 2-0 lead going home, even Pop would have had a hard time losing.

Stubbornness in 16 cost them when it was West and Diaw set in stone, never tried going small with Kawhi.

If I wanted to think about 12 and 13 I'm sure some unpleasant memories of his mistakes would come up but I don't like to think about those. Should have been a 3-peat there too arguably.

[z0sa]

Pop straight up cost us a title in 2006. I was here in 2006, saying as much as a teenager. It was that obvious. We'd have probably lost against them in 2007 as well if not for Avery pulling a similar tactic causing them to be massacred by GS.

He also was at the helm of the absolutely historic collapse in 2004 that Tim Duncan's miracle shot almost saved. The Lakers weren't even that good, Shaq-Kobe feud was at its all-time high, and Malone was clearly injured -- then Detroit skullfucked them. Put 2012 in that bucket, too. There's no way we should have been backdoor swept by a bunch of guys barely out of their teens, talent notwithstanding.

2013 and Timmy being on the bench was another travesty.

As for 08, Pop wasn't exactly great but Manu was clearly injured and that's really what cost us the series.

I also remember him not playing George Hill at all until we were about to be swept, despite Hill having an objectively good rookie season. It reminds me of the Castle situation a bit -- only we suck now, so at least we'll be spared him being benched for Sochan and friends. It's clear the Pop system has a glaring weakness for developing/playing backup guards, especially point guards. It also falls in love with Nellie-ball without any clear indication they understand why Nellie-ball can sometimes work, IE playing fast paced, scoring in bunches, spreading the floor with 4 or 5 shooters and multiple guys who can pass and dribble.

[John B]

That's a team full of veterans playing on their own.
Pop took them to dinner every week.

Easy to say when the league is full of veterans who can’t even sniff the Finals. Dude give credit where it’s due. Spurs got blindsided by Kawhi and ever since they’ve been patching holes, until finally decided to tank for the Wemby sweepstakes. It’s not easy to right a ship. It takes calculated moves or it would belly-up or break the boat. I agree the last 5 years of inept drafting didn’t help. But it landed us Wemby so it’s forgivable.

You’re part of the minority who thinks Pop is bad. But of course a prophet is not honored in his hometown.

[baseline bum]

He was well on his way to losing 03 by being destroyed in the coaching matchup by Nellie, Spurs probably don't win that series without Manu injuring Dirk on accident, and even then he managed to almost lose


Huh? Nelson was stubbornly putting Dirk on Tim and Tim was skullfucking him. Dallas played better once Dirk got hurt because it forced Nelson to put Najera on Tim and not just cede the post all night.

[baseline bum]

Pop straight up cost us a title in 2006. I was here in 2006, saying as much as a teenager. It was that obvious. We'd have probably lost against them in 2007 as well if not for Avery pulling a similar tactic causing them to be massacred by GS.

He also was at the helm of the absolutely historic collapse in 2004 that Tim Duncan's miracle shot almost saved. The Lakers weren't even that good, Shaq-Kobe feud was at its all-time high, and Malone was clearly injured -- then Detroit skullfucked them. Put 2012 in that bucket, too. There's no way we should have been backdoor swept by a bunch of guys barely out of their teens, talent notwithstanding.

2013 and Timmy being on the bench was another travesty.

As for 08, Pop wasn't exactly great but Manu was clearly injured and that's really what cost us the series.

I also remember him not playing George Hill at all until we were about to be swept, despite Hill having an objectively good rookie season. It reminds me of the Castle situation a bit -- only we suck now, so at least we'll be spared him being benched for Sochan and friends. It's clear the Pop system has a glaring weakness for developing/playing backup guards, especially point guards. It also falls in love with Nellie-ball without any clear indication they understand why Nellie-ball can sometimes work, IE playing fast paced, scoring in bunches, spreading the floor with 4 or 5 shooters and multiple guys who can pass and dribble.

Yeah 06 was ridiculous the way he benched Nazr after hitting that three against Sacramento, and that made the Dallas series a nightmare with how terrible the defensive rebounding was. Disagree on 04, that series went to shit once Turkoglu couldn't hit a wide open three and the Lakers stopped guarding him. Horry was choking like hell too so giving him Hedo's minutes wasn't going to solve anything either. 2012 the Spurs barely eeked out those first two wins, that was a terrible matchup plus the refs fucked the Spurs over in Game 6 (e.g. the tech on Jack for staring down Mo Cheeks after hitting a three yet not a word when Cheeks was there yelling in his ear while he was shooting). Lots of shit to blame Pop for, like 06, like Bonner+Blair instead of Splitter, never playing Murray+White together, and especially going soft after Aldridge asked for a trade. That last thing basically ended Pop's coaching career IMO, and he has been a scrub level coach since. But 02-14 dude was elite, except for 06. Also thought George Hill started that entire Phoenix series in 2010.

EDIT: Looked it up, and Hill started Games 1 & 2 of that series.

[Ice009]

Yeah 06 was ridiculous the way he benched Nazr after hitting that three against Sacramento, and that made the Dallas series a nightmare with how terrible the defensive rebounding was. Disagree on 04, that series went to shit once Turkoglu couldn't hit a wide open three and the Lakers stopped guarding him. Horry was choking like hell too so giving him Hedo's minutes wasn't going to solve anything either. 2012 the Spurs barely eeked out those first two wins, that was a terrible matchup plus the refs fucked the Spurs over in Game 6 (e.g. the tech on Jack for staring down Mo Cheeks after hitting a three yet not a word when Cheeks was there yelling in his ear while he was shooting). Lots of shit to blame Pop for, like 06, like Bonner+Blair instead of Splitter, never playing Murray+White together, and especially going soft after Aldridge asked for a trade. That last thing basically ended Pop's coaching career IMO, and he has been a scrub level coach since. But 02-14 dude was elite, except for 06. Also thought George Hill started that entire Phoenix series in 2010.

EDIT: Looked it up, and Hill started Games 1 & 2 of that series.

All that still makes me mad thinking about it. That Stephen Jackson tech was what told me that series was rigged (Their guys on the bench were screaming and shouting who knows what at him, and then he gets a tech for staring back after nailing the 3. What a fucking joke). They wanted OKC in the finals against the Heat for rating. Too bad OKC got smashed because they never should have been there in the first place.

I guess I don't count all the years like Obstructed_View is doing, but 2006 is the first instance that Pop started losing me. Up until then, I thought he was brilliant. 2004 definitely wasn't his fault that Hedo shrived up, Robert Horry also missed a wide open 3 badly and just didn't play well in general. TP couldn't make his outside shots either. The Lakers almost gave up and their strategy was to leave the shooters open. Spurs easily could have won that series, but as it stands, they are still owed a game 7 IMO after that game 5 shot. I know one of the guys here told me recently that he broke it down and that the shot did count and that the clock should have had a touch more time on it after TD's shot went in, but I still disagree. Whatever time was left, that's all you had to go off of. The NBA wouldn't have changed the rules the following season saying you can't catch and shoot in 0.4 seconds unless it's a tip-in or something. That says all you need to know about the legitimacy of that shot. I just tried doing a search, but couldn't find all the rules? Are they listed somewhere for each amount of time (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 etc.) and what you can and can't do with those amounts of time left?

[BackHome]

What are your all thoughts on Sam Cassell as head coach?

[RC_Drunkford]

I‘m super hyped if we get a new coach. As long as it’s not one who was mentored by Pop.

[Obstructed_View]

Easy to say when the league is full of veterans who can’t even sniff the Finals. Dude give credit where it’s due. Spurs got blindsided by Kawhi and ever since they’ve been patching holes, until finally decided to tank for the Wemby sweepstakes. It’s not easy to right a ship. It takes calculated moves or it would belly-up or break the boat. I agree the last 5 years of inept drafting didn’t help. But it landed us Wemby so it’s forgivable.

You’re part of the minority who thinks Pop is bad. But of course a prophet is not honored in his hometown.
So the architect of The Beautiful Game has a team that -for the last several years- can't shoot, can't set screens, can't block out, can't get back on defense and can't defend.

Mmkay.

[cutewizard]

We need new blood

Hurley must be it

[Obstructed_View]

The 06 criticism is fair but Richard Jefferson was an anchor around the team's neck in 2011 and probably deserves most of the blame for that season.
Maybe. But Pop putting Splitter in when it was too late for it to make a difference was an absolute admission of guilt to me.

[scott]

I‘m super hyped if we get a new coach. As long as it’s not one who was mentored by Pop.

I'm looking forward to someone (I'm sure eventually) doing a deep dive on assistants who are ready for the next step. That's a space I'd be really interested in us looking at, the way teams used to poach our assistants.

Just as long as they look beyond our bench of guys who have done nothing but assist in losing for the last 6 years.

[Gandalf]

What are your all thoughts on Sam Cassell as head coach?

I don’t know enough to say much, other than he won two championships with the Rockets, one as an Assistant with the Celtics where he currently is, and someone on a podcast mentioned his name and suggested he’d bring ‘toughness.’

Knowing only that, I’d still want him over Pop or Mitch 100 times out of 100.

[Spurminator]

When your team is elite for 15 straight years, you're going be able to nit pick some decisions and some plays. But if you're essentially saying that we "only won 5 championships in 15 years because our coach sucked" I just question that logic. Pop's run with the Spurs was historic and rare. Trade it for any other scenario and 99 times out of 100 it's not going to be as fruitful. Try to enjoy what you had.

[spursistan]

You have Pop actually risking dropping dead on the sidelines for one last ride on the gravy train...That's how much of a 'sure thing' Wemby is thought of despite this clot scare:depressed

[Bruno]

Pop is a great coach and he deserves to be celebrated for everything he has done for Spurs during three decades. Nobody is perfect and he has, off course, made some mistakes but the overall picture has been amazing.

Getting a head coach for next season is the first thing to do in the off-season for Spurs. Ideally, it should be done before the draft lottery in mid may. When Spurs' FO will talk with Draft prospect, it would just be better if they can who the coach will be and what kind of basketball Spurs will play.

[RC_Drunkford]

Pop just wants to prove he can win without Tim, even if he has to die tryin

[Joseph Kony]

Pop needs to stop holding the franchise hostage with this "will he return?" bullshit and announce his retirement so we can move on and begin looking for an actual coach in the summer.

sucks that Pop couldnt finish coaching on his own terms but its time to face reality. its selfish to continue to leave the franchise in limbo. make the announcement and let's start looking for a real coach

[Mugen]

Pop is a great coach and he deserves to be celebrated for everything he has done for Spurs during three decades. Nobody is perfect and he has, off course, made some mistakes but the overall picture has been amazing.

Getting a head coach for next season is the first thing to do in the off-season for Spurs. Ideally, it should be done before the draft lottery in mid may. When Spurs' FO will talk with Draft prospect, it would just be better if they can who the coach will be and what kind of basketball Spurs will play.

This. Absolutely critical that they land a new HC prior to the draft.

[scott]

Pop is a great coach and he deserves to be celebrated for everything he has done for Spurs during three decades. Nobody is perfect and he has, off course, made some mistakes but the overall picture has been amazing.

Getting a head coach for next season is the first thing to do in the off-season for Spurs. Ideally, it should be done before the draft lottery in mid may. When Spurs' FO will talk with Draft prospect, it would just be better if they can who the coach will be and what kind of basketball Spurs will play.

Ideally, the Spurs will have decided which way they are going before the season ends, so that as soon as the final buzzer sounds versus Toronto in the season finale, the Spurs are in a position to go after their preferred candidate. What the Spurs don't want to happen is for the decision to hire or not hire a new coach to drag on into the offseason while they miss out on preferred candidates.

While I'm not exactly full of never ending trust for this FO, I do trust that they know this and will have made this decision by the time the season ends.

The only caveat to this will be that if Becky is their preferred candidate, it's probably best to get that hammered out now. I don't think Becky is the kind of person who would want to leave the Aces in a bad spot, so if she's going to come to the Spurs then it should probably be worked out with as much advance notice as possible. WNBA Training Camp opens just a few weeks after our season finale versus Toronto.

[spurraider21]

bring in Hurley, reunite him with Castle, and draft his boy McNeeley

[RC_Drunkford]

I totally expect the top candidates to be Mike Brown and Monty Williams :lol

[baseline bum]

bring in Hurley, reunite him with Castle, and draft his boy McNeeley

Man I ain't taking McNeeley #1. Bring in Hurley, draft Flagg to fill that backup C role, then Evin & Kelon for Durant, and finish the summer off strong with Bonner & Blair for Naz.

[scott]

So... Tony has been travelling a lot with the team as of late, and is reported to be in Houston tonight with the team again.

Why do we think that is? Just love Spurs basketball? Misses Rodeo Road Trips?

[tonight...you]

I totally expect the top candidates to be Mike Brown and Monty Williams :lol
Don't you put that evil on me Ricky Bobby!

[baseline bum]

So... Tony has been travelling a lot with the team as of late, and is reported to be in Houston tonight with the team again.

Why do we think that is? Just love Spurs basketball? Misses Rodeo Road Trips?

Anyone on the team with a hotwife like Erin Barry?

[scott]

Anyone on the team with a hotwife like Erin Barry?

RC: "We missed out on Ime Udoka... who do we know like him?"

Pop: "Tony Parker..."

Brian Wright: "I don't think that's what RC meant, but let's roll with it"

[Ice009]

So... Tony has been travelling a lot with the team as of late, and is reported to be in Houston tonight with the team again.

Why do we think that is? Just love Spurs basketball? Misses Rodeo Road Trips?

Dunno. I asked this in the game thread last game. I thought maybe Sean or Jacob might have mentioned during one of the previous games why he was there, and that someone watched it/heard heard why and could relay the reason, but it doesn't seem like it was ever mentioned by Sean or Jacob?

[Jordan Jackson]

I don’t think the Spurs bring in someone for the “outside”. It will be someone from the “Spurs Family”.

I’m also not ruling out seeing Mike Brown back with the franchise in some capacity if he doesn’t end up in Houston. Ime been poaching former Spurs for his staff. I saw LMA running drill with the Rockets.

[poopbox]

I totally expect the top candidates to be Mike Brown and Monty Williams :lol

When I read those reports that Fox actually didn't want Mike Brown fired and that he was literally eating dinner at Mike Brown house after he got fired, and then Fox wanted to come to SA, I thought to myself "oh mike is definitely going to be the next coach in SA" :lol

I actually think nope on Monty since he essentially got Bruce Bowen fired so he could coach his sons high school team.

[poopbox]

Ideally, the Spurs will have decided which way they are going before the season ends, so that as soon as the final buzzer sounds versus Toronto in the season finale, the Spurs are in a position to go after their preferred candidate. What the Spurs don't want to happen is for the decision to hire or not hire a new coach to drag on into the offseason while they miss out on preferred candidates.

While I'm not exactly full of never ending trust for this FO, I do trust that they know this and will have made this decision by the time the season ends.

The only caveat to this will be that if Becky is their preferred candidate, it's probably best to get that hammered out now. I don't think Becky is the kind of person who would want to leave the Aces in a bad spot, so if she's going to come to the Spurs then it should probably be worked out with as much advance notice as possible. WNBA Training Camp opens just a few weeks after our season finale versus Toronto.

Wasn't she part of a lawsuit or player complaining Becky accused her of something like "getting pregnant on purpose" :lol

If an nba job is offered to her I doubt Becky would give a shit about what position it put the Aces in and I doubt the Aces would have a problem with that since she instantly won them back to back titles :lol

[stnick2261]

I'm assuming that PATFO already know that Pop is not returning... but as long as they don't announce it, then all of Mitch's wins get added to Pop's career win total.

[Spurminator]

So... Tony has been travelling a lot with the team as of late, and is reported to be in Houston tonight with the team again.

Why do we think that is? Just love Spurs basketball? Misses Rodeo Road Trips?

Maintain French TV ratings

[couchman]

Watching the team play this season I feel that there is a fundamental lack of direction for the overall philosophy.
There is no one thing that we can hang our hat on and say, "When the game is on the line we will lean into (this area of strength) to win it."
We are mediocre on defense, mediocre on offense, we don't shoot 3s well, we don't get to the rim well, we don't draw fouls well, ... etc etc etc.
We're just mediocre at everything.

When Pop appointment himself coach in 1996 we only won 17 games but the direction of the team was immediately obvious: We were going to play defense, e physical, and rebound.
Even if we couldn't do those things well they were the #1 emphasis for the team and you could see it on the court immediately.
Pop wouldn't play people who didn't follow that and he coached them hard even through many many loses.
That set the foundation and expectations for what we did after that when Drob and Sean returned and Timmy joined the team.
We rode incredible defense to that first title two years later.

When I watch our Spurs right now, I don't see us picking a lane.
Even before his stroke, Pop was all too happy to watch players repeatedly make mistakes that would have previously gotten guys benched and/or chewed out.
I know that the NBA and egos are different now, but a coach can still enforce a philosophy and deliver consequences and Pop had gotten out of that mode.
I have a hard time believing that a post-stroke Pop is ever going to find the fire in his belly to do what this team needs. He needs to go.
And Mitch seems like a really promising young coach, but he is too entrenched now in this quagmire and losing culture to be the solution.

We need a fresh start and we need it badly.

Bon Voyage Pop and thanks for everything Mitch, but if the Spurs bring either one of them back next year I'm going to assume we're tanking AGAIN and be calling for a front office overhaul in addition to a coaching change.

[cutewizard]

Tony Parker has been cited in Spurs games recently guys?

[cutewizard]

Hurley or Becky

[TimDunkem]

Bonner & Blair for Naz.
Ahh, the Turd Towers. I honestly would rather have them at this point. At least Bonner could hit a 3, and Blair could finish his fucking layups unlike that clown Sochan.

[BatManu20]

Pop finally speaks. Pretty fluff though. Tells us what we already know and then lies about Mitch doing a great job :lol

1895192460751708633

[BatManu20]

1895191071157522682

[RC_Drunkford]

Coaching in the future…he just has to prove he can without Duncan, which he can’t. Sit down old man, it’s over

[rjv]

this is a statement that doesn't really say much but, when ST is done with it, it will have more interpretations than the Gospels.

[RC_Drunkford]

So... Tony has been travelling a lot with the team as of late, and is reported to be in Houston tonight with the team again.

Why do we think that is? Just love Spurs basketball? Misses Rodeo Road Trips?

Imagine if he became HC and his assistans were Manu and Tim :lol

[scott]

Pop finally speaks. Pretty fluff though. Tells us what we already know and then lies about Mitch doing a great job :lol

1895192460751708633

Sounds like we're headed into the offseason and next season in Pop limbo. Yay?

[Mugen]

Man, I hope he's already announced his retirement internally and this is just some fluff while they figure out a proper send off for him.

[Dverde]

He still isn’t well if he thinks Mitch is doing a wonderful job.

[NASpurs]

He still isn’t well if he thinks Mitch is doing a wonderful job.

:lol

[couchman]

Geez I was hoping we wouldn’t have to push him out the door.

[Bill_Brasky]

It's incredibly irresponsible but also a tricky situation. Someone else(RC? Wright? Holt Jr?) needs to step up and say no, we aren't gonna be in limbo. We need to pick a direction. It isn't fair to the players.

[Leetonidas]

Jesus christ just retire man. Pop needs to stop holding the fucking franchise hostage and accept that it's time to step back from coaching. Stay on as POBO or whatever but he needs to quit deluding himself and the team into thinking he's gonna come back to coach next season. This is insane

[RC_Drunkford]

this franchise will only start winning again once Pop is out completely. Seems like he's even more of a control freak than people thought.

[Dverde]

:pop: Life is bigger than basketball …well except for me.

[RC_Drunkford]

According to Windhorst Pop told Wemby that he will be there for him for 5 years. I guess that means we are being held hostage by a dead body and Mitch Johnson until 2028. We are the San Antonio Wizards


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO3MXzvaj_s

[Dex]

According to Windhorst Pop told Wemby that he will be there for him for 5 years.

That probably happened before the whole stroke thing.

I'm not happy about this season either, but some of y'all are straight up assholes bitching about a Spurs legend who nearly died.

The season is obviously a wash, so stop calling for action and just hold your horses until the offseason.

[tonight...you]

Anyone on the team with a hotwife like Erin Barry?
Wemby's sister.

[RC_Drunkford]

That probably happened before the whole stroke thing.

Of course it did, but that's beside the point. The point is that it seems he still wants to coach him for the remaining 3 years even though he had a stroke. That's just lunacy, you can't put that much stress on yourself after that.

[LeBowen]

We're going to see Immortan Pop next season.

[jmard5]

That probably happened before the whole stroke thing.

I'm not happy about this season either, but some of y'all are straight up assholes bitching about a Spurs legend who nearly died.

The season is obviously a wash, so stop calling for action and just hold your horses until the offseason.

This.

[Bill_Brasky]

According to Windhorst Pop told Wemby that he will be there for him for 5 years. I guess that means we are being held hostage by a dead body and Mitch Johnson until 2028. We are the San Antonio Wizards


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IO3MXzvaj_s

New shit has come to light, man. We can't have a 76 year old stroke recoveree flying all over the country to coach basketball games. Just typing that feels crazy.

[Obstructed_View]

Til the wheels fall off.

Pop won't be happy until the Spurs are in Seattle. Jesus.

[baseline bum]

He still isn’t well if he thinks Mitch is doing a wonderful job.

I mean he's not going to come out and say Mitch is a retard who has lost the team.

[Dex]

Of course it did, but that's beside the point. The point is that it seems he still wants to coach him for the remaining 3 years even though he had a stroke. That's just lunacy, you can't put that much stress on yourself after that.

You seem to be missing the point.

Pop may have told Wemby "I'll be here the next 5 years" when he signed. Obviously, he didn't anticipate having a stroke which changes that equation and the timeline.

There is nothing in Pop's statement that says he intends to stay 3 more years. I wouldn't be surprised if he retires this summer, but there is no point in bringing that news out at the end of February when the team is already headed for lottery-ville. Even if he has already made a decision, the Spurs aren't going to broadcast it right now.

[objective]

We're going to see Immortan Pop next season.

Mediocre!

Hell, Immortan Joe at least had some fire and could hold things together.

[BackHome]

I think they not saying anything until the seasons over because if they did then the news would focus on Mitch and other potential candidates. I think they are all ready searching and are going to quietly talk to a few people and make a decision a month after the last games

[BatManu20]

Geez I was hoping we wouldn’t have to push him out the door.

RC to Pop as he’s lecturing the team about how basketball is just a game and it’s more important to be a good person

https://i.imgur.com/4bUV7Ls.gif

[benefactor]

Yeah there is nothing to take from that. It's just lip service. They very well could do the unthinkable and keep Mitch but hopefully we can get to the offseason and they can start looking for a real coach

[Robz4000]

Yeah there is nothing to take from that. It's just lip service. They very well could do the unthinkable and keep Mitch but hopefully we can get to the offseason and they can start looking for a real coach

They need to be looking now tbh. As others have said, they need to have a coach for the NBA combine which starts a month after the end of the regular season.

[scott]

Mike Finger has a column out in his shill rag about he meeting with players today. https://www.expressnews.com/sports/spurs/article/no-popovich-resolution-spurs-face-offseason-20192073.php

Main takeaways:

-Wemby was at the meeting
-Pop made it clear that his goal is to coach again
-My interpretation of the following snippet from the article is that the organization of Pop's goal


As someone in the organization pointed out Thursday afternoon, it would be easy to assume that comeback never will happen, were it not for the fact that we’re talking about one of the most notoriously strong-willed humans on the face of the earth.

Those of us on the outside can debate whether Popovich should coach again. What’s undisputable, by all accounts (including the two public statements he’s released since his stroke), is that Popovich believes he can.

Nobody in the franchise, from the ownership group to the front office to the locker room, is going to take that away from him. The sentiment, from top to bottom, is that the winningest head coach in league history has more than earned the right to determine his own ending, which makes sense.

What that means, however, is that the Spurs will head into this offseason with massive, unavoidable uncertainty hanging over the two most important people in the organization.

Not a serious organization, tbh.

[scott]

More from the article:


As noted by team sources Thursday, the ambiguity has nothing to do with the performance of acting head coach Mitch Johnson, who continues to draw rave reviews for the way he’s handled one of the most challenging assignments anyone his business has received in recent memory. In fact, there’s nothing he could have done over the last three and a half months to change the unsettled nature of the team’s future.

If, for instance, Johnson had won every single game he coached since November? The Spurs still would be waiting to find out what happens next with Popovich.

A firm answer on that probably won’t come any time soon. The team had scheduled Popovich’s meeting in advance, wanting to make sure he had a chance to deliver the news about the rest of the season in person. Another “check-in” is expected in the next month or two.

But chances are, players will depart at the end of the season in mid-April not knowing for sure who will be in charge at training camp next fall.

It's like the Spurs and Pop looked at each other and said "how can we possibly make this situation worse? wait, I think we've got it..."

[dn0774]

Popovich truly is the master of telling people to "get over themselves" but then fails to heed his own mantra.

[TimDunkem]

What other franchise would entertain the idea of allowing a 76 year old stroke victim to return as the head coach? :lol

[Obstructed_View]

Popovich truly is the master of telling people to "get over themselves" but then fails to heed his own mantra.
Yeah, but getting over yourself is for the little people who don't matter.

[Obstructed_View]

What other franchise would entertain the idea of allowing a 76 year old stroke victim to return as the head coach? :lol
One with a media that has been whittled down over the years until only retards and sycophants remain.

[The Truth #6]

Some really dumb insight in that article, though obviously it's just a puff piece to keep their job. But really, if Mitch had the best record in the league and looking at a Finals run, they still would look to Pop to coach again? That's insane.

[Gandalf]

The ‘local media’ is just pathetic. They’re not journalists. I was listening to a Spurs podcast the other day, and all they did was make excuses for why Mitch sucked. When your arguments for the interim coach are mostly making all manner of excuses, that should tell you something. ‘He needs a full season, training camp, to implement his system.’ He needs that to tell them how to box out and rebound?! We’re one of the worst boxing-out teams in the league. That’s basic. A good coach could at least make progress in that area in a day. A week if you’re feeling generous.

They’re far more worried about being ‘fair’ or ‘nice’ to Mitch and Pop than with what’s best for the billion-dollar franchise, Wemby, Castle, the fans, etc. These same people will be crying to be out of a job when Wemby leaves and the Spurs move to Vegas. If they’d done their job and held the Spurs’ feet to the fire for their atrocious failures and foolish plans like ‘76-year-old-stroke-victim Pop coming back’ or the ‘Make a Wish Mitch Year(s)’ ideas, it might not have happened. The ‘unfairness’ is that we all get to suffer for their collective incompetence.

[Bill_Brasky]

What other franchise would entertain the idea of allowing a 76 year old stroke victim to return as the head coach? :lol

Further, what doctor would ever recommend a man in his condition to return to such a lifestyle?

[Pauleta14]

If someone is too blame for Pop not retiring, it's Wemby :lol

[objective]

"if anyone deserves to stand awkwardly at the scorer's table with a thousand yard stare, single fist clenched at his side while the team burns down around him as a delay triggered cacophony of a chorus shouts, yells, screams into a belching void, "Are You Okay?" only to be shattered upon the jagged cliffs of silent selfish indifference, as much a mockery of life itself as a jackelope who celebrates it's constituents parts .... It's him!" - SA Access Media

[timtonymanu]

What other franchise would entertain the idea of allowing a 76 year old stroke victim to return as the head coach? :lol

So selfish and of course naive fans on Reddit with there “:cry he should do what he wants.”

Shit like this will make Wemby leave sooner than later. Stars are less loyal if there’s no direction. Hell, Timmy nearly left the Spurs for Orlando. It’s a huge mistake and I hope someone tells Pop no but there’s no backbone amongst this organization.

[z0sa]

Pop is holding the franchise hostage. That's what this is. Let's not mince words

[dn0774]

So selfish and of course naive fans on Reddit with there “:cry he should do what he wants.”

Shit like this will make Wemby leave sooner than later. Stars are less loyal if there’s no direction. Hell, Timmy nearly left the Spurs for Orlando. It’s a huge mistake and I hope someone tells Pop no but there’s no backbone amongst this organization.

Nearly left a year after winning a championship no less, and I wouldn't have blamed him if he had. The Spurs trajectory was looking rough with seemingly zero young talent while the Magic could've paired him with Hill and/or McGrady. Nobody expected Hill to be damaged goods at that point.

[Chomag]

Wasn't Pop always the one that preached "its not fair to the team"? Well, Him continuing to try coaching this team is not fair for the team. Stop holding this franchise hostage Pop, the page needs to be turned.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

So selfish and of course naive fans on Reddit with there “:cry he should do what he wants.”

Shit like this will make Wemby leave sooner than later. Stars are less loyal if there’s no direction. Hell, Timmy nearly left the Spurs for Orlando. It’s a huge mistake and I hope someone tells Pop no but there’s no backbone amongst this organization.

I’m stunned at how lame the Spurs Reddit is. Insane homers that are almost cult like. They think Pop should coach another 5 years if he’s “up for it”

Damn

[scott]

I thought Pop's contract was all a series of one year options, but if they are all Pop's option only - then the Spurs might actually be screwed. I doubt they want to buy out the remainder of the $51MM they owe him for his deal.

Of course, signing a 74-year old to a 5-year $85MM coaching deal was a stupid idea to begin with.

[RC_Drunkford]

I thought Pop's contract was all a series of one year options, but if they are all Pop's option only - then the Spurs might actually be screwed. I doubt they want to buy out the remainder of the $51MM they owe him for his deal.

Of course, signing a 74-year old to a 5-year $85MM coaching deal was a stupid idea to begin with.

he probably signed himself tbh

[ChumpDumper]

I am always impressed by the ability of ST posters to get themselves worked up.

Wait until the offseason before you start slitting your wrists.

[slick'81]

I mean pop said he's aiming to return to coaching. Maybe 1 last season?

[exstatic]

Nearly left a year after winning a championship no less, and I wouldn't have blamed him if he had. The Spurs trajectory was looking rough with seemingly zero young talent while the Magic could've paired him with Hill and/or McGrady. Nobody expected Hill to be damaged goods at that point.

It would have been Hill, since they signed him first and only had two Max slots. McGradynwas their consolation prize when Tim didn’t sign. Tim would have been fucked.

[Ice009]

It would have been Hill, since they signed him first and only had two Max slots. McGradynwas their consolation prize when Tim didn’t sign. Tim would have been fucked.

I thought I read back then they were trying to fit all three in. If Tim said yes, I think they were going to try and also figure out a way to get T-Mac there too.

[exstatic]

I thought I read back then they were trying to fit all three in. If Tim said yes, I think they were going to try and also figure out a way to get T-Mac there too.

They couldn’t at that time. There has been some fantasy retconning by the uninformed since, but they only had the two Max slots.

[TimDunkem]

So selfish and of course naive fans on Reddit with there “:cry he should do what he wants.”

Shit like this will make Wemby leave sooner than later. Stars are less loyal if there’s no direction. Hell, Timmy nearly left the Spurs for Orlando. It’s a huge mistake and I hope someone tells Pop no but there’s no backbone amongst this organization.

And, if Wemby left due to such a situation, you'll have the cry babies here bitching about him for the next decade like Kawhi.

[TimDunkem]

The ‘local media’ is just pathetic. They’re not journalists. I was listening to a Spurs podcast the other day, and all they did was make excuses for why Mitch sucked. When your arguments for the interim coach are mostly making all manner of excuses, that should tell you something. ‘He needs a full season, training camp, to implement his system.’ He needs that to tell them how to box out and rebound?! We’re one of the worst boxing-out teams in the league. That’s basic. A good coach could at least make progress in that area in a day. A week if you’re feeling generous.

They’re far more worried about being ‘fair’ or ‘nice’ to Mitch and Pop than with what’s best for the billion-dollar franchise, Wemby, Castle, the fans, etc. These same people will be crying to be out of a job when Wemby leaves and the Spurs move to Vegas. If they’d done their job and held the Spurs’ feet to the fire for their atrocious failures and foolish plans like ‘76-year-old-stroke-victim Pop coming back’ or the ‘Make a Wish Mitch Year(s)’ ideas, it might not have happened. The ‘unfairness’ is that we all get to suffer for their collective incompetence.

This franchise has always worked that way in terms of the moves in the front office and coaching staff. Problem is, they actually used to have talent on the bench in those departments (and on the court) to cover up for their incompetence.

Not anymore. There has been a brain drain going on with the Spurs for years now.

[scott]

I am always impressed by the ability of ST posters to get themselves worked up.

Wait until the offseason before you start slitting your wrists.

No one is slitting their wrists, we're all engaging in discussion here on this Discussion Board. Maybe one of these days you can conjure enough of a valuable insight to contribute to it.

In the meantime, perhaps you and Mr. Body can collaborate on a thread of approved topics for people to not discuss, and whenever someone is in the mood for your condescending quips that contribute nothing to the dialogue, we'll check in there. I'm sure it will be riveting.

[baseline bum]

I thought I read back then they were trying to fit all three in. If Tim said yes, I think they were going to try and also figure out a way to get T-Mac there too.

They had to gut their roster just to get the two max slots, hence trading Ben Wallace to Detroit in the Hill sign and trade.

[LeBowen]

No one is slitting their wrists, we're all engaging in discussion here on this Discussion Board. Maybe one of these days you can conjure enough of a valuable insight to contribute to it.

In the meantime, perhaps you and Mr. Body can collaborate on a thread of approved topics for people to not discuss, and whenever someone is in the mood for your condescending quips that contribute nothing to the dialogue, we'll check in there. I'm sure it will be riveting.

I don't see any reason for concern, past years have shown us that Spurs coaching staff is still the best in the league and that everything that's been going on was a part of Pop's masterplan.

[Mugen]

No one is slitting their wrists, we're all engaging in discussion here on this Discussion Board. Maybe one of these days you can conjure enough of a valuable insight to contribute to it.

In the meantime, perhaps you and Mr. Body can collaborate on a thread of approved topics for people to not discuss, and whenever someone is in the mood for your condescending quips that contribute nothing to the dialogue, we'll check in there. I'm sure it will be riveting.

Uh oh, get ready to board the Chumpy merry-go-round.

[dn0774]

They couldn’t at that time. There has been some fantasy retconning by the uninformed since, but they only had the two Max slots.

I am guessing they would've asked Tim/Grant if they would take a little less each (ala how the Heatles did later) while moving even more money off the books. Tim ended up declining though so it never got to that point. At the time, TMac was a terrific talent but he was not considered to be anywhere near the level of Duncan and Hill, hence the "consolation prize" term being bestowed on him.

I'm just still surprised Duncan didn't jump at it. Pairing him with Hill (his injury wasn't expected to be too problematic at the time) could've been nasty. Playing in the eastern conference would've meant avoiding the Lakers until the Finals each year. An extremely short flight for Tim to St. Croix. Pretty close proximity to Wake Forest if that even mattered to him.

[Joseph Kony]

Smh. I knew Mr. "Get over yourself" wouldn't be able to get over himself

Look, we all know Pop is an all timer and an absolute Spurs legend, no one is taking that away from him. but lets be real, we have the most sought after prospect in NBA history and we are failing him with this bullshit. Idgaf about what Pop has done in the past - he doesnt deserve to hold the franchise hostage just so he can have his swan song. We all appreciate his contributions to the franchise but that doesnt give him carte blanche to just fuck around and leave the team in limbo while he works on learning to wipe his own ass again.

Holt Jr. needs to grow some fucking balls and put an end to this shit. a 76 year old recovering from a stroke shouldn't be trying to get back to work, let alone a fucking NBA COACH which is an incredibly demanding job. I get that this probably isnt how Pop wanted to go out but have some fucking grace man, put Vic and the team before yourself and let them find a new coach. We ALL know he isnt going to come back and coach in any meaningful way. stop delaying the inevitable with this bullshit

[The Truth #6]

Though the articles are puff, the real significance is that Pop continues to communicate that he wants to return. And it seems like Pop is active getting that message out. His silence would be expected. But this seems like something he wants.

Also, the mediocre staff has incentive NOT to convince Pop to retire because that increases the odds of their job loss exponentially.

So it's either Pop or Mitch again at the last second I imagine unless Pop decides to let Wright take over and make full decisions. Just my opinion.

[Joseph Kony]

one of the main reasons I want pop to officially step away from coaching is so we can get a new coach and clear house of all these useless bums we have on the coaching staff now. it's been obvious for awhile that the FO/coaching staff needs a complete overhaul and that shit will never happen while Pop is in charge. We need new blood in here badly, not another Pop lacky filling in for him until he feels up to teaching our guys about Africa and playing coach again

[scott]

Smh. I knew Mr. "Get over yourself" wouldn't be able to get over himself

Look, we all know Pop is an all timer and an absolute Spurs legend, no one is taking that away from him. but lets be real, we have the most sought after prospect in NBA history and we are failing him with this bullshit. Idgaf about what Pop has done in the past - he doesnt deserve to hold the franchise hostage just so he can have his swan song. We all appreciate his contributions to the franchise but that doesnt give him carte blanche to just fuck around and leave the team in limbo while he works on learning to wipe his own ass again.

Holt Jr. needs to grow some fucking balls and put an end to this shit. a 76 year old recovering from a stroke shouldn't be trying to get back to work, let alone a fucking NBA COACH which is an incredibly demanding job. I get that this probably isnt how Pop wanted to go out but have some fucking grace man, put Vic and the team before yourself and let them find a new coach. We ALL know he isnt going to come back and coach in any meaningful way. stop delaying the inevitable with this bullshit

I'm sure an Express-News puff piece on how brave Pop is for this is coming soon, and how Holt Jr. should be applauded for his treatment of the elderly. Much courage, so brave.

[KobesAchilles]

I think Pop is just going to have to take his office job as President of Operations in place of retirement. Kinda like what Brad Stevens did. Stays with the organization but doesn’t coach anymore.

I am very interested in the Spurs this offseason. This offseason tells me a lot of about the organization and how it will be ran going forward. The Spurs have a top practice facility. They are in the process of getting a new arena downtown. They have a generational talent and will be looking to semi-compete next year.

My question is how all in do the Spurs go in coaching? I’d like to hire in someone young and fresh and sign big time assistants. They need to poach player development coaches from other teams as well. It’s pretty much time to cut Pop’s contract and spread it out to others. TBH we don’t even really need to change the amount of money spent on coaching. 8 million for a young coach. 4 million for head assistant. 3 million for a shooting coach. And a million each to the Cavs and Piston player development coaches.

[Bruno]

At the end, what will truly matter is obviously what Spurs will do at the end of the season.
What they are saying right now is quite irrelevant to me. I won't trash them over that, especially since I don't expect them to tell the whole truth about the situation.

To me, Spurs' coaching situation is quite simple:
- Pop can't be back as a head coach.
- Spurs need to have a head coach for June.
- Even if Mitch Johnson was in a tough spot this season, he doesn't seem to be fit for that job.

[LeBowen]

one of the main reasons I want pop to officially step away from coaching is so we can get a new coach and clear house of all these useless bums we have on the coaching staff now. it's been obvious for awhile that the FO/coaching staff needs a complete overhaul and that shit will never happen while Pop is in charge. We need new blood in here badly, not another Pop lacky filling in for him until he feels up to teaching our guys about Africa and playing coach again

Not only step away from coaching, but from everything as far as decision making goes.
Everyone inside the NBA circles has figured out Pop is way past it by now. I don't think any coach with a spine would want to take over with Pop looming in the shadows and making staff and roster decisions.
We can't get just a head coach, we need a complete overhaul. Maybe there are some people on the staff who are good enough, but considering our player development as of late, most of them are obviously garbage and we need a revolution.

Just get rid of this losing mentality. That includes the likes of Keldon and Vassell who are too far gone into unserious basketball ways.


The biggest issue is that we were too late in finding Pop's replacement. There are no reputable candidates available (everyone will say Hurley, but he has no NBA experience, if he's even available) and you can't have a revolution without experience and authority.
Not after we got Fox and the expectation is to win 50 games every year from the next season onwards, no exceptions. It would be a miracle if an inexperienced coach could handle that.
We don't have the luxury OKC and Memphis had since they got their young coaches while they were still bad. We should've done so last year.

[Bruno]

https://x.com/esidery/status/1895466146629112004

[scott]

Not only step away from coaching, but from everything as far as decision making goes.
Everyone inside the NBA circles has figured out Pop is way past it by now. I don't think any coach with a spine would want to take over with Pop looming in the shadows and making staff and roster decisions.
We can't get just a head coach, we need a complete overhaul. Maybe there are some people on the staff who are good enough, but considering our player development as of late, most of them are obviously garbage and we need a revolution.

Just get rid of this losing mentality. That includes the likes of Keldon and Vassell who are too far gone into unserious basketball ways.


The biggest issue is that we were too late in finding Pop's replacement. There are no reputable candidates available (everyone will say Hurley, but he has no NBA experience, if he's even available) and you can't have a revolution without experience and authority.
Not after we got Fox and the expectation is to win 50 games every year from the next season onwards, no exceptions. It would be a miracle if an inexperienced coach could handle that.
We don't have the luxury OKC and Memphis had since they got their young coaches while they were still bad. We should've done so last year.

I wonder if these are the organization's expectations. Or instead maybe we're entering into an era where ownership is content with just being a playoff team most years. On the surface, that doesn't seem to reconcile with investments in the practice facility and new arena, and it certainly doesn't reconcile with our history... but who knows. As many other have stated... this offseason will be very telling.

If we essentially just run it back next year with a couple of draft picks and some turnover of the end of the roster, with Mitch still interim for a maybe-return of Pop... then we might need to prepare to become the next Sacramento Kings.

[ChumpDumper]

No one is slitting their wrists, we're all engaging in discussion here on this Discussion Board. Maybe one of these days you can conjure enough of a valuable insight to contribute to it.

In the meantime, perhaps you and Mr. Body can collaborate on a thread of approved topics for people to not discuss, and whenever someone is in the mood for your condescending quips that contribute nothing to the dialogue, we'll check in there. I'm sure it will be riveting.No, you're making up scenarios in your head and getting frothing angry at them.

You can talk all you want, just don't act like your fantasies have actually happened.

[ChumpDumper]

At the end, what will truly matter is obviously what Spurs will do at the end of the season.
What they are saying right now is quite irrelevant to me. I won't trash them over that, especially since I don't expect them to tell the whole truth about the situation.

To me, Spurs' coaching situation is quite simple:
- Pop can't be back as a head coach.
- Spurs need to have a head coach for June.
- Even if Mitch Johnson was in a tough spot this season, he doesn't seem to be fit for that job.

This is the reasonable conclusion. I'll be as angry as anyone if this is dragged out past then. No reason to prepiss your pants.

[LeBowen]

I wonder if these are the organization's expectations. Or instead maybe we're entering into an era where ownership is content with just being a playoff team most years. On the surface, that doesn't seem to reconcile with investments in the practice facility and new arena, and it certainly doesn't reconcile with our history... but who knows. As many other have stated... this offseason will be very telling.

If we essentially just run it back next year with a couple of draft picks and some turnover of the end of the roster, with Mitch still interim for a maybe-return of Pop... then we might need to prepare to become the next Sacramento Kings.

If we're talking about priorities, my list would be something like:
#1 Wemby's health - there's nothing to talk about if he doesn't fully recover, we're a dead franchise.
#2 Coaching staff - I'd rather have the current roster with prime Pop (yeah, I know he'd kick Devin and Keldon out :lol), than win the lottery with Mitch or current Pop.
#3 Roster - Nothing that can't be fixed right away if we have the right coach and system. We got our core players. It would obviously be better if we get the best roster possible, but as I said, coaching is a much bigger need for me.

The more I watch this team, the more I think disgustingly bad coaching is the issue. Even before we got Fox and Wemby got down it was obvious Mitch is completely lost. Wemby just masked it.

[TD 21]

If this proves to be Pop not willing to face the fact that it's over or at least is deferring it until the last possible moment, I suspect Budenholzer could be back in play.

Even if Booker stays into next season, it's obviously over for this era of the Suns, which means cutting their exorbitant payroll will continue to be a focus.

They'd probably like to get out of his contract (according to Haynes, it doesn't sound like things between Booker and him are great anyway) if they could.

[scott]

From the Spurs POV - what is the argument for Bud? Are we just willing to chalk up the end of his MIL tenure and his time in PHX to bad circumstances? Does he not have any culpability in the way things went there?

[LeBowen]

From the Spurs POV - what is the argument for Bud? Are we just willing to chalk up the end of his MIL tenure and his time in PHX to bad circumstances? Does he not have any culpability in the way things went there?

Yeah, there are some serious question marks around him, but if available he'd be by far the safest choice with highest floor.
Right now we need to raise the floor and become a playoff team, we can worry about the ceiling in 2 to 3 seasons.

[Seventyniner]

Yeah, there are some serious question marks around him, but if available he'd be by far the safest choice with highest floor.
Right now we need to raise the floor and become a playoff team, we can worry about the ceiling in 2 to 3 seasons.

High floor is important. Him being a friend of Pop's is probably even more important. I can imagine there being a short list of people Pop would be willing to step aside for, and Bud would have to be on that list.

[spurraider21]

phoenix was a wreck last year as well. they disappointed as a 6 seed, got bounced in the first round. the west wasnt as good as it has been this year (memphis was down and out, houston hadnt really arrived yet).

all that happened in the offseason was that they got older and eric gordon left. they got Tyus Jones, who hasnt helped as much as most thought he would. but still, bud's inability to maxmize that roster is a fair question mark

with that said, i dont really hold the bucks ending against him. he won the title 2 years before he was fired. he got fired after a first round exit where Giannis was hurt (missed 2 of the 5 games, played 10 minutes in one of the other 3), and they lost to a Miami team that was on a serious heater (pun intended) and got all the way to the finals. and his brother died in a car accidnet literally in the middle of that series.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

phoenix was a wreck last year as well. they disappointed as a 6 seed, got bounced in the first round. the west wasnt as good as it has been this year (memphis was down and out, houston hadnt really arrived yet).

all that happened in the offseason was that they got older and eric gordon left. they got Tyus Jones, who hasnt helped as much as most thought he would. but still, bud's inability to maxmize that roster is a fair question mark

with that said, i dont really hold the bucks ending against him. he won the title 2 years before he was fired. he got fired after a first round exit where Giannis was hurt (missed 2 of the 5 games, played 10 minutes in one of the other 3), and they lost to a Miami team that was on a serious heater (pun intended) and got all the way to the finals

And didn't bud's brother pass away right when the playoffs started one of those years?

[spurraider21]

And didn't bud's brother pass away right when the playoffs started one of those years?
yeah just edited my post to reflect that

i think the bucks were very stupid to fire Bud. but i think its fair to criticize his one year in phoenix even though that was far from an ideal spot as far as the roster construction, flexibility, and unrealisitc expectations

[Ocotillo]

From the Spurs POV - what is the argument for Bud? Are we just willing to chalk up the end of his MIL tenure and his time in PHX to bad circumstances? Does he not have any culpability in the way things went there?

He did well early on with Atlanta and then even ringing with the Bucks. He may not have the personality to deal with superstars. Giannis appears to have been a big part of why we was cut loose there and Kevin Durant, while talented, is a bit of a handful to deal with.

[RC_Drunkford]

one of the main reasons I want pop to officially step away from coaching is so we can get a new coach and clear house of all these useless bums we have on the coaching staff now. it's been obvious for awhile that the FO/coaching staff needs a complete overhaul and that shit will never happen while Pop is in charge. We need new blood in here badly, not another Pop lacky filling in for him until he feels up to teaching our guys about Africa and playing coach again

I've been dreaming of this day to come for years...

[scott]

Thanks all who responded to my Bud question. I don't have any strong opinions about Bud, so I was wondering.

I kind of like the things that Fox has said about Mike Brown and wouldn't mind him returning as an assistant. With that said, if Bud got fired and we hired Bud or Mike Brown... would they be giving up their payouts from PHX/SAC to come here? Could that be an impediment to hiring them? I have heard something similar about Monty (who I don't really want anyway)

[Ice009]

Is it possible the get paid and then if they get another job those payments stop, or is that not allowed?

[Uriel]

https://x.com/esidery/status/1895466146629112004
Yes please.

[Amuseddaysleeper]

I’d love a chance for the Spurs to get Vogel

[Ice009]

I’d love a chance for the Spurs to get Vogel

Is Frank Vogel currently working on a team?

Do you think he's a legit good head coach?

[Amuseddaysleeper]

Is Frank Vogel currently working on a team?

Do you think he's a legit good head coach?

No, and yes. He did a damn good job with the Lakers, and the Pacers before that. He even got this insanely dysfunctional suns team to 50 wins not that long ago.

I’d take him over Becky or Mitch.

[Ice009]

No, and yes. He did a damn good job with the Lakers, and the Pacers before that. He even got this insanely dysfunctional suns team to 50 wins not that long ago.

I’d take him over Becky or Mitch.

Alright, sounds like he could be a good candidate. I knew he was a decent coach, but hadn't followed him closely. I'll have to look up he coaching record and maybe take a look at some of his rosters he's had to work with.
I just did a quick Google search and it seems Jason Kidd thinks very highly of him. Said he's helped his coaching a lot with the time he spent on the Lakers working under him. I read he's hired as a coaching consultant with the Mavericks. Not sure if he's still got that job with them now?

[exstatic]

I’d love a chance for the Spurs to get Vogel

:vomit:

[quentin_compson]

As far as I know, a coach that has been fired/let go by a franchise has to be paid the remaining money of his contract - unless another agreement is reached or unless he signs a new contract somewhere else which then terminates his old contract. For example, Monty Williams will be paid all of the money the Pistons still owe him for that ridiculously large contract they gave him - unless another franchise (let's hope it's not the Spurs) somehow doesn't realize how terribly out of touch with the current game Monty seems to be and gives him another coaching job.

As for Bud: I think we have enough evidence from his stints with the Hawks and the Bucks that he is really good at developing and forming a team into a functioning unit that can be decent in the playoffs. What he maybe wasn't as great at was adjustments deeper in the playoffs. If I recall correctly, he ran some really strange schemes that didn't put Giannis into the best possible positions even during their title run in the early rounds of the playoffs. But then again, as someone here already said, the Spurs are quite some ways away from being deep into the playoffs anyway. I think Bud would be a fine option for the next couple of years.

[Spursfanfromafar]

Chad Forcier is one guy the Spurs should try out if they are moving on from Pop. Good assistant during the Spurs Renaissance years before he left in 2016. Currently with Bud's staff in Phoenix.

[Ocotillo]

Chad Forcier is one guy the Spurs should try out if they are moving on from Pop. Good assistant during the Spurs Renaissance years before he left in 2016. Currently with Bud's staff in Phoenix.

He was the development guy back in the day when the Spurs were doing better developing the young guys if memory serves.

[Uriel]

Sources told ESPN that tears were shed from those in the room during Thursday's meeting and players saw physical signs of what Popovich has gone through since the stroke.
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44041998/gregg-popovich-visits-spurs-return-season

[Amuseddaysleeper]

:vomit:

But enough about Mitch Johnson and Vassell this season

[ginobilized]

I hope for the best for Pop. Who has done more for the city of San Antonio? He's given his all to the team and the organization. No question.

Basketball is his life and it must be what motivates him. With his future ability to coach and/or function as a 76 yr old, his "hope" to return to coaching is troublesome to me. Of course, I get it from his perspective. It feels like he could be holding the players, coaches, FO and the fans hostage as we wait and see how one man's unlikely/unprecedented return to the bench goes. It's a weird conundrum for the FO that Pop created. The absolute nightmare would be that we postpone the replacement search for a HC only to find that Pop is incapable of coaching and roll with Mitch again as a backup plan. That's a lose-lose scenario.

I hope a timeline and more clarity emerge around this by the beginning of the off-season.

[Gandalf]

As a wise [m]an once said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”

Time to get over yourself Pop. Enjoy retirement. Don’t burn down your legacy, Wemby’s and Castle’s careers, and a billion-dollar franchise trying to cling to what you want.

Mitch needs to go too. Collins is actually doing well as soon as he’s under a different coaching staff, after sucking when Pop and Mitch were in charge. Time to see what a good coach can do for our remaining players, before they’re on other teams.

[Spursfanfromafar]

He was the development guy back in the day when the Spurs were doing better developing the young guys if memory serves.

Exactly.

[z0sa]

As a wise [m]an once said, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.”

Time to get over yourself Pop. Enjoy retirement. Don’t burn down your legacy, Wemby’s and Castle’s careers, and a billion-dollar franchise trying to cling to what you want.

Mitch needs to go too. Collins is actually doing well as soon as he’s under a different coaching staff, after sucking when Pop and Mitch were in charge. Time to see what a good coach can do for our remaining players, before they’re on other teams.

Yeah, I found this kind of surprising. Guess I shouldn't. Our coaches are genuinely terrible.

Yesterday: 15 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists in 40 minutes

[dn0774]

Yeah, I found this kind of surprising. Guess I shouldn't. Our coaches are genuinely terrible.

Yesterday: 15 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists in 40 minutes

And most shockingly a +28 plus/minus in a comeback win.

[poopbox]

Thanks all who responded to my Bud question. I don't have any strong opinions about Bud, so I was wondering.

I kind of like the things that Fox has said about Mike Brown and wouldn't mind him returning as an assistant. With that said, if Bud got fired and we hired Bud or Mike Brown... would they be giving up their payouts from PHX/SAC to come here? Could that be an impediment to hiring them? I have heard something similar about Monty (who I don't really want anyway)

Yeah not sure if it's an actual cba level rule but coaching contracts are prorated, since coaches contracts are guaranteed (unless they agree to a buyout, etc) If Mike becomes a coach for the spurs typically what happens is whatever salary he gets, gets deducted from what the Kings owe him. If the Kings owe him 20 million and Mike signs on to be the spurs coach for 3 years and 15 million then typically the kings would owe him 5 million instead of 20. It's the main reason why you see coaches sit out a season or go into broadcasting or something until their contract is actually up.

Funny enough Mike is a good example of this. He sit out 2 years after getting fired by cleveland the second time, cause he was getting paid by Cleveland (only lasted the one year) AND still getting paid by the lakers (only lasted what, 10 games or something) :lol

[scott]

Yeah not sure if it's an actual cba level rule but coaching contracts are prorated, since coaches contracts are guaranteed (unless they agree to a buyout, etc) If Mike becomes a coach for the spurs typically what happens is whatever salary he gets, gets deducted from what the Kings owe him. If the Kings owe him 20 million and Mike signs on to be the spurs coach for 3 years and 15 million then typically the kings would owe him 5 million instead of 20. It's the main reason why you see coaches sit out a season or go into broadcasting or something until their contract is actually up.

Funny enough Mike is a good example of this. He sit out 2 years after getting fired by cleveland the second time, cause he was getting paid by Cleveland (only lasted the one year) AND still getting paid by the lakers (only lasted what, 10 games or something) :lol

So in theory, would that allow a scenario where say Mike has two more years on his SAC deal, he could do a 3-year deal with SAS for $1MM/yr and then a 3rd year at $10MM?

Maybe that is a way out of this for the Spurs, who might be afraid to force Pop out because then they'll still owe him $51MM over the next 3 years?

[Bruno]

CBA is an agreement between the NBPA and the NBA. It give rules for players' contract.

I'm not sure there is a "CBA" between the NBA and a coaches' union that defines how coaches' contracts are structured.

[RC_Drunkford]

hope the word was tank

1895883918605218208

[BackHome]

Yeah, they lost after the meeting- One question I have to ask I know Pop recently signed a new contract making him the highest paid coach I wonder how it is structured if he has to retire for medical reasons vs being let go?

[poopbox]

So in theory, would that allow a scenario where say Mike has two more years on his SAC deal, he could do a 3-year deal with SAS for $1MM/yr and then a 3rd year at $10MM?

Maybe that is a way out of this for the Spurs, who might be afraid to force Pop out because then they'll still owe him $51MM over the next 3 years?

Maybe. I'm not 100% on how the money is divided up amongst the years. If the Kings owe Mike 20 million, the Spurs pay him 15 million to coach, the Kings now owe him 5 million, but how they have to pay that 5 (yearly or lump sum) I am not sure.

You bring up a good point though about Pop. We forget he is not just a coach, he's the president of basketball operations, so he doesn't just have a coach salary. he has a coach AND executive salary. 51 million would be quite a bit for a small market team to swallow to just have Pop go away. I'd think he just stays on as president of basketball operations and his salary is just 51 million owed for that job.

[RC_Drunkford]

From the Spurs POV - what is the argument for Bud? Are we just willing to chalk up the end of his MIL tenure and his time in PHX to bad circumstances? Does he not have any culpability in the way things went there?

1895547025804181939

[scott]

1895547025804181939

Suns coach tenures are decreasing at a rapid pace… eventually they’ll just start firing guys instantly upon hiring :lol

[exstatic]

But enough about Mitch Johnson and Vassell this season

Those aren’t the only two choices. Hating on Vogel doesn’t mean I love Mitch. Snyder, Hardy, and Bud all shit on Vogel.

[scott]

Suns coach tenures are decreasing at a rapid pace… eventually they’ll just start firing guys instantly upon hiring :lol

Looks like a classic NBA Cental gotcha… haven’t seen this Bud news reported anywhere else

[scott]

Yeah, they lost after the meeting- One question I have to ask I know Pop recently signed a new contract making him the highest paid coach I wonder how it is structured if he has to retire for medical reasons vs being let go?

The meeting was on Thursday, they haven't played since Wednesday. With that said, I fully expect them to get their shit pushed today and tomorrow.

[Seventyniner]

Suns coach tenures are decreasing at a rapid pace… eventually they’ll just start firing guys instantly upon hiring :lol

Or take it a step further and fire a guy before hiring him at all.

[scott]

Or take it a step further and fire a guy before hiring him at all.

Also known as The Josh McDaniels Threshold.

[BackHome]

Those aren’t the only two choices. Hating on Vogel doesn’t mean I love Mitch. Snyder, Hardy, and Bud all shit on Vogel.

Just curious who would be your top two realistic coaches you would want?

[exstatic]

Just curious who would be your top two realistic coaches you would want?

Snyder/Hardy. They’re both good coaches on bad or tanking teams. I have no idea what their contract statuses are.

[BackHome]

I really like Snyder but he just signed a new contract I believe - As far as Hardy doesn’t he also have time with the Spurs he is one of my top 3 coaches I like and would pick him over Bud or Brown all day every day. Another coach I would like but would never happen is Spoelstra as he would never leave Riley

One thing who ever we bring in we also need to get him good assistant coaches a riser that I like is Sam Cassell as he has played with great big men during his playing times.

[couchman]

Put this win on Pop I guess? Haha

[cutewizard]

Manu could be Executive VP

Pop stays on as Pres

Find a new Head Coach

[Ice009]

Now that you've bought it up, I'd love Manu to be head coach, but I don't want to ruin his life ;). I think he'd be too intense.

[Jordan Jackson]

So basically- they got Pop out of bed to yell at these guys to play hard for 4 quarters.

Yeah, Mitch might not make the cut.

[TD 21]

From the Spurs POV - what is the argument for Bud? Are we just willing to chalk up the end of his MIL tenure and his time in PHX to bad circumstances? Does he not have any culpability in the way things went there?

I don't think they care about that or virtually anything other than whether someone is "part of the family" and if the timing aligns (however the mechanics of it would have to be), I suspect he'd be at or near the top of the list.

I prefer it goes to someone young and of color.

[spursistan]

The family/in-house options are likely to be Borrego/Mike Brown/Budenholzer (if fired). I really doubt they go 'woke' in this politically charged climate and hire Becky Hammond (DEI and all that jazz.)

This sounds like Pop will give it a final try next season. They will use the excuse of an extremely dry coaching market to give him the opportunity to go out on his own terms, on a high note (a winning season)


https://x.com/mikecwright/status/1896043978409328838

Another wildcard, which may explain him not pushing for a buy out? Paul angling for aa future coaching gig..Wemby is a gravy train everyone is waiting to hop onto even as an Assistant coach..

https://x.com/mikecwright/status/1896063702622957731

[scott]

The family/in-house options are likely to be Borrego/Mike Brown/Budenholzer (if fired). I really doubt they go 'woke' in this politically charged climate and hire Becky Hammond (DEI and all that jazz.)



Unless directed otherwise by Holt Jr himself, I don't think the Spurs FO cares about "this politically charged climate"

[Teamduncan21]

They shouldn't hire Becky because of DEI. They should hire Becky if they think she's the best choice. The goal is to win. Not to be diverse. She used to be an assistant coach and is champion.

[Ice009]

I'm OK with Becky if they think she's the best candidate to coach the team. I don't care if it's a guy or girl. I'm fine with a hire like that if he or she is the best candidate. The Spurs wouldn't hire anyone based on DEI reasons.