I don't think Collins has been so wonderful. He can sometimes get nice numbers against tanking teams without NBA talent in Portland, who he was also motivated against for obvious reasons. 1 career double double and it's against Eubanks.
Wright has not been Jerry West by any means. However, he has done a very nice job for the Spurs this season. He has helped us attain several possible future assets, as well as keep our cap in order. Honestly, it feels like this team is really close to being a top 5 contender for many years to come. We just need 1 dominant and athletic Big to start and 1 versatile guy who can play 1-4 to come off the bench. , as big a Poeltl fan as I am, I would trade him for some serious draft capital, especially if it landed us a more athletic version of Jakob.
I don't think Collins has been so wonderful. He can sometimes get nice numbers against tanking teams without NBA talent in Portland, who he was also motivated against for obvious reasons. 1 career double double and it's against Eubanks.
Close to a playoff team, not even close to becoming a contender.
Just to clarify my point, he looks mostly like a replacement level player, but considering the chance he would play a week then crumble into a pile of dust, I'm happy that he has shown enough to be brought back, but that's more of a statement of our weak big man department outside of Yak, and according to some, including Yak.
dont know about this. when was the last time he was healthy enough during an offseason to work on his game?
I think it goes back to expectations. To me, him not disintegrating on the court is a sign of healthiness. I hope his physical functioning improves, and it may, but he could easily get another injury and get worse. It's too early to say either way, I suppose.
Plus, in this day & age, Zach's contract is practically a penny stock, less than the MLE and not fully guaranteed. The worst possible outcome is the Spurs took a small chance with him, it didn't work out, and both sides move on. The best outcome is he plays like a $12-15mil type of player in his 3rd year.
I disagree. Murray, Johnson, Vassell, and Poeltl have all elevated their games as the year has progressed. Richardson looks to be a very good fit to the rotation for the future. McDermott has already shown he belongs in the rotation once he comes back from injury. Collins is finding his groove. Lonnie has gotten a bit more consistent, but still needs as some improving to do. Who knows if he will be with the team next year, I won't complain if he is. Jones needs to find his consistency now that he is getting more playing time. He has some good moments, but also many bad moments. Landale has proven that he deserves at least 15 minutes a game. Primo has had an up and down rookie season, but he is still way too inconsistent. However, he is only 18, and if he is a gym rat in the offseason, he should come back vastly improved next year.
This team is a lot better than its record. I honestly believe that several of the games we lost early on, would be wins now. The team is playing so much better especially in the 4th quarter of games.
Yeah, it's been a year of major growth for several key players. Anyone shrugging off this season as a "waste" or bad season because the team didn't tank it out is foolish. Great developmental year for the Spurs and hopefully the draft/play-in/playoffs process keeps building onto that, whatever the outcome.
No one is arguing this year wasn’t a success. Biggems is arguing we are a player away from contention.
The team is much better than it was at the beginning of the year. It's better balanced as a roster, two players have made big leaps, others are getting time that weren't before. The biggest problem has been knowing how to close games and they're getting better in this regard.
I'd agree we are a player away from contention, too, tbh. The supporting cast is there. The complication, of course, is getting a real, true "that guy" player. Maybe this draft unearths it, maybe not. But the Spurs could be one Ja Morant, or Luka Doncic, away from relative contention, I wouldn't say it's an insane take.
There's a lot of dead weight on the current roster that won't be there next season, both in players and dead cap space. The team will look different.
Most, including myself would agree we are a generational talent such as Ja or Luka away from contention LOL
So you're saying, we are a player away from contention? Good to know...![]()
Co-signed. Had to be among of the few folks here with you cheering the signing.
Yes, we are a superstar away from contention. That holds true for 75% of the league.
There's a lot of variables involved in this, we have a ton of young guys that can potentially break out with a hard working off season. The guys are all close with each other and around the same age so they should all be in the lab together a lot this off season. I expect leaps from Keldon, Devin, Primo, Tre, maybe Collins, even DJ will improve and hopefully finding a gem with the top 9 pick this season with two other 1st round picks. This team for sure has some upside to compete in the near future if PATFO make the right moves. My confidence with Brian Wright has risen exponentially.
The thing is the Spurs don't have that Superstar yet.
Suns-Booker
Grizz-Morant
Warriors-Curry
Mavs-Luka
Jazz-Mitc , even though I think he's done there and the Jazz are going to reset
Timberwolves-Edwards, wouldn't label him that yet but he's a superstar talent out the box and has the Timberwolves 2 games out of 5th.
Nuggets-Jokic
Clippers-Nephew.
It's going to be tough to be a legit contender in the west without a legit superstar and a huge leap from the supporting cast, which I think will happen..acquiring a superstar not so much.
The best player on the Spurs would be the 2nd or 3rd best players on most contenders... that's not nearly enough. You don't necessarily need and MVP caliber player to contend (though most championship caliber teams do have one such player), but you can't have a SINGLE all star caliber player (barely) and expect to contend.
You could also go the 2004 Detroit route, which didn't have a superstar or even close... but they had FOUR all stars plus Tayshaun Prince and McDyess. A talent level comparison of this current Spurs team with championship teams is light years away.
While we wait for Superman to save us, Wright should at least start trimming fat this off-season. I’ve put down the bong, and no longer feel we should resign Lonnie, for example. He had a good 5-10 game run but it dried up and he is still a bad defender, as much as it hurts to write that. I hope he stays in the league and goes to the EC and has a few great games a year at our expense, but I’ve moved on, again, I guess. McBuckets—please get rid of him, too. Those two subtractions, and more time for Primo, Vassel, and Richardson is preferable.
And yes, hopefully Wright strikes gold in the off-season.
Agreed. I think, slow & steady, the Spurs are developing, but at this rate it's going to be a bunch of years of trying to make the play in or considering a 6th seed a major accomplishment. The time will probably come when Wright has to make a big move, and that'll likely involve trading pieces that people have kind of fallen in love with out of team loyalty. I mean, we're fighting tooth and nail with a New Orleans team whose best player hasn't even played a single game this season, and 5 games behind a Clipper team whose #1 and #2 options have missed most of the season. Can you imagine what the Spurs' record would be if Dejounte had missed the entire year?
Bottomline is Wright’s has had a good year. It’s ok to give a man his due from time to time.
This off-season will presents a number of interesting questions:
- how do they resolve the Walker situation?
- do they keep all 4 picks this draft?
- what happens with Richardson?
- do they extend Keldon and at what price?
- with roster spots at a premium (bc multiple picks), whose leaving of KBD, Jock, weiskamf, Romeo, Tre?
- can they avoid using their cap space to give out another questionable McBuckets deal?
Great points. Draft day will probably dictate most of those.
so, then you agree that we are a player away....nice chancla move with your argument.
Superstar =/= ‘player’
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