How would you ‘prove it’? There don’t even have to be any texts or calls. They spent the better part of a week hanging at the ASG. That’s how the Heatles came to be: the 2008 Olympic team.
Let not sign any elite scorer because he’s an elite scorer. We could also find one who could fill the void at PF.
Basically Lavine would get either Johnson or Vassell’s position in the starting lineup, and these are two guys who showed great promises by the end of the season.
Hard disagree. First, it's not 3 to 5 years on the extensions, it's next year and the year after on all 4 players I mentioned. Secondly, if as a GM, you aren't looking ahead on the potential impact of extensions of your core players on your cap situation, then you aren't doing your job.
Again, I am not disagreeing with your underlying point though. I think Lavine is probably worthy of a max contract given his youth and production. I just don't think given our talent base that adding a Lavine gets you where you need to be, again, based on our current roster.
Keldon is being played as a 4, yes. But he's not one defensively. He gets destroyed. This really should be clear by now to everyone as we continually give up career point totals each year.
Primo has been played as a 2, or even as a 1 at times. But he's not either, clearly. His game is gonna be sitting in the corner waiting for a pass-out.
Vassell has played both the 2 and the 3, but his game clearly is best suited as an off-ball 3. He's barely competent as a 2.
Lavine is the only one that has the skill to actually be played as a 2 guard full time. Though his ability to penetrate as a 3, from the wing makes the floor much more open for everyone else, and he's listed as a 2 and 3. So depending on lineup he could flex to the 2. Chicago seemed to have the most success with him playing mid-wing.
Were it me, if you're going to bring in Lavine, you are forced to play him at 2 next to Murray, then have either KJ or Vassell as the starter or bench 3. Then that pushes Primo to the deep bench. And that makes no sense for your previous year's lottery pick. Or it says really not good things about your previous year's lottery pick.
Either way, imo, I see a logjam at the 3.
Vassell and DJ’s extensions would kick in the season of 24-25. Primo the year later. Alot can happen between now and than but I wouldn’t assume Primo and Vassell are locks for being extended. In that core team you outlined earlier, Lavine isn’t the reason that team isn’t a contender, its the others. There is virtually no player in the NBA that if you replaced Lavine with them would make that core contenders.
Exactly. I agree it's the others. But what do you think the odds are that those guys aren't offered contracts -- which even on team friendly contracts and in addition to Lavine's supposed max -- hamstring the team at less than championship level for the next 5 years?
I am pretty sure PATFO extends KJ, Vassell, Murray, and Poeltl. Which takes me back to my previous post's question...is a core of Murray, Lavine, Vassell, KJ, Poeltl, Primo, plus whomever they draft this year, championship stuff? I don't see it. But I think it depends heavily on the development of Primo, Vassell, and this year's draft choice(s).
All of that is to say I don't think maxing out Lavine, as good a potentially player as he is and how much better he could make the team, is a wise move precisely because of the existing collective talent on the roster. And if not, then you've just ostensibly locked in mediocrity for 5+ years or more, barring other FA moves / trades.
Just my take.
You should tell Popovich this. He'd be interested to know.
The old man should have also known Bryn Forbes wasn't the next Steph Curry.
He's a HOF coach but sometimes you can't fit a square peg in a round hole, despite your best efforts. Primo is certainly not a 1. If he learns not to turn it over and how to dribble better, it's feasible he could at least be competent at the 2. Until then, he's a SF. Get Pop on the phone and I'll be happy to let him know.
If that's all that happened then it's not tampering and certainly not what I mean by "KNOWING THAT IT'S HAPPENING" (an explicit arrangement between Spurs front office and his agents). Dejounte Murray can't arrange his team's FA signings with a handshake like LeBron can, it would have required A LOT more than that (FO, agents, etc.). Which is why I don't think that happened, and why I said it's most likely just wishful thinking on his part.
This one is simple.
If the Bulls offer LaVine the 5 year max (and the only reason to think they won't is if their medical staff advises otherwise), he'll re-sign. Anything less than that and he'll minimally utilize the Spurs as leverage, if not sign with them altogether.
In addition to his friendship with Murray, they can sell him on being "the man" again, instead of a floor spacer for an aging, one dimensional player. They can also sell youth that can insulate him defensively, financial flexibility and extra picks as assets to improve the team going forward.
Any notion that the Spurs shouldn't sign him because of a sub championship ceiling is absurd. Almost every path leads to that, they've actively avoided giving themselves the best odds to create something greater and this is among the last places that can afford to turn down a prime, All-Star free agent, who's a good on court and likely off court fit too.
You make finding an Elite Scoring PF sound really easy, So… where do we get one?
Lavine is a pure 2. KJ is a 3/4, and Vassell is a 2/3 who hasn’t shown enough to dissuade me from getting an all-star who may eat some of his minutes.
Pretty much.
If the Spurs don't move up in the draft, I'd give them a 2% chance of Lavine. 1.5% for Dejounte, and 0.5% for Pop and the general upward potential versus the aging Chicago stars.
If the Spurs move up and get some big talent like Banchero to boost the roster and the northwest swag, I would put the chances at 20%
Even then it's a long shot
And the money isn't a big deal. I think his first year would be 37 million? He's 3 times the player McDermott is, so fine by me
Agreed. Lavine is a walking bucket when healthy. A Lavine/Murray is a younger CP3/Booker back court. A very talented and complementary back court entering their prime.
Lol comparing DJM to CP3
A poor man’s version.
I’m not saying it’s easy to find, but if we put all our money on Lavine then we’ll never find it.
It’s not all of our money. He would start around 35mm and we’d still have decent cap flexibility going forward. McD, JRich and Collins is 33mm alone that could be moved pretty easily.
He's not coming to San Antonio anyways. The team isn't very good, lacking star players and the city is not an attractive destination.
The Spurs need to build through the draft and trades.
An interview from three months ago
”for right now this is my home” when asked about free agency
Draymond with big praise for Keldon
And I don’t get the “Zach wants to be his own man” narrative. Listen to this interview and this guy oozes unselfishness.
People here saying Lavine won‘t put us over the top really cant see the big picture. We got the 2025 Bulls pick. We also got a young roster that’s improving and we would still have to find a starting PF. Lavine would definitely fit, you see how far you get and then add to the team. The Spurs will be stuck in mediocrity anyhow, they‘ll never tank
And unlike a year ago, our young players have now become valuable trade assets since they were actually able to show promise this year because they weren’t behind the shadow of the ballhog named DeMar. Guys like Vassell, Keldon could yield the Spurs a #11 to #15 pick if the Spurs find themselves with a late FRP because Zach made them into a playoff team. And with that late lottery pick, magic can happen.
Last edited by Dejounte; 04-30-2022 at 09:26 PM.
Not sure if I'm included in the narrative part, but if so, that's not what I suggested. He's always come off as one of the more down to earth stars in the league (and is actually in the ideal role for him now), but being able to offer him clear first option status wouldn't hurt their case.
An interview from three months ago
”for right now this is my home” when asked about free agency
Draymond with big praise for Keldon
And I don’t get the “Zach wants to be his own man” narrative. Listen to this interview and this guy oozes unselfishness.
Didn't Wade talk about how he had dinner and wine with Bosh and convinced him to join Miami
It seems to be a pretty popular opinion here that we already have a core of Primo/Vassell/Keldon/DJ/Jak in place and it’s just a matter of developing these guys further which is absolutely ridiculous.
As you mentioned getting Lavine makes it easier to move young assets as they develop.
Nah we are still short of a penetrator and a PF to have a decent SL not to mention a core. Also we do not have a great on ball defender at the perimeter.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
