Official 2022 NBA Free Agency Thread

[Ariel]

Saying the Spurs have done it “at last” is still premature

the moves of letting go DJ and Lonnie mirror the moves the offseason before that

they nearly matched last year’s win / loss record.

Let’s see what the rest of the moves are before we start claiming we know the direction the team is taking

the mindset could, after all, be the same as last offseason and that is to pave way to develop the next man up

folks are so sure the FO has blown it all up but some argue DeMar is/was a better player than DJ. If that is the case, then why weren’t people screaming the last year that the Spurs were tanking and that they were put in a position by the FO to fail?

The answer to that is the Spurs believed their youth could perform as good or better than the team with DeMar, Mills, Gay.

and my stance (as of now) is that the Spurs believe their youth behind Murray could perform as good or better than when it was led by Murray.

Wright flat out said it: he’s focused on now and the future.

Bottom line is that the Spurs have yet to do anything different from the offseason before this one and there is nothing yet to conclude about what they plan for this upcoming season.

people are afraid to say anything is “TO BE DETERMINED” or unknown. But sometimes, that is the case and it is better than pretending to know.

Actually I said "the FO seems to have done at last", so if we're going for rigor, let's start there. But regardless, that wouldn't be any more a leap of faith on my part than anyone claiming to know that the FO is NOT doing some other thing. Which is ok because this is an internet discussion board and not a peer reviewed scientific paper looking to get published. Everybody looks at the same data and draws different conclusions, based on how their perception and beliefs, and the best that you can ask for is something to back it up, instead of an explicit disclaimer that what's being said is merely an opinion.
In this case, when I look at pretty much every move the FO has made going back one year, it's cost us veteran talent and it's gotten us future picks and assets, which we've turned into an unusual number of rookies with some shared traits: extremely young and with perceived potential (even if I do not necessarily agree in all cases). That to me is more in line with a "deep" rebuild (whichever you want to call it), that simply a conviction that whomever leaves has a better alternative waiting to take his place. That's my stance, as much as you have yours, and as you said "sometimes, that is the case (that something is “TO BE DETERMINED”) and it is better than pretending to know". So until those facts arrive, we'll all continue to post our opinions in here.

[mystargtr34]

He's going to want closer to 20 per I'm sure.

That's Jarrett Allen level money. Im sure there's all sorts of negotiation tactics going on like with every contract, but don't think his agent can ask for that with a straight face. I think $17.5m per is the absolute top end he can get, $15m per most likely.

https://www.spotrac.com/nba/contracts/center/

Some comparable for Jakob

Capela ($23m)
Allen ($20m)
Turner ($20m)
Nurkic ($17.5m)
Adams ($17.5m)
JV ($15m)
Mitc Robinson ($15m)
Brooke Lopez ($13m)
Rob Williams ($12m)
Zubac ($11m)

[mystargtr34]

Maybe the 4th year is a sticking point. Would Spurs fans give Jakob 4/$60m? I would be more than happy with 3/$45m, and would probably go with 4/$60m if you twisted my arm, given Jakob is only 27.

[AFBlue]

So, no news then?

[exstatic]

With David being hurt so much that year they weren’t going anywhere. If you think those extended injuries by other players weren’t milked, then ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ . I supported that, rooted for them anyway and consequently not for the Lakers that year or any other. And yeah, the balls gave them a better return than expected. This year they won’t have to milk injuries, they’ll be evaluating young talent, team building and more than likely picking in the lottery next year. I’m more excited to watch this year than I have been in years no matter what you call that. Go Spurs Go.

Sean’s kidneys were in the process of failing. He had also missed half a season either the year before or after, too. Not a fake or exaggerated injury.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

They milked broken feet and kidney failures on order to tank Jesus the lengths people go to on their own team.

[Ice009]

I followed that season from afar as I am not in the US and wasn't able to watch the games until years later when we got better internet, but from what I remember, I don't think the Spurs tanked intentionally.

I remember reading that David Robinson could have maybe come back at the end of the season and the Spurs could have made a push for the 8tth seed and teams didn't really want to face them if they made the playoffs, but I also recall that there was also a question of whether or not the Spurs wanted to risk allowing David to come back in case he hurt himself again. Don't remember Sean's injuries, though, and/or if he could have played more games?

I also recall that team played hard, especially on the defensive end and I respected them for it. I was young, but I remember being OK with the losses due to how hard they competed on the defensive end. IMO, they played their asses off all season and weren't trying to lose games at all. Correct me if I am wrong, but I recall close losses to good teams. Dominique, despite being a lot older, played his butt off. Although I assumed the Spurs signed him as a 3rd or 4th option, I thought he played hard for the Spurs being thrust into the role of a first option. I actually always wondered why they didn't bring him back the following season? Was it his choice to leave, or did they not want him back?

[objective]

I followed that season from afar as I am not in the US and wasn't able to watch the games until years later when we got better internet, but from what I remember, I don't think the Spurs tanked intentionally.

I remember reading that David Robinson could have maybe come back at the end of the season and the Spurs could have made a push for the 8tth seed and teams didn't really want to face them if they made the playoffs, but I also recall that there was also a question of whether or not the Spurs wanted to risk allowing David to come back in case he hurt himself again. Don't remember Sean's injuries, though, and/or if he could have played more games?

I also recall that team played hard, especially on the defensive end and I respected them for it. I was young, but I remember being OK with the losses due to how hard they competed on the defensive end. IMO, they played their asses off all season and weren't trying to lose games at all. Correct me if I am wrong, but I recall close losses to good teams. Dominique, despite being a lot older, played his butt off. Although I assumed the Spurs signed him as a 3rd or 4th option, I thought he played hard for the Spurs being thrust into the role of a first option. I actually always wondered why they didn't bring him back the following season? Was it his choice to leave, or did they not want him back?

Sean had knee surgery. He needed another knee surgery the next year for Duncan's rookie year and missed the last 3 months or so.

People didn't watch that team so nobody remembers anything.

Chuck Person was the sixth man but didn't play all year with the back surgery, which I think traced back to the Spurs plane accident.

Charles Smith was supposed to be the starting pf but his legs were so messed up he was only healthy enough to play a handful of games. He had career ending ankle surgery that summer if I remember right.

[MI21]

Chuck Person was the sixth man but didn't play all year with the back surgery, which I think traced back to the Spurs plane accident.

How do I have no recollection of this? Plane accident!?

[objective]

How do I have no recollection of this? Plane accident!?

Yes, it was the previous season I believe.

Long story short to my memory, 2 or 3 chairs were not actually bolted to the floor, so on the ascent on takeoff Person, Demps, and I *think* one other non-player went flying and were injured.

[scott]

Definitely revisionist to say that Spurs not playing DRob in the last few weeks was "tanking". The Spurs finished 16 games out of the 8th seed, and by the time DRob was cleared, there was no point in risking further injury. Is that tanking? Could they have played their best players coming off injury in order to maybe have the 6th worst record versus the 3rd? Maybe. But even if the lottery odds were flat (like they were when we drafted DRob), that would have still be stupid player management. You don't risk your franchise in meaningless games when there is that kind of injury risk.

They were just incredibly bad without DRob and Sean, as would any team missing its two biggest stars. Frickin' Carl Herrera started like 50+ games for us that year. I think Cadillac Anderson made his return to the Spurs that year as well and started a couple of games (talk about a dude who went in the crapper after he left the Spurs after his first two seasons). Monty Williams was on the team though, and I think it was his best season as a pro. I think 'Nique was pretty much done after this stint with the Spurs. He played overseas the season before and went back overseas after. I think he made a short stint back in the league a few years later but did absolutely nothing.

Of course, all of this can be verified and checked via Google, for anyone so included.

[KingKev]

Yes, it was the previous season I believe.

Long story short to my memory, 2 or 3 chairs were not actually bolted to the floor, so on the ascent on takeoff Person, Demps, and I *think* one other non-player went flying and were injured.

Am electric drill was later found in Pop’s carry-on. CIA Pop getting ahead of the Tim Duncan sweepstakes.

[Ice009]

Sean had knee surgery. He needed another knee surgery the next year for Duncan's rookie year and missed the last 3 months or so.

People didn't watch that team so nobody remembers anything.

Chuck Person was the sixth man but didn't play all year with the back surgery, which I think traced back to the Spurs plane accident.

Charles Smith was supposed to be the starting pf but his legs were so messed up he was only healthy enough to play a handful of games. He had career ending ankle surgery that summer if I remember right.

Thanks for all that great info. Some of it I knew, but just didn't remember. I just didn't have access to watch the team back then otherwise I still would have tried to watch every game (that's how big of a fan I was when I was a kid). Didn't get access to NBA games for another 8 years or so, but yeah, you are probably right in saying that hardly any Spurs fans watched the team that year.

I also completely forgot about the Chuck Person injury. I remember reading about it, but didn't remember the details until you mentioned it just now. I didn't know exactly how it happened. I just remember reading he injured his back on the plane. What a crappy freak injury.

I didn't remember Sean's exact injuries, so thanks for clarifying. I thought it might have been a knee or kidney issues, but was too long ago for me to remember. From what I recall, the kidney issues came later, but not sure if it was something Sean or the team was aware of in the '96 or '97 seasons?

How do I have no recollection of this? Plane accident!?

I actually do remember reading he injured his back on the plane, but didn't know the details. Completely forgot about it until Objective brought it up and explained the details a bit more. Pretty ty injury. I wonder how much longer Chuck could have played had it not have happened . He was very good on the Pacers and was also a solid player for the Spurs up until that injury too. I am guessing that injury derailed his career.

Definitely revisionist to say that Spurs not playing DRob in the last few weeks was "tanking". The Spurs finished 16 games out of the 8th seed, and by the time DRob was cleared, there was no point in risking further injury. Is that tanking? Could they have played their best players coming off injury in order to maybe have the 6th worst record versus the 3rd? Maybe. But even if the lottery odds were flat (like they were when we drafted DRob), that would have still be stupid player management. You don't risk your franchise in meaningless games when there is that kind of injury risk.

They were just incredibly bad without DRob and Sean, as would any team missing its two biggest stars. Frickin' Carl Herrera started like 50+ games for us that year. I think Cadillac Anderson made his return to the Spurs that year as well and started a couple of games (talk about a dude who went in the crapper after he left the Spurs after his first two seasons). Monty Williams was on the team though, and I think it was his best season as a pro. I think 'Nique was pretty much done after this stint with the Spurs. He played overseas the season before and went back overseas after. I think he made a short stint back in the league a few years later but did absolutely nothing.

Of course, all of this can be verified and checked via Google, for anyone so included.

I didn't actually remember at what point of the season D-Rob was cleared to return, but if we were 16 games behind the 8th seed like you've said, yeah, there was absolutely no need whatsoever to try and bring him back that season. I don't understand why fans from other teams said we were blatantly tanking that year. It may have appeared that way from the outside looking in, but I don't think the Spurs intentionally did it (plenty of teams in the past 10-20 years have shut down a star player who's been injured rather then bring them back at the end of the season when they really had nothing to play for, but they don't get criticized for it as they didn't get the number 1 pick like the Spurs did). I like to believe that the Spurs got the number 1 pick that year due to not intentionally tanking over the teams that were tanking. Maybe we got a little help there from the BB gods.

[objective]

Thanks for all that great info. Some of it I knew, but just didn't remember. I just didn't have access to watch the team back then otherwise I still would have tried to watch every game (that's how big of a fan I was when I was a kid). Didn't get access to NBA games for another 8 years or so, but yeah, you are probably right in saying that hardly any Spurs fans watched the team that year.

I also completely forgot about the Chuck Person injury. I remember reading about it, but didn't remember the details until you mentioned it just now. I didn't know exactly how it happened. I just remember reading he injured his back on the plane. What a crappy freak injury.

I didn't remember Sean's exact injuries, so thanks for clarifying. I thought it might have been a knee or kidney issues, but was too long ago for me to remember. From what I recall, the kidney issues came later, but not sure if it was something Sean or the team was aware of in the '96 or '97 seasons?



I actually do remember reading he injured his back on the plane, but didn't know the details. Completely forgot about it until Objective brought it up and explained the details a bit more. Pretty ty injury. I wonder how much longer Chuck could have played had it not have happened . He was very good on the Pacers and was also a solid player for the Spurs up until that injury too. I am guessing that injury derailed his career.



I didn't actually remember at what point of the season D-Rob was cleared to return, but if we were 16 games behind the 8th seed like you've said, yeah, there was absolutely no need whatsoever to try and bring him back that season. I don't understand why fans from other teams said we were blatantly tanking that year. It may have appeared that way from the outside looking in, but I don't think the Spurs intentionally did it (plenty of teams in the past 10-20 years have shut down a star player who's been injured rather then bring them back at the end of the season when they really had nothing to play for, but they don't get criticized for it as they didn't get the number 1 pick like the Spurs did). I like to believe that the Spurs got the number 1 pick that year due to not intentionally tanking over the teams that were tanking. Maybe we got a little help there from the BB gods.

Sean had both knee and kidney problems. The kidneys were known about when he failed his physical when Detroit tried to trade him to Houston. But he had knee and tendonitis issues back to college, he always wore the knee sleeves. Supposedly the kidney issues were caused or exacerbated by anti inflammatories for his knee pain, also thought to be an issue with Mourning.

Pop traded for him back when he was hired as gm and I think the Spurs waived the physical. The draft and trade news was so different back then, teams really sold the public on picks being legit before the official trade news happened. Spurs had a draft party and Pop came out to address the crowd on mic and said, "We took Bill Curley to back up David Robinson." And he was booed. For whatever reason he didn't give the hint that they had traded the pick for Sean and would have thrilled the crowd.

[wildbill2u]

The only reason the Spurs were criticized for tanking that year is that they wound up with the lucky draw in the lottery. If they hadn't got the number 1 pic, I doubt many people would have made so much out of the "deliberate tanking".

[Texas_Ranger]

yea baby, Gorgui Dieng is back

[mo7888]

Who's your second center?

Looks like the answer was G. Dieng

[Dejounte]

Looks like the answer was G. Dieng

Second center or third center. Buckle up.

[mo7888]

Second center or third center. Buckle up.

A total pro who'll be a good mentor and won't raise our floor but will allow our kids space to operate... I like it..

[emmo]

Sean’s kidneys were in the process of failing. He had also missed half a season either the year before or after, too. Not a fake or exaggerated injury.

Yeah he was out with tendinitis that year. His kidney disease was still a secret at that point. While the treatment probably contributed to his kidney situation, that’s not why Pop had him on the bench. We could go through each non-David injury and have that same debate. That’s not a slap at Pop or the Spurs.

[offset formation]

Actually I said "the FO seems to have done at last", so if we're going for rigor, let's start there. But regardless, that wouldn't be any more a leap of faith on my part than anyone claiming to know that the FO is NOT doing some other thing. Which is ok because this is an internet discussion board and not a peer reviewed scientific paper looking to get published. Everybody looks at the same data and draws different conclusions, based on how their perception and beliefs, and the best that you can ask for is something to back it up, instead of an explicit disclaimer that what's being said is merely an opinion.
In this case, when I look at pretty much every move the FO has made going back one year, it's cost us veteran talent and it's gotten us future picks and assets, which we've turned into an unusual number of rookies with some shared traits: extremely young and with perceived potential (even if I do not necessarily agree in all cases). That to me is more in line with a "deep" rebuild (whichever you want to call it), that simply a conviction that whomever leaves has a better alternative waiting to take his place. That's my stance, as much as you have yours, and as you said "sometimes, that is the case (that something is “TO BE DETERMINED”) and it is better than pretending to know". So until those facts arrive, we'll all continue to post our opinions in here.

Demar was leaving this team regardless last season, assuming he didn't get a max extension from us. So you can't equate how each player departed the team. DJ still had 2 years left on his deal.

Plus, DJ is a homegrown younger all star a franchise would ostensibly continue to build around aside from a tank.

[exstatic]

They milked broken feet and kidney failures on order to tank Jesus the lengths people go to on their own team.

It disgusting to see them adopt enemy team fan fabrications.

[exstatic]

Yeah he was out with tendinitis that year. His kidney disease was still a secret at that point. While the treatment probably contributed to his kidney situation, that’s not why Pop had him on the bench. We could go through each non-David injury and have that same debate. That’s not a slap at Pop or the Spurs.

The tendinitis was treated with NSAIDs, which caused and aggravated his kidney condition. Since they couldn’t treat the tendinitis, he couldn’t play. Keep carrying water for Laker fans though. You do you.

[Mr. Body]

I still don't see Poeltl traded. Not sure Dieng moves the needle on that score much. We'll see.

[emmo]

The tendinitis was treated with NSAIDs, which caused and aggravated his kidney condition. Since they couldn’t treat the tendinitis, he couldn’t play. Keep carrying water for Laker fans though. You do you.

Bless your heart. Who the are the Lakers?