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Jazz with Lauri is a good template.
It’s because of the 2022 Team USA Team that featured Durant. While I don’t believe Wemby is a clone of KD (he’s not as quick), he really is the closest thing.
I have no attachment to KJ, but all this talk about what his role would be is easy to answer. Every player on that Gold team believed he was critical to their success, mostly in the locker room. Keldon has experienced growth since then, so he will obviously be a better contributor on the court than that summer. But, when he did play he played off KD really well.
The Gold team also showed us what kind of big man Wemby would need: a player like Bam or Draymond.
That entire roster is a good look to see what kind of players we should be surrounding Wemby with. Obviously not in terms of talent level, but archetype.
Jazz with Lauri is a good template.
Laurie Markkenen isn't fit to carry Wemby's jock.
Well it is more realistic template than the olympic team.
So, you want to model the Spurs after a team that finished with the #9 lottery pick, rather than the gold medal Olympic team.
From all accounts, Wemby seems a thoroughgoing professional despite being just a kid and his parents and family seem to be very positive influences. The fact that he has been facilitated into s om, indirectly, by former NBA players like TP and Diaw is also a good indication that the Spurs will a seamless transition for him.
The Spurs still have their task cut out to find the right fits around him and the right path to enduring success. They have made a solid head start in getting Sochan, Branham and Wesley in last year's draft and retaining Johnson and Vassell to form a really good young core.
But I think they should get a couple of veterans - professionals who do a good job of mentoring the young core and doing the right things. As a team that had the worst defense in the league last season, it makes sense to me that the Spurs must get a defensive minded veteran to be added to the core and thats why I feel they should go after Josh Hart who will neither be cheap nor expensive and will not use up too much of the Spurs' cap space. He can be a backup to Jones or even start in a pinch and is a hard working player. IMO, the Spurs will do well to go after him. They can jettison Graham and Birch, if need be, to teams that need expiring contracts. And not renew Langford who is too inconsistent and doesn't seem to be a solid NBA player any longer.
Pop will be smart not to treat Wemby as the centerpiece immediately and instead ease him into a proper structure where his skills and abilities will be maximized. But for that to happen seamlessly, the Spurs cannot just rely on youth. It has to have one useful anchoring veteran and not just someone like Gorgui Dieng. Hart might be that guy, I think.
This is pretty dumb nobody really knows this kid's game well enough yet to build a team around him. There are really no comparisons you can make for him since he's a unicorn. His rookie year is going to be a feel out year for the Spurs to see what type of player he is and then after this year they can make moves to surround him with players that compliment his game.
The Spurs have been actively scouting him for at least 4-5 years, so I think they know more than you do.
Yup. That is the players we have at the moment. That system turned Lauri into a legit all-star, his front court mates are Olynyk and Vando. What are you going to do find the next Bam before the season starts?
Josh Hart is a low-usage shooting guard. He would be a lousy choice to back up the point. Pass.
Just to check one more time, and maybe be a little clearer. You want to model us after a LOSING team instead of a WINNING team.
We don't need a traditional PG. We need a PG sized dude who can shoot and defend. Did the Lakers or Bulls run a true PG? Nope. They ran guys like Paxton and Kerr and Fisher.
Yes we do.
If we don't need a traditional PG, do we really need a PG sized dude? If that (not needing a traditional PG) is the case, wouldn't the team be better off with a SG sized dude who specializes in defending down? As an example of the archetype, Danny Green; he loved defending smaller PG's and could definitely shoot (even if he was Icy-Hot).
Wow. Glad you're not the coach or GM. I highly doubt that Wemby wants an AS roster spot over winning.
Josh Hart is 1" shorter than Danny, and 7 years younger. Not far off on the physical profile.
Utah traded away their two lower all stars and rebuilt the team. It would be fair to say they tanked for victor but overachieved. But we dont know, maybe they did want to go all out after trading two good but flawed players.
But the good news is that the PAFtO can look at both teams as well as Denver and milwaukee to see what works
Sochan, Johnson and Vassell are already great fits. You obviously want to surround Wembanyama with wings who can shoot the 3, drive into the lane and defend on the perimeter (although both Keldon and also Devin haven't really shown much on that side). Sochan as the type of point forward and energy guy fits well. You obviously want a bruiser big a la Brook Lopez so you can go big. And a 3-and-D PG who's a good point of attack defender with elite speed since we are playing a fast paced game. Wemby absolutely needs a great pick and roll partner to really tear teams up. We don't have to get all of them in year 1 though.
For me, I’m actually more curious to see how they build around him defensively—individually, and as a team. I think his defensive impact might come before offensive impact, though of course, that’s hard to say. But his ability to erase so many shots from him roaming in the lane may be evident early on. Anyway, with our defense being so horrible last year, I would be shocked if Pop doesn’t try to make that an emphasis this year. And so, that could be an adjustment for some players.
I think Zollins and Sochan will adjust well. Keldon and Branham might have challenges. But with Wemby they will have help.
I mean a winning team would be nice, any team that does not involve having 10 all stars?
He also has guys like Mbappe in his orbit. It's an impressive group of people, super high-level, nationally prominent stars who know how to handle themselves publicly and do the work behind the scenes. As you mention, his family is also an advantage. Not only do they seem even-keeled, they've been playing basketball for two generations before him and have a number of professional athletes in their midst.
Sure let’s just go assemble a roster with the same quality of players as the Olympic team
A lot of people still haven't realized how ridiculously good drafting this guy will be for the Spurs from a commercial standpoint. Pelicans got a ton of coverage in Zion's rookie season and Wemby is even more hyped than him, with entire basketball Europe watching how he develops, much like with Luka over his first few seasons.
From pretty much an irrelevant team outside of Pop as long as the mainstream media is concerned to being the most covered team outside of top contenders for the next season just because of Wemby.
I think Pop should go all in and see if Sochan can become what Simmons should've been and run it back with all the other guys playing at their best, no DNP nonsense. Considering the state of most teams in the league, it's only going to be a matter of time before some disgruntled superstar becomes an easy target for the Spurs.
I wouldn't mind signing a couple of veterans, can't have a roster full of kids. RC_Drunkford already mentioned Lopez and I actually think throwing something like 40/2 at him wouldn't be the worst thing. Perfect fit with our roster and a great leadership presence.
I am glad you are not either. What is team USA model? surround KD with the best US born players in the league. We should do that with Wemby too! No .
did you miss Devin's first two seasons?
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