Spurs looking to acquire another 1st?

[RC_Drunkford]

I think Branham has better chance of reaching a Devin Booker level archetype. Don't take that as a prediction that he'll make it there, but he's got the game and a smooth release that makes me think he's got a shot at it.

Devin and Malaki are the only players on the team who can create their own shot. Both have a chance at becoming 2nd or 3rd option type of players. Malaki's game is already way too mature for a 19-year old and he still has so much more to unlock

[Extra Stout]

ok so on a tanking team Danny Green could average 18 PPG?

If they were at least allowed to try hard enough to run him off screens to get open for catch and shoot, then sure, he could score 18. On last year’s Spurs he would have been the best shooter and best perimeter defender by wide margins.

If they asked him to create off the dribble, then no.

[exstatic]

I don't agree... perfect example is OKC. Last year two rookies started, 1 came off the bench. Rest of starting 5 had 4, 3, and 1 year of experience. Next year, Holmgren will still be a rookie, Wiggins, Mann had a year exp, and Poku is on his 2nd year along w/whoever they draft. Having minutes to get used to the NBA, make a mistake and learn from it with the FO being able to watch and see what the player becomes is a part of the process. So there shouldn't be a detractor on adding talent when you can especially in the form of more affordable 1st rounders/2nd rounders vs FA. If the FO feels this draft has more talent than next, and they feel this team needs it, then why not take advantage and get as much as you can while you can?

OKC is so pick bloated that they traded THREE FRPs for the #11 pick in last year's draft. That's a ridiculous payout for the #11 pick. Before we get to that point, we need to start selling SRPs for cash. We have 12 FRPs, not including swaps, between this draft and 2029, 7 of our own, plus 5 acquired in trades. We have NINETEEN ing SRPs between now and 2029. Cash 'em out like Casino chips.

[Mr. Body]

All this talk is a little crazy. If the team thinks they can get a good player going for a better pick, they should. Another two rookies this off season is great.

This team needs talent especially at certain skill sets.

[Payote75]

He was mentioned already.... in case you didn't know, his first name is Devin

Thanks 👍 I don't get why some people on here can't hold a conversation and need to be condescending turds towards other posters. Majority are awesome just a few bad apples man. It wasn't a slight just an opinion chill out.

[Vince Carter's ankle]

I think when a player is special, you know it in the first or second year, even if they haven’t put it all together yet.

Khris Middleton?
Jimmy Butler?
Pascal Siakam?

[Extra Stout]

Khris Middleton?
Jimmy Butler?
Pascal Siakam?

Middleton I’ll give you but not the other two. They had shown they had something by their second year.

[Mr. Body]

There's a Most Improved Player award for a reason.

[SpursBills]

I think next year Spurs will get a pretty high draft pick. That will be the time to get the second star. A lot of people are projecting the Spurs to win a lot of games next year, but historically this hasn't been the case with "generational" talent in their rookie year.

Mavs during Luka's rookie year were 33-49
Cavs during Lebron's rookie year were 35-47
Sonics during Durant's rookie year were 20-62
Pelicans (Hornets) during AD's rookie year were 27-55

Spurs were amazing during Duncan's rookie year, but Duncan was 2 years older than Wemby is now and had a decent team around him including 32 year old DRob. Orlando during Shaq's rookie year went 41-41, even Chicago during Jordan's rookie year went 38-44.

Also of note, the likelihood of those 4 players staying with their franchises I think was directly influenced by the player(s) they drafted in the following year, while the team was still bad. The Cavs drafted Luke Jackson with the 10th pick after Lebron, the Mavs lost their pick in the Luka trade, and the Hornets drafted Austin Rivers 10th after AD's rookie year. Lebron, AD, and (possibly) Luka ended up unhappy as they dragged their teams into the postseason year after year but could never get the requisite talent to get over the hump.

OKC drafted Westbrook and Harden after Durant, ended making a Finals run, and then even though Durant left for the Warriors, very few people would say that OKC didn't have enough from a talent standpoint.

I think Wemby has a higher ceiling than someone like Luka, but I don't think he's as advanced as Luka or certainly Lebron coming into the league. We will most likely get 30-35 wins next year, which has us picking 5-8 next year and that will probably be the most interesting Spurs draft in the last 20 years.

[RC_Drunkford]

If they were at least allowed to try hard enough to run him off screens to get open for catch and shoot, then sure, he could score 18. On last year’s Spurs he would have been the best shooter and best perimeter defender by wide margins.

If they asked him to create off the dribble, then no.

that clearly shows how much you know about basketball. Never in his life would Danny Green be able to average 18 PPG for a season in the NBA. No matter which team. And he played for the team with the best ball movement ever. Devin Vassell was a 2nd option averaging that.

[Degoat]

As the draft gets closer I think Keynote George is gonna fly up boards. I was watching some film of him and he gives me some Desmond Bane vibes.

[RC_Drunkford]

I think next year Spurs will get a pretty high draft pick. That will be the time to get the second star. A lot of people are projecting the Spurs to win a lot of games next year, but historically this hasn't been the case with "generational" talent in their rookie year.

Mavs during Luka's rookie year were 33-49
Cavs during Lebron's rookie year were 35-47
Sonics during Durant's rookie year were 20-62
Pelicans (Hornets) during AD's rookie year were 27-55

Spurs were amazing during Duncan's rookie year, but Duncan was 2 years older than Wemby is now and had a decent team around him including 32 year old DRob. Orlando during Shaq's rookie year went 41-41, even Chicago during Jordan's rookie year went 38-44.

Also of note, the likelihood of those 4 players staying with their franchises I think was directly influenced by the player(s) they drafted in the following year, while the team was still bad. The Cavs drafted Luke Jackson with the 10th pick after Lebron, the Mavs lost their pick in the Luka trade, and the Hornets drafted Austin Rivers 10th after AD's rookie year. Lebron, AD, and (possibly) Luka ended up unhappy as they dragged their teams into the postseason year after year but could never get the requisite talent to get over the hump.

OKC drafted Westbrook and Harden after Durant, ended making a Finals run, and then even though Durant left for the Warriors, very few people would say that OKC didn't have enough from a talent standpoint.

I think Wemby has a higher ceiling than someone like Luka, but I don't think he's as advanced as Luka or certainly Lebron coming into the league. We will most likely get 30-35 wins next year, which has us picking 5-8 next year and that will probably be the most interesting Spurs draft in the last 20 years.

almost our entire roster will improve individually
Wemby will be even better than he is now
the defense will be significantly better
we won't tank and rest 3 starters every game
the team has a closer who's jump shot is unguardable

if that alone doesn't equal 18 more wins than I don't know

[exstatic]

As the draft gets closer I think Keynote George is gonna fly up boards. I was watching some film of him and he gives me some Desmond Bane vibes.

Desmond Bane was a 30th pick. If that's the vibe you're getting, Keyonte will be dropping down.

[spurraider21]

Desmond Bane was a 30th pick. If that's the vibe you're getting, Keyonte will be dropping down.

next time a player gives me manu vibes we shouldnt take him until the end of the 2nd

[Mal]

Sabres roster from last year contained a lot of guys that look like late 1st or 2nd rookies. There is plenty to choose from

[Mr. Body]

Some interesting comments on various first rounders from anonymous college coaches who played them. The Jarace one stood out to me. What I've heard before, that he winds up avoiding contact.

https://www.on3.com/news/nba-draft-c...d-draft-picks/

[JPB]

Vassell and Johnson aren't going to get much better than what they are now.

Ofc they will. they're still young and not close to their prime. Plenty of players dramatically improve after 4 or 5 years... They get older more confident, adults, gets a family maybe, more professionals and start to really get it. I mean just the simple fact of getting more experienced will have them improve.

[JPB]

DJM showed more by the end of his first season than Johnson or Vassell ever have.

He sure showed dem spurs with his 3.4 points, 1.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 38 games in his rookie season.

[Extra Stout]

He sure showed dem spurs with his 3.4 points, 1.3 assists and 1.1 rebounds in 38 games in his rookie season.

He showed what he was going to be in Game 6 against Houston.

[RC_Drunkford]

He showed what he was going to be in Game 6 against Houston.

yeah I remember you posting right after that game that he will be a triple double machine. Oh wait that was me

[JPB]

He showed what he was going to be in Game 6 against Houston.

You mean those same POs where he averaged 5.7 pts, 2.5 rbs and 2.5 ass... Way to pick one game to occult the big picture... But no doubt those 11pts, 10rbs and 5 ass in game 6 showed the world he was gonna be a one time (back up) all star, to such a point he averaged 8.1 pts/game the following season. Was Murray an all star this year by the way? Any NBA player can have a (not that great game) in the PO like Lonnie vs the dubs this year,. Dejounte is overrated and a stat padder, which spurs understood.

Keldon averaged, 9 / 12.8 / 17 / 22 points in his first 4 seasons. Dejounte, 3.4 / 8.1 / 10.8 / 15.7 and his max is 20.5 this year, after 7 years in the NBA. Took 4 for Keldon to average 22. Sure contexts are different but Murray is overrated and saying he showed more in his first year and that Keldon or Devin ever will and those two won't progress anymore doesn't make sense.

[rascal]

almost our entire roster will improve individually
Wemby will be even better than he is now
the defense will be significantly better
we won't tank and rest 3 starters every game
the team has a closer who's jump shot is unguardable

if that alone doesn't equal 18 more wins than I don't know

Not necessarily will everyone improve. That's the common belief that most everyone will improve but it doesn't work that way. Some players may even regress.

[rascal]

You mean those same POs where he averaged 5.7 pts, 2.5 rbs and 2.5 ass... Way to pick one game to occult the big picture... But no doubt those 11pts, 10rbs and 5 ass in game 6 showed the world he was gonna be a (back up) all star. Like Lonnie vs the dubs this year, to such a point Murray averaged 8.1 pts/game the following season. Any NBA player can have a (not that great game) in the PO. Was Murray an all star this year by the way? Dejounte is overrated and a stat padder, which spurs understood.

Keldon averaged, 9 / 12.8 / 17 / 22 points in his first 4 seasons. Dejounte, 3.4 / 8.1 / 10.8 / 15.7 and his max is 20.5 this year, after 7 years in the NBA. Took 4 for Keldon to average 22. Sure contexts are different but Murray is oeverrated and saying showed more in his first year and that Keldon or Devin ever will and those two won't progress anymore doesn't make sense.

I don't see anything special with either Keldon or Vassell that jumps out to say they will improve significantly more than what you see now. Those guys will never reach all star status or be the second scoring option on a deep playoff team.

The Spurs really need to add another wing with all star potential upside, shooting and athleticism. It may take one of those Atlanta unprotected picks to hit high in the lottery to get that type of player.

[JPB]

I don't see anything special with either Keldon or Vassell that jumps out to say they will improve significantly more than what you see now. Those guys will never reach all star status or be the second scoring option on a deep playoff team.

The Spurs really need to add another wing with all star potential upside, shooting and athleticism. It may take one of those Atlanta unprotected picks to hit high in the lottery to get that type of player.

l'm not saying their ceiling is all star, although I don't say it's necessarily not, and I agree spurs shoud bring more talent, but saying they won't progress anymore is not correct. They showed they can score in the NBA (you do'nt average 22/game on a season if you don't have talent) and they look like good pros ready to work on their game, which is the reason some youngsters regress (work ethic and life hygiene). They'll get more experienced and confident, specially with Wemby around bringing his compe iveness and fire. That's the one thing with generational talents, they bring people behind them and make everyone improve around.

[stnick2261]

All this talk is a little crazy. If the team thinks they can get a good player going for a better pick, they should. Another two rookies this off season is great.

This team needs talent especially at certain skill sets.

I would definitely prefer 2 great rookies this year instead of 1 great and 2 second round prospects. Talent is exponentially better at the top of the draft (on average) and we need more talent.