Call Your Ideal Off-Season

[mo7888]

Imho this draft is ideal for trade for more picks AND choosing complementary pieces.
In the first season after the "understanding" of Wemby streght and way of playing, considering that he's more than probably gonna be part of the "decision making" about choosing the right players to build the future team, I frankly would opt for drafting instead of trading for an already proven nba player...I would like to have three to four/five first round picks in this draft and would so explore the path for having these 2/3 more first round picks (we already have 2 and 2 seconds).
For example in Ayton is considered a problem by Portland, a trade could be : DAY +7+14 for KJ, Collins, Bassey, 35 and 48.


My ideal 4/5 picks :

4) Risacher
7) Castle/Topic/Sheppard
8) Edey/Clingan
14) Salaun/Holland/Buzelis

Most here will hate this. It's essentially dumping Keldon for a player who moves Wemby to pf instead of his natural position at C and doubles down by drafting another backup C. I'm not seeing that myself... Now, if you can offload DA to a 3rd team in this scenario then maybe.... but it's hard to envision who would take him rn..

[JPB]

While Spurs have lost some flexibility by giving Vassell and Collins extensions, they have been gifted some new possibilities by being lucky during the draft lottery.

I won't give my ideal off-season, because I'm not sure what moves are possible in the real world, but I would like Spurs to follow some basic guidelines:

-Don't give up true assets for stop gaps:
It's fine for Spurs to add some aging vets to help the team as long as they keep their best assets to build their core. Best assets are first round pick (except the Charlotte pick), Vassell, Sochan and Keldon Johnson.

- Quality >> quan y:
The most important and difficult for Spurs will to be find a great Robin for Wembatman because Vassell is, at best, a third option. Spurs willl have 4 or 5 first round picks in the next 2 draft and 7 or 8 in the next 4 drafts. Spurs shouldn't hesitate to package some of these picks to get high quality players. Moves like trading down should be only done in some very specific cases.

- Don't go too slow:
Just adding rookies through the draft and doing nothing significant in the trade and FA market isn't enough for the summer. Wembanyama has shown too much things in his rookie year to be that slow in the rebuilding process.

- Don't go too fast:
It isn't as obvious as going too slow but I think the rebuilding can be too fast. Spurs won't contend next season and should use it as an opportunity to give playing time to their most promising young players. For example, if Spurs go with a PG at #4, they shouldn't add a starting caliber vet PG through trade of FA. Spurs have also a lot of holes with at least 2 or 3 starters and some bench players. If Spurs don't find a good option to fix a hole, they should let it open instead of going after a mediocre fix. Don't hurt your financial flexibility for a marginal player.

All valid points with just a few persaonal ones I'd add.

1. I don't believe Keldon, Sochan or Devin have as much value for the rest of the NBA we spurs fans may give them.

2. More than too slow or too fast, I would talk about project and opportunities.
If you want to find your next starting PG through the draft, this year or next year, then yeah obviously trading for one this summer doesn't make sense. But if you're open to find it via trades, this summer or next summer doesn't make any difference, except you can miss on some opportunites this summer you won't get the next one(s)

So if you're open to do this, and let's say Dejounte is on the market this summer, then it's not about too slow or too fast, but that opportunity you wanna take or not, with no guarantee you'll find better by waiting.

[LeBowen]

So if you're open to do this, and let's say Dejounte is on the market this summer, then it's not about too slow or too fast, but that opportunity you wanna take or not, with no guarantee you'll find better by waiting.

The more I think about this , the more I'm convinced that Spurs should trade for DJ.
I'm not a fan of his personality, but looking at point guard contracts around the league, his contract is by far the best value in the league.
Borderline all-star for less than $30M per season? Ridiculous.
And then you try and find how many of those max point guards aren't a negative on defense.

Here goes an actual win now scenario.

Keldon, Tre, '26 swap extinghuished, Hawks get '27 swap rights for Dejounte.
If we go back, it would mean Spurs gave up '27 swap and two subpar players for '25 Hawks pick and Dejounte signed a team-friendly extension. Seems fair.

Then Markkanen trade I posted in trade ideas topic.

Collins, #8 Spurs '24, Chi '25, Cha '25 and lottery protected Spurs '26 which becomes unprotected in '27 if it doesn't convey for Markkanen.

After those two trades, Spurs would be left #4 pick in this draft, all but one of our own picks in future drafts and '25 Hawks unprotected.
I'd go as far as giving up both #4 and #8 for #10 in Markkanen trade if he 100% commits to signing an extension with the Spurs.

Two all-stars that are a great fit on both ends of the floor and more importantly wouldn't be overpaid.
Not guaranteeing Devonte and drafting at #4 would leave us at $110M payroll.
$31M in cap pace.

Get a veteran forward for cheap to take some bench minutes. Someone like Highsmith. Maybe even keep Mamu.
One of Bassey/Barlow as Wemby's backup. Or just get a veteran like Drummond/Plumlee if neither is good enough.
Give Branham one more year to prove himself. I think Wesley is too far gone. Maybe Sidy surprises us.

Then it comes to down to draft choice and which veteran to overpay on a short-term deal.

Option 1, draft Castle (or any forward):
Overpay Monk short-term.
DJ-Devin-Monk rotation would take most minutes at guard positions, Malaki can take what's left. Castle could play SG/SF.

One of Jeremy or Castle is always on the floor, they don't play together. Ever. Until they start shooting at a decent rate, that is.
If we take some other forward, then it depends on their shooting.

DJ/Monk/Wesley
Devin/Malaki/Champagnie
Jeremy/Castle/Sidy
Lauri/Highmisth
Wemby/Barlow/Bassey

Option 2, draft Dillingham:
DJJ has been amazing for the Mavs in the playoffs,
Sixers should be the only compe ion for him. OKC doesn't need him and other playoff teams don't have cap space.

DJ/Dillingham/Wesley
Devin/Malaki/Champagnie
DJJ/Jeremy/Sidy
Lauri/Highmisth
Wemby/Barlow/Bassey


You might ask why did I get rid of Tre? Well, Hawks will need a backup point guard if they trade DJ and they'd surely value him more than a handful of second rounders.
On the other hand, I really think Spurs need a player like Monk (or theoretical Dillingham) that could take over games from the bench with three level scoring.

I think a roster with DJ and Lauri as pieces we trade for would surely be a legit playoff in no time.
Maybe not in the first season, but who knows with Wemby's ridiculous development? Obviously Pop would need to get over himself and start coaching again.
Bench would be weak in the first season, but we can't really fix everything at once.
Just get the team to gel together in the first year and start winning games, then fill out the bench with two '25 picks.

[venitian navigator]

Most here will hate this. It's essentially dumping Keldon for a player who moves Wemby to pf instead of his natural position at C and doubles down by drafting another backup C. I'm not seeing that myself... Now, if you can offload DA to a 3rd team in this scenario then maybe.... but it's hard to envision who would take him rn..

DAA in my wiew is a risk worth two first round picks...and this trade save us our future draft choices.
But the benefits are multiple:

1) you start to really build for your future with quan y (4 draft picks);
2) you give one last chance to a skilled player that could be cut if doesn't behave (you still have the two picks as real price of the deal), but that if behaves well and understand that his playing time is in danger (Wemby and Edey risk to already be both better centers than him) could be part of the future or at least become a tradeble piece after one year try-out;
3) you not only preserve the player Wemby not playing him full time at center, but you give him the chance to play as he likes at least for part of the gametime and at five (with Sochan or Risacher/Salaun/Barlow as pf ) whenever is necessary because of the game situation.

[mo7888]

DAA in my wiew is a risk worth two first round picks...and this trade save us our future draft choices.
But the benefits are multiple:

1) you start to really build for your future with quan y (4 draft picks);
2) you give one last chance to a skilled player that could be cut if doesn't behave (you still have the two picks as real price of the deal), but that if behaves well and understand that his playing time is in danger (Wemby and Edey risk to already be both better centers than him) could be part of the future or at least become a tradeble piece after one year try-out;
3) you not only preserve the player Wemby not playing him full time at center, but you give him the chance to play as he likes at least for part of the gametime and at five (with Sochan or Risacher/Salaun/Barlow as pf ) whenever is necessary because of the game situation.

I wouldn't give a single 1st for DA, not even the Charlotte pick straight up. If they're taking Collins and Graham I probably would though. If we include Keldon, they'd need to pay us. Also, 4 picks in the weakest draft in a decade isn't a haul here.

[JPB]

The more I think about this , the more I'm convinced that Spurs should trade for DJ.
I'm not a fan of his personality, but looking at point guard contracts around the league, his contract is by far the best value in the league.
Borderline all-star for less than $30M per season? Ridiculous.
And then you try and find how many of those max point guards aren't a negative on defense.

Here goes an actual win now scenario.

Keldon, Tre, '26 swap extinghuished, Hawks get '27 swap rights for Dejounte.
If we go back, it would mean Spurs gave up '27 swap and two subpar players for '25 Hawks pick and Dejounte signed a team-friendly extension. Seems fair.

Then Markkanen trade I posted in trade ideas topic.

Collins, #8 Spurs '24, Chi '25, Cha '25 and lottery protected Spurs '26 which becomes unprotected in '27 if it doesn't convey for Markkanen.

After those two trades, Spurs would be left #4 pick in this draft, all but one of our own picks in future drafts and '25 Hawks unprotected.
I'd go as far as giving up both #4 and #8 for #10 in Markkanen trade if he 100% commits to signing an extension with the Spurs.

Two all-stars that are a great fit on both ends of the floor and more importantly wouldn't be overpaid.
Not guaranteeing Devonte and drafting at #4 would leave us at $110M payroll.
$31M in cap pace.

Get a veteran forward for cheap to take some bench minutes. Someone like Highsmith. Maybe even keep Mamu.
One of Bassey/Barlow as Wemby's backup. Or just get a veteran like Drummond/Plumlee if neither is good enough.
Give Branham one more year to prove himself. I think Wesley is too far gone. Maybe Sidy surprises us.

Then it comes to down to draft choice and which veteran to overpay on a short-term deal.

Option 1, draft Castle (or any forward):
Overpay Monk short-term.
DJ-Devin-Monk rotation would take most minutes at guard positions, Malaki can take what's left. Castle could play SG/SF.

One of Jeremy or Castle is always on the floor, they don't play together. Ever. Until they start shooting at a decent rate, that is.
If we take some other forward, then it depends on their shooting.

DJ/Monk/Wesley
Devin/Malaki/Champagnie
Jeremy/Castle/Sidy
Lauri/Highmisth
Wemby/Barlow/Bassey

Option 2, draft Dillingham:
DJJ has been amazing for the Mavs in the playoffs,
Sixers should be the only compe ion for him. OKC doesn't need him and other playoff teams don't have cap space.

DJ/Dillingham/Wesley
Devin/Malaki/Champagnie
DJJ/Jeremy/Sidy
Lauri/Highmisth
Wemby/Barlow/Bassey


You might ask why did I get rid of Tre? Well, Hawks will need a backup point guard if they trade DJ and they'd surely value him more than a handful of second rounders.
On the other hand, I really think Spurs need a player like Monk (or theoretical Dillingham) that could take over games from the bench with three level scoring.

I think a roster with DJ and Lauri as pieces we trade for would surely be a legit playoff in no time.
Maybe not in the first season, but who knows with Wemby's ridiculous development? Obviously Pop would need to get over himself and start coaching again.
Bench would be weak in the first season, but we can't really fix everything at once.
Just get the team to gel together in the first year and start winning games, then fill out the bench with two '25 picks.

The feasibility of these moves would have to be analysed, but that sure sounds appetizing. There musn't be many other alternatives, draft ot trades, specially if you consider the hazardous dimension of drafting, where you would do better than a Wemby/Dejounte/Lauri core. And if you can, you probably should.

[Extra Stout]

Hawks would want all of their picks back in undoing the DJM trade. As discussed, anything less is an admission of failure.

[R. DeMurre]

You have to wonder, though, because Danny Ainge is a pretty savvy guy... if he trades Markkanen to the Spurs, he knows the Jazz aren't even thinking about a le until about 2033.

[exstatic]

I agree with that concern, but I also think we may overrate how bad ATL is going to be and we don't know that for sure. Everyone assumes ATL is going to suck, but if they get a good return on Trae/Murray and other roster moves and/or draft picks play out, they may be as good or better this year than last. They will at least have a top PG, and we just saw how much difference that makes in W/L totals.

So I am challenging the conventional wisdom that the ATL picks are automatic gold, even in '25. If nobody challenged the CW, we'd all be cyborgs caught up in group think.

ATL doesn’t have to be bad enough to win the 2025 lottery for us to reap real benefits, just bad enough to hop into the top 4, and that’s easily imagined. Every year under the flattened odds implemented in 2019, at least one team from outside the top 4 jumps in, and twice in 6 years THREE teams have jumped in, including this year. Teams at 11,10,9, 8 (twice),7 (four times), and 5 (three times) have jumped into the top four, and that’s really all we need. The top four next year are all better prospects than anyone in this draft. Those jumps average to two teams jumping in every year. I’ll take those odds over the next 3 drafts over anyone in this draft.

[LeBowen]

The feasibility of these moves would have to be analysed, but that sure sounds appetizing. There musn't be many other alternatives, draft ot trades, specially if you consider the hazardous dimension of drafting, where you would do better than a Wemby/Dejounte/Lauri core. And if you can, you probably should.

Tbh, we went over every possible trade target many times.
As of now, there aren't any better options.

There are just too many variables that need to allign if you want to find a perfect trade:
1) Ability
2) Fit with Wemby
3) Contract value and length
4) Asking price and availability for trade
5) Age
6) Injury history

As I wrote in another topic, OKC's potential looks scary, but then you realize that rookie extensions for Chet and Williams happen in the same offseason and SGA's supermax kicks in a year later. There goes your cap space, no depth to be had.
That's why getting a borderline all-stars like DJ on such a team-friendly deal would be invaluable.

Lauri would be expensive and would need to be extended, but his fit with Wemby is just too good to ignore.

Hawks would want all of their picks back in undoing the DJM trade. As discussed, anything less is an admission of failure.

I said that myself many times during the season. But now they won the lottery and will surely compete, trying to retool around Trae.
In the trade I suggested, they'd effectively be giving up one FRP for Keldon+Tre, which isn't that horrible.

If they're to compete, then those picks aren't as valuable for us.

You have to wonder, though, because Danny Ainge is a pretty savvy guy... if he trades Markkanen to the Spurs, he knows the Jazz aren't even thinking about a le until about 2033.

He's in a predicament right now, can't really win on all fields.
Lauri already made it clear he'll ask out if sitting him in order to tank late in the season happens again and building around him would just turn them into a treadmill team for many years to come.
If there was ever a time for Jazz to tank (the only franchise to never lose 60 games), it's now with two strong drafts coming up.
And there aren't many suitors for Markkanen. I already mentioned OKC's cap situation and if they got Markkanen, they wouldn't be able to keep Chet or Williams a year later.

The way I see it is that Spurs simply must get into the playoff picture starting with 25-26 season and start to compete for the le in 26-27, it would be outright embarrassing not to with MVP level player on the roster.
Superteam era is gone, right now the way to go is to get a second option for your superstar and a couple more elite role players.
Free agent era for players still in their 20s is also gone, everyone just takes the bag or gets traded before they hit FA. There won't be much going on next summer in terms of FA.
And I'd rather have DJ on $25M than Mitc on $50M and a way worse bench.

Trading for two perfect fit players that are about to hit their prime, with one of them being on a great deal seems like a no-brainer.
We'd get their entire primes before they're up for the next extension and would still have all of our picks.

Many teams failed because they were impatient and wanted to win at all costs, but don't forget all the teams that were seen as young and upcoming only to never reach that level.
Our seven FRPs before Wemby (Sochan, Wesley, Branham, Primo, Vassell, Johnson, Samanic) aren't worth as much as Markkanen alone.
We got Sochan to develop, we'd have one more '24 rookie in this scenario, two picks in '25, after that you'd expect us to be picking after 20th or so pick. At some point you have to start winning.

[Kevin]

These offers for Lauri are laughably low. Dude is arguably the best jump shooting seven footer in the NBA with solid defense. You're not getting him for filler contracts and protected firsts.

Spurs receive:
Lauri
Clarkson or John Collins contracts. Both have about 2 years 50 million left and Utah would love to get out of either of them if they are starting over without Lauri.

Jazz receive:
Devin Vassel
4th
8th

The Spurs can absorb Lauri's money with their cap space. Make a run at Trae Young and we're an instant le contender with all our own picks in tact.

[LeBowen]

These offers for Lauri are laughably low. Dude is arguably the best jump shooting seven footer in the NBA with solid defense. You're not getting him for filler contracts and protected firsts.

Five FRPs is the absolute most they could get, with one of them being fake first from Charlotte.
Other than OKC, noone can give them a better offer unless they're offering a potential all-star still on rookie deal.

As pointed out in another topic, if Jazz extends Markkanen, they can't trade him before the next offseason.
But they want to tank.
And Markkanen doesn't. He won't sign an extension unless Jazz gets some help this year and starts competing.
He's about to turn 27 and he never made the playoffs because he always ended up on rosters.

Jazz scenarios are as follows:
1) Trade Markkanen for the best offer before the deadline.
2) Extend him and try to compete, ending up as a treadmill team and missing potential top5 picks in the next few drafts.
3) Play dumb and tank again, Markkanen walks.

Clarkson or John Collins contracts. Both have about 2 years 50 million left and Utah would love to get out of either of them if they are starting over without Lauri.

Clarkson still has positive value, his contract is just $14M per year for the next two seasons. They'd send him somewhere else.
Collins also has neutral value, they could easily find a playoff team that would take him and send a FRP to get rid of a bad contract.

Devin Vassel

What exactly would they do with Devin's long term contract if they plan to tank for a couple of years?
Would only work if a third team takes Devin.

4th 8th

They have #10 already. I could see them wanting both #4 and #8 while giving #10 and #29 back, but they have no use for three or four FRPs in the same draft. Especially such a weak one.
Your offer of Devin they have no use for and two picks in a weak class is way worse than mine, tbh.

The Spurs can absorb Lauri's money with their cap space. Make a run at Trae Young and we're an instant le contender with all our own picks in tact.

Good stuff.
No '24 picks, Trae at point with no shooting guard in sight instead of great defense DJ and Devin combo would provide.
Not to mention he'll earn $18M more than DJ next season.

[Kevin]

You can still tank with Dev in the fold and they need a matching contract if they want to unload Collins. But if they just want the 4 & 8 that works too.

I could easily see the Jazz including the 10 and 29 while taking back the 35 just to get out of that first round rookie scale contract.

Spurs receive

Lauri
Collins
10
29

Jazz receive
Dev
4
8
35

Trade Zollins and Keldon plus all the ATL picks along with the Hornets fake first back to the Hawks for Trae Young and the Spurs are set. If the Hawks really insisted on the Bulls pick in instead of the fake first I'd be willing to do that too.

1. Young
2. Knecht or Devin Carter drafted at 10
3. Champ
4. Lauri
5. Wemby

Bench: Tre Jones, Jeremy Sochan, John Collins, Osman (must be brought back after these deals)

Wings need work but the Spurs have a ton of second round picks so they could add a proven vet(s) at the deadline for second rounders.

[LeBowen]

Trade Zollins and Keldon plus all the ATL picks along with the Hornets fake first back to the Hawks for Trae Young and the Spurs are set. If the Hawks really insisted on the Bulls pick in instead of the fake first I'd be willing to do that too.

Even if we disregard basketball ability and personal preferences between point guard choices, I wouldn't trade for Trae because of cap implications.
$18M per year more than DJ and he'd surely ask for another supermax extension in 2027.
While DJ would either take $31M option for 27-28 season or ask for a longer deal that wouldn't be close to Trae's contract.

1. Young
2. Knecht or Devin Carter drafted at 10
3. Champ
4. Lauri
5. Wemby

Young is a horrible defender, Champagnie is subpar and Lauri is average.
We'd have a big hole at SG compared to having Devin on a long-term, relatively cheap deal considering cap rising over the years.

DJ would fill multiple needs, while Trae would fill just one and we'd still need to find a point of attack defender.
Carter would be a good pick, but then you'd have to hide Trae on players way bigger than him.
I'd rather take a gamble on Dillingham.

All in all, I wouldn't mind including John Collins in the deal because he's still a good player, but I definitely don't want Trae.
The only reason why trading for two all-stars would work is DJ's team friendly deal.

If we go for Trae, then Lauri shouldn't be an option, but a bunch of 3-D wings on team friendly deals.
And I'd rather spend a handful of FRPs on Lauri than Bridges for example.

I also don't think Spurs would trade Devin.

[Kevin]

Even if we disregard basketball ability and personal preferences between point guard choices, I wouldn't trade for Trae because of cap implications.
$18M per year more than DJ and he'd surely ask for another supermax extension in 2027.
While DJ would either take $31M option for 27-28 season or ask for a longer deal that wouldn't be close to Trae's contract.



Young is a horrible defender, Champagnie is subpar and Lauri is average.
We'd have a big hole at SG compared to having Devin on a long-term, relatively cheap deal considering cap rising over the years.

DJ would fill multiple needs, while Trae would fill just one and we'd still need to find a point of attack defender.
Carter would be a good pick, but then you'd have to hide Trae on players way bigger than him.
I'd rather take a gamble on Dillingham.

All in all, I wouldn't mind including John Collins in the deal because he's still a good player, but I definitely don't want Trae.
The only reason why trading for two all-stars would work is DJ's team friendly deal.

If we go for Trae, then Lauri shouldn't be an option, but a bunch of 3-D wings on team friendly deals.
And I'd rather spend a handful of FRPs on Lauri than Bridges for example.

I also don't think Spurs would trade Devin.

Dev's nothing special at 26M per year. Good but not great shooter, ok creator, mediocre defender, doesn't get to the line much. He's very meh overall. I just don't get it.

[LeBowen]

Dev's nothing special at 26M per year. Good but not great shooter, ok creator, mediocre defender, doesn't get to the line much. He's very meh overall. I just don't get it.

Right now he's not, but he deserves at least one season on a roster that's actually trying to win.
People in here constantly compare his trajectory to Middleton's and their stats are more or less identical.

He won't be good enough to be focal point of the offense, but he could be a perfect off the ball scorer who can put the ball on the floor and hit a tough iso jumper here and there.
Will surely be a solid team defender when he's not asked to guard the best player.

Don't get me wrong, if Devin and a couple of FRPs is all it takes to get Markkanen, I'd do it.
I just don't think they're interested in a third option.

[exstatic]

These offers for Lauri are laughably low. Dude is arguably the best jump shooting seven footer in the NBA with solid defense. You're not getting him for filler contracts and protected firsts.

Spurs receive:
Lauri
Clarkson or John Collins contracts. Both have about 2 years 50 million left and Utah would love to get out of either of them if they are starting over without Lauri.

Jazz receive:
Devin Vassel
4th
8th

The Spurs can absorb Lauri's money with their cap space. Make a run at Trae Young and we're an instant le contender with all our own picks in tact.

You don’t know Danny Ainge at all. He would laugh and hang upon that offer. You also don’t understand that trades are often about contracts. Lauri is a rental. They can extend him, but that prohibits them from trading him before he’s a UFA, so we’re back to Lauri is a rental. No one is dropping a wad of picks for a player on a one year contract, and I’m here for the look on Ainges face when he realizes that in due time, probably August.

[fafo]

https://x.com/KDotTKL/status/1797717082823663911

Jonathan Givony from ESPN talking with Kevin O'Connor on the The Ringer NBA Draft Podcast (forgot how to embed tweets on here). Specifically stating that the Spurs want to be compe ive next year, the team would be disappointed if they're at the top of the lottery again next year, and they will look into trading 4 and 8 for a veteran (he mentions Garland). Also mentions only untouchable are Victor and Devin.

[Kevin]

You can’t just assume that he’ll leave. No idea how you plan on rostering at least four first round picks in the next year or so. If the Bulls pick conveys it will be five firsts. I realize you prefer inferior players in exchange for inferior assets.

[Pauleta14]

https://x.com/KDotTKL/status/1797717082823663911

Jonathan Givony from ESPN talking with Kevin O'Connor on the The Ringer NBA Draft Podcast (forgot how to embed tweets on here). Specifically stating that the Spurs want to be compe ive next year, the team would be disappointed if they're at the top of the lottery again next year, and they will look into trading 4 and 8 for a veteran (he mentions Garland). Also mentions only untouchable are Victor and Devin.

Go "advanced" reply, you'll see an (old) twitter logo

[Joseph Kony]

https://x.com/KDotTKL/status/1797717082823663911

Jonathan Givony from ESPN talking with Kevin O'Connor on the The Ringer NBA Draft Podcast (forgot how to embed tweets on here). Specifically stating that the Spurs want to be compe ive next year, the team would be disappointed if they're at the top of the lottery again next year, and they will look into trading 4 and 8 for a veteran (he mentions Garland). Also mentions only untouchable are Victor and Devin.

tweet got deleted

[fafo]

tweet got deleted

https://x.com/KevinOConnorNBA/status/1797710715626942657

[DPG21920]

[KingKev]

How is DV untouchable? He is a borderline starter on a fair deal with moderate upside on the defensive end. Probably never makes an AS game in his career. Very touchable IMO.

[TD 21]

Vassell is a solid starter trending towards topping out as a top one, which is a cut below All-Star caliber.

He's virtually untouchable because of his malleability and the fact that the majority of the rest of the roster (with one notable exception) is a disaster, so including him for a better second best player would basically undermine the reason for doing so.

As Wembanyama gets better and they presumably get said second best player, he should look better in a more appropriate role.