You Son of a , I'm --- Wait, What??

[Mr. Body]

There's a lot of chat about what happened in the Dillingham threads, but I thought to egotistically walk down memory lane with this one. Feel free to disregard.

I'm still processing. That was quite a roller coaster going from the camera not leaving Dillingham until the pick was called (seriously, ESPN needs to stop telegraphing the picks) to seeing a joyous face to trying to hear in my noisy living room that the selection had been traded.

The things that kinda suck about this are:

- Trading a dynamic, super-fun guard to watch, someone who is electrifying
- Trading him to a potential rival who badly need a player like him
- Potentially, what we received

A lot of guesswork about what happened, whether they really were geared into Salaun and 'panicked' when he was gone. I doubt it. They had a lot of tiers, I'm sure, and a next player ready. They just found a deal they liked more than getting another current player.

Asset strategy. I think we've seen enough to know what the Spurs are prioritizing, which is laying out future picks when the team will presumably be very good. Like with the Toronto, Atlanta, and Chicago picks, they've earmarked teams they think will be on the downswing in Boston, Dallas, and now Minnesota. One of the biggest reasons championship teams fail to keep their windows open is a failure to add new talent.

The Spurs know very well how hard it is to add young talent when you're picking late in the round. Adding vets is one thing. Ring-chasers will come. It's the young guys that are very, very hard to get.

Presumably, with the swaps and picks, they're trying to solve for this problem. This takes a lot of foresight. It sucks for the present, but the bet is that we will badly need these boosts those years to come. And, no, I don't think these are being acquired specifically to make trades, although they won't hurt.

I regret not having Dillingham on the team, but there were big question marks. Not even in defense, which was a big concern, but in play style. Could he scale down? Could he mesh? I think so, but the team would be forced to 'build' a bit around him and it appears they didn't want to.

As for missing on other players, I don't have any real regrets here. Going from 'it's a bad draft' to fretting about passing on players doesn't make sense. That was a particularly bad patch in the draft, in my mind, where value in terms of talent vs. draft spot wasn't there. I won't regret passing Cody Williams. Keeping the powder dry is probably the better choice. Passing on Dillingham, however. Well, we'll see.

My huge question is... what's the plan, here? Meaning the short term. The team badly needs offensive production. We didn't solve the SF hole. We don't have real scorers.

I don't think the Dillingham trade means anything about that. I just want to see what the next steps are. Immediately, though, I feel regret and uncertainty. I don't mean to be a sniffer or whatever the terms here are, but I get laying out resources far in the future. It's real Ants and the Grasshopper , real Aesop . They're placing bundles far in the future the pick up when we need them. That part I'm fine with. The concept of it is smart.

But what else is happening here?

[fafo]

Hard to believe this was a panic move after missing out on Salaun. Like... am I really supposed to believe that these guys at peak working hours who barely sleep at this time of year just didn't have a backup plan? There were rumors before of the Spurs shopping the pick so it's easy to believe that this is a scenario they envisioned. To trade out of the pick is the ultimate boner killer move on draft night, but it makes sense to continue stacking assets for future trades.

Besides that, they seem to have really wanted this cap space that the 8th pick would've taken up. Perhaps they want the flexibility of making a trade that doesn't have to be matched dollar for dollar since they have more cap room to take in salary. I'm not upset at the move right now, but if they just sleepwalk through the rest of the offseason and all they have to show for it is Castle, then something really strange is going on.

[spurraider21]

What’s happening is Wright is scared to commit to anything due to fear of failure. As soon as there’s a difficult decision to make he punts.

last offseason was all about “no expensive mistakes” because he doesn’t trust his own judgment to not make a mistake. It’s just a continuation of that. There’s no expectation when you are acquiring picks. Trading way player for picks always reviews well. But at some point you have to actually make a move with those picks and Wright seems like a paralysis by analysis type

[Extra Stout]

There’s this assumption that the Spurs are going to be a contender in 2030 when these stockpiled picks are supposedly going to come in handy. But when are they actually going to build the contender? Don’t they realize they are already on the clock with Wemby’s patience?

[Chinook]

What’s happening is Wright is scared to commit to anything due to fear of failure. As soon as there’s a difficult decision to make he punts.

last offseason was all about “no expensive mistakes” because he doesn’t trust his own judgment to not make a mistake. It’s just a continuation of that. There’s no expectation when you are acquiring picks. Trading way player for picks always reviews well. But at some point you have to actually make a move with those picks and Wright seems like a paralysis by analysis type

I do agree with the posters who are saying this is almost certainly not Wright's doing. Wright very likely negotiated the trade with Minny for Dillingham, but it was probably not his call to punt on the pick in the first place. I think the decision to consider these years "runway" for all of the guys currently on the club is an organization stance rather than his personal desire. He's not free from blame at all. But I think the rot is coming from a deeper place, and Wright is just a person they hired to implement their desires.

[SpursGenius]

The pick should have been Devin Carter. They were too dumb to see it. DC is a two way dog with elite athletic ability. He also improved his shooting this year. Think Jalen Brunson but bigger more athletic and can play defense

[SpursGenius]

I do agree with the posters who are saying this is almost certainly not Wright's doing. Wright very likely negotiated the trade with Minny for Dillingham, but it was probably not his call to punt on the pick in the first place. I think the decision to consider these years "runway" for all of the guys currently on the club is an organization stance rather than his personal desire. He's not free from blame at all. But I think the rot is coming from a deeper place, and Wright is just a person they hired to implement their desires.

so who is the Rot ? RC ? Mr Senile himself ? He is dead in a few years I doubt senile hag keeps punting .

[blackbucket]

I do agree with the posters who are saying this is almost certainly not Wright's doing. Wright very likely negotiated the trade with Minny for Dillingham, but it was probably not his call to punt on the pick in the first place. I think the decision to consider these years "runway" for all of the guys currently on the club is an organization stance rather than his personal desire. He's not free from blame at all. But I think the rot is coming from a deeper place, and Wright is just a person they hired to implement their desires.

What are you basing that on? What information do you have? Doesn’t the GM have the last call on draft picks etc? Do we know if that isn’t the case and it’s Pop, RC or Holt Jr?

I think all of this falls at Wright’s feet. Time to move on.

[Chinook]

What are you basing that on? What information do you have? Doesn’t the GM have the last call on draft picks etc? Do we know if that isn’t the case and it’s Pop, RC or Holt Jr?

I think all of this falls at Wright’s feet. Time to move on.

No, the GM is just a le. Buford is the VP of Basketball Operations and Pop the President (last I checked, they have have gotten promotions since then). Wright is their employee and does what they tell him to. That's why they were also in the draft room.

There's zero reason to lay all of this at Wright's feet. If they are sitting watching everything happen but thinking "Nah, we've gotta let him cook", they're just as to blame as he is. However, because they're the actual decision-makers on the team, it's no surprise the general incompetence started before Wright ever had his position.

People should ask why they keep singling him out. He made moves to bring in four PGs last off-season, and Pop still played a ing PF there instead. The out-of-touchness that lead that fiasco is very evident in a move like this.

[Mr. Body]

I'll record here, as mentioned in other threads, that Minnesota does not own their picks at this point going forward, except for 2028. Utah has all of them outright or as swaps as part of the Gobert trade. It's going to get harder for them to stay compe ive as they go on. Having Edwards and a presumably good Dillingham are great, but they won't be able to easily get young talent.

[Silver&Black Warrior]

so who is the Rot ? RC ? Mr Senile himself ? He is dead in a few years I doubt senile hag keeps punting .

^AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[offset formation]

No, the GM is just a le. Buford is the VP of Basketball Operations and Pop the President (last I checked, they have have gotten promotions since then). Wright is their employee and does what they tell him to. That's why they were also in the draft room.

There's zero reason to lay all of this at Wright's feet. If they are sitting watching everything happen but thinking "Nah, we've gotta let him cook", they're just as to blame as he is. However, because they're the actual decision-makers on the team, it's no surprise the general incompetence started before Wright ever had his position.

People should ask why they keep singling him out. He made moves to bring in four PGs last off-season, and Pop still played a ing PF there instead. The out-of-touchness that lead that fiasco is very evident in a move like this.

This is so out of line with the kind of stuff RC did man. It doesn't make sense for it to be him but who knows, maybe you're right. Either way, I hate it with the heat of 100,000 sun's

[scott]

I do agree with the posters who are saying this is almost certainly not Wright's doing. Wright very likely negotiated the trade with Minny for Dillingham, but it was probably not his call to punt on the pick in the first place. I think the decision to consider these years "runway" for all of the guys currently on the club is an organization stance rather than his personal desire. He's not free from blame at all. But I think the rot is coming from a deeper place, and Wright is just a person they hired to implement their desires.

I agree with this and we should probably start subs uting "PAFTO" in place of "Wright", but let's be honest... if things turn sour is Wright who is getting fired, not RC or Pop. This is actually a major problem I have with the structure of the Spurs FO. There is definitely no accountability on the CEO or POBO, but the GM is not empowered to make autonomous decisions, and he certainly isn't empowered to fire the Head Coach.

In many respects, it reminds me (though it is very different) than the situation the Dallas Cowboys have with their GM (or whatever the they call him, since Jerry Jones is the GM). A tough job where you're success is dependent upon the decisions of someone higher, but you'll get all the blame when it doesn't work.

[offset formation]

No, the GM is just a le. Buford is the VP of Basketball Operations and Pop the President (last I checked, they have have gotten promotions since then). Wright is their employee and does what they tell him to. That's why they were also in the draft room.

There's zero reason to lay all of this at Wright's feet. If they are sitting watching everything happen but thinking "Nah, we've gotta let him cook", they're just as to blame as he is. However, because they're the actual decision-makers on the team, it's no surprise the general incompetence started before Wright ever had his position.

People should ask why they keep singling him out. He made moves to bring in four PGs last off-season, and Pop still played a ing PF there instead. The out-of-touchness that lead that fiasco is very evident in a move like this.

When do you think the incompetence started, FTR?

I think one could say it was in place at Samanic probably and definitely for Primo and picks since. Honestly, I hated the Branham and Wesley picks in real time too. But I was told I was wrong. And of course that Primo pick over Sengun is a fireable offense imo.

[scott]

I'll record here, as mentioned in other threads, that Minnesota does not own their picks at this point going forward, except for 2028. Utah has all of them outright or as swaps as part of the Gobert trade. It's going to get harder for them to stay compe ive as they go on. Having Edwards and a presumably good Dillingham are great, but they won't be able to easily get young talent.

MIN also has their 2026 pick, though it's the worst of theirs and UTA. As of right now, it would seem a safe bet that swap does not convey... but you never know.

[heyheymymy]

I'll record here, as mentioned in other threads, that Minnesota does not own their picks at this point going forward, except for 2028. Utah has all of them outright or as swaps as part of the Gobert trade. It's going to get harder for them to stay compe ive as they go on. Having Edwards and a presumably good Dillingham are great, but they won't be able to easily get young talent.

Good catch. SA is owed these MIN pick/swaps right after UTA starves them out for talent

Gobert is though 26, KAT is through 28 and ANT is through 29 so MIN will either reload or have to pivot fast with no FRPs except 28

Maybe it all works out for MIN, I'm just trying to find silver linings here to cope but you can argue that it's an interesting bet that MIN will be on the downtrend by then.

[heyheymymy]

When do you think the incompetence started, FTR?.

not offering max to Pops Mensa-Bonsu

[offset formation]

Y'all are forgetting free agency. There will be vets wanting to go play with "Baby Jordan"...they will still be in the playoff hunt annually.

And what's more, it doesn't even matter if they're not. We have a "once in a generation" type player now. Today. You simply don't kick draft capital that far down the road. You never know what Wemby's health will be in 7 years given he's a freak of nature and potentially quite injury prone. Just all around a dense move.

[offset formation]

not offering max to Pops Mensa-Bonsu

Make your jokes Mr Jokey McJokeface

[Obstructed_View]

The pick should have been Devin Carter. They were too dumb to see it. DC is a two way dog with elite athletic ability. He also improved his shooting this year. Think Jalen Brunson but bigger more athletic and can play defense

He's older than Blake, Branham, Barlow, Cissoko and Victor.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Good catch. SA is owed these MIN pick/swaps right after UTA starves them out for talent

Gobert is though 26, KAT is through 28 and ANT is through 29 so MIN will either reload or have to pivot fast with no FRPs except 28

Maybe it all works out for MIN, I'm just trying to find silver linings here to cope but you can argue that it's an interesting bet that MIN will be on the downtrend by then.

Minnesota is in tax already. Their bill for next season is north of $60 mil already before any moves they make. There's a significant possibility that they're unable to keep the team together even in the short run because they'll have some very tough decisions to make and will have to nail them. Absolutely love having a far out unprotected pick and a swap from them, it'll be great value.

[heyheymymy]

Minnesota is in tax already. Their bill for next season is north of $60 mil already before any moves they make. There's a significant possibility that they're unable to keep the team together even in the short run because they'll have some very tough decisions to make and will have to nail them. Absolutely love having a far out unprotected pick and a swap from them, it'll be great value.

I'm with you on that. MIN is a house of cards. The money is unsustainable and the bad fit on court that it buys is unsustainable. The 2 bigs are a mismatch, KAT is a fraud, and Ant is too unleashed. Can they pivot fast enough, without the aid of FRPs they sent to UTA? I agree, this is a good roll of the dice here for a rainy day fund you'll be glad you have down the line.

[Splits]

I'm with you on that. MIN is a house of cards. The money is unsustainable and the bad fit on court that it buys is unsustainable. The 2 bigs are a mismatch, KAT is a fraud, and Ant is too unleashed. Can they pivot fast enough, without the aid of FRPs they sent to UTA? I agree, this is a good roll of the dice here for a rainy day fund you'll be glad you have down the line.

which is totally predictive of what's going to be the situation in ing 2030

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

which is totally predictive of what's going to be the situation in ing 2030

It doesn't matter what the situation will be in 2030, it matters what it looks like it'll be. Spurs are almost certainly not going to be the ones making the pick for themselves, it'll be traded at some point. Now, if in a couple of years Minnesota's team is dismantled due to excessive tax, that pick will look super juicy for a trade similar to what NY and Brooklyn did.

[heyheymymy]

"Gobert is though 26, KAT is through 28 and ANT is through 29 so MIN will either reload or have to pivot fast with no FRPs except 28 [and the 26 is a swap as mentioned itt]"