12 Thoughts After the Spurs Draft Stephon Castle, Trade Rob Dillingham

[scott]

I’m still laughing at the Wright interview

Question to Wright: “Do you think this clears a path for you to make some noise in free agency?
Wright: “I don’t know about all that.”

This, after the slurping local Spurs media spent the immediate time after we made the trade to talk about how this gives us more cap space.

Any fan who's been here awhile knows what cap space amounts to...

[scott]

overall I like what they did. I'm a bit disappointed, that they didn't take Cody at 8, but ok, obviously they didn't believe he will be good enough.

when I read about all the criticism that they traded away the pick, I think most miss the bigger picture. Spurs need to manage minimum 5, or 6, or 7 FRP over the upcoming 3 drafts. you don't want an expensive #8 pick on your roster, when you are confident to get a better (probably less expensive) player in the next 1-3 years.
yes, the pick would only be guarranteed 2 years. but frankly, imagine the criticism from the same people, if Spurs would need to cut a #8 pick before the rookie contract is done.....

trading the pick means some 6 or 7 million more in cap space, right? it might be needed for a FA, or, maybe even more likely, it could be used to absorb salary in a trade. so or so, if they had kept the pick, it would have had an influence about further moves this summer and over the next years. and if the didn't think Dillingham, or Cody, or Carter, or whoever was worth this handicap for the next moves, it was the right move to trade the pick.

this doesn't mean they have a trade or FA signing already in place (maybe they have), but it of course does make a difference when starting negotiations, if you for example can offer a FA about 30 million more over 4 years. that's a do or die number for many deals.

the 2nd rounders I like, after thinking about it. we all knew that the Spurs won't bring in 4 rookies next season. we were all talking about at a good chance of one stash pick. so Nunez is the one.
Nunez is a great passer and definitely has some NBA skills. Spurs can watch him in Europe for some seasons. if he develops enough quality, he will be brought over, no matter what people here say. or he is a nice trade asset.

and Ingram on a 2-way is also a good move with some upside. Sidy and Champagnie don't look like certain pieces of a future team. Ingram could take their spot after this season, if he develops more game than they did.

The #8 pick will make $6.2MM in year 1, or about half of the MLE. This is not an expensive pick on your roster that you need to be concerned about, in fact this is one of the cheapest roster slots there is.

This is pure copium.

[buttsR4rebounding]

Yeah, I get that we get the best out of the three picks in '30, but if both of the DAL+MEM picks are better than ours, the lesser one just does nothing.

Actually, you can still get some value. Take the example where Minnesota gets the 2nd pick and Doncic is gone and Dallas gets the 4th pick. You go to Minnesota and say we'll let you keep your pick for another 1st and swap with Dallas. Nothing says they have to take the best pick if they can get compensated for choosing the other.

[duncan2150]

The #8 pick will make $6.2MM in year 1, or about half of the MLE. This is not an expensive pick on your roster that you need to be concerned about, in fact this is one of the cheapest roster slots there is.This is pure copium.

Agreed it's not expensive unless you pick the wrong guy, in this situation we also need to think that this 6 mo are a plus for the free agencywe know that the spurs don't want to invest in another young they're not convince about, that's it. I was frustrated by the draft but we'll see what happens next tough i think the spurs will just ressign osman and add a guy inside ( more a pf than a c) for cheap.

[scott]

Agreed it's not expensive unless you pick the wrong guy, in this situation we also need to think that this 6 mo are a plus for the free agencywe know that the spurs don't want to invest in another young they're not convince about, that's it. I was frustrated by the draft but we'll see what happens next tough i think the spurs will just ressign osman and add a guy inside ( more a pf than a c) for cheap.

Every contract is too expensive when you pick/sign the wrong guy. The FO is paid to not pick the wrong guys.

Trading out because you're afraid of adding someone making $6.2MM for two years to your roster is some poverty level .

[Mr. Body]

Yeah, it seems glaringly clear they didn't like anybody at that range. They probably liked Carter but still thought the Wolves package was better.

Strange to be 'keep the powder dry' when the roster is so weak, but that's their decision. They didn't want to pick a player just because they had to.

[z0sa]

Every contract is too expensive when you pick/sign the wrong guy. The FO is paid to not pick the wrong guys.

Trading out because you're afraid of adding someone making $6.2MM for two years to your roster is some poverty level .

It's pre-excusing the FO for not doing anything. It's completely gaslighting/copping out, and since we have Wemby, the carrot dangling is going to possibly continue for years since asses will be in seats.

[duncan2150]

Every contract is too expensive when you pick/sign the wrong guy. The FO is paid to not pick the wrong guys.Trading out because you're afraid of adding someone making $6.2MM for two years to your roster is some poverty level .

Why afraid ? they just don't like the guys in this context, they don't want to develop another guy they don't really trust.Offcourse that's not what you, me and a lot of posters would have done but i respect the idea. I just feel the deal was average but i can understand the thing.

[buttsR4rebounding]

I'm not sure why everyone is so surprised. When asked at the end of the season about improving around Wemby the response was that they were focused on the 2025 draft. They seem to be sticking to that plan. This is one reason I was hoping that the Toronto pick did not convey this year (although in a sense it is not conveying until 2031 now). We will see a midling FA pick up a la Toby Harris. We'll see improvement from our young players with 3 players entering the magical 3rd year that seems the blossum time for past players. Plus huge improvement from Wemby and have a shot at the play in probably falling 4 or 5 games short. Big improvement and likely 2, maybe 3 shots at long term pieces in the draft. The Spurs process...

[duncan2150]

another thing is comparing us to houston or okc who are more active but we're not on the same page. the shai project or the green-sengun one have more years behind them. Next year i see the team being more active. And btw that kills this narrative of victor wants to win now , yes he wants to win but he respects the step by strep strategy of the spurs.

[thOOdee]

random throwing stuff on the wall post, but what if spurs were able to turn a few picks in their pocket (lets say a 1st and a pickswap) for someone like trey murphy, who would probably cost less than bridges. Would a hypo trade like this change some of yalls opinions on the handling of the 8th pick?

[scott]

Why afraid ? they just don't like the guys in this context, they don't want to develop another guy they don't really trust.Offcourse that's not what you, me and a lot of posters would have done but i respect the idea. I just feel the deal was average but i can understand the thing.

I don't disagree with this. If they don't like the prospects as much as they like a 2031 pick, then that's fine. I was merely responding to the idea that they didn't want to add a $6.2MM/yr contract to the books.

Edit: I'll just add that I think it's weird that they felt there was no talent at 8 that was worth adding to this current roster, given that this current roster isn't very good. But they get paid the big bucks, not me.

[LeBowen]

random throwing stuff on the wall post, but what if spurs were able to turn a few picks in their pocket (lets say a 1st and a pickswap) for someone like trey murphy, who would probably cost less than bridges. Would a hypo trade like this change some of yalls opinions on the handling of the 8th pick?

Obviously.
Trey Murphy is exactly the type of wing we need, but they're not letting him go.
NOLA is set on keeping Murphy and Herb. Ingram is the odd man out.
And Naji Marshall.

Basically, I'd take any wing with consistent shot and average or positive defense.
Fontecchio still hasn't signed an extension with Detroit, he'd also be a solid rotation option.

Sounds unrealistic right now, but Minnesota can't keep both Naz and McDaniels on the roster after Naz's extension kicks in the next summer.
Unless they trade KAT/Gobert, one of those two has to go. McDaniels is on more or less the same money as Devin and it's not in the realm of possibility we get him the next summer by returning those Minnesota picks we got.
It would basically be Dillingham for McDaniels with one year delay on getting McDaniels.

MPJ seems to be the problem for Detroit, they have no way of getting any depth if he's still on the roster.
Idk what's their asking price going to be, but if it's cheap, I'd take him. His contract ends before Wemby's extension kicks in, he's a 6'10 elite shooter and a good rebounder.
We simply have to get one of those guys.

Even a veteran like Bogdanovic would go a long way. We can't start the season without at least one good wing shooter.

[Ice009]

Only found articles that said it was a "minor procedure" and that his rehab had gone "quicker than expected"

That sounds good, thanks.

[TD 21]

I don't disagree with this. If they don't like the prospects as much as they like a 2031 pick, then that's fine. I was merely responding to the idea that they didn't want to add a $6.2MM/yr contract to the books.

Edit: I'll just add that I think it's weird that they felt there was no talent at 8 that was worth adding to this current roster, given that this current roster isn't very good. But they get paid the big bucks, not me.

You can't possibly have such luminaries as Bassey, Cissoko and Wesley competing for roster spots. This cheap organization might have to swallow the NBA equivalent of a cent to eat their contracts.

Wouldn't want to stop running a culture club atmosphere and fostering compe ion on a roster that features 3 positive impact players (Wembanyama, Vassell), 2 of which are legit starters (Jones) and the remainder of the returning rotation ranging from net negative backups (Johnson, Collins) to replacement players (Sochan, Branham, Champagnie).

[SpursGenius]

I think its obvious spurs want to tank for the strong 25 draft, they knew D Carter probably adds 5 plus wins as starting PG.

[Vienna]

The #8 pick will make $6.2MM in year 1, or about half of the MLE. This is not an expensive pick on your roster that you need to be concerned about, in fact this is one of the cheapest roster slots there is.

This is pure copium.

you totally missed my point. I know that 6 million in todays NBA are not a rich contract. Jesus, don‘t assume people don‘t know Spotrac whatsoever.
6 million can become a significant number when managing your cap space and considering your options. 6 million bound in a player you see in the g league rather than on your regular rotation, is an issue, especially if you want to be able to play your cards in free agency, or you want to able to absorb salary in a trade. it‘s not rocket science.

[scott]

you totally missed my point. I know that 6 million in todays NBA are not a rich contract. Jesus, don‘t assume people don‘t know Spotrac whatsoever.
6 million can become a significant number when managing your cap space and considering your options. 6 million bound in a player you see in the g league rather than on your regular rotation, is an issue, especially if you want to be able to play your cards in free agency, or you want to able to absorb salary in a trade. it‘s not rocket science.

If we don't think that any of the players are good enough, that's one thing. But if you're afraid of paying a guy you pick at #8 because he is nothing more than a G-leaguer... well, then maybe you just suck at drafting? I promise you, many of the players picked from 8-30 in this draft will have productive NBA careers and not merely be G-leaguers.

I love this annual exercise we go through where we pretend like the Spurs have cap constraints.

[ChumpDumper]

If we don't think that any of the players are good enough, that's one thing. But if you're afraid of paying a guy you pick at #8 because he is nothing more than a G-leaguer... well, then maybe you just suck at drafting? I promise you, many of the players picked from 8-30 in this draft will have productive NBA careers and not merely be G-leaguers.

I love this annual exercise we go through where we pretend like the Spurs have cap constraints.

Not cap restraints -- spending restraints.

[scott]

Not cap restraints -- spending restraints.

Like I said... poverty franchise . Call up the Oakland A's and talk shop with them, if for no other reason than to not repeat their relocation blunders.

[ChumpDumper]

Like I said... poverty franchise . Call up the Oakland A's and talk shop with them, if for no other reason than to not repeat their relocation blunders.

They're not going anywhere.

Now what?

[Mr. Body]

Express-News with an article about the 8th pick.

https://www.expressnews.com/sports/s...l-19547166.php

Spurs had a come to a consensus on a player a few days before, but Minnesota came in with the deal they were looking for. Night of (if I read right, kind of unclear), Minnesota called in Dillingham.

Explains what many of us have suggested, that they didn't really value a second player in the draft more than the flexibility of 1) using the incoming pick in a future trade, or 2) a possibly good young player at a time when adding talent is hard.

[objective]

Is Brian Wright the new Billy King?

King once only protected a first round pick 1-3 because he allegedly said it was only a '3 player draft'. Pick went 6 and was Lillard

This draft was RC and gm Brian Wright basically saying this draft was a 7 player or less draft. If just one player hits....

[benefactor]

Is Brian Wright the new Billy King?

King once only protected a first round pick 1-3 because he allegedly said it was only a '3 player draft'. Pick went 6 and was Lillard

This draft was RC and gm Brian Wright basically saying this draft was a 7 player or less draft. If just one player hits....

People are quick to blame Wright. He's just a man behind a microphone. Pop and RC are still calling all the shots.

[south side spur]

If we don't think that any of the players are good enough, that's one thing. But if you're afraid of paying a guy you pick at #8 because he is nothing more than a G-leaguer... well, then maybe you just suck at drafting? I promise you, many of the players picked from 8-30 in this draft will have productive NBA careers and not merely be G-leaguers.

I love this annual exercise we go through where we pretend like the Spurs have cap constraints.

Now compare keeping #8 with the 3 possible lottery picks the Spurs might be drafting next season. Was keeping #8 worth having any influence on next year’s picks? Was #8 a more valuable prospect than any of next season’s potential lottery picks? This has to be taken into account.