Spurs Waiving Khem Birch

[Chinook]

just because someone wasnt cut doesnt mean they werent a candidate to be cut

not that i believed either would be cut

There's a difference between being a heavy favorite and a lock. If Bassey or Wesley had come out and looked horrible, and some of the other players looked really good like Cedi does, who knows? That's different to like if Vassell looked bad. He wasn't going to be let go no matter what, Moreover, that the Spurs didn't waive Birch until now may suggest they were looking to move his contract. While he wasn't beating out Bassey, the player acquired in the trade might have. That debate was never about what was likely to happen. It was about what kind of mentality the Spurs would show given their present and future roster constraints.

That said, it's also pretty clear that through some combination of PATFO's esteem in them and their own performance in practice, both guys were slotted high enough in the rotation to suggest they weren't serious candidates to cut. Graham and McDermott are more on the watchlist than they are. Depending on what's out there, we may see the Spurs make a move well ahead of the deadline, and who knows who'll stay on the roster at that point.

[Chinook]

In general. In this specific case, they weren't. It was always going to be Birch 100%. They just did him (and maybe his representation) a favor by giving him a chance to see if he can still physically play.

Birch was always assumed, which is why I was surprised he outlasted so many other guys on the roster. I want to say the Bassey conversation was closer to the draft or start of free agency when there were multiple possibilities for other centers. Other than a couple of rumors here or there, there's not much evidence the Spurs really wanted to bring in another center. But I do think it would've been a much different compe ion if the team actually had to choose who to keep out of Bassey, Mamu or whomever versus just cutting one player who may never play NBA ball again anyway

[spurraider21]

In general. In this specific case, they weren't. It was always going to be Birch 100%. They just did him (and maybe his representation) a favor by giving him a chance to see if he can still physically play.

yeah i agree. i never thought birch stood a chance of making the roster. i always felt the most likely outcome was in addition to birch, 2 of the 3 between payne/osman/bullock would be cut.

There's a difference between being a heavy favorite and a lock. If Bassey or Wesley had come out and looked horrible, and some of the other players looked really good like Cedi does, who knows? That's different to like if Vassell looked bad. He wasn't going to be let go no matter what, Moreover, that the Spurs didn't waive Birch until now may suggest they were looking to move his contract. While he wasn't beating out Bassey, the player acquired in the trade might have. That debate was never about what was likely to happen. It was about what kind of mentality the Spurs would show given their present and future roster constraints.

That said, it's also pretty clear that through some combination of PATFO's esteem in them and their own performance in practice, both guys were slotted high enough in the rotation to suggest they weren't serious candidates to cut. Graham and McDermott are more on the watchlist than they are. Depending on what's out there, we may see the Spurs make a move well ahead of the deadline, and who knows who'll stay on the roster at that point.

i think the more legitimate question around wesley is whether they will pick up his 3rd year option. decision on that has to be made by 10/31

[T Park]

That's exactly the way I see the Barlow situation playing out. We will trade Cedi/Graham, and the players we get back will be waived. That will create roster room for Barlow.

trading Osman would be pretty dumb. Graham I could see but Osman is too good.

[Mr. Body]

It always seemed pretty clear to me that Payne, Bullock, and Birch were never in the long-term plans (unless something went really wrong). Osman was likely always in the plans, which shows insight and canniness in jumping into that Max Strus trade and still getting an SRP (I believe).

Graham and Dougie have immense locker room value at this point. Not like they won't get traded mid-season, but their at udes are excellent and their skillsets still have value for now. We could be entering next year with the oldest player being a 29-year-old Cedi.

[spurraider21]

last real roster question is what happens to the third 2-way spot, alongside Barlow and Rice

an obvious candidate is Bediako who has still hung around on a camp deal. im not really a huge fan of his at this time, but they seem to like him. otherwise they'll probably be scouring other roster cuts

[spurraider21]

trading Osman would be pretty dumb. Graham I could see but Osman is too good.

he's an obvious trade candidate given that he's a vet on an expiring deal. if he continues the level of play and effectiveness he's shown in the preseason, yes im sure the asking price for him would be higher than graham's. but he's still a rather clear candidate imo

[Chinook]

yeah i agree. i never thought birch stood a chance of making the roster. i always felt the most likely outcome was in addition to birch, 2 of the 3 between payne/osman/bullock would be cut.


i think the more legitimate question around wesley is whether they will pick up his 3rd year option. decision on that has to be made by 10/31

Yep. I think I mentioned that if they don't pick up that option, it would increase the odds of Wesley not making it the year by a lot in my eyes. I also think if they don't intend to pick up that option that they explore trade scenarios first, because the other team might want to pick up that option. Because they're neither featuring nor benching him, I think the odds of him not getting that option picked up are pretty low too. That's even more true how that most of the trade ballast has been cut. There likely won't be a deal to bring in the PG who'd have to be on the roster to really make Wesley expendable. While the Spurs should have the assets to get their PG of the future next draft, they aren't guaranteed to get one and probably don't want to go without any developmental point on their roster. They seemingly showed no interest in Washington, so they don't seem to be in the market for another prospect.

[spurraider21]

Yep. I think I mentioned that if they don't pick up that option, it would increase the odds of Wesley not making it the year by a lot in my eyes. I also think if they don't intend to pick up that option that they explore trade scenarios first, because the other team might want to pick up that option. Because they're neither featuring nor benching him, I think the odds of him not getting that option picked up are pretty low too. That's even more true how that most of the trade ballast has been cut. There likely won't be a deal to bring in the PG who'd have to be on the roster to really make Wesley expendable. While the Spurs should have the assets to get their PG of the future next draft, they aren't guaranteed to get one and probably don't want to go without any developmental point on their roster. They seemingly showed no interest in Washington, so they don't seem to be in the market for another prospect.

i still think the most likely outcome is they pick it up. even if they change their mind later, and are unable to trade him... they'd be eating 2.6 mil to let him go, which isnt the end of the world. and have to think that when drafting a 19yo freshman who wasnt exactly a star in college, they knew he would be facing a mutliyear development path. of course, wemby changes the timeline, so a 2-3 year development might not be something they care for. then again, what is cissoko... i dno

but if they dont pick it up, it would be quite the statement

[exstatic]

i still think the most likely outcome is they pick it up. even if they change their mind later, and are unable to trade him... they'd be eating 2.6 mil to let him go, which isnt the end of the world. and have to think that when drafting a 19yo freshman who wasnt exactly a star in college, they knew he would be facing a mutliyear development path. of course, wemby changes the timeline, so a 2-3 year development might not be something they care for. then again, what is cissoko... i dno

but if they dont pick it up, it would be quite the statement

If they're not going to pick up the option, then they should cut him. No point in keeping a player that isn't in your future plans, and that knows they aren't.

[timtonymanu]

No surprise. Did the guy even suit up once as a Spur? Totally forgot he was in the Poeltl trade too.

[spurraider21]

If they're not going to pick up the option, then they should cut him. No point in keeping a player that isn't in your future plans, and that knows they aren't.

he can play himself into it. would still be a restircted free agent that the spurs can exercise some control over, just without having guaranteed money on the books

[exstatic]

he can play himself into it. would still be a restircted free agent that the spurs can exercise some control over, just without having guaranteed money on the books

No. He becomes unrestricted AND the Spurs could only pay him what his offer would have been.

[spurraider21]

No. He becomes unrestricted AND the Spurs could only pay him what his offer would have been.

ah, i must have been mistaken.

carry along

[sfernald]

Really? Who did you have?

No mistakes at the bottom. Wesley would have been a good choice too.

[rankingtear]

Officially the youngest team in the league by .4 years after the cut.

[Obstructed_View]

last real roster question is what happens to the third 2-way spot, alongside Barlow and Rice

an obvious candidate is Bediako who has still hung around on a camp deal. im not really a huge fan of his at this time, but they seem to like him. otherwise they'll probably be scouring other roster cuts

They have to be watching the cuts from other teams. Pop's network helps in this regard.

[spurraider21]

They have to be watching the cuts from other teams. Pop's network helps in this regard.

yup. i dont see anything particularly inspiring with Bediako, i think they can do better

[spurraider21]

guy is on the Canadian olympic team and logged 10 minutes yesterday

[scott]

guy is on the Canadian olympic team and logged 10 minutes yesterday

Spurs legend

[Darkwaters]

About a year ago I was in line at the Post Office and Mamu got in line behind me. So I struck up a conversation and we started talking about the new contract he'd just signed. We were talking about how they'd cut down the roster to get to 15 and he said, "well you know there is at least one cut we all expect. There's no way Khem is on the team next year."

Made me laugh so hard.

[spurraider21]

About a year ago I was in line at the Post Office and Mamu got in line behind me. So I struck up a conversation and we started talking about the new contract he'd just signed. We were talking about how they'd cut down the roster to get to 15 and he said, "well you know there is at least one cut we all expect. There's no way Khem is on the team next year."

Made me laugh so hard.

Reminds me of a similar incident when i ran into LaMarcus Aldridge at HEB

We were in the pancake aisle looking at different kinds of syrups. He grabbed a jar of molasses which he was dropping into his basket. But he missed and it broke on the floor and started to seep everywhere. I moved out of the way so I wouldn't mess up my shoes. LaMarcus wasn't quick enough and the molasses got all over his shoes.

We both looked at the molasses and then at his shoes and then at each other and we both started laughing.

[exstatic]

About a year ago I was in line at the Post Office and Mamu got in line behind me. So I struck up a conversation and we started talking about the new contract he'd just signed. We were talking about how they'd cut down the roster to get to 15 and he said, "well you know there is at least one cut we all expect. There's no way Khem is on the team next year."

Made me laugh so hard.

I think Birch holds the duration record of a player acquired via trade by the Spurs, never having a press conference or introduction, then subsequently waived.

[spurraider21]

I think Birch holds the duration record of a player acquired via trade by the Spurs, never having a press conference or introduction, then subsequently waived.

[Darkwaters]

I think Birch holds the duration record of a player acquired via trade by the Spurs, never having a press conference or introduction, then subsequently waived.

Yea, his whole situation was just strange.