Pick #2 - Strategies

[baseline bum]

Yeah, i don't know why this still somehow a conversation here. Harper is the absolute better prospect and a lock to go second. You could argue that Harper is closer to Flagg than Ace to Dylan as prospect..

Agreed, I think I'd have Bailey fifth on my board: an interesting gamble but who could be anywhere on the spectrum from Paul George to Alfredrick Hughes.

[SpursBills]

I honestly haven't followed Harper that closely this season - how is he off-ball?

Because Fox is probably not great off-ball. And all I've seen of Harper has been him playing on-ball. And so if you're playing Fox on-ball, and Harper on-ball and platooning them, somebody's minutes are getting cut short and it's probably not going to Fox. So now you've stunted some of Harper's development. And then you throw in Castle, whose entire advantage is being able to get downhill with his strength relative to his position, who now has to play almost exclusively off-ball as a limited shooter. Not only are you stunting Castle's development, but you're also stunting Harper's.

My dream scenario is that we can just trade a bunch of stuff + #2 for Flagg, even if it means giving up Castle. In a salary cap era where you can only have 2 max slots, Flagg + Wemby gives you surplus value well into their third contracts, which I don't think you can get with Harper, Castle, or anyone else. Short of that, I'm hoping somebody offers a king's ransom for Harper - maybe swapping Vassell for TMIII + 7 + 1-2 unprotected 1sts from NO or 8 + 3 Knicks 1st rounders from Brooklyn or something

Last choice is probably taking Ace or VJ #2 - would rather just stick with Harper if no good trades available and figure it out later

[Mr. Body]

Man, I just can't see enough ball to go around with Harper.

Fox and Castle and Wemby will dominate the out of touches, not enough oxygen left for Harper. Too many guys who need the ball and can't be counted to spread the floor and make shots. Imagine Sochan stinking up the offense with his anti-gravity field. Or Vassell clanking. Or Keldon doing nothing without the ball and the driving lane.

I say trade the pick if possible. Could they get bonus picks and Knueppel from Washington?

Sure the Fox trade is messing things up but if Wemby never gets the clot Spurs might have been 13 or 14. What's done is done.

Frustrating because I don't think VJ is a much better fit though he's a better shooter allegedly

I don't think Castle is as high usage as he was later in the season. He's a really good cutter and finding gaps in defenses. Like, really good. He played off-ball a good deal with UConn. Honestly I think we underplay how he was used and how good he was with that UConn team. He's multi-faceted. Harper and Fox is a question, yeah. I think they can play all three without a big problem though.

[vy65]

I think this stroke of luck tonight sadly ensures CP3 isn't brought back if they don't trade for Giannis. Which frees the team up to spend their MLE on some shooting at the forward spot.

Need to add Branham and Blake to the scrap heap too

[PhantomDashCam]

Timvp stealthily posted a Big Board Article.

https://www.spurstalk.com/san-antoni...025-nba-draft/

2. Dylan Harper

Harper is a 6-foot-6 playmaker who is very likely to be the second pick in this draft — no matter who lands the pick. It’s fair to say he’s in his own tier behind Flagg but ahead of everyone else in this class.
Harper has star potential and San Antonio would love to land him even though lead ball-handler isn’t a pressing need due to the presence of De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle.

[baseline bum]

Need to add Branham and Blake to the scrap heap too

They're just here to be matching salary if the team needs to make a trade.

[Guru of Nothing]

I think this stroke of luck tonight sadly ensures CP3 isn't brought back if they don't trade for Giannis. Which frees the team up to spend their MLE on some shooting at the forward spot.

I bring CP3 back for minimum, and I think he would sign for it. Give him about 15 minutes a game, and I think he's positive asset to have to aid Mitch's development.

[BatManu20]

Harper will be the pick. Spurs will draft their backup PG #2 Overall when we desperately need a starting wing with some size (still extremely grateful for thick tho tbh)

[exstatic]

You don’t hire Mitch Fn Johnson as your head coach before trading for Giannis, it’s not happening

if they get an absolute godfather offer to trade down then go for it. But Harper is a stud and they can figure out fit later. It’s an amazing problem to have tbh.

Yup. First world problems. I remember the media banging the drum for the Spurs to trade the Duncan pick, because we already had a 7 footer in Robinson.

You draft the talent, then you figure out a way to make it work.

[SupremeGuy]

Fox, Castle, Harper, Me, and Wemby.



Do it Poop!

[BatManu20]

"Assistant Coach"

[HankChinaski]

Stupid writer calling mitch the assistant coach still

[Dverde]

[SupremeGuy]

I bring CP3 back for minimum, and I think he would sign for it. Give him about 15 minutes a game, and I think he's positive asset to have to aid Mitch's development.

Not if he has any dreams of starting.

Fox is the PG going forward.

[barakz21]

I hope we don’t trade the pick for Giannis tbh. Nearing (or already?) 30, and somewhat injury prone the past few years and coupled with a style of play that probably would decline as he ages, it feels like a huge risk giving up a piece like that. Haven’t really paid attention to the rest of the upcoming class, because it’s Flagg or bust. That said, I am excited for whoever we pick (assuming we keep it). This is also Mitch’s first opportunity to put his stamp on the team, by deciding making the best choice between Harper and Ace. I’m sure El Jefe will be there to guide him into what specifically to look at when evaluating them.

[SupremeGuy]

Harper will be the pick. Spurs will draft their backup PG #2 Overall when we desperately need a starting wing with some size (still extremely grateful for thick tho tbh)

Bro don't jinx lol

Poop can barely move anymore. His mind has been gone since Kawhi tbh.

This is my boy Mitch's team now. He's young. I really don't think he'd pull some "he's gotta get over himself" bull . We draft Harper.

Fox, Castle, Harper, ing anyone, Wemby.

That's a crew.

[Ice009]

I’m happy with Fox, but I think finding a way to ship him in a deal for Giannis while keeping pick #2 would be ideal. Maybe Fox, #14, future firsts for Giannis?

That’s a tough decision. Fox will probably be better than Harper for the next couple of years but Harper’s potential is real. Whatever happens it’s good times over here.

Forget about any trade involving Fox for at least a couple of years.
He forced his way out to join the Spurs specifically, we'd never do him like that.

Spurs would burn bridges with every agent in the league if they pulled that. Even if you don't care about pissing off De'Aaron after he forced his way here it's still bad business.

Glad you guys answered that.

I will ask, though, is there a point in time that it would be OK for the Spurs to trade De'Aaron without there being any repercussions for the Spurs? LeBowen says a couple of years at least. I'm thinking more like 3 or more. When is he due for an extension?

Were ya'll that impressed by Fox that he's untradeable?

How do Spurs fans not know De'Aaron specifically forced his way here asking for a trade here? The Spurs can't just turn around and trade him due to that. It would not look good at all and could hurt the Spurs with player agents and future free agents if they did something like that.

Mavs would not trade Cooper Flagg for any other player but Wemby. This is a moment where the basketball gods smiled on them. No way they trade him for older players. He's perfect next to Davis and he is good enough to make a difference immediately. It was painful when the Spurs name got called at two thinking of what could've been. But hey, let's whine about getting the number 2 pick with a roster that already has a lot of young talent with a player of a generation at the centerpiece.

I don't know about luck. This happens after they had already traded Luka while getting nothing but major backlash about it, then Kyrie goes out for a year, and they also made the play-in giving them a 1.8% chance at the number 1 pick. How are people not kicking up a fuss about this? It seems more than just luck to me. Has any team with a lower percentage chance won the number one pick? Maybe there is and I'm wrong, as I've never really followed the lottery much since the Spurs got the number 1 pick and drafted TD, so I didn't see/follow hardly any lotteries growing up a Spurs fan.

[DAF86]

#2 for Markannen straight up? How yall feeling about that?

[BatManu20]

[fafo]

If the plan is to stand pat with Harper, then do we move Vassell and start Fox/Harper/Castle?

[SupremeGuy]

#2 for Markannen straight up? How yall feeling about that?

Why would the Jazz do that? lol

But yes, obviously.

[exstatic]

At this point, you just take the talent and draft Harper.

If one of the lotto teams that needs a PG (NOP, WAS, UTH) makes a ridiculous offer you entertain it, but since they'll still be rebuilding next season it is unlikely that they would attach a nice future asset which is what I'd want.

Houston will probably now feel a need to up their offer for Giannis, which diminishes my interest in engaging in the bidding war for him.

This. Don’t overthink it.

[exstatic]

#2 for Markannen straight up? How yall feeling about that?

No. I was a big Markkanen Stan, but I’d rather have the upside and another stud guard/wing.

[Knoxxx]

I know Bailey is much maligned here but he fits a need for us and re measurements:

Flagg 6-7 3/4 7-0 Wingspan 8-10.5 standing reach
Bailey 6-7 1/2 7-0.5 Wingspan 8-11 standing reach

I don’t see anyone complaining about Flagg’s measurements, meanwhile Bailey has better length.

I’ll be interested to see his vertical. I also like that he blocks shots.

[exstatic]

If the plan is to stand pat with Harper, then do we move Vassell and start Fox/Harper/Castle?

I think if you draft Harper, and draft and keep another guard or wing at14, somebody’s gotta go. Maybe more than one somebody.