Solving the wing logjam, someone has to go - but who?

[024]

Keldon needs to go ASAP. Spurs would actually be doing him a favor by giving him a fresh start somewhere else. He doesn't really have much of a role remaining on the team.

Then Vassell if the right trade comes along. Still would like to see how he adjusts to the Wemby/Fox/Harper/Castle hierarchy and whether he starts playing within that limit and improves his defense. I don't have high hopes there so best to trade him earlier than later before his value completely plummets.

[jesterbobman]

I think it will be (and should be) be Keldon. Mostly, we've got a lot of creation, he offers value as a 1:1 player that can help a team with limited high end creation, and can attack a but his shooting is a limitation.

I think adding both a PF and a C through a combination of FA (MLE) and a trade is the path to success next year. Keldon + a second round picks flotsam for (Aldama / Collins / ...), and a MLE C (Kornet etc) makes a pretty complete team. Ideally we'd flip another second and the expiring corpse of Malaki Branham for a decent player (Hauser etc) to fill out the rotation.

[Kawhi Duncan]

sochana nd keldon....we had a significantly better record with sochan out last year when wemby played...his good defense is completely offset by his horrid floor spacing, and he will never ever be a floor spacer...hindering the team and wombs development to see if sochan can ever grow to be a shooter is malpractice

[cutewizard]

To the power of friendship,

thank you for your service......

lol

[RC_Drunkford]

Would be shocked if they traded Barnes tbh, unless he ask for it / is ok with it. Remember he waived his trade kicker to come here. Literally gave up 3.7 million dollars to play in San Antonio. Spurs aren't going to just trade him somewhere for the sake of getting a better player unless he agrees to it.

his leadership will be needed. Keldon + Branham is enough to get a starting PF. Then we got the whole MLE for a back up center. That's pretty much all we need.

[Pauleta14]

Positionless basketball guys...

[timtonymanu]

The Spurs are gonna wait it out until a really good trade comes along.

With Carter on board, it better be Keldon first.

[SpursGenius]

his leadership will be needed. Keldon + Branham is enough to get a starting PF. Then we got the whole MLE for a back up center. That's pretty much all we need.

Keldon is trash. Definitely needs to go. He is lucky we were devoid of talent and he got the big contract. Trade his ass and srp x2 for John Collins. Or big up the Philly guy for cheap at pf. Yes mle for defensive center. 38 would have gotten us nice athletic backup center penn state guy. But Brian wrong punts srps because he is a baffoon

[poopbox]

his leadership will be needed. Keldon + Branham is enough to get a starting PF. Then we got the whole MLE for a back up center. That's pretty much all we need.

Leadership needed to do what? People always say this about us having veterans but I haven't seen it pay off. Our young players did the same dumb on the court last season under the "leadership" of Barnes and Paul as they did the year before they got here.

[Dejounte]

Keldon’s been reaching out to both Carter and Dylan. He looks like he’s staying.

I think Vassell is the odd man out. He needs to be traded for a backup big.

Fox/ Wesley
Harper/ Julian
Castle/ Keldon
Barnes/ Sochan/ Bryant
Wemby/ Trade/ Bassey

[mo7888]

Carter Bryant won't be in the rotation this year. Unless the Spurs are bad.

I think he's gets minutes either way. They'll put him in with a focus only on defense and catch and shoot 3's and keep his role very simple. He can do that now. He'll look better during the season in a limited role than he will with an expanded role in SL.

[Ice009]

Keldon’s been reaching out to both Carter and Dylan. He looks like he’s staying.

I think Vassell is the odd man out. He needs to be traded for a backup big.

Fox/ Wesley
Harper/ Julian
Castle/ Keldon
Barnes/ Sochan/ Bryant
Wemby/ Trade/ Bassey

Darn, I was hoping Keldon being at the sponsorship event the other day didn't mean anything. I thought maybe they just got Keldon cause he's always up to help out. They probably didn't want to both guys like Steph who is likely busy working on his game .

[buttsR4rebounding]

Carter Bryant probably plays in Austin a lot this year.
He barely played in college. He needs minutes, not to sit on a bench.

This is correct. Having said that a true contender needs probably at least 4 guys who are considered 3 and D capable. At least 2 of them have to be high level if not elite. Right now we have IMO one guy who fills this role, but is average at best and that is Champ. If Sochan can become an average 3 point shooter he could be a high level 3&D guy. If you make the assumption (and at this point that is all it is) that Carter can become a high level 3&D player then you are lacking at least one more. Of the players in this pool I see the following:

1. Barnes: Not a long term solution. Great guy to have on the team. Superb 3 point shooter, but no defense. Currently more of a premium version of McDermott.
2. Keldon: Serves as an energy guy off the bench. His defense is lacking and his 3 point shot which once was decent has declined badly.
3. Devin: To me this is a critical season for Devin. If he can adjust his game to focus on being a catch and shoot player on offense and expend the saved energy on defense he could become a decent 3&D player. The question would then become is a decent 3&D player worth $27 million a year.
4. Branham: He shot 40.5% from 3 last year on reduced attempts, but he makes Keldon look like a DPOY candidate.
5. Wesley: I love the defensive energy he brings, but he shot 29% from 3 last year. He shot 38.5% from 3 his rookie year which gives a glimmer of hope, but his 63% career FT% casts a dark shadow on that glimmer.

So while Bryant spends time in Austin this year the Spurs will be working on 2 tracks. The first is developing the core: Wemby's development and health; the fit between Fox, Castle and Harper; integration of new defensive schemes. The 2nd being the sorting out supporting cast. I see it playing out like this: They sign a back up center and a PF into some combonation of MLE and BAE. No one gets traded. Devin gets lots of early PT to adjust to his new role, probably as a starter. Jeremy plays a bunch during the pre-season with instructions to shoot the 3 at every opportunity. If it appears that he has made a signifcant improvement in his 3 point shot he starts at the 4 (even though his long term value is maximized as a 3). That would give you a starting lineup of Wemby, Fox, Castle, Devin and Sochan. If Sochan doesn't show 3 point shooting improvement then he reverts to his role off the bench and the PF they sign likely starts although Barnes could be the guy to begin the season. Harper is the 1st guy off the bench. Keldon continues his role as energy guy off the bench. If his 3 point shot looks more like year 3 Keldon than year 6 Keldon he likely is a long term piece of the Spurs team going forward. Blake Wesley will be a deep bench player used for his energy on defense. If his offensive game doesn't show significant improvement he is not extended a qualifying offer next year if not traded before. Branham is not extended a QO next year unless traded beforehand. I believe Devin is ultimately traded. I believe the team is hoping that he embraces his new role--shoots a high percentage from 3 and plays adequate defense to increase his trade value, but that his role as a more of a 3&D guy is not in line with his salary. Whether that trade occurs before the trade deadline or next summer it seems like a necessary move given everything that has occurred since he signed that contract.

[Raven]

barnes needs to go and one of blake and malaki doesn't project to see any minutes, which is a shame as there was sell high potential there

[LeBowen]

Situation as of now, without any trades.
My personal guesstimation based on what we've seen this year.
I won't use traditional positions, but roles on our team because some of the players can't play together, like Castle and Sochan.
Also, even though Vassell is in the secondary playmaker position, Castle would have the ball when they're on the floor together.

240 minutes available.

Primary playmaker:
Fox 34
Harper 14

Secondary playmaker:
Vassell 30
Harper 18 (32 total)

Point of attack defender:
Castle 32
Sochan 16

Off the ball wing:
Barnes 24
Keldon 10
Bryant 10
Champagnie 4

Rim protector:
Wemby 34
Sochan 14 (30 total)


As you can see, it absolutely can't work.
Even if we assume Bryant gets sent to Austin and Champagnie (undeservedly) starts catching DNPs again, it still can't work.
Especially when we get an actual backup big and Jeremy loses those minutes.
That's without even getting a starting PF we desperately need.

We can't lose Barnes because noone else was even close to his 3pt efficency.
I understand that PATFO values Devin, but if there's positive value to be had, we need to do it.
Champagnie also doesn't deserve to go back to being the 12th man despite all of his good work this season.

Replacing Keldon and Vassell (or Barnes if they really value Vassell that much) with a starting PF and backup C solves our issues.
Until then we can talk about positionless basketball with a fundamentally flawed roster.

Three years ago Wright has shown us that he was a great salesman, got a lot of value while we were tanking.
Over the past year he's shown that he can also be a great buyer since we got Fox for dirt cheap and were paid to take Barnes.
Now it's the time he shows he's got the authority to make tough decisions, friendship crew needs to go.

[Seventyniner]

The idea that the Spurs won't trade any of the "power of friendship" crew doesn't jive with the fact that they did trade players that they were in love with in the past, like Hill/Dejounte/White. They also let Lonnie walk in free agency.

The Spurs do value continuity more than most teams but they haven't been as stubborn about it, to the detriment of team-building, as some accuse them of.

[picnroll]

Carter Bryant probably plays in Austin a lot this year.
He barely played in college. He needs minutes, not to sit on a bench.

Agree. Somebody still needs to go between Vassell, Keldon, hopefully not Champaigne or Barnes to shore up the PF and C positions

[Leetonidas]

Keldon and Vassell are the obvious ones. Team would be better just by not having their trash asses in the rotation

[Darkwaters]

I feel like Vassell is probably on the move. Champ is way too cheap and a good plug-in guy. Harrison is a stand-up vet and will probably keep starting.

I think you're reading this perfectly.

Barnes is still a valuable player and will provide excellent mentorship to these young players (especially Carter Bryant). You don't really have a lot of good savvy vets that can serve as mentors on the squad and I wouldn't discard him too quickly.

Champanie is dirt cheap and has two years left. Absolutely no reason to dump him.

Vassell seems like the guy whose role is most endangered. He's a mostly on-ball player on a squad that has four other superior ball dominant players (Fox, Harper, Castle, Wemby).

You didn't mention Keldon, but I think he could very easily be traded as well. He's on a very reasonable contract with only two years left. And he's in a logjammed position and doesn't do the kinds of things San Antonio really needs at this point.

[Tyrone Jenkins]

So who shoots better?

Carter or Sochan?
Keldon and Vassel?

To me, we have only 1 proven 3-D on the team and he's old (Barnes). We need a stretch 4-D (backup C) and it needs to be a non-rookie (vet).

I know John Collins just exercised his option but perhaps Utah moves on from him now w/ Ace Bailey...

[mo7888]

My question in regard to Collins is, what direction does Utah want to go in? They want to tank they probably move him for a protected pick, but if they want to balance the team and actually try to compete then a Collins for Devin swap could benefit both teams if Collins is willing to extend at a reasonable number.

[Dejounte]

Devin Vassell is still the only one who hasn’t acknowledged the new draftees. Hasn’t followed them. Hasn’t posted IG stories about them like others have (even Wesley). He’s gone. The question is for who?

[LeBowen]

Devin Vassell is still the only one who hasn’t acknowledged the new draftees. Hasn’t followed them. Hasn’t posted IG stories about them like others have (even Wesley). He’s gone. The question is for who?

Time to materialize my dream trade.

Devin
'30 swap returned
SRPs

for

PJ Washington
Gafford

I'd even throw in that '26 first if we can pull this off.


Fox/Harper
Castle
Barnes/Champagnie/Bryant
Washington/Sochan
Wemby/Gafford

And then we gift Keldon to whoever wants to take him.

[Dejounte]

I think i’d trade Devin(along with firsts) to the Nets for Claxton

[LeBowen]

I think i’d trade Devin(along with firsts) to the Nets for Claxton

I'd include firsts only if we also get Cam for Keldon.
'26 FRP and idk which would be the other one. Probably '29, but I wouldn't mind doing '28.