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On board with waiting on Vassell.
Not on board with waiting to address PF and C.
We can do both, tbh.
I know some may believe, me included, feel the logical thing to do is offer Vassell in a trade package to aquire a seasoned PF and/or C. With a healthy to next season, Vassell could shine, and the Spurs could get a better haul. By better haul, say something like netting 2 -1st round picks and a playable seasoned PF/C. By this time, Harper is ready to start at the position vacated by Vassell. Just use one of Biyombo/Bassy as the back up big to start next season. By next season's the trade deadline, Carter Bryant may start getting steady playing time (16mpg) and some of those minutes could possibly be at the PF position. Barnes and Sochan will hold down the fort at the 4 to start next season, Biyombo/Bassey at 5, until the trade deadline. Afterwards, the Spurs lineup could look something like this, in addition to the 2 future 1st round drafts from the Vassell trade.
Wemby - Seasoned C - Bassey or Biyombo
Barnes - Sochan - Mamu
Castle - Bryant - J. Champ
Harper - Keldon
Fox - CP3
CP3 will help mentor Harper during the 1st half of next season and will have Harper ready to start after the trade deadline. And, Wemby wants CP3 back in a Spurs uniform!
On board with waiting on Vassell.
Not on board with waiting to address PF and C.
We can do both, tbh.
I never quite understand why people bring up this idea of 'increasing a player's value,' as if GMs don't know perfectly well who other players in the league are.
As much as I'm a power of friendship supporter (that applies mor to Keldon), when loking at the depth chart, I really want to trade him for a big. Champ and eventually Bryant are too good to be stuck so deep on the bench. I get waiting for the deadline, but eventually we need to give Bryant some opportunities.
If Vassell is still on the roster opening night this franchise isnt serious about winning yet.
Trade him for who though? He's our only SG worth a damn.
This is how I see the minutes breakdown of the rotation by position group:
Guards: 120 minutes (48 PG, 48 SG, 24 SF) -- four players of consequence (Fox, Harper, Vassell, Castle)
Forwards: 62 minutes (24 SF, 38 PF) -- five players of consequence (Johnson, Champagnie, Bryant, Sochan, Barnes)
Bigs: 58 minutes (10 PF, 48 C) -- one player of consequence (Wembanyama)
- With this distribution in mind, it should be clear why I believe the Spurs don't need to move Vassell. There are plenty of minutes for all four guys, and the team could even use another rotation-caliber guard. Even if the team gave 12 more SF minutes to the forwards group, that would still be 27 MPG for four players and 36 MPG for three.
- Five players trying to split 62, or even 74 forwards minutes is pretty untenable. It's part of the reason why Champagnie shouldn't be considered untouchable. Simply put, the Spurs don't have the same need for a cheap youngish wing as they used to. They shouldn't trade him just to trade him, but they also can't guarantee a rotation spot. I'm assuming doesn't instantly crack the rotation right away, but if he does, the whole thing would have to be completely rebuilt. The plethora of combo-fowards/modern PFs on the roster is why there really isn't room for a bulky PF. You aren't just talking about moving one or two guys to free up minutes. At most three players would share the forward minutes.
- Center stands out as the most glaring need by far on the roster. If Wemby plays in the low-30s during the regular season, then we're talking somewhere between 16-26 minutes per game for the other rotation big. It's something worth investing an actual asset or exception on. If you try to break up that role into a PF and C component, you end up with really small roles, which lets the Spurs justify another round of cheap options. It's why being able to play center is the key for whom ever team brings in. Not having a legit back up center was devastating to the defense last year, and it will be this year if the FO doesn't take filling the spot seriously.
Of the 5 Forwards, the one to trade is Keldon, not Champagnie
This teams needs 3 points shooting the most at that spot. And keldon will have less the ball with the second unit now that we have so many good playmakers
Part of my point is that there's only enough minutes for three forwards, and considering how likely it is that any forward trade brings back another forward, and they may have to consolidate.
Can easily go the other way, too. His value could drop.
The ball is going to be in the hands of Wemby, Fox, Harper, and Castle most of the time...which means Vassell is just gonna become a spot up guy.
While I think that could be a good role for him (no more of him constantly dribbling into contested midrange jumpers), that's not exactly the best way to showcase him for a trade.
His contract length will become an issue if he has another bad year.
He's turning 25 before the season starts and if he doesn't improve this season, he never will.
His health is also a concern, missed 73 games over the past three seasons.
$27M a year isn't a huge contract with the rising cap, but we don't want it on the books until 2029 if he isn't good enough to be a solid starter.
I liked Vassell his first year but when we got Wemby he went all hero ball and he just tried to do to much. This past season he did pass more, but he is still scared of taking it to the rim and his defense was just terrible as he was getting beat off the dribble by everyone.
Will see if he can progress from his foot injury and start playing not the way he wants but the way we need him to. If he is not going to be good with his new role then start looking at trading him in the future for the right package
Can you clarify this stance? Do you think player value is static over time? Do you think it's possible for players to either increase or decrease their trade value depending on their play over a given season?
No, I don't think executives are fooled by dips or rises in production or that they are fooled by "showcase their value." They're smarter than this and realize this isn't a video game.
Interesting perspective. Do you feel that Vassell and Keldon had the exact same trade value two years ago as they do now?
Honestly expect vassell to have a turnaround year tbh. So much less pressure to be a main cog. Will that help jis stock, maybe. But i fully expect him to be better next year.
Based on what? He’s no longer even a 3rd option for the offense. He’s a role player who can’t defend. Not exactly what the team needs.
I agree with this.
Vassell’s career was on a clear upward trajectory until last year, when he missed the entire offseason and the start of the season due to injury and surgery and recovery.
Even in this bad year he managed 16ppg on 44/37/80 splits.
Not amazing but honestly not bad numbers.
With a healthy offseason there is good reason to expect him to improve his efficiency.
I also think we still trade him this season.
Despite the solid counting stats we all know Devin is a ball stopper and has been terrible on defense.
Unless those things change we trade him for front court help, hopefully after he builds his value with a bounce back season.
Because recency bias is real, and people always want the shiny thing.
Yep, take the recent draft for example
Vassell is crap
I definitely think Vassell will look better after having a full offseason and training camp. I want to see him play off the ball with Fox, who could really unlock him. I also want to see him in a capable defensive system that's not outdated. So yeah keep him for this season.
I'm not really a fan of playing him at SF, but the Spurs should see what they got here before they start shopping him.
I agree. I think he was really hampered starting out last season recovering from surgery/injury, and maybe wasn't right for a good portion of the season. If they don't get a good deal to trade him, let's see how he goes. I think Fox had high hopes for him when he came, so I think what you said is possible that Fox might help unlock his game a little bit.
Last edited by Ice009; 06-28-2025 at 05:57 PM.
Sounds crazy, but I don't think CP3 fit well with Vassell, and that ultimately hindered his development. Patience has definitely run thin (or out completely for some), but I'd still like to see how he looks this season.
They absolutely are, just take a look at how Lavine went from untradeable to coveted to neutral in a one year span. Same with Vassell, if he improves his scoring efficiency (shoots well from 3, gets more to the line) and consistently gives effort on D, as a part of a winning team, some team is definitely going to look at him in a much more favorable light than he is right now.
To be fair, the moment to move Vassell is whenever a suitable opportunity comes, Spurs shouldn't look to add assets dump him nor hesitate to part ways with him in the right deal, and yes I agree with the OP premise that the Spurs should try to showcase him a bit in order to make him a more attractive trade chip, if so he's probably the first guy out in any big trade. Same goes for Keldon, Spurs would be better off next offseason without either contract on the books.
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