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Very curious what the spurs do with those final roster spots, I’d like one reliable potential 3rd stringer like Lonnie/Shamet type and one swing for the fences type
Very curious what the spurs do with those final roster spots, I’d like one reliable potential 3rd stringer like Lonnie/Shamet type and one swing for the fences type
Wow that is pretty awesome to get a quality rotation big for a second and change. Brian getting it Wright again.
This team is gonna be so much better than last year's.
I think they’ll convert the two ways to Riley and Ingram to standard contracts to fill out the rest of the open slots tbh. Then they’ll sign some randos to the two ways
So much for the theory of wasting roster spots on trash to the detriment of upgrades. Wright gets an A for effort. I’m still dubious about the roster, but it makes more sense now than it did 2 hours ago.
I view it as a consolation for not getting Flagg
I don't think the team "shoe-horning" makes sense here seeing as Sochan has gone back and forth from starting to the bench over his career. I'm not forcing him there. I'm putting him there because it actually works for him. It's Barnes I'm forcing into the SL because he has a consecutive-starts streak going. You're putting Castle into a lineup where he doesn't fit just to have him in there even though he hasn't shot well or defended well. He drives reasonably well, and the Spurs already have that covered in their starting lineup. It's not that Castle starting can't be justified, but he needs to show up to camp significantly improved to start on a Spurs team actually trying to win games.
I also don't think you're going to see the Spurs trade $45 Million in non-expiring salary for a "legitimate wing". That superstar money, and the amount of picks that would going to to make that work would require a lot of justification. It's more likely that they'd trade Barnes and/or Olynyk to make a push while Vassell and Johnson remain on the roster.
Wasn’t suggesting they would make that trade, only that it makes sense now more than ever.
The criticisms you make of Castle apply equally to Sochan. They’re both dubious shooters. The reason why I’m not shoe-horning castle in is because the team has expressed a desire to have multi-guard lineups, e.g., Castle and CP3 or CP3 and Fox. The team is obviously very high on Castle. Not to say they aren’t high on Sochan, but it’s not like Castle being a starter is some out from left field move. If you’re saying Castle isn’t a good defender based on post-Wemby injury minutes, I’d suggest you assess the quality of your data set.
I’m actually almost certain this is what happened.
Slowly but surely raising the basketball IQ of the team. We still have a few dumbo, tunnel-visioned, slow-processing types on the roster but probably not for long.
Last edited by spursistan; 07-08-2025 at 09:11 PM.
Love it.
For one I’m just glad to see them cut bait with Branham/Wesley. It still wouldn’t shock me if Wesley turns into a decent role player but we’ve waited long enough and it’s hard to imagine him breaking out here now that we’ve added Fox/Harper. Other added benefit of getting rid of both of them is it opens up a roster spot that hopefully we’ll use for another useful player. Pretty much anyone we add will be more useful than Branham/Wesley tbh.
Secondly I think Olynyk is a solid fit and still has the potential to be a positive impact guy. He can play either the 4 or 5 with Wemby on the floor and then is a nice stretch 4 when Kornet is out there. Not going to pretend he’s going to transform the roster or anything but these are the sorts of small wins that add up in terms of roster improvement.
In the end, I pretty much think we gave up nothing of value in exchange for a guy who can range from “legitimately nice rotation piece” to “well at least he gives us more depth if hits the fan”.
I think Minix might be penciled in for a regular spot, not Ingram unless he blows up. Wouldn't be surprised if Nelson or Jones-Garcia gets one spot then Mensah/Osifo the other.
Getting a serviceable role player for end of the bench garbage is always nice. Now turn those bums Vassell/Johnson into a guy that can play 3/4 and we've got a semi decent roster
Too bad about Wesley, but he wasn't gonna get another minute of non-garbage time with next year's roster. Bran Ham ... words cannot express my joy at his departure.
I think your right with Minix getting the spot I like Ingram but just not his height 6'5 for a forward. We really need to be looking at tall athletic players who can either shoot or be a terror on the defensive side. One a side note do you think we can poach any other players from other Summer/G League teams for the remaining spots. Or are you good with the remaining 3 players you mentioned?
Maybe just insurance, but this is a Win-Win trade that solves at least 3 roster issues: PF/C depth, 3pt shooting, Guard logjam.
Olynyk steps in as the 2nd best 3pt shooter on the team, career avg is same as Champ shot last yr, and better than 39% over the past 3 seasons. Can now have 48 straight minutes of at least 1 legit stretch big on the court at all times.
Also consolidates 2 small expirings for one mid-sized and Olynyk could be an attractive trade asset to a contender at the deadline. Brings vet presence, consumate role player for 15-20MPG, and a decent amount of PO experience from Bos/Mia.
Very solid stretch big depth. Bonus that we sent Wes and Bran to a place where they can get a real chance to redeem their careers or at least get minutes.
Great low-key, basically no cost trade (worst of Phi/Dal/OKC means its probably Mr. Irrelevant). Its a good trade just as addition by subtraction for any expiring, but he's been legit 20-25MPG rotation guy his entire career. This dude can help with a playoff push.
Keldon is a big loser here, I wasn't sure where he'd get minutes before except maybe bench 4 minutes, but now? Barnes/Sochan/KO at big forward, Castle/Vassel/Champ/maybe Harper at small. All those guys should get minutes over Keldon.
Fox 32mpg/Castle 30/Vassel30/Harper26+/Barnes 24+/Sochan24+/KO maybe 13+ & Champ 13+. That's every minute of 1-4, and all those guys can/prolly should play more minutes. Even with lots of off nights, Keldon will really struggle to approach double digit minutes/maybe avoid DNPs barring injuries.
That's worse than breaking up the friendship crew, relegating him to a Full-time towel waiver in the prime of his career at 26y/o. Maybe he gets Champ's minutes, but that looks like a bad idea, Champ fits the roster so much better today and moving forward.
Keldon can help someone, as much as I dislike watching him on the court, he deserves better than the Branham treatment, 47 games @ 9MPG, but I don't see much of a (healthy) path for him to get more than that- barring another trade.
Just heard a podcast talking about him, assuming I heard right, host said he shot 60% from the corners last yr.
Looking forward to the 2-way potential of the 5-man with Castle/Vassel/Sochan/KO/Wemby out there together, that crew could do some damage both ways.
Edit: Just found the numbers, Olynyk has shot: 50%, 44%, 45%, 60% from the corners the past 4 seasons. yes. Scrappy, high IQ, good passer, solid rebounder.
Starting to think about a Fox/Vassel/Sochan/KO/Wemby SL. That's pretty well balanced, should be much, much, much better on the bounds and D compared to Castle/Barnes, 3 good+ shooters, gives Castle more a chance to shine staggering his and Foxes minutes as much as possible.
Last edited by Arguendo; 07-08-2025 at 11:41 PM.
I'd have to see who actually isn't under some kind of contract with another team. I assume Jones-Garcia is available since the Capitanes aren't affiliated with any NBA team --and there are probably a bunch of G-League vets out there who haven't signed a training camp deal yet. Most of the UFAs worth looking at are spoken for. I think it's really crucial to always have one good point guard in Austin so I'd want to make sure one could be locked in with a two-way to make it worth that player's while.
OTOH they could leave a regular and a two-way open until training camp. They have a bit of luxury with the spots rn.
Last edited by ChumpDumper; 07-08-2025 at 10:21 PM.
Love this move. Have always wanted Lunch Lady on our team, but had given up hope because the Spurs had never shown any interest previously. Gives us solid depth at the 4 and the 5.
With that said... considering we now have 3 open roster spots... I'm fully expecting Lunch Lady to get rerouted within the next two months. Branham and Wesley weren't going to get us any real players back... but Olynyk might. We basically found the one team where Bran and Blake could possibly get us positive value back, and we got it.
Hope he stays on our team, but I'm not so sure. Olynyk + Barnes could get something significant back for the right team (when paired with FRPs), tbh... I don't think we're simply going to fill the last 3 roster spots with bums... I feel like something else is coming (but I'm very likely wrong about that)
An underrated part of this deal is establishing ties with another Eastern conference team in Washington.
With Kispert on the block, and young, up and coming talent on the roster; Spurs may very well benefit more from this in future deals too.
If you listen to Kornet's presser, Derrick White sounds like he was a pretty big influence in his ultimate signing.
The Spurs cultural excellence and belief in people (not just players), is still very telling.
God I would hate for Johnson to take Champ's minutes and take those drives that Castle and Harper should get, while providing no shooting/no defense in a lineup with 3 other likely non/bad shooter. Champ would fit so much better, on both ends, spotting up and clearing the lane for Castle/Harper to drive, who should have enough combined punch to carry the scoring with the 2nd unit without needing Keldon, especially with Champ/KO spotting up and Kornet cleaning/finishing the O-boards..
Flip side, this is about the only chance we'd have for Keldon to showcase himself. I just can't imagine Keldon and Vassel both on the roster next offseason, and Keldon's contract will be far easier to move. Keldon can still help teams, can still redeem his career, entering his prime, he's just a terrible fit with this roster. He's the 11th man, worse at everything compared to Champ except driving to the hoop, which is what Castle/Harper are best at. Seriously time to move on from the tank commander, whether trade or DNPs.
Ugh, hope this doesn't happen.
If we are starting Vassell, Sochan, and Barnes then we are ed tbh. What a ty starting line up that is
Good pickup. He had to be a Spur at some point. One of the most skilled (seriously) ball skills wise C sized bigs in the league. Grew up a PG, had a late growth spurt, maintained the ability to dribble, shoot, pass.
Unfortunately, t-rex armed and lacking explosion to play much solo big minutes (though he'd pair relatively well with Sochan), but I don't think that's the primary intention here. Also lacks lateral quickness to defend PF's, but will probably do more of that here.
This clinches Sochan starting over Castle for me, as Chinook and I deduced earlier. The thinking likely being his defensive versatility is best served against primary creators and with Barnes alongside, he can comfortably cross match.
That leaves Castle and Harper to split the creation duties on the second unit and less minutes than most probably expect, with Olynyk, Johnson and Champagnie competing for backup forward minutes.
Less about positions, it's about roles though. So Sochan and Castle will probably mostly split minutes, Barnes and Olynk will probably rarely play together, Champagnie will probably mostly play non Vassell minutes, Kornet non Sochan minutes, etc.
I suspect McLaughlin is now re-signed, with the final two spots going to another C and a guard/wing shooter.
The Wizards are at 15 guarantees, with really 16 spots spoken for (Champagnie's brother), so barring further moves, Branham and Wesley will be waived.
Tbh I doubt that.
Wemby/Kornet/Olynyk makes sense at the 5.
Olynyk/Kornet
Wemby/Sochan
Barnes/Keldon
Castle/Vassell
Fox/Harper
I mean you COULD do that. Defensively can Olynyk really hang against starting centers at 34 years old though? And I think the starting lineup looks better if you replace Olynyk with Wemby and Wemby with Barnes (or Sochan) and Barnes with Vassell and Vassell with Champagne.
Unless the player is unquestionably good, I think for now the Spurs will purposely stay away from “Wemby friends” they may have to cut.
Don’t want to upset their franchise player.
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