I think a team like Toronto would make sense. They are close to luxury tax territory with a bunch of good players who ain't good enough and have a weird roster. Spurs are definitely in a good position to make another move at the deadline.
Olynyk won't be a regular rotation player. But Branham and Wesley weren't either. But he does play a position of need. And his contract is expiring and combined with another contract like Keldon or Barnes. Olynyk is also one of those skilled big men that give opponents a different look. So those nights when things aren't our way, it'll give Mitch options. He is a vet, so less mental mistake.
They don't need to sign another C. Olynyk can play 2 positions, so he can be the third C while also playing PF off the bench when everybody is healthy. It has to be seen if he will be in the regular rotation, but this doesn't look like a trade for an end of the bench guy.
It's mostly about match up versatility. A team that's in the playoffs should be able to play double big as well as smallball line ups. Going with one of these options exclusively is a recipe for being exposed at some point.
I don’t disagree that the Spurs will play double bigs when the matchup presents itself. What I’ve said all along is that their primary scheme will be the opposite - meaning the bulk of whoever plays minutes at PF will be a dude who can run with our guards and be agile enough to switch on 2’s. I don’t think Olynyk’s eating into either Sochan or Barnes’ minutes at all. It would be out of character for the Spurs to do so. So I think that’s what where you and I disagree and something we’ll find out months from now. To me, he’s our new Mamu (a better version)- good insurance when any of our bigs are out and nothing more. Because I see Wemby resting a lot during the season, Olynyk will see minutes for sure, just like how Mamu did this past season. Does that mean he’s part of the primary scheme that I think the Spurs are going for? No.
Alec Burks would be a good fit. If he isn't available, the Spurs can possibly target Amir Coffey or Landry Shamet for the minimum. Both of them are good shooters but Branhamesque on defense.
Honestly, I wouldn’t hate getting Dejounte back. He’s multi-skilled in stuff we need, shooting, rebounding, distributing, defense. If he could accept a role, he could be a good get when he returns, post ASG.
I mean he is solid vet we gave up nothing for him and fills a need on the bench depth and knows his role for a young team no issues with this trade
Again, not saying the Spurs will trade them, just that they should trade them.
I like the move because Wesley and Blake are worthless and Olynyk fits well, but damn what a rough 2022 draft we had lol
Passed up on Braun, Kessler, Jovic, Nembhard and Christie. Ended up sending both those picks + a 2nd for an aging role player.
Just terrible drafting that year, but if they weren't so terrible, we wouldn't have been bad enough to get Wemby so it all worked out.
Vic will be the starting 5. That's a stone cold lock. Fox will start at the 1. Stone cold lock.
9 man rotation:
Vic
Sochan
Dev
Castle
Fox
Harper ( 6th man role - 28 mpg)
Julian or Keldon
Barnes
Kornet
Keldon or Julian and Olynyk will be the fringe rotation players that will fill in when needed all year and get spot minutes.
That's not a real argument though. Castle isn't more or less of a starter because some journalist voted for him to win an award. I shouldn't even have to say that. The Spurs should play lineups that help them win, not give status to a player who in many ways had a poor year. Sochan had a far better season, and folks still think he sucks. I'm not at all against Harper starting, and if Castle shows improvement in the areas the team needs from a starting wing, I'm not against him starting either. But people have to pick what they want. Either the Spurs try to win as many games as possible, or they prioritize developing their young guards. Those aren't the same thing, no matter how much one tries to talk down the other players on the team.
Outside of the top couple of picks most draft picks are lottery tickets. Sometimes you like your chances and sometimes you don't. But any one of those tickets can win big or totally fail.
Unfortunately in 2022 we seem to have gotten a lot of tickets and not had any luck. But the contemporary takes on the quality of the picks was generally positive. Three years later though, not so much.
The league has moved away from developing players overseas. It turns out, those teams have their own priorities, and developing a player just so he can leave as soon as he's good isn't one of them. He's more likely to get to a point where the Spurs can determine his worth if he plays in Austin where the Spurs can direct his development and give him whatever role and minutes they want. Most NBA teams and overseas prospects seem to align with that thinking.
atrocious trade, probably bottom 3 in the spurs modern history, but i can see why they made it.
Bait used to be believable.
Correct. The Spurs have been moving towards this model since the days of Ian Mahinmi and Cory Joseph. Some of that has to do with the fact that after years of drafting almost exclusively international players, the team now goes with NCAA prospects much more frequently. American players are less likely to want to spend a year or two in Slovenia when they could just go to Austin, TX instead. It also prevents situations like the Scola debacle where the player is no longer willing to come over for what you're willing to pay for him. But most importantly, it gives them a lot more control. Not only can they specify things like usage and role in Austin, but those players can also play in San Antonio in the event of injuries or "Veteran rest games."
PS: Scola Thread!
In Juan's particular case, I can't really see anything that was hindering his development in his situation pre-injury. He was on track to play ~50 games with a few starts at 16mpg at the highest levels short of the NBA. The G-League might help him get used to a faster pace and he could, for example, be instructed to increase his 3pt attempts no matter what but stuff like that makes the games a less meaningful -- much less meaningful than those of a top ACB/Euroleague team. From what I've seen that might make a very, ahem, confident guy like Juan lose interest.
Now if Barca moves on from him after his injury, all bets are off and a rehab/development stint in Austin may indeed be the best for him.
If the starting lineup should be selected depending on who had the better season last year, then what the is Vassell doing in your SL?
The SL isn't selected based only on individual performance, it's also about fit, roles, expected progress of the players and squad construction.
The Spurs expect one, if not both, of Castle and Harper to become primary options in the very near future. Having both come off the bench and take shots off each other isn't the best eay to maximize that development.
Also, since last year it is apparent the Spurs are leaning into 2 PGs lineups. Why start with 2 of those PGs on the bench, when you can start 2 of the 3, stager them and have 2 PGs lineups for the entirety of the game?
Last edited by DAF86; 07-09-2025 at 11:16 AM.
Anfernee Simons is maybe interesting in that mold…wonder how a deal could look if BOS is good with getting off of him. Keldon + Barnes + 2 2nds for Simons + Hauser?
It’s an equal money trade this year, and both Barnes and Simons are expiring. So what Spurs take on is more years with Hauser, but 7M less than Keldon next year.
Maybe BOS feels they can move HB easier and save some money while getting a couple 2nds from SA then another 2nd(s) for moving Barnes?
Last edited by DPG21920; 07-09-2025 at 10:58 AM.
Boston doesn’t want salary back. The closest they could come to outright shedding salary is Simons ending contract. We don’t have anything better than ending contracts to send, so they won’t be interested.
Portland drafted and hyped the kid, and then he was trade bait. Take heed of that. He’s like a Lonnie class player, a show pony with few skills.
They would be willing to take back a smaller expiring contract like WAS did with the Olynyk trade.
I bet he isn't happy because he wants an extension and the Celtics 100% won't give him one. That could affect his trade value if it's true and word gets out.
He's talented and could be good if he gets regruntled in the right situation, but that isn't San Antonio.
They break down his larger salary into two smaller ones that should have value + get picks. I can seem them being interested.
Anfernee Simons is legit one of the worst defenders in the NBA. Consistently at the bottom of the league in Defensive Rating and finished dead last in Defensive-EPM a couple years ago. I don't think the Spurs are even interested in him tbh.
I wouldn't trade for Simons myself. but isn't he on a one year deal? Also Hauser would be the positive part of that scenario, IMO. Good player on a fair contract. Spurs could do worse.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
