Shams: Spurs Trading Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley, & a 2026 SRP to the Wizards for Kelly Olynyk

[DPG21920]

My deal would save BOS 1M immediately I believe on top of breaking down Simons into 2 smaller deals for them. Hauser has longer term money than Keldon does as well (2 extra guaranteed years of salary albeit smaller number APY than Keldon next season).

Adds a lot of shooting for SA while keeping things mostly clean for them cap wise outside of the 2 years 22M for Hauser which seems like a fair deal anyways.

[WaywardTexan]

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.

That's why they call it the draft *lottery*

[TD 21]

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 both, stager them and have 2 PGs lineups for the entirety of the game?

I thought that initially, but the starting line would be severely undersized (no sizable POA defender) and their interest in rotational bigs (Yabusele, Olynyk) wouldn't make sense if the idea was to have them as as deep bench player.

They also might want Castle and Harper to mostly split creation duties for the time being because the former won't get much alongside Fox.

[DPG21920]

But I dont think Simons can be combined with another player in a deal right now so anything happening soon would need to be something like Keldon + Julian for him which I like less.

[taps]

hockey goon

[exstatic]

hockey goon

Sent for a swim AND dwarf tossed.

[scott]

RC, you ever heard of the phrase “celebrating too early”? I mean, there are many signs that Olynyk is going to be our third string C rather than play any meaningful 4 minutes with Vic or Kornet. He only played 40ish games last season for Pete’s sake. Now if the Spurs sign Bassey or another C, I’d agree with you. But all this nonsense like this is a “win” on your part is way too premature. The Spurs could also turn around and flip him for other players before the season even starts. The Spurs were two bigs deep behind Vic last season, and by trading for Olynyk this makes them two bigs deep behind Vic this coming season. Who really is the one speaking with authority here when you guys are thinking this offseason’s finished and making assumptions like the rotation plays out the way you think it plays out - when I’ve provided a more reasonable take on why Olynyk’s the third string C instead. Now again I admit, if the Spurs sign another one - I’d be wrong. But the case is not closed.

I wasn't even talking about you with my comment... but you're the one who has posted multiple times "I guess the offseason is finished" while I've been saying "I bet Wright is working on some value deals on the fringes that none of us are expecting, just like he has in the past"

The fact is, none of us (and this should be obvious) know with any certainty what the Spurs are going to do or what their plan is. All we have is our opinions. But we have posters here who speak with authority when in fact, they're just another faceless internet nobody with opinions that are just opinions (yours and mine, included).

[Guru of Nothing]

I'm no expert processing salary cap implications and roster building, but what little I know would seem to suggest that the TWolves will be pretty thirsty for some salary cap relief, and soon. Wonder what the cost might be for say Jaden McDaniels and a Minnesota FRP if we come offering expiring contracts before the trade deadline.

[OldMan88]

Sent for a swim AND dwarf tossed.

Bearded dude was really a dumbass & got his clock cleaned in dramatic fashion.

[R. DeMurre]

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.

Agreed, and along those lines one guy that does interest me is Keon Ellis of Sacramento. The Kings picked up his option this year, so now if they don't extend him in February he'll become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of '26. Last year he was 4th in the league in steal percentage and 11th in Defensive BPM. He was also 22nd in the league in block percentage, which is a huge accomplishment for a 6'6" guard... he had the same block percentage as Giannis, and a better percentage than any other guard, including Shai or Derrick White, who were #2 & #3 in the category.

https://www.basketball-reference.com..._advanced.html

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

Agreed, and along those lines one guy that does interest me is Keon Ellis of Sacramento. The Kings picked up his option this year, so now if they don't extend him in February he'll become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of '26. Last year he was 4th in the league in steal percentage and 11th in Defensive BPM. He was also 22nd in the league in block percentage, which is a huge accomplishment for a 6'6" guard... he had the same block percentage as Giannis, and a better percentage than any other guard, including Shai or Derrick White, who were #2 & #3 in the category.

https://www.basketball-reference.com..._advanced.html

I’m a huge fan and after their move I’m sure he’d be open to a trade. I’d offer multiple seconds for him, he’d fit perfectly.

[Seventyniner]

Agreed, and along those lines one guy that does interest me is Keon Ellis of Sacramento. The Kings picked up his option this year, so now if they don't extend him in February he'll become an unrestricted free agent in the summer of '26. Last year he was 4th in the league in steal percentage and 11th in Defensive BPM. He was also 22nd in the league in block percentage, which is a huge accomplishment for a 6'6" guard... he had the same block percentage as Giannis, and a better percentage than any other guard, including Shai or Derrick White, who were #2 & #3 in the category.

https://www.basketball-reference.com..._advanced.html

If I recall correctly, Ellis can only extend based off 120% of his current salary which is quite low. He stands to make a lot more in free agency next summer than $3M or so per year.

[spurraider21]

sacto is poorly run, but Ellis seems to be one of the guys they have absolutely no interest in moving

[Kevin]

I hate the second apron. Teams are constantly busting up their cores because of it. Sustained greatness is what makes sports great and the NBA is bent on destroying that within their own league. I get the super team problem but they need to relax the second apron to some extent.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

sacto is poorly run, but Ellis seems to be one of the guys they have absolutely no interest in moving

Maybe until this summer but they ed him over by essentially picking his cheap option instead of declining it and paying him what he’s worth. They chose Shroeder over him. Now Ellis can’t extend even if he’s traded. Horrible move by the Sacramento FO.

[Kevin]

I love Keon Ellis and would trade Champ plus picks for him. For how young and cost controlled Ellis is it will probably cost one first round pick.

[vy65]

I hate the second apron. Teams are constantly busting up their cores because of it. Sustained greatness is what makes sports great and the NBA is bent on destroying that within their own league. I get the super team problem but they need to relax the second apron to some extent.

I love this suggestion from Vecenie and think we need more carveouts, exceptions, etc... to make the aprons less harsh. I think its over-corrected somewhat and the next CBA needs to strike more of a middle ground for sure.

[Kevin]

I love this suggestion from Vecenie and think we need more carveouts, exceptions, etc... to make the aprons less harsh. I think its over-corrected somewhat and the next CBA needs to strike more of a middle ground for sure.

Yes it's a harsh over correction. Hate seeing teams getting pick apart like this.

[spurraider21]

i agree with vecenie as well. its really awkward that teams benefit from their players missing out on awards. the extra 5% players are en led to should not count for cap purposes

i dont mind the 2nd apron at all otherwise tbh. parity is good. being shrewd with contracts/picks and not just blindly overpaying/extending every decent player makes for a better league.

but the extra money from all-nba or DPOY stuff should absolutely be exempt

[Mr. Body]

The teams getting picked apart are the ones who saw this coming and still signed huge contracts. Boston gave Brown a hideous contract and acquired expensive players knowing this would happen.

We'll see if the Spurs are wise enough to not max out Fox. If they do, it's going to be a problem. The new CBA is having its impact. Teams have to be smarter.

[Mr. Body]

i agree with vecenie as well. its really awkward that teams benefit from their players missing out on awards. the extra 5% players are en led to should not count for cap purposes

I agree with this. Missing awards benefits teams and that's not good. I also don't like the 65 minimum for awards or whatever it is, too. Do away with that.

[Bruno]

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?

I have the feeling that this trade is more about dumping Keldon than getting Simons...

Spurs have quite a lot of options if they want to add a scoring/shooting combo guard. This kind of players just aren't valued in today's NBA and there are even some good ones playing overseas (remember Gary Neal..).

[spurraider21]

I agree with this. Missing awards benefits teams and that's not good. I also don't like the 65 minimum for awards or whatever it is, too. Do away with that.

i always felt like voters factored in games played in those awards anyway. having a hard cutoff seems weird. i like where the NBA's head is at as far as cracking down on "load management" practices, but i dont think this particular method of enforcement is good

[spurraider21]

OKC may continue to thrive despite the apron stuff because theyve been good about finding talent on the edges and getting them locked in

aaron wiggins on 4/45, isaiah joe on 4/48, even ajay mitc getting 3/8.75

[exstatic]

I hate the second apron. Teams are constantly busting up their cores because of it. Sustained greatness is what makes sports great and the NBA is bent on destroying that within their own league. I get the super team problem but they need to relax the second apron to some extent.

Second apron creates parity. Notice the teams busting up are the likes of Boston and GS. No more talent hoarding.

There hasn’t been a repeat champion since 2018, so I’m not sure the 2nd apron has anything to do with that. Outside of KC, the NFL has thrived for decades on rotating champions. The NBA can,too.