View Poll Results: What will the Spurs do with the 2019 Picks?

**NASpurs** · 11-27-2018

Rob still doing work despite getting hit with tear gas yesterday.

**cd021** · 11-28-2018

Originally Posted by DPG21920

1. Adding a first doesn’t change the calculation for cap space purposes really.

2. I didn’t say it was likely - I was just presenting a scenario where keeping both picks might make sense

3. The only thing that needs to be accomplished in this scenario that SA does not have complete control over is the Mills part. So while you may think it’s pipe dreamish, Mills has positive value and SA could probably salary dump him IF they wanted to (not saying they do or will). But getting a player in return isn’t an issue either as long as they are on a one-year deal. Either way, salary dump next year with nothing back or a trade for a player on a one year deal this year accomplishes the same goal in the scenario.

I don't disagree that Mills has positive value but the teams with cap space are mostly bad and once they strike out on free agents then they usually move into the "renting out cap space" portion of the summer. They become willing to acquire undesirable contracts in exchange for picks.

Mils still has 2 years left and while I have been on the record saying that the remaining money isn't all that bad (because the cap jumps far outweigh his salary increases) , I am skeptical that the Spurs will find a taker if they go looking and then there is the issue that potential impact free agents will be gone by then.

I still think that not bringing back Gay just to get $15 million in cap space is a mistake. Staying over allows for the Spurs to keep him with dipping into the MLE and the advantage of being one of few playoffs teams (that is if they make the playoffs) of having the full amount at their disposal.

Essentially they'd get to keep Gay and have $9 million as opposed to not having Gay and Mills and having $15 million.

**cd021** · 11-28-2018

Originally Posted by Chinook

I can understand not thinking the Spurs are going to bring in three or four rookies. But it's not a viable plan to stash the Toronto pick or the second-rounder. I have no real sense of the board, but looking at this past draft the earliest player taken who wasn't signed to an NBA contract was 44th overall. There were only five total players who were stashed. With two-way contracts to bolster their earnings, Americans are less and less willing to be sent over, and international prospects who are in line to be stashed anyway are just staying out of the draft unless they're unable to withdraw. I like Bonga as a prospect, but I'm not drafting him 15-20 pick earlier just to avoid a rookie contract.

I don't disagree with the idea that SA won't prioritize being under the cap this summer. There's a decent chance they even keep Gasol. But I wouldn't pencil in Cunningham or Milutinov on the roster as of now. Nikola in particular could end up never being a Spur, because he wants more money than he's worth, and the team could draft a big with a better NBA skill-set with one of their later picks. I also wouldn't rule out them drafting guys they are willing to waive or trade if they can't hold onto roster spots. They just need talent and can't afford to avoid bringing in bodies for compe ion.

I am aware that draft and stashes are becoming less common and that PATFO hasn't done it since Militinov in the first round but roster spots are limited and I don't think that they'd enter FA with only 1 spot potentially.

I am curious about bringing Gasol back, he can still play but I can't remember a case were a player was waived and brought back. Would the Spurs have to waive and stretch him and then sign him to a new deal and have both figures on the books?

I wouldn't be shocked but would be annoyed that the Spurs wasted a first rounder on a player who was willing to be stashed away only to save a couple million dollars for that free agency.

I did expect him to want a 3 deal probably starting at $4 million which would require the Spurs to dip in to the MLE but it is entirely possible that they use the Raps pick for a big or bring Gasol back with Poeltl and Metu being the young bigs of the future.

**Chinook** · 11-28-2018

Originally Posted by cd021

I am aware that draft and stashes are becoming less common and that PATFO hasn't done it since Militinov in the first round but roster spots are limited and I don't think that they'd enter FA with only 1 spot potentially.

The Spurs have entered free agency with zero spots before. Anyways, my point isn't that stashing is wrong or whatever; it's that you can't reliably find guys who are willing to be stashed. There's no reason to select a player who's way worse than who's available just because that player is willing to be stashed. It could work out that someone intriguing is there and is good value. But the team has to prepare for the possibility that they'll need to use the pick. They're not the only team with multiple selections that may not have enough roster spots.

I am curious about bringing Gasol back, he can still play but I can't remember a case were a player was waived and brought back. Would the Spurs have to waive and stretch him and then sign him to a new deal and have both figures on the books?

You can't stretch a guy and re-sign him in the same year. You can waive a guy and bring him back. That usually happens with low-level players, like James Anderson back in the day. When that happens, you do have both figures on the books, and those figures operate independently. Like if the Spurs waived Pau and then brought him back on a min deal, they'd have the $7ish Million contract and the $2ish Million contract, and they'd only be able to trade the latter.

I wouldn't be shocked but would be annoyed that the Spurs wasted a first rounder on a player who was willing to be stashed away only to save a couple million dollars for that free agency.

I'd be decently surprised. If they don't want the pick, they'll use it before then as part of a trade. In this scenario where SA also has a good second, that'll be the one they'd stash. Or they'd combine those it and the TOR pick rather than worrying about the SA first.

I did expect him to want a 3 deal probably starting at $4 million which would require the Spurs to dip in to the MLE but it is entirely possible that they use the Raps pick for a big or bring Gasol back with Poeltl and Metu being the young bigs of the future.

The entire Milutinov situation pisses me off. I do think that they had interest in bringing him over and didn't have interest anymore (at least for this season) after they traded for Poeltl. I can't say if Nikola wanting too much made them covet Poeltl over Siakam or OG (and I would break something if that got confirmed) or if having to settle on Jakob killed any incentive to cave to Milutinov. But I could see him being traded or just let go if they can't work something out. I wouldn't pay more than rookie-scale for him right now, but he can get twice that in Europe just being who he is.

**BackHome** · 11-28-2018

Yeah I am thinking they just drafted him to stash him over seas so they would never have to pay him. I guess it’s another way of saving money draft foreign draft picks and don’t sign them and get rid of your cheerleaders while you at it. Stay Classy RC.

**DPG21920** · 11-28-2018

Originally Posted by cd021

I don't disagree that Mills has positive value but the teams with cap space are mostly bad and once they strike out on free agents then they usually move into the "renting out cap space" portion of the summer. They become willing to acquire undesirable contracts in exchange for picks.

Mils still has 2 years left and while I have been on the record saying that the remaining money isn't all that bad (because the cap jumps far outweigh his salary increases) , I am skeptical that the Spurs will find a taker if they go looking and then there is the issue that potential impact free agents will be gone by then.

I still think that not bringing back Gay just to get $15 million in cap space is a mistake. Staying over allows for the Spurs to keep him with dipping into the MLE and the advantage of being one of few playoffs teams (that is if they make the playoffs) of having the full amount at their disposal.

Essentially they'd get to keep Gay and have $9 million as opposed to not having Gay and Mills and having $15 million.

Agreed and I said the same thing - however it would open up spots for keeping 2 firsts rounders and adding players that fit. Just food for thought.

**cd021** · 11-29-2018

Originally Posted by Chinook

The Spurs have entered free agency with zero spots before. Anyways, my point isn't that stashing is wrong or whatever; it's that you can't reliably find guys who are willing to be stashed. There's no reason to select a player who's way worse than who's available just because that player is willing to be stashed. It could work out that someone intriguing is there and is good value. But the team has to prepare for the possibility that they'll need to use the pick. They're not the only team with multiple selections that may not have enough roster spots.

You can't stretch a guy and re-sign him in the same year. You can waive a guy and bring him back. That usually happens with low-level players, like James Anderson back in the day. When that happens, you do have both figures on the books, and those figures operate independently. Like if the Spurs waived Pau and then brought him back on a min deal, they'd have the $7ish Million contract and the $2ish Million contract, and they'd only be able to trade the latter.

I'd be decently surprised. If they don't want the pick, they'll use it before then as part of a trade. In this scenario where SA also has a good second, that'll be the one they'd stash. Or they'd combine those it and the TOR pick rather than worrying about the SA first.

The entire Milutinov situation pisses me off. I do think that they had interest in bringing him over and didn't have interest anymore (at least for this season) after they traded for Poeltl. I can't say if Nikola wanting too much made them covet Poeltl over Siakam or OG (and I would break something if that got confirmed) or if having to settle on Jakob killed any incentive to cave to Milutinov. But I could see him being traded or just let go if they can't work something out. I wouldn't pay more than rookie-scale for him right now, but he can get twice that in Europe just being who he is.

-The 3rd quote from my post was actually about Militinov and how they tried to save $1.4 million before heading into free agency the year that they signed Aldridge.

-Waving Gasol for $6.7 and re-signing him to the vet minimum would be something that I would be fine with. $9 million in total is much better than the $16.8 million he would otherwise make if they would pick up his option.

With Aldridge being a full time center now, Gasol returning does create an issue of minutes in regards to Poeltl and to a lesser extent Metu. Maybe Poeltl continues to play well and makes Gasols return less likely because he would still be the cheaper option.

-I don't see Militinov taking rookie scale; he's 23 iirc, he'd hit restricted free agency by the time he is 27 or 28 while making chump change in the meantime- that assumes that he would be good enough to stick.

On the other hand, giving out around half the MLE seems to be an overpay while also squandering the Spurs best option of bringing in more talent (aside from the draft). If he doesn't come over then that is 5 years since being drafted and he may never come over. They did really screw up the that whole thing.