What The Spurs Will Consider Before Spending In Free Agency This Summer

[DAF86]

I'll give you mine:

1) Marcus Morris
2) Trevor Ariza
3) Demarre Carroll
4) Reggie Bullock
5) JaMychel Green

Others: Mike Scott, Jared Dudley, Chris Singleton, Thabo Sefolosha.

[ZeusWillJudge]

For example, if the Spurs have their eyes on possibly opening up salary cap space for max free agents next summer (that would involve trading DeRozan and declining the option on LaMarcus Aldridge), they would be reluctant to add any long-term salary to the books this offseason.

Awesome breakdown, as always.

I was just talking about them not wanting to sign a mediocre player, just because they have the MLE to spend, and then have him clog up cap space. Next year will be the first time in a long time that they will actually have some room to play with. I just can't see them wanting to mess that up with anyone they aren't fully excited with.

I still think someone like Darius Miller for around $10M/2 yr. (I hope) would be worthwhile. He would be additional 3P firepower, better defense than some, and an easy guy to integrate. Trading one 3P shooter (Belli or Bertans) for another doesn't make much sense, unless the replacement is unless something special - and he likely wouldn't be for Belli's $6M salary match. Maybe by mid-season Miller makes Belli expendable, and the Spurs have an idea which of the young G's they could best stand to part with to bring in a higher caliber player.

I hadn't even considered the possibility that not spending the MLE right way might signal that they are trying to deal DDR. I'm not in the camp of dumping him at any cost, but if the Spurs can find a deal and actually get value out of him, it would sure pave the way for a new start.

[ducks]

Ducks could run the spurs better then pop
Spurs would support the president and not bash the USA commander and Chief

[NO LIMIT ARMY COMMANDER]

The Case For No Limit

The best case for not putting a limit on MLE spending is simple: player quality. The Spurs can get a better player offering $39 million over four years compared to $18.8 million over two years.

Also, the long-term financial flexibility very well could be overblown. The Spurs have a few young players that they will likely want to extend or re-sign before that cap space opens up two years from now -- most notably Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Jakob Poeltl, Bryn Forbes and Davis Bertans.

Stressing about maximizing flexibility might be a fool's errand when so much will change in the next 24 months.

[Chinook]

I don't see the logic in waiting on cap space. I think there was a decent amount of logic in trying for a max slot THIS summer, but I'm not seeing a signing on the horizon that will make the Spurs contenders. Considering that and the state of the West, I think the Spurs should push in most of their chips in an effort to win a le this year. That doesn't mean a stupid trade where they give up their best prospects for a meh player. But in the very least, they should honestly attempt to fill in their holes. Use the MLE on the best PF possible. Trade the scraps for Bogdanovic or some other wing. Keep DeRozan. Keep Aldridge. Run it back.

[Chinook]

That said, Gay not coming back would force the team to be more aggressive in replacing him. Getting Bogdanovic (or someone like him) then would become a necessity for survival, not just a "next step" move. I think you still trade Beli and Bertans to make it happen, but then you split up the MLE between two players who can at least compete for a rotation spot. Maybe this is how Stan Johnson sneaks it? Him and Singleton would fill in the holes a bit, while Bojan replaces Gay.

Murray, White, Mills
DeRozan, Forbes, Weatherspoon
Bogdanovic, Walker, Keldon
Singleton, Stan, Samanic
Aldridge, Poeltl, Metu/Eubanks

Would much rather also have Gay there to push Singleton, Stan and Walker for their spots. But that could work out. The starting defense should be much better, and that bench would be fast, defensive and somewhat switchable.

[vavvi]

That said, Gay not coming back would force the team to be more aggressive in replacing him. Getting Bogdanovic (or someone like him) then would become a necessity for survival, not just a "next step" move. I think you still trade Beli and Bertans to make it happen, but then you split up the MLE between two players who can at least compete for a rotation spot. Maybe this is how Stan Johnson sneaks it? Him and Singleton would fill in the holes a bit, while Bojan replaces Gay.

Murray, White, Mills
DeRozan, Forbes, Weatherspoon
Bogdanovic, Walker, Keldon
Singleton, Stan, Samanic
Aldridge, Poeltl, Metu/Eubanks

Would much rather also have Gay there to push Singleton, Stan and Walker for their spots. But that could work out. The starting defense should be much better, and that bench would be fast, defensive and somewhat switchable.

Why everyone is so down on Bertans these days? Only because of his struggles against Millsap?
Last season Bertans was our best advanced stats guy and featured in all our best lineups.

[Spursfanfromafar]

Some free agents worth targetting -

a) Marcus Morris, b) Jamychal Green, c) DeMarre Carrol, d) Trevor Ariza, e) James Ennis . Any one from this list would be good.

And if the Spurs have some luck they should trade Mills for a late first round or some early second round picks somehow (how about the Lakers?). Solves many issues. And if they are really lucky... they should get Ed Davis on a vet minimum as a backup center.

My ideal roster would then be -

Starting five: Murray, White, DeRozan, Gay, Aldridge
Second five: Forbes, Walker, Morris, Bertans, Poeltl
Deep bench: Belinelli, K.Johnson, C.Metu, L.Samanic, Ed Davis

[tbdog]

I don’t see it as a reset. SA made the playoffs without Kawhi or DeRozan. I’m not saying dump him for nothing; if you are going to lose him anyways (not signing him to an extension)? You’re in the “reset” mode either way and might as well get something

Well, if Spurs cannot agree with DD on an appropriate extension, then of course, trade him. Spurs are known for getting discounts on resigning with loyal contracts down the road. I still think DD agrees to 3 years 72mil.

[Drom John]

I was on the Milutinov bandwagon.
If not available for less than the full MLE, then:

1) Danny Green
2) Nikola Mirotic
3) Maxi Kleber

Kevin Pelton's top five this morning:

Pelton: Kawhi Leonard, Danny Green, Tyus Jones, Nikola Mirotic, Maxi Kleber

Leonard is the max free agent most likely to be a bargain on his next contract, while Green still appears somewhat undervalued as a star in his role. Jones is an RPM standout who's just 23 and could develop into a starter over the next four years. Mirotic seems underrated because of an ill-timed shooting slump in the conference finals while playing out of position. Kleber's strong 2018-19 season got little attention, but he's a legit 3-point threat who's also an outstanding shot-blocker -- sort of a lesser Brook Lopez who's younger and (likely) cheaper.

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

What free agents are out there that you would say is a better player than DeRozan?

[Roscoe P. Coltrane]

Ducks could run the spurs better then pop
Spurs would support the president and not bash the USA commander and Chief

Ducks for president 2024