Thing I learned this season

[SAGirl]

I don’t think they are necessarily stuck with Pau and Patty but I know what you mean -21- if they have to give up assets to move them then it doesn’t make sense, specially for a team with a dark cloud that may cause them to unintentionally tank if Kiwi doesn’t recover from a diseased tendon.

They may headline the tank in that case.

[ElNono]

And there is still a entirely reasonable chance that he's sitting because he's injured, he's in NYC because he needs his doctors...

Absolutely. But that also raises other questions (chronic condition?, etc). That's why I'm saying the sooner we have answers, the better.

The Spurs could take a decision about trading him in July, August, September, October, at next deadline...I wouldn't worry about this in APRIL.

Well, due to how contracts are set up in the NBA, you can't always have all the players from other teams in a tradeable state. Some players that were just re-signed, for example, can't be traded right away. IIRC, sign and trade is no longer a viable option.

So the Spurs have, IIRC, two trade windows to potentially move him, IF that's the decision. Furthermore, the other team will likely want Kawhi to sign an extension, they probably don't want a one year rental. So Kawhi will have a lot of sway about where he goes and what pieces the Spurs might get, and the Spurs will be pressured to make a deal, otherwise Kawhi walks after next season.

That's why that scenario looks pretty ty for the Spurs. Hopefully Kawhi is healthy and wants to keep playing for the Spurs, and we don't have to worry about all this, because the other side of the coin is really ugly.

[daslicer]

Spurs caught lightning in a bottle in 2013 and 2014, especially the latter.

Some part of me thinks Kawhi will reveal he was really in pain, that he wasn't going anywhere. He will get from the board for half a season and then they'll come around if he's ballin'.

Spurs have squeezed a lot of blood out of a turnip. It's easy to call it dry, but everyone has made that mistake countless times. Every season is a new opportunity. I'll have to see complete blow up level failure to count them out.

We just need a couple good outside shooters, a good PG, a real center and a superstar or two. That's about it.

You make it sound easy.

[YGWHI]

That's why I'm saying the sooner we have answers, the better.

This team is still fighting for a playoff spot...Then first round...Since miracles happen they could make semifinals/WCF..All this in April-May...

I guess you won't have answers soon.

[coachmac87]

I’m proud of this team...

The players PATFO were put in a tough spot this year..yeah the signings of Pau and Mills are suspect but this team had a plan..they were confident they could compete when healthy with Houston and GSW..and tbh I think they were right...but I guess we will never know..

This season has been the weirdest thing ever and despite that they competed despite their limitations..PATFO I guess are to blame for but it’s incredible how they do what they do despite having the worst guard play in the league..referring to play making and penetration/creativity..

Sucks we never got to see what this team is truly capable of..but they were dealt the worst hand in the league but still made impressive strides..unlike some I’m confident they’ll make the right moves going forward with this roster.

Believe

[SpursDynasty85]

Kudos for this post. Maybe I will start typing on keyboard too because my takes over the phone, like this one, usually come off half-baked. I totally agree with everything except Anderson and that Gay can't be a legit 3 at least. If we had a healthy Kawhi, Gay would be a great 3rd option. We got lucky with Gay if he can continue to stay healthy. Teams saw an aging 3 but he worked his butt off and is a great option at pf now. It helps that LMA embraced his role at the 5 and has been a beast on both ends of the court this year.

KA will get paid pretty well this summer I think. If we can put shooters and more athletes by him then we should sign him. That's a big if since all of our guys currently are not or our very undersized.

Agree that TP and Manu should retire but if they want to embrace a reduced role, then that's fine. I especially would like Manu to be an assistant and maybe even a HC one day.

Finally, people ragging on OP because he said betting future on Kawhi was a gamble. It was! You dont think this year proves that? Front office is probably thinking the same thing, "did we mess up?" Its their job to know what's going on with a player. Who would've guessed Kawhi was going to sit out the whole year when our whole lineup was built around him. Again LMA was a beast a d Spurs culture holding by a thin thread now but ultimately if not for more injuries we would be a 50-55 win team without Kawhi.

I have to laugh at some of the posts in this thread legit thinking we could be moved to Seattle. Lol wow. That makes no sense at all. I dont know the finances but every year has been marked down as a successful one for the last 20+ years including last year. We could definitely and maybe should ponder about the mini reconstruction that is likely to happen. Pop is not cinile, he knows something needs to be done and I hope him and management can pull it off... again.

[YGWHI]

he said getting future on Kawhi was a gamble. It was! You dont think this year proves that?

No. Since last two previous seasons proved it wasn't.

[SpursDynasty85]

No. Since last two previous seasons proved it wasn't.

Every decision has repercussions. Things look like sure bets but it is still a gamble, just like getting in your car every day. In the NBA everything is a gamble. Edited my post again above for a better explanation.

[ElNono]

This team is still fighting for a playoff spot...Then first round...Since miracles happen they could make semifinals/WCF..All this in April-May...

I guess you won't have answers soon.

We have an 80 game sample, it's not that I'm hurrying up anything. Just giving my impressions of what this roster, this season looked like.

Like I stated previously, I didn't want to make this post during/after the playoffs, because those are highly emotional games, and it's easy to get your judgement clouded, tbh...

I understand we probably won't know much until the summer, but the OP isn't just about Kawhi (even though news about him are likely the most important over the summer), but the team in general.

[YGWHI]

Who would've guessed Kawhi was going to sit out the whole year when our whole lineup was built around him.

Not really. If the whole team was built around him, they wouldn't have...

-four players having the same mid-j favorite spot on court -Kawhi LMA Pau Rudy-..

-two non-3 points shooters in starting lineup

-PF who needs almost 20 FGAs a game to feel comfortable

-two bigs clogging the paint instead of going small

-guards who are a liability on both ends most games

This team was built around a Pop's concept of style of play, not around a specific player.

Otherwise, they would surround Kawhi with reliable shooters for his drive&kick, more talented guards instead of two bigs bothering his penetrations/drawing fouls...

[ElNono]

I think the Spurs need to let Green walk, keep Kyle and put him into Danny's role.. It's not like Danny Green has multi faceted game. Kyle's defense is improving, and you'd just have to roll the dice that he will improve his corner 3.

Sorry DJ, but this is crazy. As poorly as Green has defended judging by the standards he himself set a few seasons ago, he's a physical and athletic guy. Kyle will reach to try to steal the ball, but if that fails, there's no plan B. He doesn't have the foot speed to recover and block, rotate, etc. Especially in the playoffs, there's no way he's not going to be targeted by fast, athletic guys. Kyle is a good kid, and I also think he has a good basketball mind, but there's just physical limitations for him at this level that I don't know if you can't hide, especially if you give him a larger role. You see in this league a lot of times the exact opposite: uber-athletic guys that don't play defense. That at least is a relatively good problem in the sense you can teach em because they already have the tools.

I mean, if this team is going to be a bottom feeder, or a middle of the pack team, then ok, as long as it's not too expensive, it's alright. But if we're thinking about contender, I don't think he can fill a big role.

[SpursDynasty85]

Not really. If the whole team was built around him, they wouldn't have...

-four players having the same mid-j favorite spot on court -Kawhi LMA Pau Rudy-..

-two non-3 points shooters in starting lineup

-PF who needs almost 20 FGAs a game to feel comfortable

-two bigs clogging the paint instead of going small

-guards who are a liability on both ends most games

This team was built around a Pop's concept of style of play, not around a specific player.

Otherwise, they would surround Kawhi with reliable shooters for his drive&kick, more talented guards instead of two bigs bothering his penetrations/drawing fouls...

True but Kawhiso is real bro and he gets the most touches. I didn't necessarily mean it was smartly built around his game but that he was the obvious centerpiece.

[YGWHI]

True but Kawhiso is real bro and he gets the most touches. I didn't necessarily mean it was smartly built around his game but that he was the obvious centerpiece.

In a sense of building around his game I disagree. But I get your point of him being #1 option.

[james evans]

Spurs need to turn the page. Manu and Parker need to retire. So does Pop. The franchise can’t move forward unless they all go. They all just cast a big shadow over the franchise. They’re legends. No one will be as good as they were, and Pop won’t stop playing them as long as they’re on the roster.

It’s kinda like the old Celtics with bird mchale and parish. It’s just time to move on.

mchale only played 13 seasons and when he left, he had a great performance in the 93 first round agaisnt the Hornets eating Larry Johnson alive any chance he got. He left on a good note. Ginobli and Parker are simply out there just collecting checks for as long as they are allowed to

[SASdynasty!]

Spurs move Parker to the bench and they have their worst season in over 20 years. He still leads the team in assists from the bench and is shooting much better than Mills, Ginobili, Murray, Green, etc. this season. 2 games left and still haven’t clinched a playoff spot. Everyone’s been saying Parker is done for years (just like they did with Duncan in 11, Manu in 13, etc. Same story. Everyone forgets that Tony got us out of the first round of the playoffs last year and was easily our second best player before he got injured.

We’ve seen Tony average 30 in the playoffs and everyone freaks out now that he doesn’t do that anymore. Spurs are still much better this season when Parker starts than Murray, but whatever shtick you need to believe, feel free.

[Jules_Winnfield]

- Manu can still play, so I don't mind him returning as a deep bench guy if he doesn't mind that role..

- Parker is beyond finished, he doesn't even look like an NBA player, sadly..

- Disagree about Kyle..he's a difficult fit with Aldridge/Kawhi because he's still a poor off-ball player, but he's been the 2nd best player on this team and all metrics have him as a high-impact player..I expect other teams to aggressively pursue him, though, so we'll see what the Spurs prioritize..

- I'd keep Green for the correct price as a 7th man or so, but only if they find a viable alternative for when he's struggling..he's getting older and his poor shooting kills his impact, he's no longer a lock for 25ish minutes..White being good enough to start at the 2 would make the decision easier..

https://streamable.com/j5lsm

[Brunodf]

Spurs move Parker to the bench and they have their worst season in over 20 years. He still leads the team in assists from the bench and is shooting much better than Mills, Ginobili, Murray, Green, etc. this season. 2 games left and still haven’t clinched a playoff spot. Everyone’s been saying Parker is done for years (just like they did with Duncan in 11, Manu in 13, etc. Same story. Everyone forgets that Tony got us out of the first round of the playoffs last year and was easily our second best player before he got injured.
We’ve seen Tony average 30 in the playoffs and everyone freaks out now that he doesn’t do that anymore. Spurs are still much better this season when Parker starts than Murray, but whatever shtick you need to believe, feel free.

100% agree, the starting lineup was MUCH better with Tony and coming off the bench he isn't nearly as impactful as he was.

This is one of those situations that your players being just " yes man" actually hurts the team tbh

[Play Boban]

[boutons_deux]

"We’ve seen Tony average 30 in the playoffs"

which playoffs?

[duncan2k5]

100% agree, the starting lineup was MUCH better with Tony and coming off the bench he isn't nearly as impactful as he was.

This is one of those situations that your players being just " yes man" actually hurts the team tbh

U guys forget we were starting to lose games, and Tony was getting progressively worse as time went on before the switch...

[davi78239]

Love manu and Tony but it's time to go. Pop too, he's lost his touch and seems washed out more often. Green I'm a 100% sure is gone. Anderson will be pursued by other teams and so will Bertans. At the right price, I keep both or at least one of those. Gay I think comes back. Paul is gone, such a disappointment. Thought he would be the second coming of Simmons as was marketed. Spanish ostrich and Patty melt...it is what it is. Probably stuck with these two "they fit the culture" guys bad contracts. And Kawhi. I really hope he's staying and the media has completely twisted the story line but who knows at this point.

[Raven]

To me it is pointless to make decisions until we know how we are with Kawhi. Tony and Manu are a different story though, Manu should retire he deserves to retire with dignity, even though he is still getting it done. Tony I thought has lost it for like 3 years and now he even looks tentative.. I don't have a problem with him staying another season though. Pau should stay, period, he's been very positive whenever Pop doesn't troll. KA we should make an effort to keep him, but it will be hard. Patty mills is the main problem on the roster.

[baseline bum]

There's zero chance Aldridge is traded. The Spurs aren't going to go into tank mode. They're either going to keep Kawhi and go with what they have or they're going to trade him and rebuild around Aldridge but there's no way they're going to trade the guy and go into tank mode even if they miss the playoffs this year. I don't even understand this line of thinking, honestly, except that Spurs fan really is ing spoiled.

Why is it being spoiled to want to trade high on a player whose value is going to depreciate pretty rapidly at his age? Look at how well tanking for four years did in Philly. Now they have a generational talent in Simmons as well as another likely franchise player in Embiid, plus Fultz is now starting to look like the player they thought they were getting when they drafted him. You think rebuilding around a 33 year old makes any sense whatsoever? Maybe they're stupid and trade Kawhi for a couple of quarters on the dollar to help out now and they can stay a 6-8 seed for a couple of years before it's total rebuild time when Aldridge starts becoming Gasol, and then they're a lottery team anyways. I think if Kawhi is gone you might as well accept that very down years are inevitable and get a jump start on the rebuild. My biggest reason for wanting to completely start over if Kawhi walks is that Buford is perhaps the best executive we have ever seen in the draft. With the difficulties the Spurs have luring free agents the draft seems the only viable way to rebuild. If RC can pull probable Hall of Famers at picks 15, 28, and 57 he's someone I trust to rebuild this team into something strong again when given a lot of good picks. Buford's ability to find talent in the draft and the coaching staff's ability to develop it is an enormous compe ive advantage for the Spurs.

[cd98]

Why is it being spoiled to want to trade high on a player whose value is going to depreciate pretty rapidly at his age? Look at how well tanking for four years did in Philly. Now they have a generational talent in Simmons as well as another likely franchise player in Embiid, plus Fultz is now starting to look like the player they thought they were getting when they drafted him. You think rebuilding around a 33 year old makes any sense whatsoever? Maybe they're stupid and trade Kawhi for a couple of quarters on the dollar to help out now and they can stay a 6-8 seed for a couple of years before it's total rebuild time when Aldridge starts becoming Gasol, and then they're a lottery team anyways. I think if Kawhi is gone you might as well accept that very down years are inevitable and get a jump start on the rebuild. My biggest reason for wanting to completely start over if Kawhi walks is that Buford is perhaps the best executive we have ever seen in the draft. With the difficulties the Spurs have luring free agents the draft seems the only viable way to rebuild. If RC can pull probable Hall of Famers at picks 15, 28, and 57 he's someone I trust to rebuild this team into something strong again when given a lot of good picks. Buford's ability to find talent in the draft and the coaching staff's ability to develop it is an enormous compe ive advantage for the Spurs.

Don’t forget that it’s possible LMA wants to leave if it looks like the Spurs are going to lose Kawhi. If the Spurs lose Kawhi, they’ll get parts whose sum total is less than Kawhi and they aren’t seriously challenging without Kawhi. It’s the perfect reason for LMA to go join a winner.

[pad300]

I think the Spurs need to let Green walk, keep Kyle and put him into Danny's role.. It's not like Danny Green has multi faceted game. Kyle's defense is improving, and you'd just have to roll the dice that he will improve his corner 3.

Danny's job is to take the opponents best starting small guy and do the best he can (note that Kawhi can do better in many cases, but he needs to be able to save some energy for offense), often this is the opposing PG. Kyle, although a useful player, cannot take on this role because of his (lack of) footspeed.