2023 NBA Free Agency Thread - June 30 @ 5 pm CDT

[MannyIsGod]

I'm not sure the Spurs would've done anything differently had they not won the lottery. I think "wanting to see how guys play with Victor" is the rationalization for being passive. Had they drafted Thompson, I think the rationalization would've been "not wanting to rush the rebuild and needing to see what Amen's ceiling is." I think the anxiety folks are seeing is coming from the Spurs NOT doing things different despite having a franchise player on their roster. Personally, I am okay with the Spurs taking the year to figure out if Wemby is legit before committing. But how much confidence do people have that after this year of evaluation the team is going to make strong moves? I think it's possible that even after next year, they continue to try to build slowly and organically. They might have to figure out what to do with three first-round picks next year (2024-2025). Are they going to sell them for pennies on the dollar because they waited until the draft to actually try to get value for them?

We don't know. But the Spurs didn't do the hard part yet. Winning the lottery and then taking the franchise player isn't hard. It's not a foolproof plan, and of course tanking is painful. But they got lucky and made the obvious choice so far. Actually turning that blue chip into a le team is going to define Wright's career with the team. Despite the initial assumptions fans might make, I don't know that the Spurs execs have much experience with that. They inherited a le contender and drafted a ready-made superstar. They know about maintaining a dynasty, but building that early development core and transitioning that core into a contender -- that remains to be seen. It's very possible the team continues to take a passive approach and that that doesn't end up being the ideal solution. I think there's plenty of room for nuanced discussion around the balance between building sustainably and capitalizing on the assets the team has.

100000000000000% agree with this.

One of the main problems I have with this approach is that they seemingly refuse to try to pick up any young assets of use outside of the draft. If the 2nd star is already on this team, then I think they will be fine, but if not they're going to have to turn some of these assets into that caliber of a player via trade and they don't seem to have an idea of how to do that. I just have no faith that in today's NBA we're going to see the Spurs (or really almost any other team) sign a player of that caliber via free agency. The CBA's have just murdered the utility of having open space to sign a free agent.

[MannyIsGod]

I think in 2024 they’ll know which players they will be willing to put on the trading block. Whether those players will have much value is a different question.

The 2024 free agent class appears underwhelming.

They seem to be on course for two lottery picks in 2024, with which to draft a point guard and another BPA. While there is no generational talent available, there could be second-star caliber guys available. If they are afraid their guy will go higher than their first pick, they’ve got the assets to move up to go get him.

I think for the foreseeable future all free agent classes will be underwhelming. Why go to free agency when you can sign your big ass extension and just ask for a trade after? You're just leaving money on the table.

[tbdog]

^ this. Gone are the days when free agency is a thing. Teams are just offering big extensions

[Ocotillo]

Anyone expecting a 180 after this coming season hasn't been paying attention. I would not be surprised if they have someone they specifically target next offseason because they see the need for fit.

Maybe they realize they have to make a hard choice that there isn't room in the rotation for Sochan and KJ and broach that this coming offseason.

They do get a blessing of Wenbanyama to help sell tickets otherwise they would face the challenge of selling tickets this year. That may go a ways in explaining why Houston through money around like a drunken sailor which which at a minimum should sell some seats and deliver a better record that last season.

Much is made of culture and often ridiculed but post Nephew and with all the divas these days demanding to be traded, I would offer culture isn't just about avoiding Primo type issues or Miles Bridges type of issues but the high dollar player that wants out and is much harder for a small market to recover from.

[Eaglenole2002]

Great post

Do people really believe next year after the Spurs "See what they have" the spurs are suddenly going to go all in making trades and being aggressive to get the best team they can get.

Most likely the patient approach will still apply. It will be more of the same, conservative moves, with little to no risk and maintain a slow but still uncertain build of the team.

I think it’s about clarity. This team is young. I see little harm in letting this play out for a bit. My only disappointment of this offseason was the inability to move up for a combo/lead guard. Maybe there wasn’t a reasonable deal to be made there. I really like the idea of seeing this team grow together when they aren’t clearly trying to lose games.

[RC_Drunkford]

next year we will draft 3 rookies. Then we first gotta see what we have in them before we trade for the right players

[K...]

Maybe they had a plan but houston blew the market. Would be better is houston did less and the spurs more.

[spurraider21]

I'm not sure the Spurs would've done anything differently had they not won the lottery. I think "wanting to see how guys play with Victor" is the rationalization for being passive. Had they drafted Thompson, I think the rationalization would've been "not wanting to rush the rebuild and needing to see what Amen's ceiling is." I think the anxiety folks are seeing is coming from the Spurs NOT doing things different despite having a franchise player on their roster. Personally, I am okay with the Spurs taking the year to figure out if Wemby is legit before committing. But how much confidence do people have that after this year of evaluation the team is going to make strong moves? I think it's possible that even after next year, they continue to try to build slowly and organically. They might have to figure out what to do with three first-round picks next year (2024-2025). Are they going to sell them for pennies on the dollar because they waited until the draft to actually try to get value for them?

We don't know. But the Spurs didn't do the hard part yet. Winning the lottery and then taking the franchise player isn't hard. It's not a foolproof plan, and of course tanking is painful. But they got lucky and made the obvious choice so far. Actually turning that blue chip into a le team is going to define Wright's career with the team. Despite the initial assumptions fans might make, I don't know that the Spurs execs have much experience with that. They inherited a le contender and drafted a ready-made superstar. They know about maintaining a dynasty, but building that early development core and transitioning that core into a contender -- that remains to be seen. It's very possible the team continues to take a passive approach and that that doesn't end up being the ideal solution. I think there's plenty of room for nuanced discussion around the balance between building sustainably and capitalizing on the assets the team has.

It’s always nice when i agree with Chinook since i know he will take the time to put out something like this so i don’t have to come up with a half assed snarky version of it

as for the bolded, i think the transition from the duncan centric teams (basically the first 2 chips), to the more balanced "big 3" teams (second 2 chips), and then most notably, to the "beautiful game" team... showed quite a bit. the vision they had with kawhi, green, splitter, etc speaks to their ability to build around a star, or in the case of that team, a constellation

[Mugen]

Some of these Sniffers think we're asking for a Dame Lillard trade or to throw 130mil at FVV...I just want a Plumlee 2yr deal at this point

[exstatic]

next year we will draft 3 rookies. Then we first gotta see what we have in them before we trade for the right players

I think the chances that they draft 3 rookies for the second time in three years approaches zero.

[Mr. Body]

Maybe they had a plan but houston blew the market. Would be better is houston did less and the spurs more.

Assuming Brook Lopez was always staying with Milwaukee, what player(s) did you want and could improve the team?

[ChumpDumper]

I think it’s possible the Spurs have a different (lower) cap they are operating with the last few years (and this one) that we don’t know about.

I think it's becoming clear that, barring some kind of home run signing or deal, the cap is the floor.

[RC_Drunkford]

I think the chances that they draft 3 rookies for the second time in three years approaches zero.

of course, but the question is: what will they do with those draft picks then? Spurs also have 3 second round picks. More millions to make while keeping the cap dry

[spurraider21]

of course, but the question is: what will they do with those draft picks then? Spurs also have 3 second round picks. More millions to make while keeping the cap dry

we'll just trade them for multiple future SRPs

[tesseractive]

Some of these Sniffers think we're asking for a Dame Lillard trade or to throw 130mil at FVV...I just want a Plumlee 2yr deal at this point

Shoring up the rotation like that makes a ton more sense than making a "big move."

[K...]

Assuming Brook Lopez was always staying with Milwaukee, what player(s) did you want and could improve the team?

Really, thats not my job, this was a bad FA period. Everyone good is being overpaid.

[BacktoBasics]

100000000000000% agree with this.

One of the main problems I have with this approach is that they seemingly refuse to try to pick up any young assets of use outside of the draft. If the 2nd star is already on this team, then I think they will be fine, but if not they're going to have to turn some of these assets into that caliber of a player via trade and they don't seem to have an idea of how to do that. I just have no faith that in today's NBA we're going to see the Spurs (or really almost any other team) sign a player of that caliber via free agency. The CBA's have just murdered the utility of having open space to sign a free agent.

If it remains to be seen that we already have a 2nd star and everyone is comfortable reconciling the idea that we should fully evaluate all our players (along with Wemby) then whats the rush.

There was no 2nd star available to begin with and most of didn't feel all that strong about the draft after pick 3. There weren't any star free agents either. There's potential for player movement all the way up to the trade deadline. I don't see why we need to act with urgency over being patient.

[Ariel]

Wow, reading some of the takes in this thread you'd think we'd have gone through some "Philly process" of sorts. Fact of the matter is the Spurs have tanked for only ONE SEASON. Before that the Spurs were always trying to win, they just didn't have enough but it wasn't for lack of trying. I would have blown it up sooner (though in hindsight it's easy to say it was the right time because we landed Wemby), and I think some of the anxiety here is a reflection on those seasons wearing people's patience, plus a sense of en lement from the winning years.
Not making a big move in a whole month doesn't mean the Spurs aren't being active (in what? a whole month?), it just means they didn't find an opportunity they liked, and no smart buyer is desperately trying to spend the second they have the assets to do so. Personally I would have made some minor moves (suggested Plumlee and Monte Morris several times), but it's clear the Spurs are putting themselves in position to do something more substantial, and thus the collection of expiring contracts (something like 51.2M, of which only Zach Collins and maybe McDermott should be brought back) and draft picks (20 second rounders? really think they are meant to be used? )
All in all, I think people need to take a step back and be specific at which opportunities the Spurs have not taken advantage of, before overreacting. I don't see any substantial missed opportunity, maybe a minor one here and there (I mentioned Monte Morris) but overall it's perfectly reasonable to stand pat until something juicy comes along, which may be tomorrow or at the trade deadline. When you're in a rush to buy, you're bound to make something you'll regret, and the Spurs want to make sure they have a better sense of where they stand before, which seems like the sensible move.

[ace3g]

Shams Charania ShamsCharania
2m
Free agent point guard Dalano Banton has agreed to a two-year contract with the Boston Celtics, sources tell @TheAthletic @stadum. Agent Aaron Turner of @VerusTeam negotiated the deal

[ace3g]

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
2m
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has agreed on a five-year designated rookie maximum deal that could be worth $260 million, his agents Bill Duffy and Joe Branch of WME tell ESPN

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

I’m not the biggest fan of the ultra conservative approach but I find it funny that on ST of all places people are ing that the FO hasn’t signed vets to take playing time from the young guys.

[Dverde]

I’m hoping for another Raptors suicide mission trade like the Nephew trade, but for Dame. I really hope he doesn’t go to the Heat.

[slick'81]

I’m not the biggest fan of the ultra conservative approach but I find it funny that on ST of all places people are ing that the FO hasn’t signed vets to take playing time from the young guys.

The whole goal for the spurs this season is to "see what they have " and no fckn colossal mistakes etc.There are soo many young guys you might as well play em and make changes as u go

[Mugen]

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
2m
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has agreed on a five-year designated rookie maximum deal that could be worth $260 million, his agents Bill Duffy and Joe Branch of WME tell ESPN

Just a gut feeling that Devins contract extension is going to be pretty messy tbh. I don’t think it’s as cut and dry as people here are expecting, hopefully I’m wrong tbh

[RC_Drunkford]

Just a gut feeling that Devins contract extension is going to be pretty messy tbh. I don’t think it’s as cut and dry as people here are expecting, hopefully I’m wrong tbh

I think so too. He might just gamble on hitting restricted FA. The Spurs are probably trying to be cheap as usual trying to bring the salary number down due to his knee injury while he thinks he can up his scoring average and get something closer to 150 than 100 million.