That SA has been out of the cap-space selling suggests that they haven't decided to pack it in for the year yet. To a certain extent, it could just be because other teams are selling their space cheaply. But it gives me the sense that they do want the option to open up max space but that they considered Collins too valuable (or potentially so) to dump him preemptively. Are they thinking that they might trade Poeltl? Could they do so in a way that opens up max cap space? Maybe.
I'm still a fan of looking to a Poeltl-for-Cam-Johnson swap. If the Suns lose Ayton, they might well want a competent replacement. Ironically enough, they might want to use the MLE on Jalen Smith instead or another big like Mitchel Robinson. I expressed before about how good I think a Keldon/Cam/Sochan rotation would be and how I think the Spurs might not see Jakob as their archetypical center. Collins could be that guy if he stays healthy and continues to expand his game. Jalen Smith could be the guy to come in and compete with or complement Zach. Those would just be moderate moves for the Spurs, leaving them with either Lonnie's hold or about $15 Million in cap space to sell for assets to maybe take another shot at a rotation player.
Murray, Jones, Wesley
Vassell, Primo, Branham
Johnson, McDermott, Langford
Johnson, Sochan, KBD
Smith, Collins, Landale
TW: Wieskamp, Barlow
Maybe trading McDermott and Langford for Hayward? That'd use up some cap space and give the Spurs yet another rotational forward, but that'd also be a ton of money sunk into forwards after this year when both Johnsons are up for new contracts.