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Paul, Vassell, Champagnie, Sochan, Wemby
Bench: Wesley, Castle, Keldon, Barnes, Mamu
What's your preferred S5 going into the season. Assuming Devin will be back shortly, I'll include him in mine. I think with him coming back sooner rather than later three spots in the starting five will be the same for most of us.
Here are my five starters.
Paul, Champagnie, Vassell, Barnes, Wemby
Julien is actually the reason for this thread. If he is able to continue shooting like he has in preseason his floor spreading would open up so much mor space for Wemby than it would be with Sochan starting.
I expect Pop to go with Paul, Vassell, Barnes, Sochan and Wemby, but I really wouldn't mind JC starting.
What do you guys think? Champ or Sochan? Or would you even throw Castle into the fire right away?
Paul, Vassell, Champagnie, Sochan, Wemby
Bench: Wesley, Castle, Keldon, Barnes, Mamu
I don't think Pop benches Sochan. If anything, Barnes seems like a more likely candidate to go to the bench, if he keeps looking like a stiff. That would fix some positinal issues with the rotation, since it seems like the bench doesn't have a 4 if Mamu is left out from the rotation.
CP3, Vassell, Champagnie, Sochan, Wemby
Jones, Castle, Keldon, Barnes, Collins
Seems like the most balanced rotation, but I agree that the lineup is probably CP3, Vassel (Champ untill healthy), Sochan, Barnes and Wemby. Probably leaving Keldon as the PF off the bench. Ugh.
What do you do with Jones?
He’s probably injected into small ball lineups with Paul from time to time, and he probably alternates with Wesley depending on who is doing good. By mid-season, I predict he’s part of a trade package.
Paul, Vassell, Castle, Sochan, Wemby
Wesley, Champagnie, Keldon, Barnes, Collins
I like Champ great shooting and he really deserves to start. But Vassell, Castle and Sochan have higher ceiling and need to be established as the future, especially Castle. CP3 won’t be there long, so try to learn as much playing alongside him.
Paul, Vassell, Champagnie, Sochan, Wemby
Jones, Castle, Keldon, Barnes, Mamu
Knowing Pop's dumbass, it will probably be:
Paul, Vassell, Sochan, Barnes, Wemby
Jones, Castle, Champagnie, Keldon, Collins
with Champagnie starting the season for Vassell and Branham replacing his bench minutes. I'd love to start Castle at SF, but you can only do that if his 3-point shooting is consistent enough.
Wait, you are projecting that to be Pop's rotation? I thought you were just giving your preferred one. No way Pop leaves Jones out of the rotation.
I'm with you on Champ, by default at least.
I'd like Sochan to be challenged for once in his NBA career to see if there's a real future with him. I like what I saw globally from the last cple games but imo he needs to feel the compe ion and we need to see what he's got in him before extending him.
We're going to lose some individual defense but Wemby and team defense should compensate for a while (Barnes won't last long physically at his age)
I could see Tre (or his agent) even asking for a trade tbh.
He's in the last year of is deal and Spurs drafted a promising lottery pick at his position.
On his side, he won't be able to showcase for a (good) new deal with little PT and on the Spurs's side he's not a difference maker enough despite all the poitive he brings and Castle needs and deserves playing time.
It'd make sense to trade him for both sides.
I still think CP3/Vassell/Barnes/Sochan/Wemby but Champ’s shooting has made things interesting. Great to see Champ, Castle and Wesley surprising to the upside. Lots of compe ion for rotation minutes across the board.
Tre and his agent aren’t calling any shots. His brother just got a vet min deal late in free agency. Tyus may have taken some money off the table for that starting role in PHX but Tre isn’t seeing much more if at all. I like Tre Jones as a backup but his negotiation time will come after the season. He has no trade value so there is no reason to work a destination ahead of free agency. He might be a needed backup depending on CP3s fit and Castle/Wesley development.
Mamu is going to push Collins out of the rotation.
Devin will miss at least 5 games and those will probably decide who gets benched.
If Champagnie can keep shooting like this, he simply can't be benched.
Jeremy still offers very little on offense, way better Spurs than him got benched and played through it.
If he can't take it, too bad, there are plenty of other teams in the league.
Barnes is a consistent veteran and Pop surely won't bench him out of respect unless he really underperforms.
My bigger concern is that Castle won't get enough minutes with logjam at guard positions.
CP3/Tre/Wesley
Devin/Castle/Branham
Jeremy/Keldon/Champagnie
Barnes/Mamu
Wemby/Collins
That's 13 players who will expect to get minutes. 11 for 4 positions if we assume we won't play small and one of Wemby and Collins is always on the floor.
Branham hasn't shown any improvement and is at the bottom of that list, but two more will have to get DNPs every night if starters are healthy.
When Devin returns one of Tre/Wesley probably gets dropped and then one of Champagnie/Mamu...but both have been great so it's a tough decision.
We'll have to wait and see how they perform in real games, but suddenly we have too many potentially useful rotation players, but we're still top heavy and don't have enough high end starters.
My preferred rotation when everyone's healthy would be something like:
CP3/Castle
Devin/Champagnie
Jeremy/Keldon
Barnes/Mamu
Wemby/Bassey
Harsh on Tre after the season he's had, but he's a low ceiling player on an expiring contract.
Jeremy as a starter just because I don't want him playing together with Castle, spacing would be bad.
I don't think playing C would be good for Mamu. Unless opposition also doesn't have an actual big in the lineup.
He's been great offensively, but he's too slow footed and doesn't have any verticality to protect the rim. He'd be a net negative at C if he's not running the other big off the floor with his shooting.
And I don't think his shooting is there just yet.
I think we need to keep using him as a big wing, he could become a decent bench player for us.
Yep, when Vassel comes back the other for players is going to be a bit tricky. As for trading off Jones thas another tricky one since we don't know if CP3's plans are to stay with the Spurs full season.
I'm finding it funny how Collins is on no one's list yet yall know full and well thats exactly who Pop's going to play lol
I could see a trade, but I doubt you can get a 1st out of Jones, and I don't see the value in getting a 2nd out of a solid backup PG like Jones. Which means a trade would only make sense if we get a player back. Swaping Jones for a player of his caliber but at the PF position would be ideal.
We're never getting a 1st for Tre alone, it'd be a package and a players sawp imo
Again, it's not only the Spurs's side that make sense, PATFO bc of their affection for Tre could facilitate a trade in the interest of the player bc the situation sucks for him contractually with less PT
Add the fact that Wesley could take the spot with intengibles like speed and grit that can't be tought but could get better at play/decision making with time and work...
- I'm not implying Tre's agent has any power nor would pressure PATFO but that it'd be done in the interest of both parties, not only the Spurs's bc of the relationship they have. Just a guess/feeling.
- His brother's example is the perfect reason why he'd want to leave to be able to showcase his skills with more PT, otherwise his stats will dramatically drop if he stays with the Spurs
- I think he has a real value at a position tough to fill as a back up. He doesn't move the needle much but he's not a negative and is reliable in many areas, takes care of the ball, is a pest on D and is a leader by at ude at least. many teams could need his profile.
- For all that to happen we'd still need to find the right player(s) to trade for and a team willing to do so. I'm just talking theorically, it'd make a lot of sense for BOTH parties.
Paul, Devin, Barnes, Sochan, Wemby.
Would be shocked if Barnes comes off the bench to start the season.
The real problem I will have is Pop playing Collins way to much, and playing Mamu and Castle not nearly enough. Both of these guys should be getting a guaranteed at least 15 min a night but we both know that won't happen for maybe half the season.
Not OP getting fooled again by preseason Julien?
Julian’s career mark is 37%, above league average. I’m not sure how him shooting well in the preseason is fooling us. He usually shoots pretty well.
Wemby at center
Barnes and Sochan at forwards
Paul and Vassell at guards
Starting 5: CP3, Vassell, Barnes, Sochan, Wemby
Subs rotation once the game settles in:
CP3/Jones (Wesley)
Vassell/Champagnie (Branham)
Castle/Johnson
Sochan/Barnes (Mamu)
Wemby/Zollins
Pretty much everyone can mix and match as well as slide up and or down at least one position in certain matchups for flexibility and strategy. Swap Branham for Bassey if he ever gets healthy. Hope Minix earns the spot otherwise.
Cissoko will dress out some games for DNPs. Branham and Zollins on the trading block leaves two rosters slots potentially flexible. Castle plays point wing until one or both Paul/Jones are gone on trade/contract end and in select PG & SG mins before then as well when appropriate.
I can't imagine Barnes won't start. He may very well be on the downslope of his career, but his value as scaffolding and structure for the young players is invaluable. I expect him to knock the rust off as much as anyone.
Paul
Vassell
Sochan
Barnes
Wembanyama
That seems pretty clear to me.
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