The San Antonio Spurs are about to jump to the front of the line in terms of rebuilding the NBA. What would summer look like with the #1 pick in tow?
The San Antonio Spurs were among the worst teams in basketball last season. The defense was abominable, starting blocks like Devin Vassell wasted plenty of injury time, and the stakes were absolutely zero. Unless, of course, you’re talking about the NBA Draft lottery stakes.
The Spurs had the third-best odds on lottery night after losing a coin toss to the Houston Rockets, who also finished the season 22-60. Results? Houston fell to fourth, and San Antonio jumped to first with the opportunity to pick franchise-changing talent.
To add to the excitement, the Spurs have a boatload of cash to burn in free agency and enough young talent to back their rebuilding around the eventual first pick. Vassell emerged as a legitimate originator and shooter last season. Keldon Johnson averaged 22.0 points per game. Jeremy Suchan channels Dennis Rodman in the best of ways.
The San Antonio team has excellent support, along with the best head coach in league history and a world-class player development infrastructure. Now, the Spurs will add a potential superstar to the mix on draft night.
It appears, on the surface, as if San Antonio has settled into a patient rebuild. But that could change in an instant: First pick, max cap space (and then some), and an aging Gregg Popovich might just be the right combination to propel the Spurs back into the playoffs sooner. The Pop won’t be around forever and the young Spurs could benefit financially from an immediate jump into the national spotlight.
Here’s how an exciting summer with San Antonio is shaping up.
Outgoing San Antonio Spurs free agents
Tottenham have a few notable free agents, Both restricted and unrestricted. San Antonio also has the flexibility to keep all of its major chops.
- Romeo Langford- 23- F (RFA)
- Keita Bates Diop, 27 years old, F
- Trey Jones, 23, G (RFA)
- Georgie Ding, 33 years old, C
- Sandro Mamoklashvili, 24 years old (RFA)
- Julien Champagne, 21, F (RFA)
- Dominic Barlow, 20, F (RFA)
The biggest name here is Tre Jones. The Spurs point guard is in the process of getting underway next season, but that could change depending on the San Antonio free agent’s endeavors. Jones averaged 12.9 points and 6.6 assists while drawing extended responsibilities last season. It’s the kind of steady coaches appreciate. One has to imagine that Tottenham would pay to bring him back.
Romeo Langford showed flashes with his athleticism and defense last season and it probably won’t cost Tottenham much to bring him back.
Vets, such as Keita Bates Diop and Georgy Deng, feel like afterthoughts. Bates-Diop is 6-foot-8 and hit 39.4 percent of his 3s last season, so the Spurs could justify a return. Ding is no longer a rotational player and should not be in the squad due to the presence of young seniors such as Charles Basey and Zack Collins, who deserve to play.
Sandro Mamoklashvili is an exciting and multifaceted attacking player who showed flashes during his brief stint on the field last season. Its potential as a facility gaming industry hub that can occasionally put a footprint on the floor may warrant another year’s investment.
San antonio spurs trading goals
Spurs will have to remain patient, even with the No. 1 Cup closing in. The team has plenty of space and plenty of trial capital to hang in trade offers, but no star talent evident for San Antonio to follow.
There could be appeal in names like Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby, but both are expected to fetch sky-high prices if they’re available at all. Perhaps Tottenham shouldn’t break the bank to support the No. 2 cut or star yet.
However, the Spurs must keep the pulse of third-place Portland and fourth-place Houston in the June NBA draft. It will ultimately depend on the price to get such a pick, but the idea of pairing supposed No. 1 Victor Wimbanyama with a young guard like Scott Henderson or Amin Thompson is pretty tantalizing.
Beyond the fancier prospects, it wouldn’t be surprising if San Antonio would scour the commercial market for less expensive roleplayers. Defense was an important issue last season. Perhaps another three-dimensional winger or big physique who can absorb minutes in fifth place in some games would be worth watching.
san antonio spurs free agent goals
He is expected to have spurs approx $43.5 million in cap space during summer. While eyes will naturally be kept on bigger names like Draymond Green or Kyrie Irving, Spurs is a small market at the beginning of a rebuild. Perhaps Victor Wimpanyama’s concept is not enough to attract even the most discerning free agent.
However, San Antonio has the option to spend the money on second- or third-rate free agents. Fred VanVleet is a name to watch if the Spurs desire a promotion at point guard and some veteran leadership in the locker room. VanVleet races hard, hits 3s, and will seamlessly work two-and-dunk moves with Wemby. Plus he made it to the top of the mountain with Toronto. He knows what it takes to win the NBA.
Don’t discount a name like D’Angelo Russell either. The Spurs have to be wary about paying a lot of money for a one-way player like Russell, but he’s a former All-Star player who generates plenty of points with his pick-and-roll. Perhaps Tottenham will trust his team to get the most out of it.
Brook Lopez has been mentioned by some as a possible top-contract target for Spurs, but perhaps the Bucks want to keep him and there is a risk of investing big money long-term into a 35-year-old drop-covering center just before Victor Wimpanyama was selected.
If Tottenham want another center who can add a physical layer in the post, names like Dwight Powell or Mason Plumley might make more sense. Perhaps investing in the development of Zack Collins and Charles Bassey would be the way to go.
San antonio spurs nba draft goals
This is a featured video featuring Victor Wimpanyama.
The Spurs have the #1 overall pick in the June NBA Draft. That pick will be used on Victor Wimbanyama, the 7-foot-5 French sensation who is the best prospect since LeBron James.
San Antonio has a long history with bigwigs like Tim Duncan and David Robinson. Wimpanyama will reportedly be directed by Duncan, as will Tottenham legend Tony Parker (fellow Frenchman) and Manu Ginobili. He is going to the best imaginable place for player development. It’s just right.
Spurs also own the 33rd and 44th places in Round 2, with a chance to add more young talent at the back end of the roster. Some stray names to watch: Ricky Council IV, Amari Bailey, and Terrence Shannon Jr. and Coleman Hawkins and Trayce Jackson-Davis.
For more information about this year’s NBA Draft season, check out the latest Mock and Big Board draft.
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