Earth Rider said:

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Personally really glad we are going with Harper and not Knueppel. He benefitted offensively with Flagg and defensively with both Flagg and Maluach. I think his agility scores would have bottomed out also if he wasn't hurt.

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Will be interesting to see what happens when teams bring him in for workouts

Players with high level skills and measurables like Harper , who also have the genetic pedigree of former players, have a ridiculously high hit rate. both Curry brothers, Klay Thompson, Sabonis, Brunson. Even guys like Booker. I think there's something to be said for dudes that grew up around the league and their adaptation when they turn pro.

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Players with high level skills and measurables like Harper , who also have the genetic pedigree of former players, have a ridiculously high hit rate. both Curry brothers, Klay Thompson, Sabonis, Brunson. Even guys like Booker. I think there's something to be said for dudes that grew up around the league and their adaptation when they turn pro.

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Don't forget Tony Parker and Kobe Bryant!

Wemby 's mom was a baller, too

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Players with high level skills and measurables like Harper , who also have the genetic pedigree of former players, have a ridiculously high hit rate. both Curry brothers, Klay Thompson, Sabonis, Brunson. Even guys like Booker. I think there's something to be said for dudes that grew up around the league and their adaptation when they turn pro.

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I agree with this sentiment 100%

It usually means you have access to pick the minds of some of the best basketball minds on the planet as you grow up as well. Much better situation for development than for kids who are on the AAU circuit playing non stop hero ball trying to get noticed and being marketed/advised by their sleazy coaches and handlers.

AggieEP said:

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HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Players with high level skills and measurables like Harper , who also have the genetic pedigree of former players, have a ridiculously high hit rate. both Curry brothers, Klay Thompson, Sabonis, Brunson. Even guys like Booker. I think there's something to be said for dudes that grew up around the league and their adaptation when they turn pro.

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I agree with this sentiment 100%

It usually means you have access to pick the minds of some of the best basketball minds on the planet as you grow up as well. Much better situation for development than for kids who are on the AAU circuit playing non stop hero ball trying to get noticed and being marketed/advised by their sleazy coaches and handlers.

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Absolutely. And really just all that "passive" learning, watching practice, being around dad/teammates in the off season training. Just seeing the work that goes into being a high level professional. The lifestyle isn't a surprise to them so they have a good idea what to expect from a day to day, dealing with the media/coaches/execs, etc. And they are getting it from a young age, better habits. As compared to the guys that develop late, or appear on the scene in high school or college

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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AggieEP said:

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HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Players with high level skills and measurables like Harper , who also have the genetic pedigree of former players, have a ridiculously high hit rate. both Curry brothers, Klay Thompson, Sabonis, Brunson. Even guys like Booker. I think there's something to be said for dudes that grew up around the league and their adaptation when they turn pro.

---

I agree with this sentiment 100%

It usually means you have access to pick the minds of some of the best basketball minds on the planet as you grow up as well. Much better situation for development than for kids who are on the AAU circuit playing non stop hero ball trying to get noticed and being marketed/advised by their sleazy coaches and handlers.

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Absolutely. And really just all that "passive" learning, watching practice, being around dad/teammates in the off season training. Just seeing the work that goes into being a high level professional. The lifestyle isn't a surprise to them so they have a good idea what to expect from a day to day, dealing with the media/coaches/execs, etc. And they are getting it from a young age, better habits. As compared to the guys that develop late, or appear on the scene in high school or college

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One of the reasons I was really high on Jase Richardson going in. I think he has that dog in him. A shame he was 6'0.5".

Is this good? It seems good.

This notion that Dylan Harper wouldn’t work alongside Fox + Castle in an off-ball role couldn’t be farther from the truth.

86th %-ile on spot up scoring (43.2% 3PT) + 91st %-ile as a cutter (1.50 PPP) this season for Rutgers.

Always take the talent & figure out the fit later. pic.twitter.com/IvMP0U66Mk

— Mohamed (@mcfdraft) May 14, 2025

This could be a good pick if he's around at 38.

Stanford’s Maxime Raynaud’s official measurements from the NBA Draft Combine:

7’0 ¼" barefoot, 236.8 lbs with a 7’1 ¼" wingspan and 9’2” standing reach

Impressive size and reach for the French stretch big. pic.twitter.com/fzj5oiptUG

— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) May 12, 2025

Looks like Maxime Raynaud will shut it down and skip Day 2 of scrimmaging after a standout game yesterday with 20 and 9. Was considered borderline first-rounder entering NBA Combine.

— Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) May 15, 2025

Most people think he locked in a 1st round pick.

But he's Victor's chess partner!

They also play D&D together, they are the twin nerds tower 😆

— loīc hervier (@clampino) May 15, 2025

HummingbirdSaltalamacchia said:

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Players with high level skills and measurables like Harper , who also have the genetic pedigree of former players, have a ridiculously high hit rate. both Curry brothers, Klay Thompson, Sabonis, Brunson. Even guys like Booker. I think there's something to be said for dudes that grew up around the league and their adaptation when they turn pro.

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I'd expect his mental toughness to be top notch considering his dad (technically) replaced MJ at the 2 for Chicago back in the day.

I think where I am for the Spurs-Specific Big Board for the 14th pick. And I am going to cop out by giving Fleming and Carter a tie.

1. (tie) Carter Bryant. SF
Height (without shoes): 6'6.50
Standing Reach: 8'10.00
Weight: 214.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6'11.75
Hand Length: 8.5
Hand Width: 9.5
Wingspan Differential: 5.25
Vertical: 39.5"
37% 3pt as fish
My comp: Trey Murphy

Thought: Probably needs a year or two of development, but great attitude. Says favorite thing is defense and his second favorite is passing. Last time we took a Wildcat SF in the lottery, it worked out well. Doesn't rebound particularly well, but the rest is pretty good.

1. (tie) Rasheer Fleming PF
Height (without shoes): 6'8.25
Standing Reach: 9'1.00
Weight: 232.4 lbs
Wingspan: 7'5.25
Hand Length: 9.5
Hand Width: 9.5
Wingspan Differential: 9.0
39% 3pt as junior
My comp: What if Bruce Bowen was a PF.

Thought: Taller, thicker and longer wingspan than Kawhi. I put Bowen as a comp, because like Bowen, he will probably not do anything but shoot open shots from his spot. I'm not saying he will be a DPOY candidate for a decade. I think he has a lower ceiling than Bryant, but is maybe more ready for his role. Best wingspan diff in the draft. Can defend small ball centers or on the perimeter. Rebounds really well. Wont' be a good passer like I think Bryant will.

3. Thomas Sorber. PF/C.
Height (without shoes): 6'9.25
Standing Reach: 9'1.00
Weight: 262.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7'6.00
Hand Length: 8.5
Hand Width: 9.0
Wingspan Differential: 8.75
My comp: Atlanta-era Al Horford.

Thought: He is long, he's strong, he's down to get the friction on. He has nice touch around the basket. Really underrated passer - more assists than Queen. He's not going to defend on the perimeter well, but he has active hands, a high steal rate, and is a really good interior defender. With his size, he can better muscle up against stronger bigs and let Wemby rest or come weak side. Normally I wouldn't want to draft a backup here, but I think he is good enough on both ends of the court that he is my favorite center in this draft.

4. Noa Essengue PF.
Measurements not in yet since he is playing in Europe.
6'9 200lb with +5 wingspan is my guess.
56/29/74 shooting this year.
My Comp: Tayshaun Prince

Thought: I think he has a really high ceiling, but needs to develop quite a bit. Very raw and needs to add some weight. Steals at a really high rate and rebounds well.

5. Yaxel Lendeborg PF/SF
Height (without shoes): 6 8.50
Standing Reach: 9 0.50
Weight: 234.6 lbs
Wingspan: 7'4.00
Hand Length: 9.25
Hand Width: 10.0
Wingspan Differential: 7.5
Age 23
52/36/76 shooting.
KOC's comp: Paolo Banchero. My Comp: Nic Batum

Thoughts: Put up huge numbers but at UAB. 18/11 with 4.2 assists, 1.7s and 1.8b on 52/36/76 shooting. He was AAC DPOY, too. Like Fleming, don't know exactly what to think about his numbers since he plays at UAB. Also, at 23, he is way older. Could be like Buffalo where he develops late and becomes something. He's shown he can do a little of everything. But will he be good? Would Julian Champagnie put up those numbers at UAB? They are the same age. I don't know. But he is a guy moving up the list for a lot of people.

6. Cedric Coward SF
Height (without shoes): 6'5.25
Standing Reach: 8'10.00
Weight: 213.0 lbs
Wingspan: 7'2.25
Hand Length: 9.25
Hand Width: 10.0
Wingspan Differential: 9.0
Elite athleticism.
KOC's Comp: Kawhi. Similar height, weight, wingspan.

Thought: We dont' really know what to make of him because he is 21 and played 6 games at Wazzu and played at small school prior. He's a high risk, high reward. But he's maybe the #1 winner at the combine

Guitarsoup said:

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Most people think he locked in a 1st round pick.

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This is one where the Spurs could definitely hop back into the 1st round with minimal asset expenditure if he's sitting there at 24. OKC can't make all their picks this year so they'll be looking to sell that pick and everyone knows it.

Very dependent though on if San Antonio thinks Reynaud is worth it.

AggieEP said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Most people think he locked in a 1st round pick.

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This is one where the Spurs could definitely hop back into the 1st round with minimal asset expenditure if he's sitting there at 24. OKC can't make all their picks this year so they'll be looking to sell that pick and everyone knows it.

Very dependent though on if San Antonio thinks Reynaud is worth it.

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Brooklyn has 4 firsts including 26 and 27.

But I also don't see us using 2+14+27 or something. If they think Max is special, go get Wemby's buddy.

But I am happy to just take a swing on Rocco or even Miles Byrd at 38.

Interesting betting odds on where Giannis will play. Toronto is the betting favorite, but spurs are second best odds. I think Giannis going to Toronto would be the best outcome for the Spurs. He will stay in the East, not add to Houston or another West team.

Memphis is third on the betting odds, but they would be my bet. I don't see them making a big leap without someone like Giannis going there. Milwaukee would probably want JJJ, but he is the guy I would try to hold onto. Ja Morant has been troubled, but a great player and maybe they deal him. Desmond Bane to me doesn't get it done. Giannis for JJJ to makes sense, but if I was memphis I probably would not do it.

https://www.betonline.ag/sportsbook/futures-and-props/nba-specials/next-team

Guitarsoup said:

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I think where I am for the Spurs-Specific Big Board for the 14th pick. And I am going to cop out by giving Fleming and Carter a tie.

1. (tie) Carter Bryant. SF
Height (without shoes): 6'6.50
Standing Reach: 8'10.00
Weight: 214.8 lbs
Wingspan: 6'11.75
Hand Length: 8.5
Hand Width: 9.5
Wingspan Differential: 5.25
Vertical: 39.5"
37% 3pt as fish
My comp: Trey Murphy

Thought: Probably needs a year or two of development, but great attitude. Says favorite thing is defense and his second favorite is passing. Last time we took a Wildcat SF in the lottery, it worked out well. Doesn't rebound particularly well, but the rest is pretty good.

1. (tie) Rasheer Fleming PF
Height (without shoes): 6'8.25
Standing Reach: 9'1.00
Weight: 232.4 lbs
Wingspan: 7'5.25
Hand Length: 9.5
Hand Width: 9.5
Wingspan Differential: 9.0
39% 3pt as junior
My comp: What if Bruce Bowen was a PF.

Thought: Taller, thicker and longer wingspan than Kawhi. I put Bowen as a comp, because like Bowen, he will probably not do anything but shoot open shots from his spot. I'm not saying he will be a DPOY candidate for a decade. I think he has a lower ceiling than Bryant, but is maybe more ready for his role. Best wingspan diff in the draft. Can defend small ball centers or on the perimeter. Rebounds really well. Wont' be a good passer like I think Bryant will.

3. Thomas Sorber. PF/C.
Height (without shoes): 6'9.25
Standing Reach: 9'1.00
Weight: 262.8 lbs
Wingspan: 7'6.00
Hand Length: 8.5
Hand Width: 9.0
Wingspan Differential: 8.75
My comp: Atlanta-era Al Horford.

Thought: He is long, he's strong, he's down to get the friction on. He has nice touch around the basket. Really underrated passer - more assists than Queen. He's not going to defend on the perimeter well, but he has active hands, a high steal rate, and is a really good interior defender. With his size, he can better muscle up against stronger bigs and let Wemby rest or come weak side. Normally I wouldn't want to draft a backup here, but I think he is good enough on both ends of the court that he is my favorite center in this draft.

4. Noa Essengue PF.
Measurements not in yet since he is playing in Europe.
6'9 200lb with +5 wingspan is my guess.
56/29/74 shooting this year.
My Comp: Tayshaun Prince

Thought: I think he has a really high ceiling, but needs to develop quite a bit. Very raw and needs to add some weight. Steals at a really high rate and rebounds well.

5. Yaxel Lendeborg PF/SF
Height (without shoes): 6 8.50
Standing Reach: 9 0.50
Weight: 234.6 lbs
Wingspan: 7'4.00
Hand Length: 9.25
Hand Width: 10.0
Wingspan Differential: 7.5
Age 23
52/36/76 shooting.
KOC's comp: Paolo Banchero. My Comp: Nic Batum

Thoughts: Put up huge numbers but at UAB. 18/11 with 4.2 assists, 1.7s and 1.8b on 52/36/76 shooting. He was AAC DPOY, too. Like Fleming, don't know exactly what to think about his numbers since he plays at UAB. Also, at 23, he is way older. Could be like Buffalo where he develops late and becomes something. He's shown he can do a little of everything. But will he be good? Would Julian Champagnie put up those numbers at UAB? They are the same age. I don't know. But he is a guy moving up the list for a lot of people.

6. Cedric Coward SF
Height (without shoes): 6'5.25
Standing Reach: 8'10.00
Weight: 213.0 lbs
Wingspan: 7'2.25
Hand Length: 9.25
Hand Width: 10.0
Wingspan Differential: 9.0
Elite athleticism.
KOC's Comp: Kawhi. Similar height, weight, wingspan.

Thought: We dont' really know what to make of him because he is 21 and played 6 games at Wazzu and played at small school prior. He's a high risk, high reward. But he's maybe the #1 winner at the combine

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Great list Soup. Coward is so intriguing. The no ceilings podcast was absolutely gushing over him. One of those guys should be available. Interested to see if we keep the pick due to salary implications.

Not high on Asa Newell? More athletic than anyone on your list. Plays much better defense and played against better competition in college.

jteagle said:

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Not high on Asa Newell? More athletic than anyone on your list. Plays much better defense and played against better competition in college.

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I do not believe in him. I don't think his defense on interior or perimeter is good and I certainly don't think he is a better defender than most of the guys on the list. I feel like he is going to be an ok guy on defense and a guy that can do several things, but none of them elite. I also don't think he can really be a rim protector.

His rebounding is not good, most of his shooting, especially at rim, is assisted off cuts or transition. He made 29% of jump shots from anywhere on the court. I don't believe in his ability to create his own shot and I don't think he is particularly good at anything. I think he is a guy that can kind of do a variety of things. He's also just a flat out bad passer.

I don't see the skills with him that I would want. He is really great as a cutter, but he can't face up and beat his guy and he can't back them down.

I think he will be a long term solid backup, but I don't think he is going to be a quality starting PF. He was a really solid top ten maybe top 5 earlier, but I dont think he will be a lottery pick.

Quote:

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What will the Spurs do?
While the surprise of lottery night was the Mavericks winning the No. 1 pick with only a 1.8 percent chance, thoughts on the minds of NBA executives across the league seem to be more focused on the Spurs, who moved up to No. 2. The question here is one of timeline. Do the Spurs think they're ready to start contending now if they make an all-in move to surround Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox with another star? Or are they going to slow-play their hand a bit longer and wait until Wembanyama is more in the prime of his career?

If they stay at No. 2, the player to select is Dylan Harper. He is nearly unanimously considered the second-best player in the draft class by NBA executives and scouts. Most scouts see him as in a tier of his own at No. 2, clearly ahead of his Rutgers teammate Ace Bailey, Baylor guard V.J. Edgecombe, Duke wing Kon Knueppel and Texas wing Tre Johnson. But the fit in San Antonio may be a bit clunky early on between Harper, star point guard De'Aaron Fox and reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle. All three are very smart, skilled basketball players, but all three also grew up playing on the ball.
Fox has established himself as an All-Star. Castle was developed as a point guard in high school, and there are still real struggles with his jump shot. He hit only 30.7 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s this year, per Synergy, and only 24 percent of his pull-up 3s. Many of his best moments came later in the year when he played more consistently as a lead guard. Harper has a bit more of a blend of on- and off-ball skill to his game, but his natural inclination is to score and handle the rock. He hit 37 percent of his catch-and-shoot jumpers at Rutgers, per Synergy, but moving off the ball isn't second nature to him yet. He still misses relocations and drifts at times in favor of staying out high for an escape pass from a driver.

All of this can be developed, from Castle's shot to Harper's instincts. But it might take some growing pains over the next couple of years. Are those growing pains the Spurs are willing to live with? It's easy to imagine the Spurs going down a similar road to what the Oklahoma City Thunder have in terms of financial structure, with a star guard on a maximum and multiple stars on rookie deals. Most of the sources I talk to around the league think the most likely outcome is that the Spurs do just that: Stand pat and pick at No. 2.

Another option should be on the table, though if it presents itself. It should come as no surprise that the main name league sources bring up as a potential Spurs trade target is Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo. With Giannis' wrecking-ball interior game and Wembanyama's silky smooth perimeter chops both as a shooter and ballhandler, the two are seen as a natural pairing that could lead to immediate success.

"If the Spurs paired Giannis and Wemby, they would be the favorite to win the title next year," said one Eastern Conference executive, who was granted anonymity in exchange for his candor. "They'd have two guys who might be top-five players in the league next year on the same team. Plus, they fit. They'd have a dominant defense that no one would be able to score against inside, and they'd have the ability to play five-out in an even more devastating way than the Bucks did with Brook Lopez if they surrounded Giannis and Wemby with the right wings."

It sounds absurd on its face, but the more I thought about it, I understand where that executive was coming from.

The defensive dominance is obvious. But even on offense, they would be quite scary in a hurry. Do you consistently put your center on Antetokounmpo defensively and risk him getting beaten down the court by the NBA's best transition player? Do you play your center on Wembanyama knowing that then he's pulled away from the rim and can't help on Antetokounmpo drives? Even throwing Fox into the mix, it would be very difficult to manage Fox/Antetokounmpo ball screens. You can't switch them, because Fox would hammer bigs in space with his speed. You'd probably want to play drop coverage there, but then the counter would be running ball screens with Fox and Wembanyama and letting him pick-and-pop while Fox drives into the lane and either finishes or finds Antetokounmpo darting toward the rim. And if you run Giannis/Wemby ball screens (with either capable of handling the ball) with Wembanyama pulling up or popping or Giannis driving or rolling, you'd be stressing the defense immensely, because most bigs can't guard in space like that, especially against two aliens possessing among the most rare measurements and tools the NBA has seen.

We haven't seen a truly modern twin towers setup, in which both towers have a true perimeter game in addition to being elite defenders. The devil is in the details of what the asking price would be, of course. The Spurs can't sell everything to get Antetokounmpo, but they certainly are now one of the teams who could meet the undoubtedly massive price the Bucks would demand if Antetokounmpo becomes available. If I were running the Spurs, it would be hard for me to pass up the opportunity if it presented itself.

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https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6355117/2025/05/16/nba-draft-2025-intel-spurs-sixers-bucks/

There's no way the bucks agree without Harper and Castle and I don't think you can trade them for a guy a dozen years older than them. They are going to want a ton of picks and you need to match salary, which means Vassell+Barnes more than likely

Guitarsoup said:

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There's no way the bucks agree without Harper and Castle and I don't think you can trade them for a guy a dozen years older than them. They are going to want a ton of picks and you need to match salary, which means Vassell+Barnes more than likely

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If Giannis decides to force the issue and wants San Antonio, maybe eventually a deal of Devin, Keldon, plus the next two Atlanta picks and the Minnesota swap could make it happen.

I'm that scenario the Bucks don't really get what they want of course, but perhaps they don't have any better offers on the table.

They still don't have their own picks until 2031 or something. They really need NOLA involved

Maybe we do something first then to get Trey Murphy plus one of their picks back

Sochan plus Castle plus the Atlanta swap and 14 this year for Murphy and one of the Bucks picks back.

Then we turn around and deal their pick, plus the Atlanta 27 pick and 31 wolves swap plus Vassell and Keldon for Giannis

Fox
Harper
Murphy
Giannis
Wemby

It accelerates the timeline but also means we still have a long term plan with Harper, Murphy and Wemby all under 24 years old. Even if Giannis is only really Giannis for four more years, that's 4 really good cracks at a title.

Issue is of course building out enough of a bench with this team and the amount of money you're committing to your starting 5.

Yeah. It seems like to moving Giannis at all it will take multiple teams no matter what.

I'd love to seem him on the Spurs but I'm not completely hosing the future to do it. I know it's not an exact comparison but he strikes me like Amar'e Stoudemire or Blake Griffin in that so much of his game is athleticism he is going to hit a wall pretty soon.

I do understand the fear of how many years do we truly have with Wemby. He may not have a long career so do you try to win it all as quick as you can?

I find it hard to believe that trading away the 2 is an option unless it's for Flagg. So now you're talking about the 14 and a combination that doesn't leave you unable to field a rotation or turn you into Phoenix with Durant like you and others have said. That means it's got to be multi team and even then I'm not sure it's worth it.

Exciting to have so many options. Can PATFO find the right one and can Mitch lead them? Really looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.

For the record, not saying I want to cash out draft capital for Giannis, I still prefer the long game, but if Giannis could be had for somewhat of a discount because you are his preferred location, then I think you have to at least explore it. Especially because San Antonio is never a preferred location for stars.

AggieEP said:

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Issue is of course building out enough of a bench with this team and the amount of money you're committing to your starting 5.

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This is my biggest concern with any of the big moves. Maybe you are able to get some good vets on smaller deals while they are ring chasing. But depth so you don't burn them all out over the course of the season is important.

AggieEP said:

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For the record, not saying I want to cash out draft capital for Giannis, I still prefer the long game, but if Giannis could be had for somewhat of a discount because you are his preferred location, then I think you have to at least explore it. Especially because San Antonio is never a preferred location for stars.

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As nice as it would be, there's going to be no discount for a top-20 all time player in their prime. 5 firsts and young players is probably the least it would take to get it done.

To hear some of you talk about Wemby it's like yall think he is Greg Oden or Yao and there's nothing tht suggests this so far. The blood clot in an arm is a freak thing. Many of the other games he missed these first couple years were to help with the tank and prevent injuries.

No reason to think he is going to have a 5 year career timeline and throw away the future.

Enzo The Baker said:

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AggieEP said:

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For the record, not saying I want to cash out draft capital for Giannis, I still prefer the long game, but if Giannis could be had for somewhat of a discount because you are his preferred location, then I think you have to at least explore it. Especially because San Antonio is never a preferred location for stars.

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As nice as it would be, there's going to be no discount for a top-20 all time player in their prime. 5 firsts and young players is probably the least it would take to get it done.

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I agree, but if he decides it's San Antonio, and wants to make things uncomfortable for everyone else, then the price we pay might be lower than market value.

I'm not sure how many teams in the league can offer 5 1sts plus absorb his contract. Conceptually everyone would love to add Giannis, but realistically the market will be small and teams like the Spurs can be patient and hope Milwaukee blinks.

With the new CBA, teams are valuing draft picks differently and I don't think you're going to see many Paul George trades going forward. You have to have a way to restock your bench with rookie scale deals to support your 2 to 3 stars if you want to compete.

AggieEP said:

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Maybe we do something first then to get Trey Murphy plus one of their picks back

Sochan plus Castle plus the Atlanta swap and 14 this year for Murphy and one of the Bucks picks back.

Then we turn around and deal their pick, plus the Atlanta 27 pick and 31 wolves swap plus Vassell and Keldon for Giannis

Fox
Harper
Murphy
Giannis
Wemby

It accelerates the timeline but also means we still have a long term plan with Harper, Murphy and Wemby all under 24 years old. Even if Giannis is only really Giannis for four more years, that's 4 really good cracks at a title.

Issue is of course building out enough of a bench with this team and the amount of money you're committing to your starting 5.

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I was really hoping NOLA would end up at 3 to get Ace Bailey, which would make Trey Murphy expendable.

I just come back to this:

24 yo Vasssell
23yo Julian
21yo Sochan
21yo Wemby
20yo Castle
19yo Harper

This has the chance of being something REALLY special and being cost controlled for about a decade. To put in perspective how young this core is, Villanova's Eric Dixon is a stretch 4 that will go in the 2nd round this year. He was born 5 months after Devin Vassell.

Harper has 4 years of rookie deal then 5y of rookie extension.

I think Giannis is going to decline rapidly when he doesn't have the burst to get to the basket. No one respects his shot as it is. If he was younger, I would feel different. But look at Parker and Westbrook from like 31-33yo. That's the age range Giannis is is. I say Parker and Westbrook, because both relied so heavily on their elite quickness/athleticism.

And Giannis already missed the playoffs last year. It's not like he plays every game like Bowen.

As much as I would love to see what could happen with Victor and Giannis in the same front court, I have never been in favor of overpaying.
I think this team would have made the play in if Wemby and Fox had been available all season. I also think with the draft picks plus a couple of acquisitions, they will be a playoff team. And as we have seen this year, once you make the playoffs anything can happen.
I think Victor will have a big year and I think that Devin will improve with a full offseason of being healthy.

I'm looking forward to the draft and the rest of the off-season because this is shaping up to be an awesome year to be a Spurs fan.

Separate from any Giannis talk, maybe we can still make a move for Trey Murphy. At 6'8" he fits exactly what we need adding a bit of length to an otherwise smallish rotation of wings.

AggieEP said:

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Separate from any Giannis talk, maybe we can still make a move for Trey Murphy. At 6'8" he fits exactly what we need adding a bit of length to an otherwise smallish rotation of wings.

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I don't think NOLA moves him unless they can dump off bad salary. Trey, Herb, and Missi are their future. CJ McCollum expires this year and DeJounte is up ****'s creek with a broken wheel. He was shooting 39/29 before he tore his achilles. And none of that brings up Zion.

If we could move off Devin and 14 for Trey, I'm here for it. And maybe that was more possible before they moved back to 7 in the draft instead of maybe getting Ace or Flagg. I think I pick Malauch or Fears with their pick. Malauch and Missi is a solid center rotation. Fears replaces DeJounte and you hope DJ can give you anything when he comes back.

Missi/Olynyk
Zion/
Herb/Hawkins
Trey/McCollum
Fears/Alvarado

I think that team is making some sense, they just need some big depth since Zion plays like 800 minutes a year. I just don't see a way they can trade Trey until they blow up everything.

As I have gone over in the past, our assets for the off season are:

14.2m MLE
5.2m BAE
non-bird/bird exceptions on our own free agents
we can sign our own picks

We have five roster spots to fill, the 2nd rounder could be a two-way and not count towards that.

1. Harper
2. #14 - Bryant or Fleming or Sorber
3. MLE (all or most) goes to Steven Adams or Luke Kornet.
4. BAE on Yabusele
5. If MLE is left over (Kornet for 10M?) give to Earl Warren HS graduate Taurean Prince. he signed with Milwaukee for the vet min last year and hit 44% of his threes.
6. Two way to 2nd rounder

Randos on twitter: "he'll clean up his shot selection in the NBA, give him a chance!"

Ace Bailey himself: "I practice terrible shots and will continue taking a lot of them actually" https://t.co/Ilp8fI6PYb

— Hoops Reference (@HoopsReference) May 15, 2025

There are nephews that want us to take Ace Bailey