Spurs are going to need some serious lottery luck this year. I don't see them finishing worse than the 10th worst record and Atlanta will likely have a better record than us to end the season. I still think there is some good value to be had at the late lottery though.
***********2024-2025 San Antonio Spurs Thread********************
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They have a decent shot at 8th. If Atlanta misses the playoffs they are likely in the 11 spot or so. That would be a 35% shot at a top 4 pick if my math is right.
Unless Trae gets hurt, I don't see the Hawks dropping below Chicago (lost 5 straight) and Philly (lost 6 straight.) Plus Orlando and Miami are only 1 game up for 7 and 8.
Spurs are up on the following teams (games)
Philly is in a weird position because they owe their pick if they are not a top 6 pick, but they have Embiid, Oubre, Maxey, and PG13... and they should be better than they are. But Philly also can't catch the big tankers (Washing, Toronto, NO, Utah, Charlotte) which means that they have less than 40% chance at keeping their pick if they stay where they are, and they probably wont drop anymore. So they try to get to the play in healthy and make some noise, or keep sucking and get OKC a good pick?
In any event, I like our options in the top 4 (mainly Flagg and VJ Edgecomb followed by Harper and Bailey) but I think there are good options for us in the 6-15 range, too.
Guys in that range, I don't really like:
I also think there is a good chance that we trade the second pick for future picks if we land a guy like VJ Edgecombe, Liam McNeeley, Kon Knueppel, etc.
In the 2nd round (somewhere between 35-40)
Spurs are up on the following teams (games)
- Portland (2) - they will pass us
- Chicago (3) - gonna be close
- Philly (4.5) - maybe
- Brooklyn (4.5) - maybe
- Toronto (8) - probably not
- Charlotte (10) - definitely not
Philly is in a weird position because they owe their pick if they are not a top 6 pick, but they have Embiid, Oubre, Maxey, and PG13... and they should be better than they are. But Philly also can't catch the big tankers (Washing, Toronto, NO, Utah, Charlotte) which means that they have less than 40% chance at keeping their pick if they stay where they are, and they probably wont drop anymore. So they try to get to the play in healthy and make some noise, or keep sucking and get OKC a good pick?
In any event, I like our options in the top 4 (mainly Flagg and VJ Edgecomb followed by Harper and Bailey) but I think there are good options for us in the 6-15 range, too.
- sip Tre Johnson: high level shot maker/shooter, probably bad defender, but is 6'6. Could start over Devin and let Devin be 6th man. There is a good chance he is a taller Cam Thomas.
- Duke's Kon Knueppel. 6'7 217 SG/SF. Good passer, high IQ, real lunchpail guy. Smooth shooter, works on defense, but not as athletic as a lot of players.
- UConn's Liam McNeeley 6'7 210. SF/PF. Probably step down in shooting from Kon, rebounds better, passes well,
- Duke' Malauch 7'2 250 if you want a rim protector/rim runner similar to Derick Lively, but bigger/longer.
- France's Noa Essengue 6'9 200 if you want an athletic longer Sochan with a questionable shot. Shooting 56/30/73 playing in Germany. Rebounds well, plays interior and perimeter defense.
- Maryland's Derik Queen 6'10 (maybe) 250. Great footwork and hands, but I dont know that he would be able to play PF. Not sure if he could play on perimeter and he isn't a good rim protector. Can't shoot threes. But his passing, midrange, scoring is like Diaw (probably better scoring.)
- Israel's Ben Saraf. 6'5 200 His shot still needs some work, but he slashes and creates like a Jewish Manu. Teammates in Germany with Essengue
- Georgia's Asa Newell 6'10 220. I think he is going to be a career backup. He can out athletic a lot of college guys, but I don't know if he has the skills to be a starter. Probably more of a 7th man forward.
- St. Joseph's Rasheer Fleming 6'9 240. Plays perimeter and interior defense, plays for a mid-major, but has done a really good job against big teams when he played them. 41% from three, long wingspan, over 1.5spg and over 1.5bpg. I think he is theoretically the ideal fit at PF. The questions about him are if he can create for himself... but we need him as a D&3 guy to knock down shots, so less of a problem for us.
- Michigan's Danny Wolf. 7' 250 stretch 5. Great passer, great shooter, rebounds, but won't be a great rim protector or perimeter defender.
- Georgetown's Thomas Sorber 6'10 250. I like him a lot as a two-way backup center. Can't shoot, but passes, defends, rebounds and can work the post.
- SD State's Miles Byrd 6'7 200. If you are into D&3 wings from SDSU with a questionable shot (33%) then he is your guy. 86% from the line, but he can't finish inside. He could be Bowen, but more likely goes late in the draft. I prefer Essengue overall for higher ceiling, but this guy really could become a great defender.
Guys in that range, I don't really like:
- Nolan Traore (France) best passer in the class, but can't shoot. He's a project PG.
- Egor Demin (BYU) Showed a lot of promise early and is a 6'9 PG/Combo, but once the conference games started, he disappeared. Good passer... but can't handle the Big 12.
- Asa Newell (Georgia) listed him above, but I still don't think he is ever an NBA starter.
- Collin Murray Boyles (South Carolina) besides playing for our most hated rival, he can't shoot and is going to clash with Sochan. I don't think he will ever shoot.
- Jeremiah Fears (OU) I don't believe in him and PG is down the list. Not portable since he is small and cant shoot.
- Hugo Gonzales (Spain) another D&3 without the three.
- LaBaron Philon (Bammers) Another small PG
I also think there is a good chance that we trade the second pick for future picks if we land a guy like VJ Edgecombe, Liam McNeeley, Kon Knueppel, etc.
In the 2nd round (somewhere between 35-40)
- Boogie Fland. Some people have Boogie Fland dropping this far after the injury. He's worth a flier if he does. Think Rob Dillingham.
- Carter Bryant. 6'8 220 D&3 from Zona. Doesn't get many minutes.
- Joan Beringer 6'10 230 French PF/C. Can't shoot, but high athleticism.
- Will Riley 6'8 wing Illinois. Insanely streaking shooter
- Ryan Kalkbrenner 7'1 center Creighton. Does everything we want, but about the same age as Devin.
- Drake Powell 6'5 D&3 for Tarheels.
- Hunter Sallis 6'5 PG from Wake Forrest. Last time we took a senior from Wake, it turned out alright
- Maxime Raynaud 7'1 245 French Center from Stanford. Wemby's best friend. Putting up 21/11 at Stanford. Not the best defender. But bring him in as a two-way or 3rd/4th center.
- Bogoljub Markovi. Plaus for Mega, where Nikola Topic played last year. 6'11 wing that can shoot and pass.
No surprise.
San Antonio Spurs' Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season, and his future is uncertain as he recovers from a mild stroke suffered in November, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/EekHlDa8NI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2025
Phoenix beat Chicago and Philly is getting smoked by Brooklyn despite having George, Embiid, and Maxey.
We need Philly to win, but at the same time, I love seeing Embiid and Morey lose.
We need Philly to win, but at the same time, I love seeing Embiid and Morey lose.
LawHall88 said:
No surprise.San Antonio Spurs' Hall of Fame coach Gregg Popovich is not expected to return this season, and his future is uncertain as he recovers from a mild stroke suffered in November, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/EekHlDa8NI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 23, 2025
It's time for a clean slate with the coaching staff. Give him a lovely retirement ceremony to start next season but you can't go on with Wimby with a stroke patient coach or a scrub interim.
Breakdown on Rasheer Fleming and Carter Bryant. Like both these guys for the second pick. Fleming is probably my first choice for the 2nd pick if it is in the 12-16 range.
I've liked what I've seen from Knueppel in the games I've watched. Seems like a really heady player that would fit seamlessly into the team. Not sure about his D though and he does seem a bit slow, particularly for someone with top 10 consideration.
Any high level 3 and d players in this draft?
Any high level 3 and d players in this draft?
Flagg and Edgecombe can be superstars on both sides of the court.Enzo The Baker said:
I've liked what I've seen from Knueppel in the games I've watched. Seems like a really heady player that would fit seamlessly into the team. Not sure about his D though and he does seem a bit slow, particularly for someone with top 10 consideration.
Any high level 3 and d players in this draft?
Then the next three real shooters are Tre Johnson (no defense, think taller Cam Thomas) Liam McNeeley, and Kon Knueppel. I think Liam can be the best defender of the group, but Kon can be good. Both are smart. I think Liam has the higher overall potential all over the court. I don't think any of these guys are going to be stoppers.
Then Rasheer Fleming above. I think he can be a high level D&3 PF, most have him in the 15-25 range. I think he is really the only non-superstar guy that can be a high end defender and a high end shooter.
Then there are a bunch of actual stoppers on defense that have questionable (at best) shots. Noa Essengue, Miles Byrd, Carter Bryant, Hugo Gonzalez, etc.
So I think my dream draft for not moving up is Liam McNeeley and Fleming.
Don't know if anyone watched the Hawks tonight, but Trae Young snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
Hawks up 1 with the ball and 46 seconds... Trae misses a 26' three.
Pistons ball, Hawks pull Trae, Schroeder drives and gets And1 layup to go up 2.
Trae back in... and drives and misses the floater. Pistons with the quick outlet fast break as Trae doesn't get back and they get the foul on Daniels and make 2 FTs to go up 4.
Trae drives baseline on Beef Stew, gets the bailout call... but Pistons challenge it and refs determine that Trae caused the contact and it is an offensive foul. Turnover.
Intentional foul and Pistons drain both to go up 6 with 13s left.
Pistons miss FTs and Trae gets 2. Pistons miss more FTs.
Trae has ball down 4, draws the foul on a three pointer with 1.6s and goes to the line for three shots.... and he chokes on the first shot.
Intentional foul by Trae and Pistons drain both to Ice Trae.
Pistons win, Hawks lose. Raptors won, too.
Hawks up 1 with the ball and 46 seconds... Trae misses a 26' three.
Pistons ball, Hawks pull Trae, Schroeder drives and gets And1 layup to go up 2.
Trae back in... and drives and misses the floater. Pistons with the quick outlet fast break as Trae doesn't get back and they get the foul on Daniels and make 2 FTs to go up 4.
Trae drives baseline on Beef Stew, gets the bailout call... but Pistons challenge it and refs determine that Trae caused the contact and it is an offensive foul. Turnover.
Intentional foul and Pistons drain both to go up 6 with 13s left.
Pistons miss FTs and Trae gets 2. Pistons miss more FTs.
Trae has ball down 4, draws the foul on a three pointer with 1.6s and goes to the line for three shots.... and he chokes on the first shot.
Intentional foul by Trae and Pistons drain both to Ice Trae.
Pistons win, Hawks lose. Raptors won, too.
Send Mitch Johnson to China
You may not have heard, but our MVP Candidate is out for the season.AA said:
Send Mitch Johnson to China
With who is on the court, are you satisfied with this result? Especially considering they lost the exact same way last game. He has coached his way out of being next in line
The Spurs losing isn't Mitch's fault. We have Barnes, Biyumbo, and Devin in our front court against Missi, Zion, and Olynyk. Even Bassey got hurt again.AA said:
With who is on the court, are you satisfied with this result? Especially considering they lost the exact same way last game. He has coached his way out of being next in line
The Pistons are a legitimately decent team.
I don't care about either loss. We should be prepared for a lot more of them the rest of the season. We have absolutely no size. I'm not sure what you expect Mitch to do when his best big men are Bismack Biyumbo and Mamu.
Steph's worse game of the season by far. Combined 3-29 behind him, CP3 and Devin. Woof.
Real question is why haven't we scheduled DeAaron's surgery for this week yet?Enzo The Baker said:
Steph's worse game of the season by far. Combined 3-29 behind him, CP3 and Devin. Woof.
Agree. Need to get him out for surgery and then start Castle at the 2 and let him go win his ROTY.
Guitarsoup said:The Spurs losing isn't Mitch's fault. We have Barnes, Biyumbo, and Devin in our front court against Missi, Zion, and Olynyk. Even Bassey got hurt again.AA said:
With who is on the court, are you satisfied with this result? Especially considering they lost the exact same way last game. He has coached his way out of being next in line
The Pistons are a legitimately decent team.
I don't care about either loss. We should be prepared for a lot more of them the rest of the season. We have absolutely no size. I'm not sure what you expect Mitch to do when his best big men are Bismack Biyumbo and Mamu.
Jay Wright's Villanova teams had more height and bulk than we do.
Spurs have 7th hardest schedule the rest of the season.
Raptors have easiest schedule the rest of the season.
Atlanta's 24th hardest
Philly is 26th hardest
Brooklyn is 19th hardest
Chicago is 18th hardest
Hawks are 1 game up on the Spurs
Spurs are 1 game up on Blazers
Spurs are 3 games up on Chicago
Spurs are 3.5 games up on Brooklyn (who is 7-3 in their last 10!)
Spurs are 4.5 games up on Philly (who is healthy, but 1-9 in their last 10)
Spurs are 7 games up on Toronto (still have Jakob and Ingram out)
Philly's pick is only top 6 protected, otherwise it goes to OKC. They could make the play-in, but they can realistically only drop down one spot, which would give them about a 65% chance of keeping their own pick. Really weird situation there. If they stay at 6th worse, its like a 55% chance of losing their pick.
Seven games is a lot to make up on Toronto, but I believe in Keldon and Bismack.
Raptors have easiest schedule the rest of the season.
Atlanta's 24th hardest
Philly is 26th hardest
Brooklyn is 19th hardest
Chicago is 18th hardest
Hawks are 1 game up on the Spurs
Spurs are 1 game up on Blazers
Spurs are 3 games up on Chicago
Spurs are 3.5 games up on Brooklyn (who is 7-3 in their last 10!)
Spurs are 4.5 games up on Philly (who is healthy, but 1-9 in their last 10)
Spurs are 7 games up on Toronto (still have Jakob and Ingram out)
Philly's pick is only top 6 protected, otherwise it goes to OKC. They could make the play-in, but they can realistically only drop down one spot, which would give them about a 65% chance of keeping their own pick. Really weird situation there. If they stay at 6th worse, its like a 55% chance of losing their pick.
Seven games is a lot to make up on Toronto, but I believe in Keldon and Bismack.
For the "deep draft class" we all heard about for 25, I'm really starting to think it's more about the top 4 here and then it's the normal crapshoot beyond that.
When we're talking about Kneuppel on here ... yikes To me he's a back half of the 1st kind of guy, not a top 10 pick.
At this point with Fox, Castle and Wemby, we really need that one more guy with length that impacts winning on both ends of the floor. And at this point I'm less sure than I was 3 months ago that this draft has that guy outside the top 4.
When we're talking about Kneuppel on here ... yikes To me he's a back half of the 1st kind of guy, not a top 10 pick.
At this point with Fox, Castle and Wemby, we really need that one more guy with length that impacts winning on both ends of the floor. And at this point I'm less sure than I was 3 months ago that this draft has that guy outside the top 4.
Bulls Starting lineup:
* Zach Collins
* Matas Buzielas
* Kevin Huerter
* Josh Diddey
* Lonzo Ball
They are crushing the 76ers.
* Zach Collins
* Matas Buzielas
* Kevin Huerter
* Josh Diddey
* Lonzo Ball
They are crushing the 76ers.
Guitarsoup said:
Bulls Starting lineup:
* Zach Collins
* Matas Buzielas
* Kevin Huerter
* Josh Diddey
* Lonzo Ball
They are crushing the 76ers.
OKC is about to get another tasty top 10 pick aren't they?
76ers is protected top 6. But they could get a 7-9 pick for sure. I hope they take Asa Newell. I think he is that backup guy you think is going to take the next step each year and never does.Enzo The Baker said:Guitarsoup said:
Bulls Starting lineup:
* Zach Collins
* Matas Buzielas
* Kevin Huerter
* Josh Diddey
* Lonzo Ball
They are crushing the 76ers.
OKC is about to get another tasty top 10 pick aren't they?
Yeah, I think the top 4 have very high end talent. Most people group the top 5 and include Kasparas from Illinois, but I hate that guy.AggieEP said:
For the "deep draft class" we all heard about for 25, I'm really starting to think it's more about the top 4 here and then it's the normal crapshoot beyond that.
When we're talking about Kneuppel on here ... yikes To me he's a back half of the 1st kind of guy, not a top 10 pick.
At this point with Fox, Castle and Wemby, we really need that one more guy with length that impacts winning on both ends of the floor. And at this point I'm less sure than I was 3 months ago that this draft has that guy outside the top 4.
Some people want to put the sips Tre Johnson up in that five, and I think Tre will be a high level scorer, but like Cam Thomas. But that is something we could use. I just don't think he will do anything BUT score. Especially on the other end of the court.
Maulach is going to be a high end rim protector. Probably step down from Gobert, but he is bigger, longer, and more athletic. Offense will be similar to Gobert. Put backs and dunks. He is kind of getting the Wemby treatment where players don't challenge him in the paint, plus Duke has a high end defense with Flagg and Kon.
Kon Knueppel. 54/38/90 shooting this year. 6'7 217. Going to be a high level movement shooter. He plays solid team defense, but won't be a stopper. Think Cam Johnson or Michael Porter Jr after the injuries.
Liam McNeeley. 6'7 210. He's a dog and a shooter. Shooting not as polished as Kon, but better at everything else. He recently dropped 38/10 over top 25 Creighton. He leads UCONN in PPG this year and is barely in 2nd in RPG. He's 3rd in assists.
Lots of good options that I think have high end output for us.
I don't think Kneuppel is 6'7" though, I think he's closer to 6'5", look at pictures of him next to Flagg.
If we consider our backcourt to be Castle and Fox, then we have to get someone that's at least 6'7" with a decent wingspan to play on the wing otherwise we're always going to be too small and incapable of defending.
It is interesting that you bring up Tre Johnson though, if he's there with our second pick I'd absolutely take him and have him be the microwave off the bench. I think he will be a high level shot maker in the league.
If we consider our backcourt to be Castle and Fox, then we have to get someone that's at least 6'7" with a decent wingspan to play on the wing otherwise we're always going to be too small and incapable of defending.
It is interesting that you bring up Tre Johnson though, if he's there with our second pick I'd absolutely take him and have him be the microwave off the bench. I think he will be a high level shot maker in the league.
I want Liam McNeeley over Kon. I think Liam has a little height, but probably +0" wingspan.AggieEP said:
I don't think Kneuppel is 6'7" though, I think he's closer to 6'5", look at pictures of him next to Flagg.
If we consider our backcourt to be Castle and Fox, then we have to get someone that's at least 6'7" with a decent wingspan to play on the wing otherwise we're always going to be too small and incapable of defending.
It is interesting that you bring up Tre Johnson though, if he's there with our second pick I'd absolutely take him and have him be the microwave off the bench. I think he will be a high level shot maker in the league.
Tre Johnson is going to be a taller Cam Thomas. Not sure that is a good thing. He can cook, but his defense is awful and I don't think he creates for others. He could also be a Jalen Green... which would also be very suboptimal. But his scoring upside is higher than McNeeley/Kon.
If we don't move up, I want McNeeley then Rasheer Fleming.
Tank watch:
Spurs vs Pelicans. Zion should cook against Bismack and Barnes.
Suns vs Grizzlies. Go Suns. Right the ship, dipships.
Celtics vs Raptors. Praying Scottie Barnes pulls off a miracle here.
Lakers vs Mavericks. Pure Chaos. Neither team really affects us, but I hope the Lakers lose by a million and Max Christie breaks Wilt's single game record.
Spurs vs Pelicans. Zion should cook against Bismack and Barnes.
Suns vs Grizzlies. Go Suns. Right the ship, dipships.
Celtics vs Raptors. Praying Scottie Barnes pulls off a miracle here.
Lakers vs Mavericks. Pure Chaos. Neither team really affects us, but I hope the Lakers lose by a million and Max Christie breaks Wilt's single game record.
Some mighty fine tanking that first half.
The low minutes for Castle is baffling. I get we're tanking, but get the kid some experience.
best way to complete the tank is to roll Pop out there and let him drool on the court
Castle with the least minutes of any player tonight.
Explain yourself Mitch.
Explain yourself Mitch.
Castle has played like **** since that GLeaguer used tall people to vault himself in San Francisco.
brian wright needs to step in with Mitch. castle's lack of minutes is unacceptable
Guitarsoup said:
Castle has played like **** since that GLeaguer used tall people to vault himself in San Francisco.
We have entered the spurs playing mind games with their rookie part of the season.
Devin almost shot 38% from the field this game. Encouraging stuff.
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