I think Soup is right, Fox's deal was agreed to when the trade was made.

Crazy what happened with the Bulls pick going 12 and we would have had it. Would have been great to draft Essengue on a flyer with both of them, or both Fleming and Carter Bryant.

But 3 rookies is a lot for one year.

Or if Toronto didn't convert last year, we would have 2, 9, 12, and 14.

Guitarsoup said:

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Or if Toronto didn't convert last year, we would have 2, 9, 12, and 14.

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Insane. In one of deepest drafts in years. Just very guard heavy this year. it would have been incredible to draft one SF, one PF, and one center in the first 14 picks. In addition to Harper.

Curious about the 26 draft class, I know the BYU player that was paid 5 million is a SF. And I saw that Boozer's son is in the 26 draft. Boozer was a good player, remember him at the Jazz.

Its a shame Malone Stockton Honacek didn't win a championship for Jerry Sloane. But then again I hated those guys pre Duncan.

Earth Rider said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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Or if Toronto didn't convert last year, we would have 2, 9, 12, and 14.

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Insane. In one of deepest drafts in years. Just very guard heavy this year. it would have been incredible to draft one SF, one PF, and one center in the first 14 picks. In addition to Harper.

Curious about the 26 draft class, I know the BYU player that was paid 5 million is a SF. And I saw that Boozer's son is in the 26 draft. Boozer was a good player, remember him at the Jazz.

Its a shame Malone Stockton Honacek didn't win a championship for Jerry Sloane. But then again I hated those guys pre Duncan.

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It is one of the greatest things in nba history that Stockton, Malone, and Sloan never got rings.

Yeah. F the 90's Jazz. They were more loathsome than those Bad Boys Pistons teams.

I remember the shame I had when my mom came home with the LA Gear "Mailman" shoes for me one day. Embarrassed every day I wore those in the 6th grade at Zachary Middle School...

Those Jazz teams made it a point to be extra physical with the Admiral because they knew Dave would never retaliate. That asshat Ostertag was my least favorite of their goons.

Read the odds of a second round player becoming an All-Star or All-NBA player is about 2.4 percent.

Second rounders may not make the roster, get cut, or get assigned to the G league. I assume all G League players don't count against the cap.

But the second rounders do agree to a contract up front, typically non-guaranteed is my understanding. But if they get cut, they don't get paid and don't count against the salary cap.

My first question is if you do hit on that 2.4 percent and get an All-Star, but you sign the contract up front before knowing you hit on him. So you get a bargain for a year or two with that initial contract. But then after a year or two he is a free agent and you have to pay market value for a potential all star, could be much more than the 4 year 1st round rookie contract? So if you are great at drafting, you get penalized for it with a high salary after a year or two because you took the future all star in the second round and not the first. that is just my understanding.

My next question is, the advantage of the 1st round pick is you have them locked into a salary for four years? And those salaries are guaranteed. But if you get a bust on a 1st round pick, does that pick still count against your salary cap, and do you have to keep him for 3 or 4 years?

Second rounders are either a year or two year contract I assume, or you can cut them. Then if they are great they may be resigned on a much larger contract. Where I am going with this, in a weak draft, where the 1st rounders are all projects and hopes and dreams, and not much different from the second rounders, then a second round pick is more valuable than a late first round pick that could be a bust and you are stuck with? You can easily cut a second round pick.

Earth Rider said:

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My first question is if you do hit on that 2.4 percent and get an All-Star, but you sign the contract up front before knowing you hit on him. So you get a bargain for a year or two with that initial contract.

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You can sign them up to 4y8M. That's what Bronny got, the 2nd rounder max.

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But then after a year or two he is a free agent and you have to pay market value for a potential all star, could be much more than the 4 year 1st round rookie contract?

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RARELY happens that way, even 2nd rounders that show out immediately. A lot take a while. It happened with Jokic. He made ~1.3M for three years, then 25M his 4th year. But that 4y average is still just 7.25M. So about the same as the 10th pick?

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So if you are great at drafting, you get penalized for it with a high salary after a year or two because you took the future all star in the second round and not the first. that is just my understanding.

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If you hit on a 2nd rounder that is an All-Star in his first couple seasons, you DGAF.

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My next question is, the advantage of the 1st round pick is you have them locked into a salary for four years? And those salaries are guaranteed. But if you get a bust on a 1st round pick, does that pick still count against your salary cap, and do you have to keep him for 3 or 4 years?

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They get a 2y contract with two one year options. So if they are a bust, you can not exercise their options and let them walk.

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Second rounders are either a year or two year contract I assume, or you can cut them. Then if they are great they may be resigned on a much larger contract. Where I am going with this, in a weak draft, where the 1st rounders are all projects and hopes and dreams, and not much different from the second rounders, then a second round pick is more valuable than a late first round pick that could be a bust and you are stuck with? You can easily cut a second round pick.

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You can easily cut either. Late first round picks are just under 3M/year. 2nd rounders are generally two ways, unguaranteed contracts, or just flat out cheap guaranteeds.

Some times when teams are on cap crunch, they move from late 1st to early 2nd to avoid the guaranteed salary. We did that back in with Leon Smith and the Mavs way back in the day.

Thank you Soup! So late first rounders you are locked in for 2 years, at around 3 million a year. The vet minimum is just over a million, so its a hit but not a big hit in case its a bust.

I saw that Branham signed a 2 to 4 year guaranteed contract, with a base of just over 3 million. He was guaranteed just under 6 million, or two years. he's been with the Spurs 2 years? So I guess we can let him walk and not take a cap hit next year.

Blake Wesley also signed a 2 to 4 year contract at around 3 million, but his guaranteed was just over 12 million. It looks like Wesley will take a 4.7 million dollar cap hit next year, and a 6.9 million dollar cap hit the following year. Being guaranteed, I guess even if we cut him, he gets paid for the next two years.

Let me know Soup what may be wrong on my understanding of the Branham and Wesley contracts.

The first round draft pick have a 2-year contract that is guaranteed with two one-year team options.

Spurs have picked up the team options on all their rookies. So this is Branham and Wesley's fourth year and final year in their rookie contract.

After their fourth year they become a restricted free agent so they can play the free agent market. But we can match anything we want as long as we tender a qualifying offer.

If we do not tend the qualifying offer, they become an unrestricted free agent and I would imagine that's what we do with Branham for sure. Maybe Wesley.

They can get an offer from another team and we have the choice to match that or let them sign with that team.

If you do not take the team option on a rookie then he becomes a free agent and you are not allowed to sign him for more than what that team option was going to be. That doesn't happen very often but it's going to happen in Sacramento with Jake laravia

Second round picks do not necessarily get a regular NBA contract. Last year we gave Harrison Ingram a two-way contract which means he gets the MBA minimum when he's playing with the Spurs and he gets a g-league salary when he's playing with the g League and he has a maximum number of days that he can play in the NBA. Each team can sign three players as two ways and those players do not count against the 15 player maximum roster. If you sign a player as a two-way and they turn out great, you have the first option of signing them to an MBA contract and no one else can do that to pick them up. So it doesn't work Quite like NFL practice squad

Sorry that was all voice to text while driving. So if there are mistakes I'm sorry

Thanks again, incredible you did all that from memory while driving.

Earth Rider said:

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Thanks again, incredible you did all that from memory while driving.

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Yeah…but he complained about a "speed bump on the highway". I wonder who he hit?

Obi Wan Ginobili said:

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Earth Rider said:

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Thanks again, incredible you did all that from memory while driving.

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Yeah…but he complained about a "speed bump on the highway". I wonder who he hit?

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Earth Rider said:

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Thanks again, incredible you did all that from memory while driving.

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Basically, I am Alan from the Hangover, but instead of something useful like blackjack, it is a high level fan's understanding of the ever changing NBA CBA.

AggieEP said:

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I remember the shame I had when my mom came home with the LA Gear "Mailman" shoes for me one day. Embarrassed every day I wore those in the 6th grade at Zachary Middle School...

Those Jazz teams made it a point to be extra physical with the Admiral because they knew Dave would never retaliate. That asshat Ostertag was my least favorite of their goons.

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I had forgot about Ostertag. When I remembered him i instantly got fired up and ticked off. Dang it hated the jazz back then.

That's a good funny story on the mailman shoes. Didn't know they existed. I remember having some air jordans back then.

My 11 year old daughter bought ja morant shoes recently from North Star mall. She's a point/shooting guard. ''

I have to think if Caitlin Clark had a shoe contract it would sell well. She doesn't want to buy a show with a guys name on it. Kind of strange all the girls shoes are marketed with nba players. Caitlin Clark has the notoriety to pull it off though

Really surprised there is not one yet. Kinda crazy

It takes a while to develop a signature shoe. According to Google, her and Nike are currently working on it.

She'll absolutely get one soon and deservedly so. Signature shoes are way more common than they used to be. Nike used to have LeBron, Kobe, and KD with everyone else getting player editions of already made shoes. No chance folks like Ja, Devin Booker, and Tatum had their own shoes back then

When do we get Wemby shoes?

THE_CHOSEN_ONE said:

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When do we get Wemby shoes?

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Only sold in size 22, though. Bummer.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/05/21/jeremy-sochan-san-antonio-spurs-victor-wembanyama-gregg-popovich-mitch-johnson-interview/83747311007/

Long interview with Jeremy. He said this is a year he is going to prove himself. Wonder if that means the extension we offered isnt what he wanted.

2025 San Antonio Offseason Guide

https://t.co/fUxTCyyoKz

via @YouTube

— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) May 21, 2025

- We're gonna be linked in every trade discussion ever
- Now have clarity on who is in charge
- Victor looks healthy, all things go
- Harper is guy at 2.
- Can Harper, Castle, Fox work?
- Harper is clearly #2. Harper is a great young man. Driven and Loyal.
- Pushing Raynaud at 14
- Could move off 38
- 14+Castle would be enticing for Giannis to Milwaukee
- Spurs really well positioned financially
- Spurs have lots of equity.
- 27 Hawks pick could be juicy, depending on what happens with Trae Young
- Marks is mistaken about the pick trade rules.
- Fox can sign on Aug 3rd for up to 4y/229M

That was perhaps the greatest 4th quarter I've ever seen. Pacers are fun to watch.

Guitarsoup said:

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https://ftw.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2025/05/21/jeremy-sochan-san-antonio-spurs-victor-wembanyama-gregg-popovich-mitch-johnson-interview/83747311007/

Long interview with Jeremy. He said this is a year he is going to prove himself. Wonder if that means the extension we offered isnt what he wanted.

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Interesting interview. Never heard of adobo and gising-gising.

Didn't know Wemby did yoga. Freaking "Alien", 7'5" guy doing yoga.

Interesting take on the extension offer. You might be right. Good to hear "working on my shot" . n. Looking at his stats the past three years, he's averaged just over 11.0 pts/game each season. The only real noticeable improvement was his FG%, now up to 53.5% last year from 43.8% the year before.

I remember Bill Parcells saying ""If a player doesn't show you something in his first two or three years, he probably never will." He was talking about uber talented players or promising players and how they will never reach what you hope. Might as well cut them.

I think Parcells quote is more applicable to football than basketball. but I don't think its too far off in basketball either.

Sochan hasn't shown he can shoot or any real flashes that he can develop a shot. For me he has to contribute offensively or he gets about 6 to 8 million a year and can be the 10th or 11th best player on the roster. He would only be brought in to shut down an offensive player that is going off on us.

We have a bunch of slashers on offense. Sochan doesn't stretch the defense or open up lanes for our guards to drive. I think he has improved his passing. Great defender but that is the case since day one. He would be a solid deep bench guy, but i wouldn't pay him over league average, and would like to keep him much less as his role will be limited.

AggieEP said:

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That was perhaps the greatest 4th quarter I've ever seen. Pacers are fun to watch.

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Dang it I tuned out thought it was over and started writing my last post on Texags.

Nesmith was schorching tonight. They took advantage of Brunson's defense.

The Knicks have a great team. This will be a great series.

Does either team have a shot against the Thunder in 7 games? IMO, No.

Guitarsoup said:

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- We're gonna be linked in every trade discussion ever
- Now have clarity on who is in charge
- Victor looks healthy, all things go
- Harper is guy at 2.
- Can Harper, Castle, Fox work?
- Harper is clearly #2. Harper is a great young man. Driven and Loyal.
- Pushing Raynaud at 14
- Could move off 38
- 14+Castle would be enticing for Giannis to Milwaukee
- Spurs really well positioned financially
- Spurs have lots of equity.
- 27 Hawks pick could be juicy, depending on what happens with Trae Young
- Marks is mistaken about the pick trade rules.
- Fox can sign on Aug 3rd for up to 4y/229M

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Good bullet points, It crossed my mind on Raynaud at 14. He can shoot, has a strong offensive game. I think he is going in the top 30 or so. I wouldn't be disappinted if we drafted him.

Earth Rider said:

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Guitarsoup said:

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- We're gonna be linked in every trade discussion ever
- Now have clarity on who is in charge
- Victor looks healthy, all things go
- Harper is guy at 2.
- Can Harper, Castle, Fox work?
- Harper is clearly #2. Harper is a great young man. Driven and Loyal.
- Pushing Raynaud at 14
- Could move off 38
- 14+Castle would be enticing for Giannis to Milwaukee
- Spurs really well positioned financially
- Spurs have lots of equity.
- 27 Hawks pick could be juicy, depending on what happens with Trae Young
- Marks is mistaken about the pick trade rules.
- Fox can sign on Aug 3rd for up to 4y/229M

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Good bullet points, It crossed my mind on Raynaud at 14. He can shoot, has a strong offensive game. I think he is going in the top 30 or so. I wouldn't be disappinted if we drafted him.

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He's awful value there.

Maybe so, but he is over 7 foot and shot over 42% from 3 last year

Earth Rider said:

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Maybe so, but he is over 7 foot and shot over 42% from 3 last year

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Reynaud shot 34% from 3 last season.

West Texan said:

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Earth Rider said:

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Maybe so, but he is over 7 foot and shot over 42% from 3 last year

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Reynaud shot 34% from 3 last season.

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Bingo. He's not an elite shooter and isn't a great rim protector. I think he's a great second round pick. But he's probably French Zach Collins

I don't know what I looked at. I looked agaim and it was 34 percent. I thought I saw 43

He shot 42% as a freshman but didn't take many shots. Maybe that's what you saw.