NBA Draft 2023

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Holy ****!

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Good for San Antonio. That was my favorite squad in the 90's while the Pistons figured themselves out.

I admit I have a degree of morbid satisfaction in watching some Pistons fans melting down out there, as they're largely the same folks who pushed purposeful losing, descending all the way into the abyss because they thought a top pick would magically manifest itself and fix everything.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Well then…..that’s exciting


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[Majingir]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

I wonder if the Magic would even try to get both Thompsons.

[dubcity]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Will be fun to see how he turns out in SA. Who was the last top prospect at that height/size? Yao?

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Will be fun to see how he turns out in SA. Who was the last top prospect at that height/size? Yao?

Porzingis was/is a little bit shorter, but he's close to their height.

Gonna be interesting to see how Pop (or his successor) uses him on offense.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[pietasterp]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Good for San Antonio. That was my favorite squad in the 90's while the Pistons figured themselves out.

I admit I have a degree of morbid satisfaction in watching some Pistons fans melting down out there, as they're largely the same folks who pushed purposeful losing, descending all the way into the abyss because they thought a top pick would magically manifest itself and fix everything.

I assume you are no longer a Pistons fan, then.

Second year in a row they finish with top odds of getting the top pick and falling to the lowest possible pick. In the 17 times the 'Stones have been in the lottery, their pick has improved only 1 time. 8 other times they've dropped. The lottery is not our strong suit!

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

I assume you are no longer a Pistons fan, then.

Second year in a row they finish with top odds of getting the top pick and falling to the lowest possible pick. In the 17 times the 'Stones have been in the lottery, their pick has improved only 1 time. 8 other times they've dropped. The lottery is not our strong suit!

Good for San Antonio. That was my favorite squad in the 90's while the Pistons figured themselves out.

I admit I have a degree of morbid satisfaction in watching some Pistons fans melting down out there, as they're largely the same folks who pushed purposeful losing, descending all the way into the abyss because they thought a top pick would magically manifest itself and fix everything.

Y'all have Cade, Ivey, and Duren. Which are really great building blocks. Gotta get a 3-and-D wing and a coach (Kenny Atkinson, maybe?) that can get y'all moving in the right direction.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[l3ulvl]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Y'all have Cade, Ivey, and Duren. Which are really great building blocks. Gotta get a 3-and-D wing and a coach (Kenny Atkinson, maybe?) that can get y'all moving in the right direction.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

meh </url>

[VDusen04]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

I assume you are no longer a Pistons fan, then.

Second year in a row they finish with top odds of getting the top pick and falling to the lowest possible pick. In the 17 times the 'Stones have been in the lottery, their pick has improved only 1 time. 8 other times they've dropped. The lottery is not our strong suit!

Still very much a Pistons fan. I would have preferred literally any pick but No. 5.

However, I’ve also grown tired of the loud voices who’ve been pushing for the Pistons to lose frequently and purposely year after year after year under the broadly misguided notion that they’ll magically just be able to come swoop in and take the highest possible pick every year until they’re a championship team (while yelling “rigged” if the lottery yields any other outcome).

I can only roll my eyes so much at fellow Pistons fans who’ve convinced themselves this lottery was rigged for the Spurs and everyone knows it.

But in a vacuum? Yeah, would have been nice to have a fourth, third, second, or first pick.

[jeebs9]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Y'all have Cade, Ivey, and Duren. Which are really great building blocks. Gotta get a 3-and-D wing and a coach (Kenny Atkinson, maybe?) that can get y'all moving in the right direction.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

Kenny would be amazing for this team.

[ojandpizza]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

He has next-level explosiveness and a great first-step. And he's probably a better passer as an "amateur" than Rose, Smith Jr., or Morant.

IDK, I think before developing a shot good enough to work the P-n-R all game Ja's passing was one of his biggest strengths. Maybe true for those other guys but Ja was a 10 assist guy in college, a 9 assists guy per 36 as a rookie in the league. Most of his scouting reports claimed his passing would be his best NBA attribute, to be fair they likely didn't predict how explosive he would still be at the next level though.

[ojandpizza]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Spurs have cap space (I think) but man it would be nice if they had any sort of "future star" to build alongside Vemby.

LaMelo on the Hornets, Portland with whatever they land from flipping Dame, Pistons with Cade, Ivey, and Rockets with Smith, Green, and others all have better building blocks for future success IMO. Sure none of them have Pop and none of them have direction, but when you land a generational talent that is what gives you direction.

I like a lot of the Spurs guys but Keldon, Vassell, and that group is just a very mehh group with seemingly very mehh upside. Plenty of time to grow, and the right time to grow with, but none of their current pieces are "exciting", at least in the other situations you have a slimmer hope of what some of those guys could be if they "breakout".

Also sucks that they have the money but this years free-agent pool is only decent. Best case scenario at a max-level guy would be maybe Middleton? He's always hurt, DLo, VanVleet, LeVert, J Grant, J Clarkson, J Hart, Kuzma, most these dudes only move the needle so much and I'm assuming Harden, Kyrie, Porzingis, Westbrook, and so on are not on their radar.

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Spurs have cap space (I think) but man it would be nice if they had any sort of "future star" to build alongside Vemby.

LaMelo on the Hornets, Portland with whatever they land from flipping Dame, Pistons with Cade, Ivey, and Rockets with Smith, Green, and others all have better building blocks for future success IMO. Sure none of them have Pop and none of them have direction, but when you land a generational talent that is what gives you direction.

I like a lot of the Spurs guys but Keldon, Vassell, and that group is just a very mehh group with seemingly very mehh upside. Plenty of time to grow, and the right time to grow with, but none of their current pieces are "exciting", at least in the other situations you have a slimmer hope of what some of those guys could be if they "breakout".

Also sucks that they have the money but this years free-agent pool is only decent. Best case scenario at a max-level guy would be maybe Middleton? He's always hurt, DLo, VanVleet, LeVert, J Grant, J Clarkson, J Hart, Kuzma, most these dudes only move the needle so much and I'm assuming Harden, Kyrie, Porzingis, Westbrook, and so on are not on their radar.

I think this thought is way overblown.

The Spurs have a ton of cap space, own their picks plus multiple (up to six) first-round picks (barring protections) in '24 and '25, & "tradeable assets" in Vassell, Johnson, etc, so they'll have plenty of time to add more "exciting" pieces.

Continuing to build through the draft is key and not trying to skip steps to "get ahead" of the curve.

No point in wasting cap space now when Wembanyama is just now getting on the roster (in June). He isn't going to instantly turn the team around, so add more prospects around him and keep building for the future.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[Yeah...THAT Guy]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Spurs have cap space (I think) but man it would be nice if they had any sort of "future star" to build alongside Vemby.

LaMelo on the Hornets, Portland with whatever they land from flipping Dame, Pistons with Cade, Ivey, and Rockets with Smith, Green, and others all have better building blocks for future success IMO. Sure none of them have Pop and none of them have direction, but when you land a generational talent that is what gives you direction.

I like a lot of the Spurs guys but Keldon, Vassell, and that group is just a very mehh group with seemingly very mehh upside. Plenty of time to grow, and the right time to grow with, but none of their current pieces are "exciting", at least in the other situations you have a slimmer hope of what some of those guys could be if they "breakout".

Also sucks that they have the money but this years free-agent pool is only decent. Best case scenario at a max-level guy would be maybe Middleton? He's always hurt, DLo, VanVleet, LeVert, J Grant, J Clarkson, J Hart, Kuzma, most these dudes only move the needle so much and I'm assuming Harden, Kyrie, Porzingis, Westbrook, and so on are not on their radar.

Between the cap space and the assets, the Spurs could theoretically make moves and instantly vault themselves into contender status if they want to (and assuming they find trade partners that are willing to sell). A ton of draft picks, a bunch of young talented dudes, and cap space are all at their disposal. Really curious to see if they just continue to grow the team organically or try to get one more title before Pop retires.