NBA Draft 2023

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

And to further my point (not trying to dog on Houston or Detroit too much), the Rockets lack a PG (should trade up for Scoot, IMO) plus any sort of system while Detroit has too many big men, and still need complimentary pieces around Cunningham, Ivey, and Duren.


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[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

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.

As much as I'd love to be back at the top, I'd much rather the Spurs grow organically and try to build up like that Durant-era Supersonics/Thunder squad.

I love the group we have (people sleeping on Branham & Sochan, IMO), but they still need more to vault us naturally. A 3-and-D wing, a starting PG, and better pieces off the bench are paramount.

All of those things are attainable and if one of the young guys (Sochan, Branham, Wesley, Vassell, and/or multitude of upcoming 1st round picks) makes an "exciting" leap, look out.

Oh yeah, plus the team can also possibly "buy" or acquire an extra first-round pick from a team with multiple picks this year.


Side note: It sucks that that pervert Josh Primo (hope he's seeking help) did what he did. He was the archetype (Herro, Poole, etc) that this team needs as a 6th man off the bench. *sigh*

Oh well, gotta hope Branham can expand his range and become more of a three-point threat in year 2.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[ojandpizza]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

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

It all depends how immediately impactful he is. If he's even remotely close to that level of player those picks don't mean a ton. He'll be good enough to lower their value but not good enough to win. See Spurs after getting Robinson, Cavs after getting Lebron, Mavs after getting Luka. Sure if they suck for the next 3 years while he's developing it could work. But odds are if he's altering the franchise like predicted then probably not.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

As much as I'd love to be back at the top, I'd much rather the Spurs grow organically and try to build up like that Durant-era Supersonics/Thunder squad.

I love the group we have (people sleeping on Branham & Sochan, IMO), but they still need more to vault us naturally. A 3-and-D wing, a starting PG, and better pieces off the bench are paramount.

All of those things are attainable and if one of the young guys (Sochan, Branham, Wesley, Vassell, and/or multitude of upcoming 1st round picks) makes an "exciting" leap, look out.

Oh yeah, plus the team can also possibly "buy" or acquire an extra first-round pick from a team with multiple picks this year.


Side note: It sucks that that pervert Josh Primo (hope he's seeking help) did what he did. He was the archetype (Herro, Poole, etc) that this team needs as a 6th man off the bench. *sigh*

Oh well, gotta hope Branham can expand his range and become more of a three-point threat in year 2.

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

Remember when folks were trying to get Zion to force his way out of NO or consider not signing his extension after his first year?

You already know folks are going to be waiting to do the same with Vic. But luckily y’all have the right people around the organization to block out the noise and steer him in the right direction to not get caught up in it.

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

It all depends how immediately impactful he is. If he's even remotely close to that level of player those picks don't mean a ton. He'll be good enough to lower their value but not good enough to win. See Spurs after getting Robinson, Cavs after getting Lebron, Mavs after getting Luka. Sure if they suck for the next 3 years while he's developing it could work. But odds are if he's altering the franchise like predicted then probably not.

The Spurs also have the rights to pick(s) (with various protections) from Toronto, Atlanta, and Charlotte. They have more than just their picks - which may be impacted by Wemby like you said - to continue to build around him.

A lot of their current group are perfect pieces as role players (Jones, Vassell, Branham, and Sochan), so now they added the most significant piece.

Next, acquire another high-level prospect (or someone surprisingly blossoms) or another star in a year or two. Don't skip steps and be patient unlike the LeBron-era Cavaliers (first go-round) or cheap like Robinson-era Spurs (pre-Tim Duncan).

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

[ojandpizza]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

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.

I think there probably are moves to make the "better" especially depending on Wemby, but vault them to contender??? ehhh.. IDK what player(s) are available via trade that are vaulting a 20-win team to contender status.

This was still a 30-win team with All-Star (Murray), and good starting 5 (Poeltl) and guys like White and Lonnie who have big roles on contending teams now. They need a lot, and idk which of those young guys have trade value high enough to swing for a better player who also still young enough for their timeline.

Like I said before the value of the picks only matters so much if Wemby really does turn things around fast, the cap space only goes so far if there are no stars wanting to go there, or one of their younger pieces has enough value to trade for max level players. I'm not sold as of yet.

Nothing wrong with playing the slow game. I wasn't saying the Spurs can't do that, shouldn't do that. I was simply saying as an NBA fan the idea of he and the young guys in Detroit, Houston, etc all breaking out and looking like OKC in 3 years was more "exciting" than him going to maybe a slow 7 year plan is all.

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Remember when folks were trying to get Zion to force his way out of NO or consider not signing his extension after his first year?

You already know folks are going to be waiting to do the same with Vic. But luckily y’all have the right people around the organization to block out the noise and steer him in the right direction to not get caught up in it.

Well, it worked with getting Kawhi out of town so it can happen anywhere.

I feel the narrative is being built up (no offense to anyone here) and they haven't even drafted him yet. [emoji38]

People gotta look at the Spurs team like the '08 Supersonics when they drafted KD.

They had some good, young role players (Nick Collision & Jeff Green), but needed more high-end prospects (Harden & Westbrook) with gems sprinkled in (Ibaka & pre-injuries Andre Roberson) to vault them to contender status.

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[pietasterp]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

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.

I doubt anyone is misguided in their understanding of how the lottery works, I think that the modern NBA has left teams with few other options for building a winner other than some form of "The Process". Unless your team is based in LA, NY, Miami, or maybe a small handful of other destinations that players just want to go to in free agency, the recipe for building a winner in the NBA has been essentially optimized:

1) survive on food stamps as a bottom-feeder
2) accumulate draft assets (as many as possible to account for the relatively low hit-rate on draft picks turning into solid NBA starters)
3) If you get lucky and happen to hit on a franchise-changing player, go all-in on building around them to try to win within the 2-3 year window that these situations typically offer
4) If you don't win big during that time, return to step 1

Don't blame the Pistons (or Sixers, or anyone else), and definitely don't blame their fans, for trying to optimize position within the framework that the NBA and NBAPA have created. It's no fun losing for the better part of a decade, but if you can't attract big-time free agents and you don't have a "big-3" colluding to get to your city, there are not a whole lot of alternative avenues to try to build a winner.

meh </url>

Yep. I'm doubting Cade will ever be healthy for a full season, and without a Larry Brown-like coach and credible veteran presence to hold the kids accountable day-in and day-out, I'm worried that all the Pistons will ever be is potential on paper. Having Wembanyama to round out that roster and fill the gap we have at the 3/4 role would have been pretty exciting.

[ojandpizza]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Next, acquire another high-level prospect (or someone surprisingly blossoms) or another star in a year or two. Don't skip steps and be patient unlike the LeBron-era Cavaliers (first go-round) or cheap like Robinson-era Spurs (pre-Tim Duncan).

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

Yep, that is the best case scenario obviously. My point was more so that I think those other teams could already potentially have that is all I was getting at.

Spurs immediately improved too much after getting Robinson, his injury just ended up being a blessing in disguise.

Cavs were similar, it took a couple years with LeBron being 18 but they drafted Luke Jackson at 10 the next year and never had a 2005 pick because it was traded back in the 90's. By the next year they were in the playoffs drafting in the high 20s, there was no "being patient" if anything they likely should have been more aggressive than they were to bring in another real star.

Remember when folks were trying to get Zion to force his way out of NO or consider not signing his extension after his first year?

You already know folks are going to be waiting to do the same with Vic. But luckily y’all have the right people around the organization to block out the noise and steer him in the right direction to not get caught up in it.

Well, it worked with getting Kawhi out of town so it can happen anywhere.

I feel the narrative is being built up (no offense to anyone here) and they haven't even drafted him yet. [emoji38]

People gotta look at the Spurs team like the '08 Supersonics when they drafted KD.

They had some good, young role players (Nick Collision & Jeff Green), but needed more high-end prospects (Harden & Westbrook) with gems sprinkled in (Ibaka & pre-injuries Andre Roberson)

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

To be fair, none of this is what I'm trying to say lol. Not saying you're talking about me. I'm just saying as a neutral fan the idea of him landing with one of the teams that already has exciting high-potential young guys was appealing because it might already literally be a KD-Russ-Harden-Ibaka, already on the roster waiting for us to see 2-3 years down the line. No hopes of drafting another stud or some guy mysteriously out-developing his expectations out of nowhere.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Idk if I’d say Kawhi is the same but that’s another topic for another day.

But as for Vic, he should be good there.

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Yep, that is the best case scenario obviously. My point was more so that I think those other teams could already potentially have that is all I was getting at.

Spurs immediately improved too much after getting Robinson, his injury just ended up being a blessing in disguise.

Cavs were similar, it took a couple years with LeBron being 18 but they drafted Luke Jackson at 10 the next year and never had a 2005 pick because it was traded back in the 90's. By the next year they were in the playoffs drafting in the high 20s, there was no "being patient" if anything they likely should have been more aggressive than they were to bring in another real star.





To be fair, none of this is what I'm trying to say lol. Not saying you're talking about me. I'm just saying as a neutral fan the idea of him landing with one of the teams that already has exciting high-potential young guys was appealing because it might already literally be a KD-Russ-Harden-Ibaka, already on the roster waiting for us to see 2-3 years down the line. No hopes of drafting another stud or some guy mysteriously out-developing his expectations out of nowhere.

I think a few of the Spurs' current prospects have more upside than many believe.

Branham and Sochan showed a lot more than anyone was expecting them to.

Vassell has improved in leaps and bounds on offense - still needs to get back to being a "potentially" plus defender and work on his ballhandling - plus their group of cast-off big men (Collins, Bassey, & Mamu) have some upside, still.

Acquiring the franchise-altering and/or building piece is the hardest part. Finding the right pieces around them isn't as difficult (look at Milwaukee, Denver, etc), IMO.

I think on the Thunder Wembanyama would've been incredible, but the other two places still have just as many questions as the Spurs. Better high-upside prospects, yes, but not one of them is currently better than Vassell, sadly.



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[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

I wonder if the Spurs will be aggressive and attempt to trade back into the 1st-round?

Next year's draft is considered pretty weak - prognosticating a year in advance is ridiculous, but modern sports for you - so trying to snatch up another prospect (especially if someone like Whitehead falls or Leonard Miller is available) that could add to their group would make sense.

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[JazzMan]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Idk Vic in a three 7-footer lineup with Markkanen and Kessler would've been a lot of fun, and we have like 15 FRPs in the next 5 years

[J_Posse]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Idk Vic in a three 7-footer lineup with Markkanen and Kessler would've been a lot of fun, and we have like 15 FRPs in the next 5 years

Y'all like us and not exciting enough. [emoji38][emoji38][emoji38][emoji38][emoji16]

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[jeebs9]

Re: NBA Draft 2023

Y'all like us and not exciting enough. [emoji38][emoji38][emoji38][emoji38][emoji16]

Official HQ of Bills Backer/Spurs Nation

I wanted to ask all Spurs fans. Y'all want to pick Vic right? Seeing King say the other day he'd pass. I'd love to hear your opinion.