Player Brian keeps getting it Wright

[Ariel]

Hawks gave UTA cash for him... how much, we don't know - but maybe that was the sticking point?

Could be, but the point is it wouldn't have been all that difficult to land a better insurance policy than Plumlee or Biyombo if they wanted. That and some extra shooting would have been nice.

 

[Biggems]

We need to add a couple of bigs to fill out the roster. I was hoping for Steinbach, but Atlanta ruined that dream.

I like Tarris Reed and Zuby Ejiofor

 

[ginobilized]

We are way ahead of schedule and now we have a culture and role definition of our core. It should be much clearer how to build around the core this summer than last. Hope we draft at least one promising big. I’d consider drafting 3 bigs and create a bloodbath training camp.

 

[Snaq O'Meal]

We are way ahead of schedule and now we have a culture and role definition of our core. It should be much clearer how to build around the core this summer than last. Hope we draft at least one promising big. I’d consider drafting 3 bigs and create a bloodbath training camp.

The front office had a good chance to use a lottery pick on either Edey or Ware (who has comparable physical traits to Sarr but is a better rebounder and post player). Instead, that pick was traded away.

This draft, there’s little chance of drafting a big man like Cenac (who’s like a smaller poor man’s Ware). Instead, don’t rule out the drafting of another guard.

 

[Kick-Stand]

Could we have better than Bismack and Plumdog at the end of the bench? Sure... but I also am trying to keep in perspective that we probably didn't expect to be "here" (meaning 60 wins, a legit title contender, etc) so we didn't approach these roster spots with the level of importance that we might otherwise have. But now we've arrived, and we know that Korndog needs to be load managed as well, I expect us to have a better set of third stringers (all around, not just a C) next year.

And as mentioned, it's not like we were flush with options. Bringing Jock back would have been nice, but I don't think he would have been interested in the role we have to offer. This isn't 2K where you just hit "sign" and the FA joins your team... they have to actually want to come here too.

Spurs third center on the 99 title team was Gerard King. In 03 Mengke Bateer. In 05 Tony Massenburg. In 07 didn't even have one. In 14 it was Jeff Ayres maybe? And this was when the luxury tax wasn't very punitive unlike now with the aprons. Third center is immaterial and not worth spending more than a minimum contract on unless Luke gets knocked out for the season or something.

 

[scott]

Spurs third center on the 99 title team was Gerard King. In 03 Mengke Bateer. In 05 Tony Massenburg. In 07 didn't even have one. In 14 it was Jeff Ayres maybe? And this was when the luxury tax wasn't very punitive unlike now with the aprons. Third center is immaterial and not worth spending more than a minimum contract on unless Luke gets knocked out for the season or something.

I disagree with the premise that the position will be immaterial going forward. I don't care about the composition of teams past, because those teams are not this team and this league was not that league. Wemby and Kornet are both players that will require load management into the future. We won't need a third center to be a playoff rotation guy, but we'll need one at least better than Bismack and Plumdog in the future so that we can go into the playoffs as a top seed.

But, those are also players we should be able to get with a minimum contract or an SRP. We just chose to use those spots on vibes players as opposed to real players.

In any event, I have full confidence we'll do the right thing with these spots in the future.

 

[KobesAchilles]

In the end Wright agreed with me that one of Sochan, Vassell, and KJ had to go. I’m glad that it was Sochan and that Vassell got his shit together and plays like a role player vs KoMe

 

[Kick-Stand]

I disagree with the premise that the position will be immaterial going forward. I don't care about the composition of teams past, because those teams are not this team and this league was not that league. Wemby and Kornet are both players that will require load management into the future. We won't need a third center to be a playoff rotation guy, but we'll need one at least better than Bismack and Plumdog in the future so that we can go into the playoffs as a top seed.

But, those are also players we should be able to get with a minimum contract or an SRP. We just chose to use those spots on vibes players as opposed to real players.

In any event, I have full confidence we'll do the right thing with these spots in the future.

OK but center was a far more important position back then than it is now and even then third string center didn't matter. Kornet had to play huge minutes starting for Wemby a lot of the year but I don't expect he will be starting 1/3 of games most seasons. Biyombo wasn't a vibes signing, he looked like an NBA player last year so they brought him back. But guys like Biyombo are what you're gonna get offering minimum and 5-8 minutes a night every other game. Do agree a second round pick is a decent way to go because you're not getting a vet who is any good with that kind of offer. And I'm not offering real money for a third center when that would be much better spent on upgrading Barnes to a power forward who can hit the open three without being a defensive turnstile (which would also lessen the load on Luke). That's the gaping hole in the Spurs roster, not whoever is playing third center.

 

[DTW]

Spurs third center on the 99 title team was Gerard King. In 03 Mengke Bateer. In 05 Tony Massenburg. In 07 didn't even have one. In 14 it was Jeff Ayres maybe? And this was when the luxury tax wasn't very punitive unlike now with the aprons. Third center is immaterial and not worth spending more than a minimum contract on unless Luke gets knocked out for the season or something.

As far rotational options, they had . . .

'99: Robinson, Duncan, Purdue

'03: Robinson, Duncan, Willis

'05: Mohammed, Duncan, Nesterovic

'07: Oberto, Duncan, Elson

'14: Splitter, Duncan, Baynes

 

[scott]

OK but center was a far more important position back then than it is now and even then third string center didn't matter. Kornet had to play huge minutes starting for Wemby a lot of the year but I don't expect he will be starting 1/3 of games most seasons. Biyombo wasn't a vibes signing, he looked like an NBA player last year so they brought him back. But guys like Biyombo are what you're gonna get offering minimum and 5-8 minutes a night every other game. Do agree a second round pick is a decent way to go because you're not getting a vet who is any good with that kind of offer. And I'm not offering real money for a third center when that would be much better spent on upgrading Barnes to a power forward who can hit the open three without being a defensive turnstile (which would also lessen the load on Luke). That's the gaping hole in the Spurs roster, not whoever is playing third center.

I don't know what games you were watching... he looked like ass last season, one of the worst basketball players I've ever seen. He hasn't looked like a real NBA player since his Suns days.

 

[Kick-Stand]

As far rotational options, they had . . .

'99: Robinson, Duncan, Purdue

'03: Robinson, Duncan, Willis

'05: Mohammed, Duncan, Nesterovic

'07: Oberto, Duncan, Elson

'14: Splitter, Duncan, Baynes

Yeah they had the greatest PF in the history of the league. And now they have zero PF and I'm supposed to be worried about throwing good money at a third string center?

 

[Kick-Stand]

I don't know what games you were watching... he looked like ass last season, one of the worst basketball players I've ever seen. He hasn't looked like a real NBA player since his Suns days.

He was way better last season than this. I didn't say he was a good player last year but looked like a guy you could give 6 minutes a night to.

 

[Fabbs]

Could we have better than Bismack and Plumdog at the end of the bench? Sure...

You and i had a glimpse of Drew Timme and saw potential, Xs 5 when considering the commitment and price.
I think he 10 day'd with the Lakers before signing the back n forth he is on now.
DK is he was poachable at the time but he's turned out to be solid and far better then Bizmo and Plumlee. Not just play but team attitude, willingness to scrap and fight for a 50 50 ball etc.
Is Plumlee even playable or does his injury require more surgery or retirement? Just hanging on the bench.
We surely could have used a 3rd C vs Denver.

 

[MannyIG]

ICYMI: One of Brian’s favorite honey holes might have closed up for good today, as the Bulls fired their FO

Too be fair the NBA passed around that front office lol. Who didn’t get a piece?

 

[Ice009]

They should have gotten raises. They got rid of DeRozan and Lavine without attaching any assets, and in fact, got their 2025 FRP back in the process.

You have a point as that was darn good getting rid of those guys after the fact (they left it too long, maybe they get more for them if they traded them earlier?).

This is the list I was looking for that LeBowen posted over a week ago:

Game Thread Post in thread 'Spurs (56-18) vs Bulls (29-45) (Mon 3/30/2026) [7:00PM CDT]'

Mar 30, 2026

It's amazing how the Bulls continually manage to get nothing in their trades. Possibly as, if not more, inept than Dumars.

The Bulls have now traded Jimmy Butler, Zach Lavine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Lauri Markkanen (and lost Demar DeRozan to free agency) and received a sum of one first round pick.

• LeBowen

The Bulls have now traded Jimmy Butler, Zach Lavine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Lauri Markkanen (and lost Demar DeRozan to free agency) and received a sum of one first round pick.

That's shocking if that is all they ended up with for all those players. That has got to be one of the main reasons they fired their FO.

 

[O_V]

Dedicating pages to pissing and moaning about the talent level of the 14th and 15th guys on the roster is peak fucking Spurstalk.

 

[DTW]

Yeah they had the greatest PF in the history of the league. And now they have zero PF and I'm supposed to be worried about throwing good money at a third string center?

My guess is they'll look to maintain their longtime preference of mostly big wings at PF, while increasing Wembanyama's time at it vs bigger front lines.

To get to that look more often, they'll obviously need a better third C. Throwing "good money" at it would be a waste of resources, but it would be wise to invest in a live body to have in the pipeline and develop to eventually replace Kornet, while providing better insurance than the current gaggle of geriatrics.

 

[ginobilized]

A young, athletic center makes too much sense to bring along with this squad. Imagine moving Wemby to the top/center of a 3-2 or 1-2-2 zone while having an active, mobile big. That would win some games right there. The options are too numerous to name them all, but, having a young dude to develop with the current core would be a very smart move. Gotta let Plumlee, Biyombo and Olynyk walk and let Kornet be that elder big man. We have played Luke into the ground this season, unfortunately.

 

[scott]

And honestly, now is a decent time to spend "good money" on what might otherwise seem like a superfluous third C. We can afford to slightly overpay a third C for the next couple of years, maybe something in the realm of the BAE makes sense (about 2x the min). Using the BAE would hard cap us at the first apron.

Next year's roster is going to look like this anyway:

1. Wemby
2. Fox
3. Castle
4. Harper
5. Vassell
6. Champ (extended hopefully)
7. Johnson (extended hopefully)
8. Kornet
9. Bryant
10. Possibly Barnes
11. MLE guy
12. BAE guy
13. FRP
14. Vet Min guy
15. Vet Min or maybe an guaranteed SRP (wha?!?!?)

MLE guy could possibly be split up into two guys, but I don't think it's necessary.

Spurs could probably do something like 2/10 for Barnes if they want and just sneak under the tax line if Champ's decline-and-extend doesn't go over $17.5MM in year 1.

I'll post the entire table in the Spurs Future Cap thread... but it starts to look a little shaky after next season.