Contract Question

[spursfanlikeyou]

Harrison Barnes expires after this season, do we see him coming back on a very team friendly deal to chase a ring?

Keldon has 17M next year due to him then he's a UFA, do we sign him to another team friendly deal next year?

Champ I feel like we will end up giving a contract to, should be team friendly.

Everything else for the next 2-3 years is pretty easy, I do feel like Bryant will be our starting 4 next season unless we do something big in the offseason

2026/2027:

Fox/Harper
Vassell/Castle
Champ/Castle
Bryant/Johnson
Wemby/Kornet

 

[scott]

You see Castle moving to the bench next season? I have a hard time picturing that.

But, I think this will generally be our main roster next year:

Guards: Fox/Castle/Harper
Wings: Vassell/Champ/Johnson/Bryant/Barnes
Bigs: Wemby/Kornet

Add in first round draft pick, an MLE guy, and a couple of deep bench minimum type guys (maybe one of them might even be an elusive SRP) and you've pretty much got your roster.

 

[Dex]

Is Bryant big enough to be our PF? Dude is shorter than Champ

 

[LeBowen]

Is Bryant big enough to be our PF? Dude is shorter than Champ

His wingspan and standing reach are identical to Gordon's and better than Anunoby.
He just needs some extra muscle and he's a PF in today's game, easily.

 

[scott]

Is Bryant big enough to be our PF? Dude is shorter than Champ

In the modern NBA, I'd argue Champ and Bryant are both big enough to be a PF next to Wemby.

 

[LeBowen]

In the modern NBA, I'd argue Champ and Bryant are both big enough to be a PF next to Wemby.

No lineup is perfect and every lineup has it's weaknesses.
If having CB/Champ at PF does more for our perimeter defense, spacing and the ability to push the pace compared to the size/rebounding we give up if we had someone like Gordon or Randle, then it's worth it.
If we get killed by such players, then we fucked up, tbh.

 

[Correct Crusader]

Is Bryant big enough to be our PF? Dude is shorter than Champ

Huge wingspan + dudes yoked

 

[scott]

No lineup is perfect and every lineup has it's weaknesses.
If having CB/Champ at PF does more for our perimeter defense, spacing and the ability to push the pace compared to the size/rebounding we give up if we had someone like Gordon or Randle, then it's worth it.
If we get killed by such players, then we fucked up, tbh.

One of the things I like about the NBA is that there is no meta strategy and winning can come different ways. It's actually one of the biggest complaints I have with the 3pt era and why I think they should move the line back, because that's the one thing that has created the closest to a meta in the league (along with the elimination of hand checking).

I love that this is an open question... we'll only have to wait and see, and it's also subject to a degree of variance. That's what makes it interesting, IMO.

 

[ird80]

He has a ring

 

[TimmyBuckets]

Likely gonna be the same guys next year, with a few possible pieces shuffled for other players in their respective positions, if Spurs want to let certain players walk. I doubt Castle doesn't start.

 

[CGD]

I think HB, Keldon, and Champ are extended in some capacity. What I don’t know if how they structure those to account for big extensions for Vic, Castle in a few years.

My hope is that they find a way to upgrade the Vassell position somehow, ideally in a way that allows them to play Bryant at the 3. That and that Steph and Harp become 35% shooters from 3.

 

[eric365]

You see Castle moving to the bench next season? I have a hard time picturing that.

But, I think this will generally be our main roster next year:

Guards: Fox/Castle/Harper
Wings: Vassell/Champ/Johnson/Bryant/Barnes
Bigs: Wemby/Kornet

Add in first round draft pick, an MLE guy, and a couple of deep bench minimum type guys (maybe one of them might even be an elusive SRP) and you've pretty much got your roster.

Just checked the free agent list on spotrac, I don't see who the spurs give the MLE to.

Andrew Wiggins or John Collins wouldn't agree for the MLE I think. And the rest of forward list is very limited. A guard sharp shooter?
Last year, the team had needs at more positions and the free agent class was better

 

[Em-City]

I think HB, Keldon, and Champ are extended in some capacity. What I don’t know if how they structure those to account for big extensions for Vic, Castle in a few years.

My hope is that they find a way to upgrade the Vassell position somehow, ideally in a way that allows them to play Bryant at the 3. That and that Steph and Harp become 35% shooters from 3.

Do we really need to upgrade the Vassell position? Vassell has upgraded the Vassell position himself this season by being a better player and decision-maker.
Surely, PF depth is the biggest need

 

[OK Computer]

No lineup is perfect and every lineup has it's weaknesses.
If having CB/Champ at PF does more for our perimeter defense, spacing and the ability to push the pace compared to the size/rebounding we give up if we had someone like Gordon or Randle, then it's worth it.
If we get killed by such players, then we fucked up, tbh.

You’ve come around, my friend!

 

[LeBowen]

You’ve come around, my friend!

Are you sure it's me who's come around in this case?
Ever since Bryant got drafted I've been saying he's our future starting PF.
When I compared him to Bowen and Green I won't say you got outraged, but let's say you told me I'm getting way ahead of myself.
But now it seems that you've come around on Bryant as a contributor as soon as the next season.

 

[OK Computer]

Are you sure it's me who's come around in this case?
Ever since Bryant got drafted I've been saying he's our future starting PF.
When I compared him to Bowen and Green I won't say you got outraged, but let's say you told me I'm getting way ahead of myself.
But now it seems that you've come around on Bryant as a contributor as soon as the next season.

Why did I know I would get a response like this instead of a kumbaya one!

 

[LeBowen]

Why did I know I would get a response like this instead of a kumbaya one!

Because kumbaya is not who we ware.

Ideally, we replace Barnes with a PF/C like Aldama that would allow us to have different options if needed.

 

[OK Computer]

To answer your question…
These are distinct arguments we had. You’re speaking of Carter’s future while I’m talking about archetype needs. We’ve had our back and forth before about me telling you that we don’t need a PF of Randle’s size to match up with guys like him, and you saying that we do because we’ll get bullied.

RE: I’ve been clear about Carter from the beginning and to repeat myself - his performance for about 20 games straight gave little to no indication of a player with an immediately good future. That’s pretty much rock solid fact. It was poor, and my words were an assessment of the shitshow he was producing.

By the way, a comparison to Bowen and Green is still getting ahead of yourself… these two are being way underrated.

 

[Em-City]

Because kumbaya is not who we ware.

Ideally, we replace Barnes with a PF/C like Aldama that would allow us to have different options if needed.

This is where I'm at too.

John Collins, Santi, portis, or lower end guys like matkovic, sensabaugh, da Silva, Walker

 

[LeBowen]

These are distinct arguments we had. You’re speaking of Carter’s future while I’m talking about archetype needs. We’ve had our back and forth before about me telling you that we don’t need a PF of Randle’s size to match up with guys like him, and you saying that we do because we’ll get bullied.

I said Barnes and Champ would get bullied, which is true.
But I was also always saying that all those lineups have their pros and cons and that if we can make up for it on the other end, then it'd be worth it.

Bryant is already stronger than both, I think he'll easily develop into an Anunoby type player.
SF height, but elite lenght, athleticism and vertical that effectively makes him a PF.

I’ve been clear about Carter from the beginning and to repeat myself - his performance for about 20 games straight gave little to no indication of a player with an immediately good future. That’s pretty much rock solid fact. It was poor, and my words were an assessment of the shitshow he was producing.

It was poor from tactical standpoint, with him not knowing what to do, how to position himself and being over-eager on defense. His physical capabilities were obvious from day one.
It's going to take more than a few years for him to become a serious contributor on offense, but his defense is already very good in the sense that he's not getting caught out of position as much and isn't jumping on every pump fake.
We'll have to wait for this summer to see how highly the Spurs rate him. If we don't get a legit starter to replace Barnes, then it's all on CB to take advantage of it.

By the way, a comparison to Bowen and Green is still getting ahead of yourself… these two are being way underrated.

When they first became contributors, neither did anything on offense other than corner 3s and some cuts here and there.
Their defense developed to DPOY level throughout the years, but 2012 Danny wasn't on the level of 2014, which doesn't mean 2012 wasn't a good contributor.

 

[Guru of Nothing]

Huge wingspan + dudes yoked

Yep, just ask Daniel Gafford how stout CB is.

 

[CGD]

Do we really need to upgrade the Vassell position? Vassell has upgraded the Vassell position himself this season by being a better player and decision-maker.
Surely, PF depth is the biggest need

I personally think we do. He’s been better for sure this year, but the inconsistency is painful. The team will surely take a hard look at how he performs in the playoffs before making a decision. Maybe his iso skill come in clutch in that setting, so who knows.

In any case, I think the team needs to use his long term salary in different ways. So could be it’s used to address the PF need you suggest too.

 

[Correct Crusader]

I personally think we do. He’s been better for sure this year, but the inconsistency is painful. The team will surely take a hard look at how he performs in the playoffs before making a decision. Maybe his iso skill come in clutch in that setting, so who knows.

In any case, I think the team needs to use his long term salary in different ways. So could be it’s used to address the PF need you suggest too.

The nature of shooting variance in the NBA will mean anyone who shoots a lot will have hot and cold streaks. If a player were just a solid 40% shooter every single night he'd be the most valuable player in the NBA

 

[Biggems]

Where can I find a list of available players cut before the March deadline?