Spurs Third-String Center Discussion

[Guru of Nothing]

Let's see if this worthy of a separate thread. The topic is trades for now, and Biyombo and Olynyk game logs, but becomes the Spurs official 2nd round draft pick thread after the trade deadline ...until we convert it to cash. A bit of a duckbilled platypus topic.

Even with good health outcomes, upgrading at 3rd string C is second priority only to finding a W/PF that can shoot and play defense (and cost-controlled). With the benfit of hindsight if we do nothing, I'll bet we look back on this season and feel we could have finished 2 or 3 games better with better depth at center, which could have a pretty big effect on playoff seeding.

Anybody have some low-key players to target before trade deadline? Is Nick Richards and his $5M expiring worth kicking the tires on? I'm not familiar with Nick the person and how he might fit with the team. Maluach's minutes are miniscule, so not sure where he is in his development, but surely he'll need more minutes, and probably at the expense of Richards. Ha, we exchange Sochan for Richards, and Dillon Brooks turns Jeremy into a monster who haunts the Spurs for the rest of the decade.

We'll see lots of highlight in this thread for all the players we passed on too, so stay tuned Danny Wolf fans.

 

[Valparaiso]

Maxime Raynaud? He's 22, and pals with Wemby. It's always a good idea to entertain the idea of negotiations with the Kings. Maybe we walk away with Raynaud and Keon Ellis.

 

[CGD]

Great, great thread.

 

[Itzsoweezee]

This is exactly the purpose of a second round pick or two, but alas…

 

[Guru of Nothing]

This guy?

 

[Ice009]

I mentioned Maxime before and have wanted to get an opinion, but since he stated he wanted to be in/near California, I thought it's a waste of time thinking about it. Would the Spurs have even drafted him or tried to draft him if he didn't make it known he didn't want to go elsewhere.

I was interested in Brooke Lopez as a third string center before free agency, but to trade for, I think he's making too much now and is getting close to washed. His defense sucks, but I wouldn't have minded him to be able to space the floor for the guards and as another member on ST pointed out, he is good at boxing out for rebounds. I don't know, Mitch might be able to find a use for him, but I wouldn't want to match salary in a trade for him. He's not worth what he's getting paid.

Nick Richards, I'm not that familiar with his game, but he'd be an interesting option.

 

[LeBowen]

Forget about getting someone proven to be the third stringer considering that there are so many teams that need rim protection out there.
Our only options before next summer are finding someone in G-league or even in Europe since a lot of players have exit clauses for the NBA.
But I'm not familiar with either market enough to say if there's anyone solid enough available.

Ideally we get another Bassey, this time with functional knees.

 

[spurraider21]

We had the #38 pick. Could have moved up to secure Kalkbrenner (I’d have preferred Fleming but do something). Or just don’t trade your pick for cash and take Raynaud

 

[mo7888]

There'll be a couple Centers on the board where we end of picking this year.

 

[Guru of Nothing]

There'll be a couple Centers on the board where we end of picking this year.

Check out Aday Mara, 7'3" C, Michagan, 21 years old. Currently #42 on Tankathon Big Board. A quick glance at his highlights suggests he will rise up the board. Pretty good athleticism/movement for a guy his size, and his rim protection looks to be S-tier.

 

[gospursgo91]

Charles Bassey or James Wiseman

 

[SpursBills]

In the second round, you're looking probably one way guys who are either very old or fairly unproven. It was actually insane that Kalkbrenner lasted into the second round last year because based on most metrics (anthro, production, team effect) he should have been late first at worst. This year, dudes like Ngongba and Steinbach will probably go somewhere in the first round so you could certainly use this year's pick on them. I'd be surprised if Mara drops into the second round esp if he has a productive season - his intersection of size, rim protection, and passing is going to be too enticing to pass up esp with the rise of giants in the league.

In the second round, I might be looking at someone like Bidunga out of Kansas - he'll probably drop because he's undersized (probably 6'8-6'9" without shoes) and his offense is pretty limited. But he's a high level athlete, has good instincts, and is an excellent defender / rim protector in spite of his size. Jojo tugler out of Houston is another possibility, but he seems like he is and will continue to be a complete zero on offense moving forward, unlike Bidunga who has more potential to be more well rounded.

 

[dn0774]

In normal circumstances the quality of your 3rd big doesn't really impact season wins/losses, that isn't the case with us. If Wemby & Kornet are going to miss weeks for every tweak then we need to invest in a legit 3rd big. I don't blame BWright for rolling with Biyombo initially, but by the end of October it was obviously not going to work so I do blame BWright for not acting on that data then.

Spend some future draft capital (2nd rounders) to find a younger guy (like 26 or under) with actual size who can at least protect the paint. Being able to competently set a pick and catch a basketball would be a bonus. They will otherwise just sell the 2nd rounders as we have so many, may as well get something that can add a few wins to our regular season.

Watching Harper have to work the 2 man game with Biyombo or Sochan is getting depressing, can't imagine how frustrating it is for him. It only puts more pressure on Harper to finish the play as his roll man isn't actually a threat.

Everyone panned the Rockets for signing Capella as their 3rd big saying he was a pointless addition and wouldn't get any minutes. Yet here we are, 1.5 months into the season and he is on track for 800 minutes this season and has absolutely added value, depth and continuity to their lineups.

 

[DTW]

The Spurs should target Jalen Smith. A hybrid C, 25, with a prorated 2/$18.4 million remaining on his contract, is a respectable 3-point shooter/shot blocker and solid rebounder, who could pair with any of the other 4/5 options. Good enough to be in the rotation, not good enough for it to be an issue if the top 9 are ever all available and he's not.

If the Bulls want to increase their cap space next off season, Smith, Carter (expiring) and one of Terry (expiring)/Phillips (team option) for Olynyk and Sochan makes sense. Spurs would have to waive Terry/Phillips or Biyombo to become roster compliant.

 

[dn0774]

The Spurs should target Jalen Smith. A hybrid C, 25, with a prorated 2/$18.4 million remaining on his contract, is a respectable 3-point shooter/shot blocker and solid rebounder, who could pair with any of the other 4/5 options. Good enough to be in the rotation, not good enough for it to be an issue if the top 9 are ever all available and he's not.

If the Bulls want to increase their cap space next off season, Smith, Carter (expiring) and one of Terry (expiring)/Phillips (team option) for Olynyk and Sochan makes sense. Spurs would have to waive Terry/Phillips or Biyombo to become roster compliant.

He seems solid, I remember him from our game earlier this year against the Bulls. He is probably a little overqualified (and thus overpaid) for our needs. He also seems on the smaller side similar to Bismack but at least Jalen has bounce in his legs unlike Biyombo at this stage. Biyombo can't deter shots in the paint or rebound anymore, we just can't accept that from a "big" on our team, 3rd string or not. I just want to see a move.

 

[Exstatic]

The Spurs should target Jalen Smith. A hybrid C, 25, with a prorated 2/$18.4 million remaining on his contract, is a respectable 3-point shooter/shot blocker and solid rebounder, who could pair with any of the other 4/5 options. Good enough to be in the rotation, not good enough for it to be an issue if the top 9 are ever all available and he's not.

If the Bulls want to increase their cap space next off season, Smith, Carter (expiring) and one of Terry (expiring)/Phillips (team option) for Olynyk and Sochan makes sense. Spurs would have to waive Terry/Phillips or Biyombo to become roster compliant.

If we’re looking at third sting, we should target defense, not floor stretching. Jalen isn’t great on D.

 

[pope]

Hear me out… Drew Eubanks.

Let’s bring him home

 

[Ice009]

In the second round, you're looking probably one way guys who are either very old or fairly unproven. It was actually insane that Kalkbrenner lasted into the second round last year because based on most metrics (anthro, production, team effect) he should have been late first at worst. This year, dudes like Ngongba and Steinbach will probably go somewhere in the first round so you could certainly use this year's pick on them. I'd be surprised if Mara drops into the second round esp if he has a productive season - his intersection of size, rim protection, and passing is going to be too enticing to pass up esp with the rise of giants in the league.

Darn, I really didn't want to hear this as I wanted Kalkbrenner last draft . I thought there might be other guys in the Spurs' second round range this upcoming draft.

If we’re looking at third sting, we should target defense, not floor stretching. Jalen isn’t great on D.

This is the thing, like LeBowen said to me a day to two ago, you can't find many of those types as everyone needs them (rim protecting defensive centers). If you can't find one like that, I'd be looking for someone that can space the floor a little bit, set screens and box out good/rebound for themselves. If you can't get a rim protector, I'd at least try and get someone who can score a bit/space the floor for our guards that. Someone that's at least a thread on offense who can also negate what he gives up on defense. Bismack can't make up what he gives up on defense even just a little bit on offense (it's a huge negative anytime he plays).

 

[Ice009]

Hear me out… Drew Eubanks.

Let’s bring him home

I'd take Jock Landale or Drew, but they're both signed to a team and I don't think I'd want to give up assets to acquire them. Not sure if Drew left on good terms with the Spurs?

 

[Robz4000]

I'd legit just bring back Bassey or call up Potter tbh. They don't need amazing production from the C position, just someone who can deter opposing teams from walking to the rim.

 

[Paramore]

Kai Sotto hahahaha

 

[Exstatic]

Darn, I really didn't want to hear this as I wanted Kalkbrenner last draft . I thought there might be other guys in the Spurs' second round range this upcoming draft.

This is the thing, like LeBowen said to me a day to two ago, you can't find many of those types as everyone needs them (rim protecting defensive centers). If you can't find one like that, I'd be looking for someone that can space the floor a little bit, set screens and box out good/rebound for themselves. If you can't get a rim protector, I'd at least try and get someone who can score a bit/space the floor for our guards that. Someone that's at least a thread on offense who can also negate what he gives up on defense. Bismack can't make up what he gives up on defense even just a little bit on offense (it's a huge negative anytime he plays).

Kelly Olynyk can space the floor. He can do all of those things,and yet, he barely sees the floor, because the Spurs are prioritizing defense.

 

[onechance87]

I mentioned Maxime before and have wanted to get an opinion, but since he stated he wanted to be in/near California, I thought it's a waste of time thinking about it. Would the Spurs have even drafted him or tried to draft him if he didn't make it known he didn't want to go elsewhere.

I was interested in Brooke Lopez as a third string center before free agency, but to trade for, I think he's making too much now and is getting close to washed. His defense sucks, but I wouldn't have minded him to be able to space the floor for the guards and as another member on ST pointed out, he is good at boxing out for rebounds. I don't know, Mitch might be able to find a use for him, but I wouldn't want to match salary in a trade for him. He's not worth what he's getting paid.

Nick Richards, I'm not that familiar with his game, but he'd be an interesting option.

A guy drafted in the secound round wouldnt be picky where to be drafted.Our front office missed another one.The way wemby
was promoting and showing him love,Pretty much giving the spurs hints he wanted him.But once again our scouts or
front office are dumbasses.He was there to be drafted by us.

 

[Exstatic]

A guy drafted in the secound round wouldnt be picky where to be drafted.Our front office missed another one.The way wemby
was promoting and showing him love,Pretty much giving the spurs hints he wanted him.But once again our scouts or
front office are dumbasses.He was there to be drafted by us.

You haven’t been paying attention for more than a few years. Teams are respecting players wishes in the second round nowadays. Even the Spurs have benefitted. Barlow asked teams not to draft him. I’m not sure he told teams he wanted to sign with us, but that was his intent.

If you draft a player who doesn’t want to be drafted, or drafted by you, they just have to dog it in training camp to the point you cut them, then they go sign where they wanted to in the first place, and you’ve wasted a draft pick.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

this is why I wanted a C in the second round of the draft. He can then develop to take over for Kornet once he's too old. Kalkbrenner and Raynaud were the obvious candidates.

The problem here will be playing time. We'd have to get somebody who can't get a second string role on another team. I think that's the exact reason why Raynaud wanted to go to the Kings, cause his role as backup C was basically guaranteed there.