Player The "It's My Time" Busted Clocktower of Devin Vassell

[Shmurs]

The days of the “auto-max” are over for most teams. Nice to see teams and players actually negotiate. Obviously certain players won’t require much negotiation.

I think it’s actually a little crazy what OKC did this summer. If Shai is a max, and there are several other players at that level with him, then Jdub can’t be a max. And if Jdub isn’t a max then Chet certainly isn’t one

But oh well who cares let’s just forfeit dort and Wallace because we have no money and just assume our good drafting will continue.

Still awfully heavy handed with the big money. Even someone in San Antonio just made a mint from this framework even though he has no claim to being on the same level as these top guys

Still very stupid and sloppy and lazy. Franz couldn’t even shoot when they maxed him but “durrrr second best player gets a max!” (And i understand rookie max’s are different but same principle applies about the pay distribution at that level)

 

[dn0774]

I think it’s actually a little crazy what OKC did this summer. If Shai is a max, and there are several other players at that level with him, then Jdub can’t be a max. And if Jdub isn’t a max then Chet certainly isn’t one

But oh well who cares let’s just forfeit dort and Wallace because we have no money and just assume our good drafting will continue.

Still awfully heavy handed with the big money. Even someone in San Antonio just made a mint from this framework even though he has no claim to being on the same level as these top guys

Still very stupid and sloppy and lazy. Franz couldn’t even shoot when they maxed him but “durrrr second best player gets a max!” (And i understand rookie max’s are different but same principle applies about the pay distribution at that level)

Shai is a 35% max though to be fair due to his awards. JDub signed the rookie extension max which is 25% I believe unless (until?) he hits on all NBA awards as well. On the open market he would absolutely get a max offer from another team. Chet is the tough one due to his availability issues. His stats are deflated as well due to being 3rd fiddle behind Shai/JDub but that is the price you pay to be on a stacked elite team.

With OKC winning the title this season it made giving Chet his max an easy decision. They will go forward with Shai/JDub/Chet as the core and cycle in rookie scale contracts guys around them and trade off/not resign vets who command more than they are willing to pay. It is a big bet on their culture, scouting and player development arms of the franchise to keep hitting on picks and bring in 'OKC' type guys. Given their recent history, it is a good bet to make.

 

[scott]

Yeah, the Chet max is an overpay, IMO and eventually OKC will regret that one.

 

[Shmurs]

Shai is a 35% max though to be fair due to his awards. JDub signed the rookie extension max which is 25% I believe unless (until?) he hits on all NBA awards as well. On the open market he would absolutely get a max offer from another team. Chet is the tough one due to his availability issues. His stats are deflated as well due to being 3rd fiddle behind Shai/JDub but that is the price you pay to be on a stacked elite team.

With OKC winning the title this season it made giving Chet his max an easy decision. They will go forward with Shai/JDub/Chet as the core and cycle in rookie scale contracts guys around them and trade off/not resign vets who command more than they are willing to pay. It is a big bet on their culture, scouting and player development arms of the franchise to keep hitting on picks and bring in 'OKC' type guys. Given their recent history, it is a good bet to make.

the argument that others would have paid Jdub if they didn’t is true but that’s another symptom of the sickness.

I don’t know why the nhl figured this out so easily but the nba can’t. There are tiers of star players and each tier needs rewarded differently. In the nba, once you reach a threshold that’s waaaaay below tier 1, you’re Jaylen Brown having the richest deal in league history when he can’t even dribble with both hands.

So stupid. They need to add another apron so the owners and GM’s get this hammered home.

 

[dn0774]

How we feeling 6 games in? I know the stinker he (and the team as a whole) laid yesterday is still fresh, but I am kinda surprised to see his advanced/impact stats looking so rough, and not just from the Suns debacle. I thought for the season so far he seemed solid on the eye test but I guess the numbers just don't agree. It really is a make or miss league and when Devin is missing it gets u g l y fast.

I guess it is still super early, one big game and those metrics could do a 180. Someone is presumably getting plucked from the starting lineup to the bench with Fox's return imminent, likely between Vassell and Champ.

 

[scott]

As a Board Certified Devin Hater, I will say I was very pleased with his play the first 5 games. Even when the shots weren't falling, he was mostly playing the game that we need him to play. That Phoenix game was a regression to the old Devin, but I'm willing to give him a pass since the whole team looked like ass.

 

[Shmurs]

I think he needs to be force fed his role. If there’s any kind of vacuum for initiation he’s going to fill it, even when he shouldn’t. So the gameplan needs to be intentional with who creates and who is off ball. I thought this was fairly crisp until the Phoenix game

 

[LeBowen]

As a Board Certified Devin Hater, I will say I was very pleased with his play the first 5 games. Even when the shots weren't falling, he was mostly playing the game that we need him to play. That Phoenix game was a regression to the old Devin, but I'm willing to give him a pass since the whole team looked like ass.

If we're giving him the benefit of the doubt, he went into main character mode because everyone else was struggling and he wanted to take over. Which he's obviously incapable of.
What annoyed me the most was his 3pt shooting. I don't expect him to stay at 40% all season long, but all of his misses except one weren't even close. That shouldn't happen.
It can happen to role players on minimum deals like Champ, but not to our second highest paid player who's there to make 3pts.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

.458 3G% on 8 attempts per game.

sengün signed his extension in October of 2024, after year 3, and was selected for the 2025 ASG in year 4. His extension kicked in this year. You always sign it one year out.

Ok but he still averaged 21/9/5 at that point. I don't think Castle will blow these numbers out of the water in his third NBA year.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

I want to see Devin with Fox. To me he's an offball player and that's the role he should have and can excel in.

 

[spurraider21]

Awful game by Devin but I’m not going to turn the page on him when he was playing pretty consistently well within his role thru the preseason and first 5 games

 

[Manu20]

I want to see Devin with Fox. To me he's an offball player and that's the role he should have and can excel in.

I'm still in the Devin bandwagon, and yes I think Fox will do wonders for Devin and the role players. I have high expectations from Fox as he is a legit All Star PG.

 

[Shmurs]

Fox will get his supper, and Devin will get the little piece of chicken. I think the dynamic will work. But Vic can’t be passive and let his teammates eat more than him.

 

[spursparker9]

11 games in....8-3 win loss. But Vassell stats are actually awful

That our 27mil per year player.

2025-26 Regular Season
13.9
PPG
3.6
RPG
2.0
APG

0.9
SPG
0.2
BPG

33.2
MPG

40.4
FG%

36.0
3P%

70.6
FT%

53.3
TS%

 

[timtonymanu]

Same shit year after year. Too much career loser tendencies.

 

[STAT88]

Looking forward to the Vassell documentary in 15 years.

“That boy from Suwanee, Georgia”

 

[spursparker9]

Could have pick Haliburton but instead got this Ass

 

[onechance87]

And yall thought it was cause he didnt have a full training camp was the reason he played bad last year lol.

 

[Unseen]

I'm realy beginning to believe he is just 1 of those anti clutch players that does more harm then good down the stretch.

 

[Correct Crusader]

I would love to see Mitch dial up more plays for him in the middle of games when our offense slows down. You can hate Vassell all you want but he can create his own shot very well.

 

[scott]

He needs to swap places in the Starting 5 with Champ. It would do both of them a lot of good.

 

[spursistan]

Simply a low-IQ basketball player. You are not changing that about him; but you can trade him at the right window. Spurs should niftly do it the next time he is on a heater

 

[onechance87]

I would love to see Mitch dial up more plays for him in the middle of games when our offense slows down. You can hate Vassell all you want but he can create his own shot very well.

No i dont want more plays ran for vassell.All he needs to do is hit open shots or make a easy pass to the next open guy.And he
proved in the fourth qtr its to hard for him to do.

 

[Mugen]

People complaining about Fox's contract when Devin's is the worst on the roster, by FAR tbh.

 

[STAT88]

He needs to swap places in the Starting 5 with Champ. It would do both of them a lot of good.

I’m about 99% certain the only reason Vassell is starting over Champ is because of the contracts. The optics of benching a $27M guy just starting a $135M extension for a $3M per season guy is not great. Both for Vassell’s trade value and the Spurs handing out that extension.

Champ with all his limitations is still a legit 3 who is 6’8 guy with a huge 8’11 reach vs Vassell who is 6’5.

Not to mention Vassell’s fit is better with the second unit which needs more scoring.