Player The unfortunately low-ceilinged Shaolin monastery of Victor Wembanyama

[CGD]

I hope to see these 2 together more often. I heard of Wemby working with LaMarcus in his rookie year, but only like once or twice.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2024862978508460081

That should be his next project. He’s never gonna be a bruiser down low

 

[TimmyBuckets]

Think SGA already has it locked up tbh. Joker was leading the race before he went down with his freak injury, but it's pretty much been a wrap since then. SGA can miss 11 of the last 27 games and still win it so it so need for him to rush back either. As for Wemby, I think most voters would go with Cade over him right now if SGA wasn't eligible for whatever reason tbh.

Agreed for sure. Wemby would need a very high ppg performance the rest of the season, and that's unlikely with our balanced attack.

 

[wEmBoY]

If Spurs "only" win the West, it's likely the best record overall comes from Detroit, and that would likely mean Cade gets the nod. Spurs need to get to #1 overall for Wemby to win MVP IMO.

He need stats. Not only the best record overall.

 

[KobesAchilles]

All time greats are able to win both MVPs and the title in the same year. So anybody acting like Wemby has to choose between them is insane. Shaq, LeBron, Mike, Bird, Magic, Jabber, Duncan, Hakeem, Russel, Wilt, Giannis(?), anmd Shay all won MVP and a championship the same damn year

Heck before Dirk in 07 it was unheard of for the MVP to be bounced early in the playoffs with almost all of them making atleast the CFs if not the Finals. So Wemby winning an MVP historically means we are making a deep postseason run. And all time greats winning an MVP historically means a championship for their team. So yeah give me the damn MVP for Wemby

 

[Exstatic]

That should be his next project. He’s never gonna be a bruiser down low

I disagree. LMA used the turnaround fadeaway, because there was a possibility of his shot being blocked. Same with Dirk. That possibility doesn’t really exist for Wemby. There’s no need to make any shot more difficult. He can just face, rise up, and shoot over anyone. No need to turn around or fade away, like ever. Every shot is like open gym.

 

[Correct Crusader]

 

[MannyIG]

If Spurs "only" win the West, it's likely the best record overall comes from Detroit, and that would likely mean Cade gets the nod. Spurs need to get to #1 overall for Wemby to win MVP IMO.

Disagree. The west is way tougher than the east. If the Spurs somehow pass OKC Wemby will win MVP.

 

[Ice009]

His per game averages are too low imo, but if they pump up big and add up to 28-30ppg and we clinch first, it's a no-brainer he's the MVP. I just don't think it's likely.

His averages are not going to go up anywhere near that much in the last 27 or whatever games it is. Anthony Edwards said it at the all-star game, that he told his Minnesota teammates that their averages aren't going to change much between now and the end of the season (they are what they are and just won't change much) and that they should not worry about trying to chase numbers and lock-in the rest of the regular season. I thought it was pretty smart of AE to say that.

There's just not enough games left to significantly alter stats for most players. In Vic's case, maybe he can alter his a bit more due to not having played as many games, but for the majority, there's no point chasing stats if your team is looking to win.

 

[Fireball]

I would definitely take 200 millions over 250 millions to have better players around me, even 150. People just don't realize how much money that is and that is before any sponsoring contracts. I'd rather have my name remembered because I won more titles than die with 200 millions in my bank account. You can live off the interests EASILY (meaning having a luxurious life) for the rest of your life

completely disagree. this guy has prepared himself and his body for years and years, has a rigid training system which puts limits on just enjoying life. yes, the guy wants to win, but you do not invest this much without wanting your first big payday as high as it can be.

 

[couchman]

Giving up money assumes that the team will use it wisely to get better teammates, but that’s not always how it works out. Sometimes it just leads to overspending on someone like KAT

 

[Ice009]

I agreed with Fred initially because I'd like to believe I'd do it (take less) if I was in that situation, but who knows if I really would. It's easy to say when you're not making anywhere near that amount of money on what you'd do if you did.

If I was on this team/in this situation, as I really like guys on this team (Steph, Dylan and also De'Aaron) and since I know how hard they work, I'd like to believe I'd take a pay cut if it meant keeping the team together (sort of like how Tony said he could have left and gotten more money elsewhere, but he wanted to stay and keep the team together, however, in Tony's case, he wasn't the best player on the team so it's not like he could demand the max every time). If I were to do it, it would also depend on the other guys taking a pay cut too (If none of them agreed to, then I definitely wouldn't do it either - it'd have to be a prearranged agreement). Fox already didn't take a pay cut, so that already would make me pause on a pay cut (Maybe he does take a big one on his next contract to stay - not sure if it's possible mathematically, though?). I'd only ever consider it for specific players if I really believed in them and got along great with them. I wouldn't do it for just anyone. It'd be like a 5% type of thing where I'd only do it for a tiny percentage of people.

Basically, with this team, I'd only do it if it meant keeping Steph and Dylan together. If I were Victor, I'd also need to see how they perform/go in the playoffs first too. I really don't know, though, as I probably wouldn't do it when it came down to it. There's just too many factors when you start thinking about it. Like Kobe said, the team makes way more money off of him than what he's making/getting from them, so why should he feel bad or take a pay cut. Kobe really changed my opinion when I heard him say something along those lines. Then you also got to trust the team to do the right thing and a lot of them don't (Having said that, the Spurs are one of the rare teams I might trust to do that).

Giving up money assumes that the team will use it wisely to get better teammates, but that’s not always how it works out. Sometimes it just leads to overspending on someone like KAT

That's the point, I think I'd only ever consider if for keeping a team together like Tony did with the big three. I don't think I'd do it on a promise of the team going out and getting players to add to the team as what if it doesn't work out or if they couldn't get the player? You gave up the money for nothing. I'd only consider it to keep an established/great core together. Anyway, no idea, take all I said with a grain of salt as I may not do it if I was really in that situation.

 

[John B]

I bet Victor would get more money from endorsements and appearances than his NBA contracts, and being in a winning team, meaning having solid teammates help. So it serves the purpose of sacrificing some to gain more!

 

[Exstatic]

I bet Victor would get more money from endorsements and appearances than his NBA contracts, and being in a winning team, meaning having solid teammates help. So it serves the purpose of sacrificing some to gain more!

Or, he can have all of that AND his max salary!

 

[frenchfred]

Not that I don't believe you think you would, but - easy talk when it's not your 50 million, 100 million to lose, tbh. There's dozens of players in the league who are stars and get endorsements, and aren't LeBron-level stingy; if it was easy as you say, we'd see it happen significantly more.

Turns out most people will choose the money over the chance at better teammates (remember, you're signing off on getting 50M less, but no guarantees that it'll directly produce better players around you). Also, the frankly shocking statistics of what % of NBA players end up poor after retirement (see the Big Baby Davis fraud case for starters) goes against your last notion.

It's the same way everyone jerks off to "oh, if I were a billionaire, I'd give so much of it away...!!", yet none of the actual B's are doing it... Wonder why.

Maybe it is the environment I grew up in, but if I just made a 55 million rookie contract and 100 million Nike contract, I would not worry a bit about making 150 or 250. I would be already set before I sign this contract. I'd rather go for the accolade in my field especially if I had the tools to be the best who has ever played.

 

[elpimpo4cc]

Wemby gots to get PAID

 

[elpimpo4cc]

Bc likely won't be playing after age 30

 

[frenchfred]

completely disagree. this guy has prepared himself and his body for years and years, has a rigid training system which puts limits on just enjoying life. yes, the guy wants to win, but you do not invest this much without wanting your first big payday as high as it can be.

that depends what your goal is. He already signed a 55-million dollar rookie contract, a 100-million dollar Nike contract and god knows what other endorsement contracts. If money is the most important thing in your life, yes take the money, but if I trained all these years as you say to be the best, my goal would be to be remembered as the best and you only do that by winning titles. Again, it depends on what's most important to you.

 

[KobesAchilles]

that depends what your goal is. He already signed a 55-million dollar rookie contract, a 100-million dollar Nike contract and god knows what other endorsement contracts. If money is the most important thing in your life, yes take the money, but if I trained all these years as you say to be the best, my goal would be to be remembered as the best and you only do that by winning titles. Again, it depends on what's most important to you.

I like how in your scenario this is an either or. Duncan made the max and won 3 championships. He only won one making less than the max (can’t count rookie deal Duncan). Nobody shit talks Duncan.
If Wemby is an All time great he will win a championship by making the max amount of money.

 

[LeBowen]

Wemby will be the best player in the league, no reason for him to take a discount.
Castle and Harper should be the ones taking a discount if they want to play with the best player in the league.

If we get a championship or two before Wemby's first extension ends, then we can talk about him taking a discount to keep the winning roster together.

 

[frenchfred]

I like how in your scenario this is an either or. Duncan made the max and won 3 championships. He only won one making less than the max (can’t count rookie deal Duncan). Nobody shit talks Duncan.
If Wemby is an All time great he will win a championship by making the max amount of money.

That was also at a time without the eprons. Eprons make it harder to build teams with many high-salary players. If Castle and Harper continue to develop to a point where they might get close to the max, we won't be able to keep the three of them and have a solid team around, that's the reality.

Obviously Wemby will do what he wants, I'm just telling you what I'd do.

 

[DAF86]

Wemby will be the best player in the league, no reason for him to take a discount.
Castle and Harper should be the ones taking a discount if they want to play with the best player in the league.

If we get a championship or two before Wemby's first extension ends, then we can talk about him taking a discount to keep the winning roster together.

The franchise players are usually the ones that set the tone by taking a discount, tbh. It makes sense because it is their legacies that get the biggest boost from the team doing well.

Co-stars are more likely to follow suit if the franchise players does it, but they are less likely to take discounts if the #1 guy gets all the money and most of the credit, tbh.

 

[ambchang]

It’s not even about money, it’s pride.

 

[TimmyBuckets]

Or, he can have all of that AND his max salary!

Exactly. He'll take the full max, and the Spurs will still surround him with great players. I'm not concerned.

 

[dn0774]

The rookie max extension is called the “fun max” for a reason. You pay him it, no negotiation needs to be had. Don’t get cute and overthink it or risk offending your franchise player with some pie in the sky idea.

Castle and Harper extensions are more likely to be the tough ones (unless they progress to the point of being no brainer max extensions).

 

[scott]

The rookie max extension is called the “fun max” for a reason. You pay him it, no negotiation needs to be had. Don’t get cute and overthink it or risk offending your franchise player with some pie in the sky idea.

Castle and Harper extensions are more likely to be the tough ones (unless they progress to the point of being no brainer max extensions).

I think Amen's extension is going to tell us a lot this offseason. Have seen discussion from Rox fans that they don't think it should be bigger than Sengun's (which averages $37MM over the duration, maxing out at $39MM and has it's highest % hit this year at 21.95%).

Amen is a better defender than Castle, but Steph is trending to be a more effective offensive player (though the impact metrics don't currently suggest that). I think his deal is going to be quite telling, though there is also a decent probability that Amen's offensive limitations get further exposed in the playoffs and make this a really bad comparison.