Player The unfortunately low-ceilinged Shaolin monastery of Victor Wembanyama

[Neuromancer]

EPM data just came out and Vic is nowhere near the top. It's basically Jokic/SGA and everyone else

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Victor has a lot of work to do when he gets back if he really wants to be in the MVP conversation

 

[spurraider21]

Not sure if anybody mentioned this, but unless Wemby wins MVP this year (very unlikely IMO), failing to meet the 65 game threshold next season would rule out the 30% max rookie extension, as he wouldn't qualify for MVP/DPOY/all NBA in the most recent season before the extension (season 4), or 2 of the 3 most recent seasons (due to missing half of season 2, where he'd definitely have made all NBA third team at least and likely DPOY as well).

This is a double edged sword, as on one hand it grants the Spurs some cap flexibility, but on the other it may be an incentive for Wemby to insist on a shorter contract extension or, more likely, a player option on that 5th year. So a relatively minor injury could have a huge impact for both Wemby and the Spurs.

nah, these rookie extension can and are often written to allow the money to escalate. for example, Paolo Banchero has not made an all-nba team. however, the rookie extension he just signed gives him the otherwise typical 25%... but includes a clause that says if he hits the all-nba/mvp/dpoy thing this year, then that money will escalate to the full 30% max.

j-dub has similar language in his deal as well

 

[Ariel]

nah, these rookie extension can and are often written to allow the money to escalate. for example, Paolo Banchero has not made an all-nba team. however, the rookie extension he just signed gives him the otherwise typical 25%... but includes a clause that says if he hits the all-nba/mvp/dpoy thing this year, then that money will escalate to the full 30% max.

j-dub has similar language in his deal as well

Sure, but my point is it comes down to next season only, this season makes no difference unless he wins MVP. Also, for Wemby the 65 games threshold won't be easy to meet, as he's going to get banged up at some point in the season. So basically we were assuming he'd make 30%, but I think it's about a coin tossup at the moment whether he does or he'll have to settle for 25% instead.

 

[spurraider21]

Sure, but my point is it comes down to next season only, this season makes no difference unless he wins MVP. Also, for Wemby the 65 games threshold won't be easy to meet, as he's going to get banged up at some point in the season. So basically we were assuming he'd make 30%, but I think it's about a coin tossup at the moment whether he does or he'll have to settle for 25% instead.

he'd still be wise to extend with the spurs with the deal that is 25% with a chance to reach 30%. he'd be able to extend for 5 years with the spurs. if he instead hit free agency, he is only able to sign for 4 years elsewhere and would still be capped at 25%, even if he just won MVP. plus he'd be gambling against the chance that something awful can happen to him during year 4

 

[scott]

he'd still be wise to extend with the spurs with the deal that is 25% with a chance to reach 30%. he'd be able to extend for 5 years with the spurs. if he instead hit free agency, he is only able to sign for 4 years elsewhere and would still be capped at 25%, even if he just won MVP. plus he'd be gambling against the chance that something awful can happen to him during year 4

I think Ariel’s point is that if Wemby doesn’t hit the 30% max criteria he may opt for a shorter rookie extension that would allow him to hit FA sooner, at which point he can re-sign with the Spurs for the 30% or 35% max (depending on what he qualifies for) since he’ll have missed out on several years of the extra 5%.

In the end, I don’t think it will make that much of a difference. And I would not be totally shocked (but I am not expecting this nor will I say Wemby should do this) if he takes a 25% rookie max anyway to help the team.

 

[LeBowen]

Looking at those touch stats for Devin got me thinking, what's everyone take on this:

I think it actually looks better than expected.
The obvious area for improvement would be points per paint touch, but Wemby isn't suffocating the ball as much as it looks at times. I guess the stats would look way worse if I included just the last 5 games when he got back to KD wannabe mode.

 

[wEmBoY]

Is there any news for wemby’s comeback?

 

[SpursFan86]

Is there any news for wemby’s comeback?

Think he's for sure out for this road trip (through Sunday 11/30) since he's not even traveling with the team. Optimist in me is hoping he can return on 12/2 for the home game against Memphis as that will be ~16 days since his first game missed.

 

[thiste]

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

Honestly, I couldn’t care less about these so-called skills Wemby always wants to show off. I’m talking about flashy handling moves like behind-the-back dribbles, Shamgod steps, and even, to some extent, three-point shooting. I’m fine with smart, opportunistic threes, but those half-court or logo shots trying to be Curry are just nonsense to me along with all these other alleged "SKIILZ". I remember a coach pointing out that Jokic, or any other “star” like LeBron or Jordan, might touch the ball 100+ times in a game but actually has it for just over 4 minutes total. With all due respect to the guy in the video above, that’s all just content—there’s very little substance to it. He looks funny in his little Ancient Aliens GUY Costume, doesn't he? What makes a true star and Hall of Famer, a generational talent, is what a player does during the other 30+ minutes when the ball isn’t in his hands. That includes what he does off the court to prepare for those moments. That’s team basketball—developing IQ, setting screens, and capitalizing on easy advantages.

With three actual point guards on this team—so many that fans have split into factions, each doing whatever they can to justify getting rid of one or two—the best thing Wemby can do comes straight from what Pete Newell taught “big men” for generations. Here’s the thing: the name is a misnomer; it’s really just about fundamental basketball. A big man should get close to the basket, shoot, rebound, and block shots. Instead, we’ve got our guy hanging out on the perimeter, picking up fouls by reaching in on guards trying to poke the ball away, when he could simply use his wingspan to disrupt passing lanes and shots.

For all of Mitch’s shortcomings so far, I have to give him credit for his “EMBRACE THE BORING, THE MUNDANE, THE FUNDAMENTAL” rap. Now, if only it could somehow sneak past Victor's ego and into our guy’s head.
Better YET.

Watch Pete Newell's Tapes on a Loop. Also, show it to the other guys and maybe they can learn how to make a POST ENTRY PASS.

 

[spursistan]

My man Wemby needs his to get his ass available again soon; that MVP argument is probably dead unless we win 60 games (5-1 without him )
I hope Victor sees that we now have roster to at least be a problem in the West playoffs; it is gonna come down to his health..

 

[wEmBoY]

My man Wemby needs his to get his ass available again soon; that MVP argument is probably dead unless we win 60 games (5-1 without him )
I hope Victor sees that we now have roster to at least be a problem in the West playoffs; it is gonna come down to his health..

I hate to say it but sometime wemby is the reason we lose some games.

 

[Em-City]

I hate to say it but sometime wemby is the reason we lose some games.

Can you think of a game where Spurs had a better chance of winning without Wemby?

 

[John B]

Can you think of a game where Spurs had a better chance of winning without Wemby?

It’s when Wemby starts not trusting the system and hero-ball. Sure some results in a win. And sure we had Manu who many times took those ill-advised shots.

But this is not like Golden States who hauls a shot half-way court. We may not have pioneered making-good-shots-into-better-shots, but Spurs for sure perfected it. Wemby is so skilled, he sometimes like to carry the team on his shoulders, which understandably superstars like MJ, Kobe, tend to do. But Timmy always trusted the process, and never do I recall in 19 years I watched him in Spurs uniform, did I see him rushed a shot or didn’t make the right pass to the open man whether it’s Manu or Avery.

Wemby has a long-way to go to be patient. And yes having a more talented team allowed Timmy had an easier choice, and it would be the same with this team, who just beat Denver in away, crucial Cup Elimination game. When the team talent levels up to the championship caliber where we can truly expect next-man-up to the 15th guy, coz it was like that during the Championship years.

It will be a challenge for Wemby, but he needs to continue being patient and trusting the system. Keep pounding the rock!

 

[ambchang]

Oh crap that bball iq, gotta trade him before his value tanks.

 

[scott]

I don't know if these guys know anything... but it sounds like Wemby isn't that close to returning. Casey Viera when asked if he thought Wemby would be back for the LAL Cup game seemed pretty iffy...

Also, thanks to whoever told me to give Locked On another chance... much better with these two instead of fucking Jeff Garcia's clown ass

 

[spursfanfromafar]

I don't know if these guys know anything... but it sounds like Wemby isn't that close to returning. Casey Viera when asked if he thought Wemby would be back for the LAL Cup game seemed pretty iffy...

Also, thanks to whoever told me to give Locked On another chance... much better with these two instead of fucking Jeff Garcia's clown ass

I doubt if some podcasters have the lowdown on Wemby's return timeline. Michael Wright on the Hoop Collective or was it the Texas hoops podcast on ESPN was saying 2-3 weeks overall. And that fits with the Dec first week timeline. So I suspect Wemby will be back by Dec 8 (against New Orleans).

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

I don't know if these guys know anything... but it sounds like Wemby isn't that close to returning. Casey Viera when asked if he thought Wemby would be back for the LAL Cup game seemed pretty iffy...

Also, thanks to whoever told me to give Locked On another chance... much better with these two instead of fucking Jeff Garcia's clown ass

In the same podcast, Devin Brown, who has access to some of the facilities, hinted he’d be back in time for the Lakers game in December. At 21:44, just look at Devin’s face. I think what Casey is saying is that he won’t be back by December 3rd, the date the Spurs originally suggested for his return. Both reasoning Wemby has a flair for the dramatic.
It’s strange that some posters think Devin Brown wouldn’t have access to or contacts within the organization he played for, especially he’s a strong Spurs family presence in the Bexar County area.

 

[inagra]

Also, thanks to whoever told me to give Locked On another chance... much better with these two instead of fucking Jeff Garcia's clown ass

That guy is fucking terrible.

 

[CrustyCoastBendFan]

That guy is fucking terrible.

Yeah, he seems to want to be doing anything other than covering the Spurs.

 

[The Ballsbreakers]

Wasn't there footage of him doing drills without a walking boot on?

 

[Em-City]

I don't know if these guys know anything... but it sounds like Wemby isn't that close to returning. Casey Viera when asked if he thought Wemby would be back for the LAL Cup game seemed pretty iffy...

Also, thanks to whoever told me to give Locked On another chance... much better with these two instead of fucking Jeff Garcia's clown ass

These guys are still really bad... I could only last 8 minutes - I couldn't make it past the shitty presentation to determine whether their takes were any good

 

[dn0774]

Wasn't there footage of him doing drills without a walking boot on?

Don’t recall ever seeing him in a walking boot to begin with.

My armchair speculation is that the team/Wemby will be loathe to give him a tight minutes restriction (ie 15 mins like with Harper) due to the negative impact that has on his per game averages for award consideration. I think they will opt to give him an extra 7-10 days beyond what they normally would so when he comes back they at least feel comfortable with 28+ mins per night.

It does tighten the 65 game window a bit.

 

[spursistan]

Don’t recall ever seeing him in a walking boot to begin with.

My armchair speculation is that the team/Wemby will be loathe to give him a tight minutes restriction (ie 15 mins like with Harper) due to the negative impact that has on his per game averages for award consideration. I think they will opt to give him an extra 7-10 days beyond what they normally would so when he comes back they at least feel comfortable with 28+ mins per night.

It does tighten the 65 game window a bit.

It will be interesting to see how hard Wemby is going to lobby to get back on court sooner than later. I think he is in real danger of missing the 65-game cut for awards and All-NBA (6 games already missed and we are still in November) and he knows that. Got to keep a margin of error in case he sustains another injury late in season or some random flu/food poisoning game (s).

 

[CGD]

You know who probably really gives a shit about this cup? Victor. Unless it’s super serious he’s gonna lobby to get out there.