One of many sensible trades the Spurs made within the offseason concerned basically renting out cap area because the third workforce in a deal that landed Max Struss in Cleveland. In return, San Antonio acquired two future second-round picks, money consideration and Cedi Osman.
Osman was discarded by the Cavs as they upgraded their roster and was a little bit of an afterthought in the entire transaction. 5 video games into the season, the Turkish veteran has change into a key bench piece for a Spurs workforce that finds itself with a optimistic file.
The curious factor with Osman and the Spurs is that San Antonio first expressed curiosity within the ahead again when he was in Europe. Since they didn’t have the rights to him they couldn’t get him, however somebody within the entrance workplace noticed one thing they favored, even again then. Information of the curiosity resurfaced after years, which was somewhat shocking since Osman had a good however unspectacular NBA profession on some principally dangerous post-LeBron James Cavaliers groups. When he lastly landed in San Antonio, it was truthful to ask if it was somewhat too late for the partnership to be auspicious. The Spurs had different veterans in his place on the time and arguably an extra of forwards usually.
It’s early, however Osman looks as if an awesome addition. Solely Tre Jones has gotten extra minutes off the bench. Regardless of having the tall process of subbing in for Victor Wembanyama and solely taking part in underneath a 3rd of his minutes with the star rookie, Osman has executed job of serving to lineups survive due to his red-hot capturing. The veteran combo ahead is connecting on half of his threes to this point regardless of firing them in quantity and a few of these lengthy bombs have are available in essential moments, too. The skin capturing has been unquestionably an important contribution Osman has made, however he’s additionally executed a good job in different areas, hardly being a legal responsibility on protection and making the fitting performs as a rule.
Osman has merely been the proper veteran to this point. He doesn’t want the ball, his power is capturing, which the workforce lacks, and he appears motivated to contribute whereas settling right into a restrictive however essential function. Now, ought to he be the seventh man on a workforce that wishes to make the playoffs? His time as a significant piece in Cleveland’s rotation suggests the reply might be no. The capturing share will taper off sooner or later and a Spurs’ bench that’s trying like a possible weak spot will seemingly worsen. However we’ve seen journeymen arrive in San Antonio and discover their place on the planet a number of instances, so why can’t it occur once more? So long as Cedi is hitting above the league common from past the arc he’ll be an awesome flooring spacer for the extra conventional models Gregg Popovich deploys when Wemby rests.
Granted, it is likely to be wishful considering to even entertain the thought of Osman as being a key participant on a Spurs workforce that vastly exceeds expectations. It’s actually too early within the 12 months to even get gauge of how good the workforce really is and map out the rotation going ahead. Accidents and dangerous stretches can change the whole lot. Doug McDermott and doubtlessly Julian Champagnie are ready for his or her alternative to say the bench shooter function or eat into Osman’s minutes. If the workforce really overachieves or appears forward of schedule close to the commerce deadline, upgrading the bench may change into a precedence and Osman may discover his place within the rotation gone or may even be one of many items the entrance workplace makes use of to get a greater participant.
It’s positively overly optimistic to assume that what has gone proper to this point will proceed to go proper because the video games progress, however it’s arduous responsible any Spurs fan for being somewhat too enthusiastic. There’s time to debate what’s not working whereas nonetheless having fun with the little distinctive tales that make this workforce pleasing and there’s arguably not a greater non-Wemby-related narrative occurring in San Antonio than Cedi Osman, fated Spur, who lastly discovered his means house to rain fireplace on the remainder of the league.
Actuality will seemingly set in quickly sufficient, turning Osman into the typical shooter he’s been for years. Some may say that’s a purpose to include your pleasure however the reverse is true. Indulge within the ephemeral magic of the small pattern sizes when you can and luxuriate in Cedi Osman, elite bench sniper and throwaway asset was a key contributor for a franchise that wished him for years.
