Discuss a response! Through the All-Star break we requested on your questions, and boy did we get questions! You submitted so many good ones that we’re going to have to separate the replies up into a number of posts. Not that we’re complaining, it’s drawback to have.
As soon as once more Pounders have confirmed to be on the ball in the case of maintaining with this website, Spurs information, and the NBA basically.
In case your query didn’t get answered in the present day, simply know that you would be able to proceed submitting it and others within the feedback under, as we’ll completely be combing by way of each certainly one of them.
So far as this version of the Mailbag is worried, we’ll be taking a stab at some team-building inquires, All-Star recreation points, and a little bit of a Sophie’s Alternative concerning Spurs of the previous.
Returning to assist me out with this batch of mail is fellow PTR common, August Bembel, again along with his totally Germanic spin on all issues Spurs and to stability out my nonsense (or improve it).
Let’s get to it!
TheZanester asks:
Who would you somewhat have on this staff, Parker or Manu?
Devon: Full disclosure that I had this one despatched to me on Twitter from the final mailbag, but it surely was such query I simply needed to preserve it. I’m not kidding after I say that we’ll maintain onto the questions we don’t reply instantly. This query was particularly a couple of 10-day contract, however I believe it’s extra spicy if we think about Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili of their primes!
On the floor, this doesn’t look like a tough query. I’ve written two prolonged articles in my time right here about how underrated Tony Parker has generally been in the case of the Spurs fan-base, and one other two about how beloved Manu Ginobili was/is.
Nonetheless, given the state of the staff, this was a tricky name. On the one hand, Manu Ginobili is a contemporary analytics darling, largely as a result of the overwhelming majority of his shot profile completely matches that of the trendy recreation. Manu did most of his injury both on the rim or from past the arc, which is a giant a part of why his recreation aged so nicely, even when his physique didn’t.
However, probably the most gaping gap on the roster this season has been at point-guard. And whereas Tre Jones being elevated to the beginning lineup has mitigated a few of these points, it’s not laborious to know why followers aren’t precisely ecstatic about it. Tre Jones is finally greatest suited as a backup who can deal with some spot beginning duties. Whereas Tony Parker was the engine that drove San Antonio’s offense into the trendy recreation, and served because the drive-and-dish demigod who made that offense hum.
Moreover, Parker spent years getting the ball to freakish large males Tim Duncan, LaMarcus Aldridge, (and even briefly) David Robinson. The mere concept of Parker working pick-and-roll with Victor Wembanyama makes me salivate, to not point out the on-court language benefit they may exploit towards most groups.
(And whereas he by no means did it at quantity, it ought to be famous that Parker solely shot worse than .353 from three as soon as from 2010-2016.)
Nonetheless, the opposite appreciable roster subject has been the bench, and there have been possibly two gamers who’ve ever been higher off the pine than Emanuel David Ginobili. In his prime, Manu was an absolute flamethrower whether or not within the beginning lineup or not, critically contending with Kobe Bryant in a wide range of capturing and per-minute statistics from 2003-2008.
Add in his lineup versatility and ball-handling + passing expertise (you can fairly play him 1-3), and a slight defensive edge, and I believe I’d need to take Manu. However it’s very shut. I’m to listen to August’s tackle this one.
August: The mere concept of Parker working pick-and-roll with Victor Wembanyama makes you salivate? Okay. I can completely see why. However doesn’t the mere concept of Manu working pick-and-roll with Wemby make you salivate simply as nicely? It does me! And Manu’s different expertise deal with extra of the Spurs present wants than Tony’s.
If Tony changed Tre within the beginning line-up, the Spurs would have a hell of an improve on the offensive finish, however they’d be changing a non-shooter with one other non-shooter. You may by no means have sufficient capturing/spacing and the Spurs don’t have almost sufficient to start with. Additionally, I might argue that Tony was greatest utilized along with skilled gamers that knew precisely what they have been doing.
Only one instance: If he didn’t just like the play that opened up after a display screen, he had a behavior of ready for the following one. Frankly, I’m unsure there’s sufficient self-discipline and expertise on the Spurs’ roster proper now to orchestrate an offense like Parker did in his prime.
Tony was an ideal level guard to pair with the man whose nickname rightfully was “The Huge Basic”. However Wemby isn’t a “Huge Basic”, he’s a man who opens up fully new alternatives. Manu, along with his actually limitless creativity, is the man I might die to see doing the issues solely he may/would do with these alternatives.
Devon: I imply, you’re largely preaching to the choir on this one. I simply don’t assume there’s a flawed reply right here, per se. Such as you, I lean in direction of Manu for this train, however I may actually be persuaded by opposing argument. The excellent news is that the Spurs could be nicely served both means.
I’m curious to see what the remark part has to say.
mikrobass3, OriginalCHILLfan, and damphoose ask:
What’s the first main transfer (not draft associated) the Spurs make within the rebuild and when?
What veteran large and veteran PG can we goal this summer time?
What do you assume the Spurs will do in the event that they get the general #1 decide?
Devon: So, I’ve gone forward and lumped these three collectively as a result of all of them really feel like totally different components of the identical query. What are the Spurs going to do that summer time?
And it’s query. After years of watching the Spurs and finding out their each transfer (or lack thereof) it’s confounding to take a stab at precisely what their plan might be. I, for example, thought they could take a stab at buying Tyus Jones from the Wizards for a 2nd spherical decide or two, contemplating the soundness that might possible have added with out compromising their tank, and now I’m simply again on the drafting board muttering madly to myself about Pepe Silvia.
That being mentioned, it’s turning into fairly clear that the whole lot the Spurs are planning for is prone to revolve across the coming decide. It might in all probability appear like certainly one of fellow PTR author Bruno Passos’ stream charts, with so many paths to take accordingly.
My guess is that the Spurs are ready to see in the event that they’ll land a prime 2 decide within the draft. In that case, they’re in all probability taking that decide, present positional hierarchy be damned. The one participant on the roster who has the leverage to fairly complain is Wembanyama, and he’s on file saying he prefers to play the 4 as it’s, so I don’t foresee a lot ruffling of feathers there.
Nonetheless, if the Spurs have been to land a decide within the 3-6 vary, I don’t assume it’s loopy to think about a world by which they commerce the decide. With an terrible lot of smoke surrounding a supposed mutual curiosity between Atlanta’s Trae Younger and the Spurs (per Marc Stein), there’s an actual risk that the Spurs are ready for this yr’s draft place to find out that decide’s commerce worth.
It’s a shrewd transfer if the Spurs discover the decide falling into a spread of gamers they’re not bought on. A 1st spherical decide’s hypothetical worth is never as excessive as a concrete one, and it may give them extra leverage in buying and selling to amass any participant, not simply Younger.
So, if the Spurs do intend to make a commerce for a star participant(s), I’d anticipate it to return someplace between Could thirteenth (the day after the lottery) and June twenty sixth (the day of the draft). And contemplating the best way that these sorts of negotiations can drag on, I’d guess {that a} week or two earlier than the draft could be the most definitely window.
August: I believe the primary main transfer the Spurs make within the rebuild is buying and selling for the most effective obtainable level guard – and that it’ll occur this summer time. We all know Dejounte Murray is accessible. The one means I can see him turning into unavailable is the Hawks doing higher with him because the lead ball handler, now that Trae Younger is injured. If that seems to be the case, Trae Younger will develop into obtainable. And it’s extraordinarily unlikely, however at all times potential, that somebody even higher turns into obtainable by season’s finish.
Wemby, like each different high quality rookie, might be a a lot better participant in yr two. And in Wemby’s case meaning All-NBA-level, particularly whenever you take into consideration that each Julius Randle and Domantas Sabonis made the All-NBA Third Staff final yr.
Age twenty-one Wemby might be a participant adequate to steer a profitable staff. The Spurs know that, and so they received’t repeat previous errors. When you take offense with the time period “errors”, let me rephrase. Perhaps, simply possibly, the Spurs may have carried out extra to maintain Tim Duncan from nearly becoming a member of the Magic. Perhaps, simply possibly, they may have carried out extra to maintain Kawhi completely satisfied.
Contemplating the current previous, and what’s now at stake, they’re going to do completely the whole lot to maintain Wemby completely satisfied. They’ve the brightest prospect within the league. And it may be years (possibly even many years) till one other Wemby-level prospect comes round. Briefly, the Spurs have to present Wemby the chance to begin profitable video games. A degree guard who can rating and make performs is pivotal to that.
The Spurs will want extra to begin profitable video games, although. They’ll want dependable second-unit guys. A type of guys is Tre Jones. However they’ll want a dependable large as nicely. Opposing bigs routinely toy with Zach Collins within the paint, and that should cease. The Spurs will want a bruiser to cease that.
A man who suits that description completely is an unrestricted free agent in the summertime – Isaiah Hartenstein. Sure, the Knicks will in all probability need to re-sign him. Sure, there might be different franchises going after him laborious. However I would like the Spurs to be a type of franchises.
As for a possible second primary decide in a row, let me emphasize I don’t watch school or every other kind of pre-NBA basketball. I learn mock drafts. And what I’m studying goes one thing like this: Not one of the guys within the class would have been within the dialog for primary decide in any of the ten most up-to-date lessons.
Meaning the primary decide within the upcoming draft will possible be an overpay in his rookie years. That’s one thing the Spurs can and doubtless are keen to abdomen, if they’ll not less than see them as somebody who could be a starter alongside Wemby.
Usually I might say that it’s an especially unhealthy concept to draft for positional want with the primary decide: hashtag 1984 (I’m speaking the Sam Bowie + Trailblazers draft disaster, not Orwell’s dystopian novel), however this additionally isn’t the category of 1984, and among the best prospects within the draft tasks to not less than fill a place of want – Zachary Risacher.
If the Spurs get to make use of their decide on him, even when it’s the primary decide, I actually wouldn’t be disenchanted, based mostly on what I’ve examine him.
Devon: Fascinating. I prefer it. I agree wholeheartedly that time guard/main ball-handler and backup large ought to be clear priorities for the Spurs, however I believe it’s extra possible that they attempt to fill a type of holes by way of the draft.
Particularly, I believe they’re prone to keep out of the bidding for Hartenstein until curiosity from the Knicks and different groups is low-ish. The Kicks having his Early Fowl Rights is a significant component since they’ll fairly outbid everybody and still have the necessity/want to retain him. The Spurs may actually use him on the boards, however a current contract miscalculation for a backup large and the best way they shipped out Poeltl factors to a want to maintain the worth low.
It’s additionally draft for giant males, with numerous respected mocks giving as many as eight such gamers 1st spherical grades. It’s not typically that that many true bigs go within the 1st spherical anymore, so I believe the Spurs might hedge their bets on 1-2 of these gamers drifting into the early 2nd spherical the place they’ll be ready.
I’m extra to see what the Spurs will try this Raptors decide if it comes out their means. The Spurs have wants on the 3 and the 4, and doubly so if Keldon Johnson is shipped out for contract matching functions. One participant to keep watch over is Matas Buzelis, who has guard expertise in a long-frame, a nasty floater, and an above-average exterior shot.
The Spurs love amassing versatile Euros, and he jogs my memory of an extended Gordon Hayward. I’d like to see that child working a high-low recreation with Victor, with the Spurs working a full-on 5-out offense that provides Victor all of the room to function.
Mark Barrington asks:
Is there any solution to repair the annual All Star Recreation? It’s at present unwatchable.
Devon: Hmm. You realize, it is a actual Gordian Knot. Principally as a result of I’m unsure that it may be fastened in a means that the gamers received’t revolt towards. Certain, there are a few of them with bellies stuffed with metal, able to duke it out at recreation pace. However there’s one other contingent who like the best way issues are, and principally intend to make use of it for relaxation and twitter highlights.
The factor is, that in the event you actually look into it, the gamers and followers have at all times felt that the All-Star recreation was performed softer than the common season. And, for probably the most half, that’s been correct. So actually, the sport’s present state is only a reflection of how little protection is performed on this period of the game. I believe if you wish to tighten it up, it’s important to tighten up the principles within the common season. So long as gamers are going for 50+ factors on a weekly foundation within the common season, you’re going to finish up with All-Star video games with 211-186 closing scores.
That being mentioned, I believe making the sport extra adversarial may assist. Take the East vs West format and alter it to U.S. vs World, as Adam Silver has hinted at lately. Put one thing reputational on the road. All of those gamers can sleep on beds of their very own cash, so solely pleasure is prone to inspire them at this level.
As for the Dunk Contest, I believe both an identical U.S. vs World format, or an NBA vs NCAA format will revitalize it. Have you ever seen the school dunk contests? A few of these children are pulling issues off that you just used to solely see from high-flyers within the NBA. And because the late Toby Keith was conscious, nothing sells just like the egoism of age towards the audacity of youth.
August: I hate to brush away Mark’s query, however I’ve truthfully by no means watched the All-Star recreation, nor can I ever see myself watching it. I’m not even positive it wants fixing. I see the All-Star Recreation as a advertising instrument directed at potential NBA followers, not at individuals who already are or have been for ages. For any Spur that has ever taken half within the All-Star Recreation, my one and solely curiosity was they returned unhurt.
Devon: Truthfully, I believe you will have answered Mark’s query higher than I ever may. Lengthy reside advertising nihilism! I can’t wait till the NBA sells the rights to the half-court emblem to the best bidder and Trojan™ wins. Ball’s of their courtroom.
Nicely, that’ll do it for this a part of the PtR mailbag. Thanks for your whole questions. We’ll be again with the remainder lickety-split.
We at all times admire your interplay (there wouldn’t be a mailbag with out mail!), so you probably have questions you’ll be able to submit them on Twitter to @devonbirdsong (with the topic: Mailbag Query), drop a remark down under on this put up, or within the feedback of our Mailbag Twitter posts. Cheers!
