Hardwood Knocks Takeover: San Antonio Spurs 2025-2026 NBA Season Lookahead

With Mort tending to private matters for the remainder of September, Dan Favale is up to talk about the San Antonio Spurs.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:05):
What is up, Fellasikos? I am Dan Favalley. Our twenty
twenty five twenty twenty six NBA Season look Ahead train
rolls on. We're onto the San Antonio Spurs, which means
I have the distinct pleasure of being joined by Noah
mcgaro George of the Vican Roll Go follow them. The
links to his socials and the vic and Roll will

(00:25):
be in the podcast and YouTube description.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
Noah, how the heck are.

Speaker 3 (00:29):
You doing so good?

Speaker 4 (00:31):
I mean, it's hard to imagine this off season from
the lottery perspective, from some of the like low key
pickups that they had this summer going better for the
Spurs than it could have. Like, I know, everybody always
wants them to add another star, and you know that's
well within the fans rights, but like winning, they're not
outright winning. They didn't get Cooper Fly, but they got
Dylan Harper, Like, how much better could it have gone?

(00:53):
You just got you know, Stefan Castle, you have dearon Fox,
You've got Victor Winbin Yama. I'm I'm doing great, Like
I'm so ready to cover a team that I think
is ready to make a legitimate push to that next step,
like we're not gonna be talking rebuild anymore.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
No, for sure.

Speaker 1 (01:09):
And it's also but because they won the lottery and
because the Aaron Box and Victor remember yeah, but didn't
play a toime together last season before he's out. There's
so much mystery to this team. We're gonna get into
all of it. I didn't mention this to you before
we're supposed to start. I'm doing a terrible job of
this of letting the guests go.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
I'm not texting during the show.

Speaker 1 (01:26):
I'm time stamping, So if you see me on my phone,
I'm still listening.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
That's all I'm doing.

Speaker 1 (01:29):
Supposed to remind you off air, But now listeners get
a peek behind the curtain. I'd like to start with
a bunch of the offseason stuff. The Mitch Johnson him
getting the permanent gig following all the coach pop news,
not a surprise at all. What did you? I guess
the question for me is twofold is do you think
that they should have opened it up at all?

Speaker 2 (01:48):
More beyond him?

Speaker 1 (01:49):
And then I think the more important question is what
did we've learn about Mitch Johnson the head coach during
his stint last year?

Speaker 4 (01:56):
I definitely think you wouldn't be long if you were
upset that they didn't open it up more than past
Mitch Johnson, like, cause there were a lot of people
on the open market, like a lot of coaches lost
their job and good coaches, like really good coaches. But no,
I'm not really that surprised that they went Mitch Johnson.
Like I think with the Spurs, especially during the Papovich era,

(02:18):
you've seen them lean into consistency to continuity over trying
something new, trying to like switch it up immediately. Like
I'm not surprised because it feels like this is a
guy who's been with the organization for nearly ten years now.

Speaker 3 (02:32):
He's gone through the ranks.

Speaker 4 (02:33):
He's you know, gone from assistant to you know, lead
assistant to now head coach, and so you know, I'm
not surprised by that in any way. As far as like,
what did we learn about Mitch Johnson? That is such
a good question, because I don't know.

Speaker 3 (02:48):
I don't know what we learned about Mitch Johnson.

Speaker 4 (02:50):
It felt like a lot last year, Like that was
a question consistently asked by a lot of the media
members who were in the press conferences in the media
Scrums is like, you know, how much is of this
is you and how much of this is Pop? And
you know, pretty consistently, it felt like his answers were like,
you know, I'm in constant contact with Pop. Pop has
a say in all this. We're trying to continue what

(03:11):
he built. So I feel like a lot of last
year was just him continuing to preach what Pop has been,
you know, teaching and implementing over the last couple of years,
and certainly probably Pop's vision for what the team was
gonna look like if Pop stayed healthy last season. But
this season, I think we're gonna learn who Mitch Johnson is,
Like what what does the offense look like compared to
what we've seen from Pop? What what are his defensive principles?

(03:32):
And certainly like we're gonna get into it in a second.
But he brought in Corlis will Williamson, he brought in
you know, Sean Sweeney, and those are guys who I
think are very much known for, you know, like their
their defensive acumen. So what are we gonna learn about
Mitch Johnson? I think everything everything about Mitch Johnson this season?
What do we know about him?

Speaker 3 (03:52):
Right now?

Speaker 4 (03:53):
I'm not really sure so, and I hate, I hate
to use that as a cop out answer, but I really, honestly,
I don't really know what we know that much about
Mitch Johnson right now.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
The darn Fox extension fada complete when they traded for him,
at least him signing a deal. Were you surprised that
it ended up just being the straight max there for
four years?

Speaker 4 (04:12):
A little bit, But you know, in that same breath,
it's like you have Stefan Castle, you sort of lucked
into Dylan Harper. You just traded for this guy. I
think you kind of want to show him that you're
one hundred percent committed. It is a lot of money,
especially if he ends up deteriorating physically, if he's not
playing up to the level that I think you would
expect him or hope that he plays. But I still

(04:34):
think he's fairly tradable if if that, you know, comes
to be the outcome that needs to happen, that they
need to move him or for whatever reason. But I
wasn't super shocked, but I was a little bit surprised
because that is a lot of money for Daron Fox,
a guy who you know, even with the with the
hand issue, last year the finger issue on his you know,
dominant shooting hand, didn't have the most productive season, but again,

(04:57):
that's I think more than a good excuse for him
not to have his standard of you know, like a
twenty five to five and five.

Speaker 3 (05:03):
Season on good efficiency.

Speaker 4 (05:05):
So a little surprised, but I think it's kind of
something they had to do to prove like, hey, we're
committed to you, like we're fully in on you and
Wemby being the faces of this next step for us.

Speaker 3 (05:15):
So not not super shocked.

Speaker 1 (05:17):
I think I was a little surprised, but I think
the reaction would have been completely different had they just
never gotten the number two pick. I don't think people
would have thought that much about the contract. I had
looked at his because it does feel like we're gonna
I feel like we're going to reach a breaking point
where some of these guys are not going to become
auto max extension guys. And I had the two names
I had, I had three name circle. Jaron Jackson Junior

(05:38):
came off the board as a renegotiating extent. I had
Fox and Trey Young circle as like I'm interested to
see what their teams do with them. The fact that
Fox got the MAX just basically without drama, like almost
as soon as he was eligible for it. I mean,
Trey Young's people have to be looking at that with
the Hawks like, oh, you don't want to pay me,
Like they just gave it to the Aaron Fox, but
now it's just Andre Young. But clearly we're not even

(06:00):
the era of aprons whatever you want to call it,
and seeing how much you could invest in one or
two of your top guys. I think we're eventually going
to get to a point where someone like the Aaron
Fox wouldn't get the Max, but apparently we're not there yet.
And this was also a unique circumstance to where it's
Victor Oneman Yamazona's rookie scale contract for another two years,
and so you have that two year cushion before you
have to think about getting so so expensive, because whether

(06:22):
it's Devin Vassell or you're thinking about a Jeremy Sohan extension,
you're not like, there's no one here that's about to
break the bank for you. And I think that probably
made it a little easier for the Spurs too.

Speaker 4 (06:33):
I think so I think you hit the nail on
the head there, and also just I think the Spurs,
if you look recently, like the last five, six, seven years,
they really have done a good job of like taking
care of their guys. Like I think a lot of
people would probably look at the contracts that they've doled
out in recent history and gone like, man's that's a
little bit pricey for you know, Devin Vassell, Or maybe
that's a little bit pricey for Pau Gasol, Like that's

(06:54):
a little bit pricey for Rudy Gay. But I think
they like to take care of their guys. I think
when people are settled in the locker room, it makes
a lot easier to get things done, get people to
buy into roles, get them to feel secure in the building.
So like I'm not saying it was all done just
to show deeron Fox, like, hey, you know you got
your money now, Like whatever we do from here on
out with you.

Speaker 3 (07:13):
You got to be okay with But I think that's
part of it.

Speaker 4 (07:16):
Like I think part of it is taking care of
the guys that they feel secure and they're.

Speaker 3 (07:20):
More ready to buy into what you're what you're selling.

Speaker 4 (07:22):
So not again, not super surprised that it happened, but
a little bit a little bit certainly, because again, that's
a lot of money for dearon Fox, especially coming off
of a season where maybe didn't live up to the
expectations once he came to San Antonio. Granted, he didn't
play the max amount of games that he could have
because they shut him down a little bit early and

(07:43):
he had the you know, the finger issue on his
dominant shooting hand.

Speaker 3 (07:46):
But yeah, I mean, I'm excited.

Speaker 4 (07:48):
To see what this pairing looks like because I think
it could be really really good between him and Wimby.

Speaker 1 (07:54):
The only other offseason question I have is more macro,
what do you sort of make of their direction Where Okay,
the futzing and fiddling you have Lou Cornette, you get
Kelly olinik In. We can say, you know, front courts
basing is important when you're looking at the guards they have,
but you're also tangentially linked to Kevin Durant, who's gonna
turn thirty seven after you just acquired dearon Fox. And
while it could have just been oh, if we get

(08:16):
him for this package, we're being opportunistic. It's just so
bizarre because we're talking about all these young players. We're
talking about Daron Fox, We're talking about Kevin Durant, like,
what do you just what do you view as sort
of their overarching mission after the offseason heading into this year.

Speaker 4 (08:33):
Yeah, I still think they're sort of on that like
pathway where they want to be competitive right now. They
certainly want to help when bin Yama get into the
playoffs get that experience, but I think they're also still
looking pretty long term, Like I think they're looking at
two different timelines. I think you're looking at a timeline
where you can compete immediately.

Speaker 3 (08:50):
Maybe that doesn't mean win a.

Speaker 4 (08:51):
Title this year, but with dearon Fox and if something
you know breaks your way, where there's a superstar level player,
a Max level player who wants to join San Antonio,
you've got amo to go get that player, or you
you know, if things aren't going your way and you
need to offload some players, you still got guys in
the chamber like the Stefan Castle who maybe you don't

(09:12):
know what you're gonna get out of quite yet, or
Dylan Harper, who you know, second pick in the draft
most years, if there's no Cooper Flag that that's your.

Speaker 3 (09:18):
Number one pick, Like this is a and we'll talk.

Speaker 4 (09:20):
I'm sure we'll talk about Dylan Harper, but uh, fantastic
prospect in his own right, generational driver, generational touch.

Speaker 3 (09:28):
Maybe not the best.

Speaker 4 (09:32):
Vision if we're talking about guys like a Trey Young
or Luca Dontic. He's certainly not in in like that
echelon of passer. But he is a good passer, and
he can't create advantages and the shot.

Speaker 3 (09:42):
Isn't quite there, especially off the balance.

Speaker 4 (09:45):
But I think you're looking at these two timelines where
you have a lot of options, and I think the
Spurs are definitely happy to keep their options.

Speaker 1 (09:52):
Open in so far as you think you can take
away anything from what you saw post Darn Fox trade,
What were your early impressions of him, what he can do,
and then if you have any early impressions of okay,
him and the Victor Wombin Yama dynamic that we saw
of so little of.

Speaker 4 (10:08):
Yeah, I mean I really liked what I saw from
him and Wimbin Yama. Like I think, Dearon Fox is
still just lightning fast. I mean, he may not be
as quick as the guy who came into the league,
you know, like a decade ago, almost now, but he's
still one of the fastest players. But I think He's
added so much to his game as far as being
able to change pace.

Speaker 3 (10:28):
Is his handles a lot tighter.

Speaker 4 (10:29):
He's one of the best mid range shooters in the league,
and so like watching that next to wimban Yama for
a few games, I thought their dynamic was really good,
Like it was you know, if they brought two to
the ball, you know you're screwed, because when Binyama's rolling,
there's nobody who's going to stop win bin Yama on
the role, even if you're bringing someone over from weak
side up, like that's that's not going to stop Wimby
if you're trying to rotate over to stop Winmby the Spur,

(10:52):
I think the spurs biggest weakness is that, like if
you somehow stopped the two man game, They're spacing wasn't
super great around them, Like there were a lot of
times where they were playing Chris Paul last season alongside
darn Fox or Castle alongside Darren Fox, and then Sohannah
is also out there. But I'm less worried about that
this season. I feel like that's still an issue. But

(11:14):
I'm watching them together just in that eight game span,
and I think maybe it might be a little bit
of a hyperbole, but I do feel like they could
easily be like a top five, top six duo in
the league, just with what they bring to the table individually,
but how they can play off each other as well.

Speaker 1 (11:29):
Yeah, I mean the idea of having someone and now
I guess you could have multiple someones if you consider
Dylan Harper in the same vein of being able to
get when Binyama touches that will get him more downhill
or at the basket, because we saw his rim frequency
decline year over year, in part because I think he's
just so important to like their floor spacing in ways

(11:49):
that he probably not that he shouldn't be, but he's
too important to their floor spacing. You want to have
to give him room to operate at different levels. And
even in the short time he played with Fox, like
the percentage of shots that came at the rim, like
those went up, and so I think, yeah, that's going
to be a big deal for him for sure.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
Yeah, No, I agree with you. Oh sorry, go ahead
if you if you had anything.

Speaker 1 (12:08):
Oh no, no, I thought I just thought, yeah, go ahead,
it's all you.

Speaker 3 (12:11):
No, I was gonna say, Yeah, that's definitely a great point.

Speaker 4 (12:13):
That you're making because, like you, I think one of
the biggest gripes from Spurs fans for a little while
there was like, you know, Wemby is so big, he's
so tall, he's only shooting threes, and I think like
on a surface level, yes, like yeah, he's shooting so
many threes, but like I think we kind of have
to consider that was kind of he kind of had
to Like it's easy to load up at the rim
and stop him at the rim if you don't have
any other options. And I think that optionality now that

(12:35):
you have with Fox, where Wemby can pop or he
can roll, or you've got a guy who can get
all the way downhill and create his own shot and
get to the basket and get to his spots in
the mid range. Like having that allows one Binyama to
operate in other spaces and have more space to operate
within those spots.

Speaker 3 (12:51):
So yeah, I think you're one hundred percent right.

Speaker 2 (12:54):
It's time to.

Speaker 1 (12:55):
Have the three guard talk because I think that's going
to define so much of the Spurs as present in future,
whether it's you want to approach it from how do
you envision the Spurs handling this or what you would
do when looking at how much are we going to
see these guys together? What is the ideal stackering pagrin
from your perspective, I'm so interested before getting into all
these limitations or strengths that people might be concerned.

Speaker 2 (13:16):
Or excited about.

Speaker 1 (13:18):
I just want to know, like, well, how is this
team planning on navigating the three guard dynamic?

Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah, that's a tough question to answer too.

Speaker 4 (13:23):
I guess if I had to choose how I would
navigate it, I'd love to see Dearon Fox sharing the
court with Castle or Harper sharing the court with Castle
more than I think I would like to see Harper
sharing the court with Fox like I think Castle, just
because in my mind from how I view him, I
think he's more of like a bigger wing off ball
guy who can handle some secondary playmaking. He's more versatile

(13:48):
in that way, like he's a great cutter, He's got
great off ball instincts, Whereas I think Dylan Harper is
still at this point in his career he's best with
the ball in his hands, and I think you want
to see him with the ball in his hands, and
I think it's really hard to play him next to
Dearon Fox and then justify putting the ball in Harper's
hands over Dearon Fox's hands. And so I think to
try to eliminate some of the like, well, now this

(14:10):
guy is, you know, standing in a corner this like
in a way that they're uncomfortable.

Speaker 3 (14:16):
Let them play with Fox or with Castle.

Speaker 4 (14:18):
Try to keep them staggered with Castle and them not
playing together as much. I'm not saying I don't want
to see them play together. They're definitely that's something that's
probably going to happen, and I think it should happen.
But I would love to see Harper have the reins
of the offense at times as that lead guard, because
I think that's what's going to be best for his
long term development.

Speaker 3 (14:37):
And I think probably not on an identical.

Speaker 4 (14:42):
Track, but something kind of like we saw with the Thunder,
where back when they had Harden and Russell Westbrook, where
like Harden's coming off the bench when Russell Westbrook goes
to the bench, Harden's got the reins to the offense
and he's allowed to be the primary ball handle and
he's allowed to create for himself and others.

Speaker 3 (14:58):
And I think that's.

Speaker 4 (14:59):
A at least a rough outprint of what you can
maybe hope for or aim for with Harper and Castle
and also Fox together.

Speaker 1 (15:10):
Do you think that the Spurs have enough supplementary spacing
to one make it work when all three of them
are on the court together, or even just when you're
gonna have two of them on the court together, because
a lot of what so many of them do best,
and especially Fox and Harper's you've already meant, like their
ability to get downhill and Dylan Harper's like blazing fast.
I think even Dylan Harper show that he can get
off the ball quickly in Summer League, and I think

(15:30):
that I trust him to navigate the floor without the ball,
but I don't. I don't know how to feel about
his jump shot just yet. I think he's gonna end
up being fine, but early on I could just see
defense is not respecting him. Maybe there's some rickety just
percentages when you're looking at him, whether he's wide open
from the corners or pulling up from above the brake
or something.

Speaker 4 (15:47):
Yeah, And I think that's still a concern for the Spurs.
Because I'm looking through the roster right now. I made
notes of people who I consider plus shooters or just
average shooters, negative shooters like you know when Ben Yama Vicel.
Those are guys who you know are gonna space the floor,
the cant space to Florida, good volume, same thing with
Julian Champennee Harrison Barnes.

Speaker 3 (16:05):
But start looking at guys who.

Speaker 4 (16:07):
Are probably gonna play a lot of minutes for them
this season and really don't offer anything in the way
of spacing. You've got guys like you know, Stefan Castle.
You've got guys probably like Luke Cornett, who early in
his career was shooting a good amount of threes for
being a like a seven to three guy, but really
has moved away from that in recent years, doesn't really
shoot threes anymore. And then you know, obviously a guy
like Jeremy Sohan, Like you know, Jeremy Sohan maintained his

(16:30):
three point percentage from last season to the previous season,
but the volume went down pretty significantly, which is significant
because the volume was not that significant. So I think
that's a good question that you ask. And then even
guys like who are maybe just eh meh shooters like
Keldon Johnson, Dylan Harper, I would say probably is either

(16:51):
going to be met to below league average deren Fox.
I'm not sure what to expect again, Like we can
talk at nauseum about his hand in shooting hand last season,
but now that that's been addressed, does it does it
look better? Like does he get back to being sort
of close to league average on good volume?

Speaker 1 (17:07):
Like?

Speaker 4 (17:07):
So yeah, I'm not I'm not really sure that they
have the spacing to make it work perfectly. But I
think they're definitely going to be throwing out that three
guard lineup at some point where you've got Castle, you've
got Harper, you've got Fox on the floor. At the
same time, I'm just not sure that it's gonna look
that pretty.

Speaker 2 (17:25):
Do you think?

Speaker 1 (17:25):
So when you're looking at it defensively, how do you
feel about Steph Castle being like the de facto defensive
wing during those minutes?

Speaker 3 (17:33):
Yeah, I think I think I'm fine with that.

Speaker 4 (17:34):
I think that's actually like where he was best last season.
I think he did a really good job on bigger
wings like Stefan. Castle's not massive in terms of like height,
I think he's like six' five or six,' six but he's,
super strong like he's Got grim.

Speaker 3 (17:47):
Man's strength he is so so.

Speaker 4 (17:49):
So strong he moves really, well LATERALLY and i think
he's fairly disciplined for like a, Young GUY like, i
mean you even saw It.

Speaker 3 (17:56):
At yukon like he he he's.

Speaker 4 (17:58):
Definitely wise beyond. His years he's got more discipline than
most players at. His Age so i'm not really that worried,
about THAT but i do have, questions, about like, you
know how does everything else look? Around them, But yeah
i'm fine. WITH that i think he can more than
make up for it with, his wingspan his lotder mobility. Is,
Strength like i'm not really that worried about him being

(18:18):
the de facto wing defender.

Speaker 3 (18:20):
Out there what do?

Speaker 1 (18:21):
YOU want i think everyone's going to focus on what
is the three point percentage or the jump.

Speaker 2 (18:25):
Shot percentage overall with him in?

Speaker 1 (18:26):
Year two but is there anything else that you're going
to be tracking most, closely about whether it's, you know
being able to even just hitting a higher clip of.
His FLOATERS but i think that's why some people are
so not so. MUCH higher i don't want to compare,
the two But aman thompson is a floorest.

Speaker 2 (18:39):
Basing liability but because.

Speaker 1 (18:41):
Of what he was kind of able to do from
like the short mid range area a lot. This season
they feel better about him being a more variable offensive
weapon than just somebody who needs to cut or be
in the dunker spot or blow by somebody.

Speaker 3 (18:51):
On, drives YEAH and i think THAT'S where i like
kind of.

Speaker 4 (18:56):
It's kind of separate my opinion from a Lot of,
spurs fans and, Like again spurs fans can feel however
they want. TO feel i love that they're Excited About,
stefan CASTLE but i think they're very much on the, mindset,
that like this is A Future, all star this is a.
Future STAR and i don't KNOW that i see THAT
because i, just again like watching all the games, LAST
season i watch, EVERY game i watch every. Game twice,
You know I'm obviously i'm diving through the numbers and

(19:19):
even like the STUFF that i have here in front.

Speaker 3 (19:20):
Of, me like out of everyone in the league last.

Speaker 4 (19:23):
Season who had at least one hundred and fifty attempts
on floaters or in that floater range on non rim
attempts inside, the paint he was bottom ten in terms.
Of efficiency he was also one of the worst mid
range shooters in. The league he graded out as one
of the worst three point shooters in. The league he
was not particularly good off, The dribble he wasn't great off,
the catch and even just like specifically, on floaters if

(19:46):
we just isolate the floaters and we're not talking about
just non rim attempts inside, the paint like.

Speaker 3 (19:51):
The touch wasn't.

Speaker 4 (19:52):
GREAT there a lot of his separation was predicated on change,
of pace but also just like, brute strength ability to
lower his shoulder.

Speaker 3 (20:00):
Creates just guys out of.

Speaker 4 (20:01):
The, way, yeah yeah but like that's that's my concern
is that like if if he's not able to become
a floor spacer or create off the dribble a little,
bit better or be more efficient getting to, The rim
like even his, rim attempts like directly at, the rim
he was just sort of league average in. That REGARD
so i, Don't know i'm not saying that he can't

(20:24):
get to, another Level but i'm definitely more skeptical of
his long term outcome being star Than most spurs. FANS
are i think a lot of what we saw with
him last year was, Simply opportunity like are you going
to have that opportunity now that you Have when, binyama
healthy now that you Have deeron? Fox healthy now that
You've Added, dylan harper now that, you have you Still Have,

(20:44):
devin vessel you Still Have, kelden johnson you Still Have
jeremy so there's a lot of. Mouths defeat so my opinion,
would be rather than seeing like a massive increase in his,
you know like literal production as far as like points,
per game rebounds, per game assists, per game we'll probably
see a, drop off which is not going to be
any fault. Of His but i'm more, concerned with like,

(21:04):
you mentioned does the efficiency spike in any area that
indicates that we, can expect, you know any any real
signs of.

Speaker 3 (21:12):
MAJOR development.

Speaker 4 (21:13):
I don't i, don't Know and i'm not saying it's not,
gonna Happen but i'm definitely a little more skeptical just having,
watched HIM and i just don't Know that i've seen
anything that points towards like this guy is gonna have
like a crazy good season. This season and that's not
to say he's not gonna have a. Good Season but
i'm more SKEPTICAL than i.

Speaker 1 (21:29):
THINK most i have no rationale, behind this except for
like there was a small stretch of last season where
he looks super comfortable. Doing it but because of his
strength and if he's going to be able TO set
i have faith that. He is he can hit Like
An eric gordon ultra deep spot up three at a semi.
Reasonable clip one day they had him stationed, out there

(21:51):
maybe like not as often as the season, more on
especially if he's gonna be on, THE ball i think.

Speaker 2 (21:55):
That he can. DO it i don't.

Speaker 1 (21:56):
KNOW why i just having seen there was like it
was like eleven game stretch, OR something i think towards
the first quarter of, the YEAR and i, was, WATCHING
like i think he's gonna be able to.

Speaker 2 (22:04):
Do that but that's.

Speaker 1 (22:05):
Counterintuitive too if we're worried about him upping, his floater
can't you just hit a spot up three from like
a few feet. In THERE but i, believe that like
he can be, a threat and maybe he just has
to do with, his strength like that's not going to
be like a huge lift for him to get. It
OFF but I don't i honestly don't know how to
feel about him offensively, long term especially in the environment
that they.

Speaker 2 (22:25):
Have him, and, now.

Speaker 4 (22:27):
YEAH and i, guess AGAIN like I think i'm still
pretty skeptical about him being a four spacer in. ANY meaningful,
i mean like, quite literally if you go by like
there's a metric of total points added by shooters by
combining their, long twos their, free throws they're catch and
shoot three, point attempts and they're pull up three. Point
attempts the worst player in the league last season by

(22:47):
that Metric, was yiannis which obviously He's not he got
a lot better at, that midrange but like the free
throws really. Offset that he took a ton of free
throws and he's still. Terrible, there uh the second worst
player in the league was. The Foncast and i'm not
saying that that means he's always gonna be one of
the worst shooters in.

Speaker 3 (23:04):
The league but, to me that's not a.

Speaker 4 (23:06):
Great indicator like There's no you look for the free, throw,
percentage okay. Not great you look at the percentage on,
the floaters. Not great you look at the percentage at
the rim, pretty good it's about. League average three point
percentage off the bounce. Not good three point percentage catch
and shoot below. League average so there's just really like at,
this point no indicator other THAN like i feel statements

(23:27):
and like in, my gut like in, MY heart i
feel like you KNOW what. I mean, so Again now
i'm Not A stefan. CASTLE hater i think he actually
could be huge For The San, antonio spurs probably in
a reduced role as more of a. Connector wingstopper if
he could, add space even just a respectable catch and,
SHOOT three i think he becomes innumerably. More valuable, BUT
yeah i think that that's that's a that's a. Tough

(23:49):
ask that's a really.

Speaker 1 (23:50):
Tough ask THAT'S why i like talking about rookies and
SOPHOMORES because i feel like you're entitled to go off
vibes for those first.

Speaker 2 (23:57):
Two years that's.

Speaker 1 (23:58):
That's, Fair, Fair So, dylan harper any early what are
your early impressions? Of him and just also how would
You expect you talked about this a little bit with
when looking at the, staggering stuff but how do you
Expect the spurs to bring him along in, year one
especially again because You Have steph Castle And diaron fox on.

Speaker 4 (24:14):
This, roster, YEAH so I mean I Think stefan Castle And,
darren fox those are going to be your starter's day
One Alongside. Devin VESSEL and i think if you want
to get the most out of out of You know
harper and his. DEVELOPMENTAL track i think you're gonna let
him take the reins of the. SECOND unit i think
you got to let him have, those reps have those
touches be the primary engine of that offense when the
bench unit.

Speaker 3 (24:35):
Comes IN and i think.

Speaker 4 (24:35):
THAT'S fine i would be very happy to see THAT
because i think we saw that at times last Season With,
stefan castle before he was an, everyday starter he was
allowed to be a guy who got to run some
offense off, the BENCH and i think that's the exact
right thing that. You WANT and i think the other
Thing At summer league that kind of surprised me was
one like you talked about a little, bit earlier his
ability to get off the ball and be effective as.

(24:57):
A cutter he did spot up and he he, wasn't
great but he definitely wasn't just stationary standing in. One
place he didn't look uncomfortable without the ball in, his
HANDS and i thought that was a huge sign that hey.

Speaker 3 (25:09):
Like that that's a.

Speaker 4 (25:09):
Big positive that's a big positive as opposed to someone
who's used to having the ball in their hands and
they're kind of just stagnant and they never moved they're,
never cutting they're never relocating around. The perimeter, BUT two
i thought his defensive effort was like night and day
compared to what we Saw. At rutgers, like that, to
me that that's an even bigger like if you can
get him to buy in a little bit and like

(25:30):
put effort nowt maybe that wanes a little bit if his,
you know his his offensive load increases over. The YEARS
but i would love to see that same INTENSITY that
i Saw At summer league continued throughout. The SEASON because
i Don't Think dylan harper will ever be a, plus
DEFENDER but i definitely think he can be like a,
net neutral which to me is. A win that would
be a huge win For the spurs considering his history as.

Speaker 1 (25:53):
A defender anything else about any of, these guards the
three guard dynamic that's maybe flying under the radar we
haven't talked, About yet or is this team GONNA miss
Cp three and like the ball control There Is daron
fox good enough at that just anything?

Speaker 4 (26:05):
At, ALL yeah I think, I like i don't THINK
like i think you might miss a little bit of.
Like LEADERSHIP certainly cp three wasn't turning the ball over
one of the best as far as like assist a.
Turnover Ratio but i'm not that worried as far as
like turnovers going up, A BUNCH like I Think stefan
castle is a pretty. CAUTIOUS playmaker I Think daron fox

(26:27):
is a is a is a.

Speaker 3 (26:28):
Great playmaker he does turn the ball over a little.

Speaker 4 (26:30):
Bit MORE but i also think sometimes we falsely equate
like low turnovers into. Great PLAYMAKING like i think if
you're a, great playmaker sometimes you got to take. Those
risks like you look at the best playmakers in, the
League The, luka Doncic's The, trey Young's The, Tyre's halliburns
like they turn the ball over quite, a bit but
that's because they're trying to fit balls into windows that

(26:51):
may just barely. Be there, you know they're. Taking risks
they see things that other people. Aren't seeing and, and
again like if the turnovers are up dramatically across the
BALL or i could see how that would be, an
ISSUE but.

Speaker 3 (27:02):
I don't i don't really think that's gonna be a.

Speaker 4 (27:04):
BIG deal i do think they will miss some, of
that like kind of late game floor general like gathering the,
troops together like this is our, game plan like let's stay.
LEVEL headed i, don't know aside from Really Like, harrison
barnes maybe any guy who really fills that vocal leadership
void that's left BEHIND with. Cp three but we'll see
that that could be definitely the difference between winning and

(27:25):
losing a few, late games. Close Games but I'm not
i'm not that, worried about, you KNOW losing, Cp three and,
IN fact i was actually kind of concerned that they
might be interested in bringing him BACK because i think,
long term, development wise they had to let him go
to let other.

Speaker 1 (27:41):
Guys Thrive, Jeremy sohan WHERE does i think we have
enough evidence they've tried to fit him into some different
roles we Had Point. Jeremy Sohn. JEREMY sohan i feel
like at this point it's safe to say that he
feels best off as like a cutter and a. Wing
defender where does does he fit, now though into the
context of, this TEAM because i, don't know we were

(28:04):
talking about the space and we're talking about the. Three
guards where does he fit in with this team and
how do they like best? Optimize him, oh man that's.

Speaker 4 (28:12):
SO tough i Feel like i'm gonna catch flak for.
This AGAIN because i feel like People think i'm just a,
massive HATER but i think it's gonna be really hard to,
find minutes like big minutes. For him if you also
have big minutes for a Guy Like, stefan castle you.
Just can't you can't really play. Him together we, saw
that like their net rating together was terrible last season
when two, man lineups so you can't play. Them together

(28:33):
and if you made me Choose Between stefan Castle And,
Jeremy sohan i'm Gonna Go stefan castle. Pretty, EASILY like
I Think stefan castle is a, BETTER passer i think
he's a. BETTER connector i think he's a little more,
VERSATILE defensively i think he's a guy who can ball
handle a little bit better than a Guy. Like Sohan,
so like even even as far as, shooting goes We
Saw stefan castle may not have had a good percentage,

(28:55):
from three but he was a willing spot, up Shooter
whereas sohn passed up on a lot of opportunities and
guys just Left so hand alone even when he was, Out,
there like people still at least closed Out To, stefan
castle even if that might not have been in their.
Best interest people are willing To leave sohn alone and
live with. The CONSEQUENCES so i don't know how he fits.

(29:17):
Long term i'd love to see. Him here it's one
of those tough things that you kind of grow attached
to to. Certain players he's got a, great personality he's
great on and off. The court he's, high effort. High
MOTOR but i JUST don't i don't know where he
fits in long term because he's not a he's not a.
Ball handler he's not a guy who can space. The

(29:37):
floor he's not a self creator in. Any way he's mostly.
A cutter, and like if if that's kind of what
you might envision For stefan castle in between his secondary ball,
handling opportunities then, you know where's the room For.

Speaker 3 (29:52):
So hand that's A.

Speaker 4 (29:53):
Question i'll actually, Ask you like where where do you
feel Like so hand feels?

Speaker 3 (29:57):
FITS in i.

Speaker 1 (29:58):
DON'T know i think, he DOES and i That's why
I've seen i'm not. There Yet and I've seen, spurs
fans which, again rightfully so love fans of, all teams
why they get so upset when people think That the
spurs should have capitalized and Move stefan, Castle already because
of the peak of his value and intrigue because you're
worried about that long. Term fit there's a case to
be made that they kind of reached that Point With
jeremy sohan and have now, passed IT because i even

(30:20):
wonder with if you want To Optimize, jeremy sohan you
can't also do that and then We want victorioberna how
to get more. Paint touches like it's just like it's
not gonna. Work, happen, Yeah YEAH so i don't think
his futures on, this team which STINKS because i was
super HIGH on i actually was in favor of like
The point sohan experiment way back when we're talking to you.
ABOUT it, I thought i think defensively he can be,

(30:43):
really GOOD but i don't know where the. ROLE is,
i mean even had they Not Gotten, dylan harper we
would still be Having the sohan.

Speaker 4 (30:50):
Conversation, Too YEAH and i think like part of it's
easy to forget if You're a spurs fan and you
Really love sohn and you think it can work with Him.
In castle But like sohn missed a lot of games last,
season too so there was a lot of opportunities for
like not a lot of opportunities for us to see
Him and, castle together but like even when we did
see them, together again like it just it didn't.

Speaker 3 (31:12):
Work great and again it's TOUGH because i really Do.
LIKE sohan i THINK he's i don't think he's. A
scrub i don't think.

Speaker 4 (31:19):
HE'S trash i don't think he should be out of,
the league nothing. LIKE that i think he does have
a bright future IN. THE nba i just don't know
that It's In.

Speaker 1 (31:26):
SAN antonio i don't love getting into player comps all,
the TIME but i DON'T even i don't, watch him
And Like i've i've struggled to, think, of, like well
what could he? Turn into like with what he's doing,
right now there's not like an excellent comp, FOR him, I,
FEEL no.

Speaker 3 (31:39):
I don't think.

Speaker 4 (31:40):
There ISN'T and i think a Lot of spurs fans
have likened Him To, draymond GREEN but i always tell
them to pump the brakes, on that Because One draymond
green is in, my opinion he's one of the best
processors off Of dh o's that we've. Ever seen he
he just has this innate ability to know when he
should keep, the ball when he should hit. A cutter
he's all so he can run pick and rolls alongside

(32:02):
a Guy, like steph which obviously that's a luxury to
have Someone. Like steph that's but that's also a luxury
to have Someone Like. WIMBIN yama i DON'T but i
would Never ask sohn to run pick and Rolls With.
Wimbin yama like he's not a particularly good. Ball handler
he's not someone who's comfortable when guys, pressure him especially
when smaller defenders get. Under him, and like even though
you Wouldn't Call draymond green a, floor spacer he certainly

(32:25):
will shoot a shot if, He's Open like sohan doesn't
really shoot threes even when. He's OPEN and i don't
think when you Look at sohn and you Look, at
Draymond like draymond is an. All, Timer, defensively yeah not
only is he great at stopping guys like, on ball
but he's also an, Event creator like he comes up,
with steals he comes up, with blocks he's a great

(32:46):
weak side. Rim protector he's a great presence in in the.
Passing Lanes like sohn is good at stopping guys one,
on one certain guys one, on one but he's not an. Event,
creator like he's not coming up with a bunch of
st he's not coming up with a bunch.

Speaker 3 (33:01):
Of blocks he's not impacting the game in.

Speaker 4 (33:05):
That WAY so i just have a hard, time going,
oh yeah like, you know this is a guy who
should who should be his, aspirational, player like because, to me.

Speaker 3 (33:13):
That's Unrealistic draymond green is so to me one.

Speaker 4 (33:16):
Of one, like physically maybe they're similar in terms of maybe,
WINGSPAN height i don't even know that that's. The CASE
but i think just because they play a, similar Position
the spurs tried to force a you know around, you
know peg into a square hole or whatever.

Speaker 3 (33:30):
It's called I'M sure i got that. Saying wrong.

Speaker 4 (33:32):
FOR sure i think it's the opposite. Way around but
just because they tried to make him be a, point
guard yeah.

Speaker 3 (33:37):
He's not he's.

Speaker 4 (33:38):
Not that like he's not a point, Forward either he's.
Not that So, LOVE sohan i do think he has
a future IN. THE nba i, just again like kind
of like, You said i'm not sure that It's In.
San antonio if you Still have harper and you Still,
have castle and if you made me pick, THOSE guys
i would pick Them Over, sohan unfortunately.

Speaker 1 (33:58):
What how does this All Impact, evan vessel who in
theory is supposed to be a. Guard himself and, you know,
YOU know I Love, devin Vessell But, Harper Fox, Castle visell.

Speaker 2 (34:07):
Like that's that's gonna be an interesting.

Speaker 4 (34:09):
Dynamic, TOO yeah i kind Of Think devin vessell's impacted.
Pretty NEGLIGIBLY like i maybe his his like touches, go
down his volume. Goes down as far as his like,
you know the primary touches where they allow him to
kind of get to his spots and run some pick
and rolls to to get to the, mid range like
that probably goes down a little bit, because again like

(34:31):
they've got more mouths.

Speaker 3 (34:32):
To feed but as far as.

Speaker 4 (34:34):
Like what his shot diet looks, like OVERALL like I
don't i don't think it changes all. That much like,
he's still at least in, my opinion your best, floor
spacer your most reliable. Floor spacer he's still LIKE maybe,
i mean Now that fox is on, the roster he's
definitely not your best, you know go get a, bucket
guy but he's still probably the second best on. The

(34:57):
roster if, you, said hey like here's, the ball go get,
a bucket like try to get a mismatch out of
the pick and rolls for all The big like that's
not a lot of other guys on, the roster Especially
Like Guard slash wings can. Do that it's Mostly Just,
Daron fox Devin vessel harper who can do that at, This,
POINT like i don't really think you're Looking at castle to.

(35:19):
Do that you're Not asking champagnie to. Do that you're
not Asking so hand to. Do that you're not asking,
You know jordan McLaughlin if he even gets on, the
court to, Do, THAT like i don't think it impacts him.
That MUCH but i also think the Addition of harper
Definitely makes vaselle.

Speaker 3 (35:34):
More expendable Like if harper.

Speaker 4 (35:36):
Hits in a way that we don't expect sooner than, We, expect, like,
Yeah Definitely devin vasselle. Is EXPENDABLE and I Love. DEVIN
vessell i know you Know that I'm a i'm a a,
Cell truther i'm of a. Cell guy, BUT yeah i
think he definitely becomes. More expendable but in that, same
breath like it's kind of hard to move off of
him because he is so integral to providing that floor

(35:57):
spacing for a team that still largely has a earth
of that they don't they don't have a ton of
floor spacing at.

Speaker 2 (36:02):
The, moment yeah.

Speaker 1 (36:03):
THE movie i know he likes to work on, the
ball and he's, LIKE quietly i mean you, mentioned this, he's,
like quietly you trust him to make. Tough shots you
probably don't want him taking some of the shots, he's
taken but like he can take. Tough shots but there's
also like when he gets moving off the ball that
can put a ton of pressure. On defenses AND so
i hope he kind of, enters offensively not comparing, them
defensively but like it could be set up depending on

(36:24):
how you just Feel about Fox and harpburn if they're ever,
Playing together like he could be weirdly set up to
like be Entering The derek white phase of his Like,
in boston offensive like phase of.

Speaker 2 (36:34):
His career and you could do.

Speaker 1 (36:35):
Some stuff, on ball but you're gonna have to do
a lot of, your work, you, know catch go, Or
SHOOT and i think he's capable of. Doing that so
and we keep bringing everything back to sports like, you
DID but i don't think maybe there's a chance he
becomes EXPENDABLE but, i obviously if you want this three
guard dynamic to work as of, RIGHT now i think
he's arguably become like more important to tying that.

Speaker 3 (36:56):
All, together SURE and i think.

Speaker 4 (36:58):
THAT'S fair i, just think like if if you want to,
like it, like again If If dylan harper's BETTER like,
i THINK and i Do Think dylan harper's a guy
who does have that all. Star potential but if he
hits that sooner than, WE expect i don't know that
you can keep Him in Castle and fox and and
maybe that Does make fox more expendable in the long,
run too.

Speaker 3 (37:17):
You know, but yeah there's so many possibilities with.

Speaker 4 (37:20):
This team it kind of just feels like a mystery
box and you open it and, You're, like, okay well
whatever comes out, Comes OUT like i don't know exactly
what to expect, the SEASON and i think that's what
makes this season kind. Of fun like there's so many
different outcomes and a lot of them.

Speaker 3 (37:34):
Are positive there's not a lot of OUTCOMES that i, see.

Speaker 4 (37:37):
Like, oh man like this is just such a Disappointing season,
like THIS like i don't expect them to win.

Speaker 3 (37:42):
A title if they won a, playoff series that would.

Speaker 4 (37:44):
Be fantastic but if they just made the playoffs or
the plan and they give a higher seed a run for,
their money, like that, to me is still a very.

Speaker 3 (37:52):
Successful, season yeah they have.

Speaker 2 (37:54):
To have one of that have not gone.

Speaker 1 (37:55):
Through this they have to have one of the like
highest floor of ceiling ranges in the.

Speaker 4 (37:59):
Entire, LEAGUE yeah, I mean i don't think, FOR me
i don't think there's a scenario in which they are
a team with a. Losing RECORD but i definitely think
they could be a team that could either be like
kind of middle of the, table finish like, you know
in that playing spot where they're just barely above. Five
HUNDRED but i also think if things hit the right

(38:19):
way and people gel in a way that maybe we
don't expect, them to and maybe some people take some
developmental leaps that we, don't expect, like that this could
be a team that's like a Top four and that
sounds kind, Of ridiculous i'm sure. To people but Like
If wimbin yama shows up and is a completely at
some and we'll Talk about wimby in, a bit But
if wimby hits in a different, way Again And darren

(38:41):
fox is healthy And that dynamic, is Working And devin vesell,
is working and You've Got dylan harper off the bench
playing better than, you Expect and castle's Hitting and champagne.
Is PLAYING like i think they're they've got a really.
Deep TEAM like i think that's also like one of
the more underrated aspects of. The team i'm just looking
at the depth chart as of, right now and It's, Like,
Fox Vacelle, cast barnes those are all guys who would

(39:02):
start on a lot.

Speaker 3 (39:02):
Of, teams harper.

Speaker 4 (39:04):
That's, fantastic again he's, a rookie so maybe We don't
i'm not sure exactly what we can, Expect There but
CHAMPANGE'S an, Nba Player keldon johnson IS an, nba player
so hand can you know play good minutes? For you
cornette definitely somebody who can play good minutes. For you
and then You've Got, kelly OLENICK who i think he'll
be one of the Guys who i'd love to see
play in some weird lineups that we'll get. To later,

(39:24):
BUT yeah, i, mean like this is a TEAM that
i think has more depth than maybe people are giving them.

Speaker 3 (39:29):
Credit for let's Talk.

Speaker 1 (39:31):
About wemby it only took us forty minutes to. Get
here aside from we'd like to see him play in,
more games be eligible for. The awards what are you
watching for most closely from him in?

Speaker 4 (39:42):
Year, three, YEAH well i think he took a massive
leap from year one to, year two like even even
just in terms of like kind of diversifying his portfolio,
on offense like we, saw him saw him kind of
work more spots around. The court But what i'm really
looking forward to seeing him do is gets a line.
More often and maybe that kind of isn't what everybody

(40:04):
might be expecting for me to be looking, For him
but just, LAST year i felt like he didn't get
to the line, that OFTEN and i, was, like well
is that JUST a i feel statement or is that?
Like real was that something that? Actually HAPPENED and i,
WENT back i look through, the numbers and there's not
that many numbers to. Look through he's only played, two
seasons but he had less free throw attempts his second

(40:24):
season than his, rookie season but he averaged.

Speaker 3 (40:26):
More Points and i'd love.

Speaker 4 (40:29):
To see him get to the line more because you
look at all the players in the league who averaged
at least twenty four points per game, last season and
he had the second fewest free. Throw attempts, and like,
for me a guy who to me is one of
those guys Like a giannis Or A lebron james that.

Speaker 3 (40:42):
Like are so tough.

Speaker 4 (40:43):
TO officiate i feel like he could be getting to
the line, more often definitely more than four times, a game,
you know, like that getting to the line even two
more times a game and shooting, you know eighty five
percent from the free, Throw line like that's his. Career
mark like that's takes you from, you know averaging twenty
four points per game or twenty four point whatever to
twenty six points per game something. Like that, SO yeah

(41:06):
i want him to get to the line. MORE often
i want to see him be more aggressive in.

Speaker 3 (41:09):
THAT way i think.

Speaker 2 (41:10):
That's a realistic goal to.

Speaker 1 (41:12):
Have too when you now have in Theory Between dylan
harper And De, aaron fox like two guys who are
gonna get into the teeth of, the defense get so
deep into the paint that now he's gonna get these
paint or should get these paint touches that are not,
self created and so like when defenses, are scrambling they
might be more likely to, foul Him and i'm also
kind of interested TO see i think that he can
be a really good passer and the handle might ALWAYS

(41:32):
be i agree just a little if he had to
because he's so, Fucking tall like the distance that boss that.
Travels insane But like i'm wondering if he can get
like like if his assist totals can go up a,
little bit because if he's gonna be able to maybe
operate out of like a short roll more when he's
like going downhill and able to find cutters or that
this is where the shooting is a big, one though
like if you have more proven shooters in the corners,

(41:54):
OR whatever i could see him getting easier ASSISTS where
i feel like he didn't have a lot of easy
assists last year because they weren't set up.

Speaker 3 (42:00):
For, it, YEAH no, I agree i agree with. YOU
there i did want to.

Speaker 4 (42:04):
Just touch on the free thing two for a SECOND
because i feel like again with being like aggressive AND
when i, SAY aggressive i mean like being physical and
like leaning into contact as opposed to and You've watched
i'm sure you've watched a Ton, Of wimby like he's
he's box off as Everybody's. Watching wimby but one of
the Things with wimby that kind of drives me crazy
sometimes is he will opt for like the toughest shot

(42:26):
on the court instead of just leaning into contact like
guys play, him PHYSICALLY and i think a lot of
times instead of like leaning into that trying to, draw
fouls he kind of. Fades away he hits, those leaners
he's hitting face like he's he's not leaning into the
contact that is there that could get him to. The
line but as far as the passing GOES to i
think we have seen a lot from him as, a

(42:49):
PASSER and i agree like the. Easy assists if people
can just knock down the open opportunities that will probably
be there now that you have, You know.

Speaker 3 (42:57):
Fox healthy, wimby healthy.

Speaker 4 (43:00):
THAT'S huge i do think we could see a big
spike across the board for him even with more. MOUTHS
defeat i Think When ben yama is still the guy
who you're you're getting the ball to him as often as.

Speaker 1 (43:11):
You can you have any early Impressions Of carter bryant
defensive Monster In summer league and how maybe he does
just like how are they going to bring? Him along
and then how would. That impact what it's about all
these trickle. Down effects but when you're looking At A,
Harrison Barnes, Keldon JOHNSON julian champenni how he might impact
those guys is a. MINUTES more I think barnes is
kind of just because of the floor like reliable force

(43:32):
basing element might be the most lock of, the three
but he's also kind of the most when you're looking
at his contract might be the. Most Expendable, so god
this team is so. Damn, fascinating, sorry.

Speaker 3 (43:43):
No, YEAH no I think I Like. CARTER bryant i
do think he's.

Speaker 4 (43:47):
A project i don't think he's a guy who plug.
And play like Even At summer league he was, super
inefficient super inefficient and loved the, Defense though and like
that's Something that i'm working on for my site right
now is a Video on carter bryan and just his,
versatility defensively his. Engine DEFENSIVELY but i do think it's
he's gonna be hard pressed to get on the Court

(44:08):
right like he's got A User, Keldon Johnson Julian Champenny
castle barnes for minutes on, the WING and i just
don't unless there's like some surprise trade or injury knock, On,
WOOD like i just don't see, that HAPPENING and i
would anticipate they bring them along in very much the
same way that they have a lot of the other

(44:28):
younger guys on, this roster where it's, all right one
way ticket TO The g league and you're playing With The.
Austin Spurs and i've always kind of liked that they've.
Done that in, SOME ways i can see how. It's
frustrating you've got young guys during a rebuild IN The,
g league but they're not in that rebuilding, phase anymore
like they're ready to start trying. To win and if
you're trying, TO win i just don't Know That carter

(44:50):
bryan is built to win. Right NOW but i LOVE
The g league For the spurs and the way they,
utilize it where guys who even though when they get
TO the nba their role will never be primary ball handler,
and playmaker they kind of forced them into that role
IN The. G league we've seen it with Guys Like,
keldon johnson we saw it with a even a Guy
Like lukas shamanich a little bit like force them to

(45:12):
operate outside of their comfort zone and round out their
skill SET and i think in the long term that'll
be Helpful For. Carter bryant and, then, again also you
know With The AUSTIN Spurs, g league like nobody really
cares about. The record there's no pressure, to win there's
no pressure to perform. RIGHT away i think that's that's
probably the most likely Path For carter bryant is we're

(45:33):
gonna see him play every game possible With The, austin
spurs and then when they have lulls in, their schedule
they will call him back up to the team so
we can watch from the bench and learn something on.

Speaker 2 (45:43):
The, sideline yeah his offense was Rough In.

Speaker 1 (45:46):
SUMMER league i really hope we GET to i just
want to See him Castle and wemby on the floor
TOGETHER because i feel like that's just like a defensive terror.

Speaker 3 (45:54):
Between, those yeah that would be.

Speaker 4 (45:55):
A nightmare that would that you would be giving people
an absolute like one way Trip to that would just
be terrible for if you if you're out there and
you have to, face that that would. Be terrible those
guys are flying all over. The place, BUT yeah, I
mean i the likelihood that they that he's gonna get
on the court too many times, THIS season I would
i would set the over under it like. TEN games

(46:17):
i don't think he plays more wow For the spurs unless. Something,
HAPPENED well, I mean i'm just looking at like guys
like who a Lot of spurs fans really loved And Like,
City SUSOKO like. I don't maybe he maybe played like
ten to fifteen games, last season and it's like at
the very end of games where the result is, already
settled you're just out there as a formality to close

(46:38):
out the game and make sure no one else has
to has to spend another minute on. The COURT so
i just would be really surprised if he plays in
any real games in any.

Speaker 1 (46:46):
Meaningful way The other spurs kid that had, People Buzzing David,
jones garcia what are you earlier impressions?

Speaker 2 (46:53):
TO him i.

Speaker 4 (46:54):
LIKE him i do think he's kind of just like
on a you earned it two. WAY contract i don't
anticipate he'll play a lot like he is a, little.

Speaker 3 (47:03):
Undersized but what a. Show man he put on.

Speaker 4 (47:06):
A show he was awesome IN The g league last,
Season TOO like i think at some point last season
IN The, g league towards the end of, the season
With The Mexico.

Speaker 3 (47:15):
City capitanas he was.

Speaker 4 (47:17):
On a roll where he had like, fifty one, forty five,
thirty six, thirty four. Forty eight like the guy can score,
the ball and he can score from, Multiple levels like
he is a legit. Self creator that, being, said undersized
not much of, a playmaker like he's not really doing
much for, other guys and defensively he's kind of. A
wash i don't expect him to play a lot For,

(47:39):
the spurs, but man he's like a feel. Good story
would love to see him get on the court at
some point because he, really is like he's he's so.
Much fun like, he's strong he's got a little bit,
of burst his handles. Pretty refined he understands how to
play with pace and change the pace and use angles
like such a.

Speaker 3 (47:57):
Smart score, but.

Speaker 4 (47:58):
Again he's one of those GUYS that I just i
don't know where you fit him into, The rotation like
there's just too there's too. Many guys there's there's just
too many GUYS that i just don't. SEE him i
don't see him playing and in like as far as
the other two Way Guys riley Minnix And harrison, ingram
too just to kind of get them off the out of.
THE WAY i i don't really see them playing that
MUCH though i do Really Like.

Speaker 3 (48:19):
RILEY minnix i will SAY that I am I'm a
I'm A riley.

Speaker 4 (48:23):
MINNICK believer i don't know that he plays For the
spurs much, this SEASON but uh love. His Game Love,
riley minnix so shout out. To him, but yeah those.

Speaker 2 (48:31):
Guys stands out stands Out about minnix.

Speaker 4 (48:33):
TO you i think he's another one of those guys
who just super, high feel HAS legitimate, nba range great catch.

Speaker 3 (48:41):
And shoot guy can shoot off movement.

Speaker 4 (48:45):
IN. The nba will he ever have the ball in,
His hands, Probably not but he's got a really sweet
low post game where he can turn over, either shoulder
he works that, pivot foot he's hitting that bump, secondary bump,
you know creates space through, his physicality gets to, the
line and then he also just keeps the ball moving as.
A Passer like he's just a really cerebral PLAYER who

(49:07):
i think could play IN. The nba, but defensively like
he's a little, bit slower like his feet are a,
little heavy not the best, lateral mover but just a.
Fun PLAYER like I just i believe in him as
like a guy who probably could break into the end
of the rotation. For someone but as far As the,
SPURS go, i mean they just have too. Many guys

(49:27):
they just got too many GUYS who i just don't
think he's going to see the floor very much this.

Speaker 3 (49:30):
Season either are you ready to.

Speaker 2 (49:33):
Enter The cookie Cutter Slash lightning round portion of?

Speaker 3 (49:35):
The, Podcast absolutely i'm ready. To go i'm ready.

Speaker 1 (49:38):
To go so we've talked about probably a bunch of
their biggest needs. Or concerns but to wrap it sort,
of up what do you view as like this roster's
biggest potential hole?

Speaker 2 (49:46):
Right, now.

Speaker 3 (49:49):
Yeah biggest?

Speaker 4 (49:49):
POTENTIAL hole i think maybe like the front court depth
honestly is kind of like they if they run into
and this is a very hyper, specific scenario but if
you run into somebody like the thunder who they, you
know They've, Got hardenstein they've also got chet. Holmgrin, THAT
like i JUST don't i don't know that they have
a ton of front. Cord depth you're Looking At, Wimbin, Yama.

(50:12):
CORNETT olenick i guess you Can throw Barns and sohan.
IN there i don't really view them. As bigs, BUT yeah,
i mean like they're not a particularly. Big team they're
not A particularly, i mean they don't have a ton
of depth.

Speaker 3 (50:24):
Up there BUT that's, i mean that's.

Speaker 4 (50:25):
HYPER specific i think really the main concern for me,
is that like they're not gonna have a ton of
space to operate even With like Fox and wimby and.
Like that those things more bother me. Than ANYTHING so,
i again that may be a little bit of a cop,
out answer but it's mostly. The SPACING like i just
don't WANT to i want to believe in these guys
knocking down their, open shots but there's only a handful

(50:48):
OF guys i, really TRUST and i think we went
through some of, those names like guys who will be off,
the Ball, Like, Vicell. Champagne barnes other, Than that waters can.
Do that but he's another GUY who i don't really
see playing.

Speaker 1 (51:01):
That, MUCH no i was BUILDING when i was trying
to map out their ten, MAN rotation i, Was like
i'm gonna figure out a way to.

Speaker 2 (51:06):
PUT him i couldn't.

Speaker 3 (51:08):
DO it I Like, lendy, waters though, BUT yeah i
don't think.

Speaker 1 (51:11):
HE'LL play i actually really like, him too probably way,
too much but so what do you view anything about,
this team whether it's, a strength it's, a concern a,
storyline theme whatever that's flying under the radar that we haven't, discussed.

Speaker 4 (51:23):
Yet flying under the radar For, THE sea i, think
again like, The DEPTH like i do think they have
a good amount of depth over all on, The ROSTER
and i do think they have a lot of players
who can fit a lot of. Different ROLES like, i
think if you wanted to label, them traditionally you probably
Could Call stefan castle a. Point guard he played a
lot of point guard. Last Season dylan harper is a,

(51:44):
point guard he played. Point Guard dearon fox is a.
Point guard, you know he's your starting. Point guard but
a lot of these guys can play a lot of,
different ROLES like i can, easily see, You Know stefan
castle can play off. The Ball DYLAN harper i have
a little bit more belief in him playing off the
ball after watching Him In.

Speaker 3 (51:59):
Summer league daron definitely can play off.

Speaker 4 (52:01):
The ball there are a lot of moments where when He's,
with sacramento you know he played off the ball or
was the Roller when sbonis was, like that, you know
in those inverted pick, And roles SO like i believe
in those guys to play off, the ball play.

Speaker 3 (52:13):
A lot of.

Speaker 4 (52:14):
Different Roles julian champennie is a, guy who, you know
he may not be super versatile in terms of like
what he, Brings offensively like you know what he's. Gonna
do he's gonna, spot up he's, Gonna cut that's. About it,
BUT defensively i think they have a lot of guys
who can switch and cover a lot of, different PLAYERS
and i think that's probably their biggest strength is just

(52:34):
looking across. The roster you have a lot of guys
who on THEIR own i think are, impressive defensively but
now next To winm binyama allows them the freedom to
gamble a little, bit more to be a little bit,
more AGGRESSIVE and i think that's something that by the
end of, THE season i think that'll be one of
the areas That the spurs lead in. The league probably

(52:55):
will be like, turnovers FORCED because i think guys will
be able to just be more aggressive in the, passing
lanes take a few more stabs at the ball on
ball and not worry about their guy getting. By them because,
guess What when, benyama healthy he can cover a lot of.
Those mistakes i'm not saying he should, have to, BUT
like i would be fine if guys take some more
gambles and try, to force, you know turnovers in that

(53:17):
way and not be, as DISCIPLINED because i think they
have the luxury of being able to do that with
Wm bin, yama there and that would be.

Speaker 2 (53:24):
Good for their.

Speaker 1 (53:25):
Offense too just to create as many easy opportunities in
transition as possible off of, those turnovers that would end
up being huge.

Speaker 2 (53:30):
FOR them, i, think, yeah.

Speaker 4 (53:32):
NO absolutely, i mean if you can get these guys out,
and running this is still a pretty young team while,
golfings considered they're a.

Speaker 3 (53:38):
Young team they like. To run they have a lot of.

Speaker 4 (53:39):
Good ATHLETES like i think that's one of their greatest
strengths is, their athleticism their, their length. Their VERSATILITY so
i think if there's anything that people, ARE underlooking i
guess they're overlooking rather as just depth and.

Speaker 3 (53:52):
Their, versatility defensively.

Speaker 1 (53:55):
What do you view when you're looking at who are
going to be the ten most played players on?

Speaker 2 (53:58):
This team. Let's worry let's, that.

Speaker 4 (54:00):
Way, Yeah, Fox, Vicelle, Castle Barnes, When Benyama Harper, Champagnee
johnson Sohan. AND cornette i would love to See Sneak
kelly olinik in, there somewhere but we can talk about
him and and maybe some funky lineups.

Speaker 3 (54:14):
Later on they're they're just like.

Speaker 1 (54:17):
So much their floor spacing is like now rooted in
like that. Center spot basically you Consider Like victor Remgna
And kelly olinic are in theory two of their best,
floor Spacers With devin vassell And, like champagne like it's
it's all in. The front like if You, Consider harrison
Barnes and champagne playing a lot of minutes at, the four, it's,
like yeah the most their four s basing is just
coming from the four and, the five which is that's
just a weird balance to strike, it is so Are

(54:41):
we this is to some extent, Matchup dependent but what
do you think is gonna end up being their go to.
Closing unit do you think it's just gonna default to
the starting five or do you think that there's the
Potential For mitch johnson to futz and.

Speaker 4 (54:52):
FIDDLE there i kind of think it is going to
default to the starting five because those are the five
PLAYERS who I think i would trust the most in,
crunch Time like Fox, The Cell, castle Barns when binyama
you've got a good blend of, defensive acumen you've got
a good blend of, floor spacing, ball handling.

Speaker 3 (55:07):
ADVANTAGE creation i.

Speaker 4 (55:09):
Think THAT but i also agree like it, probably yeah
as is the case with, any team it probably will be.
Matchup DEPENDENT like i think there's definitely scenarios, In, which
okay if we're if we're up by a good like
let's say you're up, by four that's still considered a
crunch time in at, you know five or more, points
whatever you're up by a couple of baskets and you're
just trying to, Get STOPS like i would probably Be

(55:31):
taking barnes out of the game and Throwing so han.
In THERE like i Trust so hand more DEFENSIVELY than
I do barns at. This Point like barnes is a great,
FLOOR spacer i think he can be serviceable defensively when
he's put on probably the worst wing scorer on the team,
Out there BUT like i would just Trust so. Hand
more but like if you're behind and you need, more

(55:51):
scoring maybe they throw In A dylan harper instead Of
a barns and maybe they do roll with a three
guard lineup something, Like that BUT largely i think it's
probably gonna look Like, That, fox Castle, the Cell, wiinbin
Yama Uh. In, BARNES like i think that's probably what it's.

Speaker 3 (56:05):
Gonna be you teased.

Speaker 1 (56:07):
It before what's the what's a weird o lineup you
would like To See mitch johnson try?

Speaker 4 (56:11):
This, YEAR yeah i want To, See, Fox, Harper castle
Olinic And, Wimbin, YAMA like i think that WOULD be
i think that would be a lot. Of FUN like
i think, you one you've got the three guards, Out
there so You've, Got fox Harper, And castle You've, got
OLINIK who i think you could slide down to the
four for some more floor spacing to kind of supplement
what you might be Losing with Fox and castle And

(56:32):
even harper do would. Agree to and then you Got
Wim bin yama at the. Five there that's ONE that
i think could be a lot. OF fun i don't
know that that's one that's we're gonna see, very often
but that's ONE that i think would be a lot
of fun to see.

Speaker 3 (56:43):
Out there.

Speaker 2 (56:43):
FOR sure i want to see them go, four guards So.

Speaker 1 (56:47):
You're, Harper, castle fox then we're gonna Throw over cell,
out THERE and I think web has to be the
five in. THAT situation, I also i think my eyes
might bleed watching their offense. With this, but like let's
go the all defense Route With, Weben, Yama, castle Sohan
Throw carter brian, out there, AND okay I guess champagne.

Speaker 3 (57:06):
After, That, CHAMPENNE yeah i would throw him.

Speaker 1 (57:08):
OUT there i don't know what the offense, looks like
But like Champagne And weben yama can, hit threes maybe hart,
uh like, but yeah the offense would, be UGLY but
i think that defensive unit would just. BE insecuse i
think those are their five. BEST defenders i don't really
know what To rank champagnee.

Speaker 3 (57:21):
In THAT yeah, I would i would put.

Speaker 4 (57:22):
HIM there i would put him in there as your
as one of your five best defenders.

Speaker 3 (57:26):
FOR sure. I.

Speaker 4 (57:27):
THINK yeah, i mean if we're if we're talking like,
defensive rating they're they're holding teams to like seventy five points,
per possession but they're also scoring like sixty two points
like per one. Hundred POSSESSIONS like i don't know how
that would work offensively, at ALL but i love the
idea of like it being like a two thousand and four,
basketball game where like the final scores like seventy seven to,
seventy six, like that those kind of vibes that Would

(57:49):
be that would certainly be an.

Speaker 3 (57:51):
INTERESTING lineup i have one more.

Speaker 4 (57:52):
FOR you i don't know if it's, that WEIRD but
i do like the idea Of Like Fox Vicell Champagnee
wimbin yama And then cornette at.

Speaker 3 (58:00):
The five.

Speaker 4 (58:01):
THAT'S weird, i specifically and this is ONE that i
had a specific team.

Speaker 5 (58:05):
IN mind i would love to see that against The.
THUNDER like i think that would be one of those
lineups that you could trot out there and combat the
two big lineups that you, get with, You know Hardenstein.
IN holngren i think that would be a really good
lineup to try Against The Rockets, Steven, Adams alpern Shane gun.

Speaker 2 (58:24):
Minutes, too, yeah.

Speaker 3 (58:25):
Yeah try but those are those are my.

Speaker 4 (58:27):
WEIRD lineup i don't know if they, will HAPPEN but
i would like through out there.

Speaker 1 (58:32):
Your FIRST one i Think better LIKE they're i feel
like they're obligated if you're ever gonna play three guards
and a't like the three guard lineup at. ANY point
i think your first one, is like that's, An Obligation
miss johnson needs to try.

Speaker 4 (58:43):
That, one yeah and and like like You mentioned olennik
And women yama would be the floor. Spaces there so
again the theme of the floor spacing coming from the
four and. THE five i think it would. BE interesting
i think it probably will happen at. SOME point i
don't know that it will happen, a LOT but i
would bet money on it probably happening at least once.
Or twice there's just so many possibilities with this roster

(59:04):
this SEASON that i Feel Like mitch johnson as a
first year. Head coach AND again, I said i'm not
really sure what to think of him and what we know,
about HIM but i feel like he has a lot
of liberty to just try things and see, what sticks especially.

Speaker 2 (59:18):
EARLY on i am team hashtag.

Speaker 1 (59:20):
Try shit, SO yeah i hope they do anything else
about this team we. HAVEN'T discussed i haven't asked you
that you think needs to be touched UPON before i
force you to make.

Speaker 4 (59:29):
Some, PREDICTIONS no, I honestly i think we've covered pretty
much all of. THE bases i think when we look at,
this team they, to me are going to be BETTER
than i think a lot of. PEOPLE expect i would
not be surprised again if they end up being like
a top six seed and they just outright make, THE
playoffs i wouldn't be. That shocked but we also talked

(59:51):
about having like kind of a lower end outcome, from
them where they have a big range. OF outcomes i
also wouldn't be surprised if they're like near the bottom
of the plan and like fighting for their lives to
get in that last like eighth or. Seventh seed by
winning in the play in like that also would not
shock me, a ton just based on like their personnel
and it possibly not gelling.

Speaker 3 (01:00:10):
Super well so where.

Speaker 1 (01:00:12):
Do you how many games do you ultimately see? Them
winning and if you had, to pick where do you
see them falling In the west as their most, you know.

Speaker 2 (01:00:19):
Realistic, SPOT yeah i.

Speaker 3 (01:00:20):
Think realistically like forty five to forty.

Speaker 4 (01:00:22):
SIX games i think that that's realistic, For THEM and
i think that could probably just given how Deep The
western conferences unfortunately probably.

Speaker 3 (01:00:29):
Puts you like that could, be, eight, nine eight.

Speaker 4 (01:00:32):
And NINTH so i think that's probably what we're. Looking at,
But yeah I'm like i'm excited for, this Team but
i'm not ready to, say like, oh yeah they're first to,
book it they're, definitely top you know they're.

Speaker 3 (01:00:42):
They're not they. PROBABLY aren't i struggle with.

Speaker 1 (01:00:44):
THEIR floor I think i might think it's a little
lower than, you do just because when you're trying to
GO through i look, At, it okay like who are
the teams they're guaranteed to be? Better then and so
It's like Utah And new orleans OR just I Mean
new orleans thinks it's gonna, Be good they're going to.
Be terrible it's like those two teams are going to
be bad right off. THE bat i think it's a
little early For. The Blazers, THE suns i think are

(01:01:05):
gonna be a. Dumpster fire like they'll probably win right
around thirty. Six, games again so there's four. Right there
and THEN when i get, after, that LIKE would i
probably give them the edge Over, The.

Speaker 2 (01:01:15):
Kings YEAH but.

Speaker 1 (01:01:18):
I WOULD but i think it's like when you're looking, To,
guarantee okay how many teams will you guarantee that they'll?
Be Better then i'm probably prepared to go to, like
four and like that's and that's not TO say i,
WOULD now i expect them to finish higher. THAN eleventh
i want to make. That clear but it's just when
you start to go Through. The west we say this,
every YEAR and i know this offseason there wasn't like

(01:01:38):
a ton of fireworks ASIDE from kd Going to houston
And then memphis Loses, desm bane so they could.

Speaker 4 (01:01:43):
Be.

Speaker 2 (01:01:43):
Worse two it's just brutal In.

Speaker 1 (01:01:46):
The west there are so we Talk about florida's ceiling
For the, spurs SPECIFICALLY but i think you can talk yourself, into,
like yeah a team Like, the warriors if they're, healthy
enough they could just be the third best team In.
The west or If the grizzlies get good Health From,
john moran they could be. Up there it's just it's
going to require a level of consistency From the spurs
that we just haven't seen During the. Wemby Era and
i'm just curious how they juggle that with the, player

(01:02:09):
development Specifically Of dylan Harper And steph castle above.

Speaker 3 (01:02:12):
Everybody, ELSE yeah i think THAT'S a i think those
are all.

Speaker 4 (01:02:15):
FAIR points, i again at the end of, the, DAY
though i do feel and maybe this is a little
bit of me being like. Hopelessly optimistic but, last season
and again this is. Last season early in, the season
they were something like fourteen and eleven Before like popovich
went down and a lot of the players starting, getting injured,
AND like i, DON'T know i feel like they were

(01:02:37):
on a pretty good pace to at least be somewhere near.
Five HUNDRED and i look at this roster this season
and just hoping for some development from some guys and
then guys to kind of either who have come in
kind of, meet expectations if not. EXCEED them i feel
like you're set up to be better than last season
when you were healthy and. Like That the spurs were

(01:02:58):
not good, last season but they also were not healthy
for most of, the year and that's a big. Question
Mark two Like can wimby, Stay healthy Candy arn fox,
stay healthy Will so hands?

Speaker 3 (01:03:09):
Stay healthy will thesell?

Speaker 4 (01:03:10):
Stay healthy like all four of, THOSE guys i wouldn't
necessarily say they're, injury prone but they definitely, haven't played,
you know full Seasons For san antonio in, A while,
SO yeah i mean it's fair to. Question IT but
i think if, they're healthy and that's a, BIG if
i think they could be a lot better than most.

Speaker 1 (01:03:26):
PEOPLE anticipate i think the biggest argument in their favor
is the most, reductive one which is they were a
plus like two point three points per one Hundred when
wemby played, last year and this team objectively just has
now better talent because You have Fox and harper And
Then steph castle's a year more into, his career and like,
the center the backup, center stuff like you feel better

(01:03:47):
about it Having A luke cornette there than you would
have at any point last. Year too it's like that's,
just yeah, it's reductive but, it's well look at what
they did with one beyond the court.

Speaker 2 (01:03:55):
Last year if, he's healthy like now.

Speaker 1 (01:03:56):
They're better is there a team looking at it through
a playoff lens that you find is a particularly intriguing
or even concerning Matchup For san antonio.

Speaker 4 (01:04:08):
Concerning Only, the THUNDER because i Think the thunder scare
the shit out, Of, me Like if, I'M anybody i
Think the thunder scare the shit out. Of me they're,
so deep they're still, super young they're still, super talented
like probably their second and third best players have not
reached their peak and will continue to. Get better so
that would, Scare me like If the spurs somehow made
the plan and they end up being the eighth seed

(01:04:30):
and they have to Face the thunder in the, First, round,
okay well like, All right i'll be ready for a
four game, Series probably but as far as like a
MATCHUP that i think would play in, THEIR favor i
actually would really love to see them Play the NUGGETS
because i think they match up really well With. The
Nuggets the spurs over the last, TWO seasons i think
they've Played the nuggets five times and they're four and

(01:04:52):
one Against. The Nuggets When ben yama Has Played nikola,
Jokic Phenomenally nikola jokic has been pretty inefficient Against wimbn
yama because even though he can kind of bully him
out of the way with, his body those insanely long,
gumby arms just like swallow up those hook shots and
those little baby hooks and turnarounds like he has done
a really good. Job there AND then i Think the

(01:05:13):
spurs also have the depth to kind.

Speaker 3 (01:05:15):
Of Give the nuggets fits a. Little BIT so i
really liked.

Speaker 4 (01:05:21):
That matchup and last Season the spurs were two and
three Against, the nuggets and the one game they lost
they lost, in overtime and this is a team that
was every time they, played them they, weren't healthy Like
the spurs were not healthy When ben yama was not
available in that overtime.

Speaker 3 (01:05:37):
Game EITHER so i like their chances Against.

Speaker 4 (01:05:40):
The nuggets i'm not saying they would Upset the nuggets
or Beat, the NUGGETS but i don't think it would
be a four game series or a. GENTLEMAN sweep i
think you're looking at something that goes six or seven
games if.

Speaker 1 (01:05:50):
EVERYBODY'S healthy I won't i probably would have Picked, the
nuggets but for, Variety's sake i'm curious how they would
match up in a playoff series Against the timberwolves because
it feels, Like, dah Yeah the timberwolves are huge at
every position at separate, point Guard but wemby is the
exact type of big that Can Play rudy gobert off.
The FLOOR because i Talk About rudy gobert's, the defense

(01:06:10):
he has not the best matchup, for Him But rudy
gobert's offense against what might Be the, spurs' defense that
could become a Problem.

Speaker 2 (01:06:17):
For minnesota, And, then okay what's?

Speaker 1 (01:06:18):
This like are they just going to default To nas
Reed And julius randalls like THEIR front i just that
would be an interesting chess matchup if we got a
best of seven series between those.

Speaker 3 (01:06:26):
TWO teams i like that.

Speaker 4 (01:06:28):
ONE too i like that one. A lot i will
definitely stick With my. Nuggets one, BUT yeah i like that.
One too, but, OVERALL yeah i THINK if i, had
TO if i had to bet on them winning a series,
next season. Maybe NOT but i think there's always. A
CHANCE like i wouldn't say that they that they would
automatically be a first. ROUND out i think that they

(01:06:49):
have enough talent around them that they could.

Speaker 3 (01:06:52):
Surprise somebody they definitely could.

Speaker 1 (01:06:54):
Surprise Someone, so, noah FINALLY could i get One other
spurs prediction from you for this? Coming season it could
be whatever you want it.

Speaker 4 (01:07:02):
To, be, YEAH well i look at the roster and
there just seem to be like a lot of expendable
contracts and maybe they're saving up for a big free.
Agency Move san antonio has never been a free, agency destination.

Speaker 1 (01:07:13):
Perhaps agency, destination anymore because free agency doesn't even.

Speaker 2 (01:07:17):
Doesn't happen it feels, like, yeah.

Speaker 4 (01:07:19):
YEAH like i AND and i kind of feel like
maybe this is and this is this can be my.
BOLD prediction i don't even know that this is going,
to happen But With jake fisher kind of reporting that
they were Inquiring About, trey murphy the, THIRD like i
feel like they have the ammo to go get.

Speaker 3 (01:07:37):
A player who is?

Speaker 4 (01:07:39):
THAT player i, don't know but if someone is up
on the market and someone who they think can legitimately
push their their playoff hopes and their playoff may even title.
ASPIRATIONS whatever a little, BIT further i would not be
surprised If the spurs just kind of like unloaded the
chamber and or, like here here are, some assets because.

Speaker 3 (01:07:58):
They can't hold onto all their.

Speaker 4 (01:07:59):
Picks forever, and look this is kind of treading old,
old territory old ground With. The spurs but like so
many players With the spurs have come through here and, they're.

Speaker 3 (01:08:10):
Like oh they might.

Speaker 4 (01:08:11):
Get traded they might, get traded like they don't have
a Future In, san antonio and then it's, like nope
they just waste away until they're no longer useful and
now they have no trade value and, all right see.
You LATER so i Think the spurs would be wise
to capitalize on trade values. Of guys and again there's
a lot of overlaps, skill wise, Positional WISE like i

(01:08:31):
think it would make sense for them to go trade.
For someone AND that's, i mean every every fan feels.
That way every, you know it's like they gotta go
trade for. A SUPERSTAR but i Think the spurs are
particularly suited to go make a trade if something like
that was to fall in.

Speaker 2 (01:08:45):
Their laps i'd agree.

Speaker 1 (01:08:46):
With you and look at the same thing you're saying
about players apply applies. To picks Like Those atlanta hawks
selections eighteen months ago or twelve months ago Looked like.
Crown jewels now it's what they did. This offseason they
don't look, as hot is? There us so if you're
looking From, THE spur I Think trey murphy would be a.
Great fit but is there an archetypal player or even a, Position,
that okay you have your one in your five Lockdown

(01:09:08):
in Fox, And, wenby like where are you if you
want them or not?

Speaker 2 (01:09:10):
Want them if they're.

Speaker 1 (01:09:11):
Making a, big trade what type of player is the priority. To, acquire.

Speaker 3 (01:09:17):
Yeah that's a. Tough one that is a. TOUGH question,
I really, I mean i Really Like.

Speaker 4 (01:09:22):
TREY murphy i think he's kind of the archetype that
you should be. Looking for a guy who's a, bigger
wing not necessarily the best, self creator but like can
take advantage. Of mismatches is an elite spot, up shooter
is an elite movement shooter, plus defender and a guy
who is not just, a SHOOTER like i think we

(01:09:43):
think of him mostly as, a shooter but he's a great,
Athlete too like he's, he can he's, Got, pop yeah,
he can he can get off.

Speaker 3 (01:09:48):
The floor good cutter.

Speaker 4 (01:09:50):
As well like a guy who doesn't necessarily need the
ball in. His hands like one of the GUYS who
i really liked For the spurs before the you know
the trade happened With, the Nuggets Was?

Speaker 3 (01:09:59):
CAN'T johnson i Really Like.

Speaker 4 (01:10:00):
CAM johnson i think a guy, like that Like A michael,
porter junior even like those kind of guys like those
are the kind of GUYS that i would be, Looking
for not someone who needs the ball in, their hands
not someone who you're asking to go get, a shot
Because the spurs have quite a few of those guys
right now at at that guard position.

Speaker 3 (01:10:18):
At least i'm looking for a bigger wing.

Speaker 1 (01:10:20):
Like that WHAT if i have to, ask him what
if One of Yannis Or anthony davis, becomes available these
players that intrigue you As a.

Speaker 3 (01:10:27):
Spurs, FAN yeah I mean yannis would definitely.

Speaker 4 (01:10:30):
Intrigue Me anthony davis not, as much just given the,
injury history given. The AGE and I know jannis is
no longer like super, young ANYMORE like i think he's,
Thirty Now but jannis is still, you know for the,
most part you can count on him to be healthy
pretty much.

Speaker 3 (01:10:48):
All season he doesn't miss a ton. Of games and.

Speaker 4 (01:10:51):
Even though it might be you'd have to figure out
how to make it work with, spacing wise, FOR sure
i don't know that you could pass up on a
generational talent who is still very much in the in
the center of.

Speaker 3 (01:11:01):
His PRIME so I mean i would be very much Interested.

Speaker 2 (01:11:04):
IN yannis i figured you. WOULD be i was just
curious because we harped on.

Speaker 1 (01:11:07):
The SPACING but i think that's the one of the
Values of wemby where you might get if some people
want him to take few. Or threes the fact that
he can play offense the way that he has, so
far you can slot literally anybody next to him in the,
front court and that's just.

Speaker 4 (01:11:19):
Hugely, valuable also could you imagine Like A wemby yannis
pick and roll Or A yannis wimby pick and roll
like that would, Be insane like that would be like just.

Speaker 3 (01:11:30):
Bat shit that would, be crazy and that'd Be something
i'd be.

Speaker 1 (01:11:33):
There, FOR yeah, i mean Aside from bucks fans.

Speaker 2 (01:11:36):
Who, Wouldn't, right noah this.

Speaker 1 (01:11:40):
Was great, as always thank you for giving me so
much of. Your time are you able just to tell
our audience where they can find you and all the
fantastic work that you have planned for the.

Speaker 2 (01:11:48):
Upcoming.

Speaker 4 (01:11:49):
Season yeah so we've been on a little bit of,
a hiatus but you can find me over at the
Vic and role, on substack the Vic and roll, on
TikTok the Vic and roll over on YouTube. As well
so like anywhere you want to find, my work it'll
be there Under The. Vican roll we're, doing videos we're,
doing podcasts we're. Doing articles, but yeah super excited for this,

(01:12:10):
first season super excited for the basketball season to be
back FOR the nba, In general and, as always thank
you so much for.

Speaker 3 (01:12:16):
HAVING me i always enjoy talking hoops. WITH you i
always look forward to this every year at this time of.

Speaker 2 (01:12:22):
The, year well thank you.

Speaker 1 (01:12:23):
So much the Links to All of noa's stuff where
you can find him will be in the podcast and.
YouTube descriptions, once again, thank you this. Was fantastic, AS
always i always have a blast picking. Your brain until,
next time we leave everybody with the shout out to,
the One, the Only Mister Frank hila keina