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San Antonio Spurs 2021-22 Season Thread - Let's get this play-in shitshiw rolling

Mitch Cumsteen

By Mitch Cumsteen
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Radical Larry
Radical Larry

As it should be.

Mitch Cumsteen
Mitch Cumsteen

1. It's bittersweet making the play in. Everyone knows they would be better off long term with a better pick but fuck it. This team has played really hard all season and they deserve some reward. They

kingkoopa6
kingkoopa6

GSG

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Kermit

Kermit 3,128

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1 minute ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Don't weep too much..... Just no real offensive weapons which can be counted on in playoff basketball.  It's some small experience for the young guys, but it also highlights how far away this team is from being good.

 

Debbie Downer Snl GIF by Saturday Night Live

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ztejas

ztejas 43,244

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Lonnie can walk and we need to let him do that. Fairly ambivalent on KJ but he has another year left. He's undersized and as a result a poor defender and below average rebounder. His scoring is replaceable.

Optimally we get a decent FA or land a disgruntled player in a trade and DV and Primo make leaps and DJ continues to get better. JRich and Collins are nice pieces and Poeltl is worth what we're paying him. 

Maybe we luck into a top pick and get a stud. 

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TheBryMan81

TheBryMan81 2,495

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NBA Offseason Guide 2022: Are the San Antonio Spurs on the upswing?

Spoiler

NBA Offseason Guide 2022: Are the San Antonio Spurs on the upswing?

 

Dejounte Murray is at the center of the Spurs' rebuild. AP Photo/Eric Christian Smith

1:01 PM JST
  • Bobby Marks

Don't let back-to-back play-in appearances deceive you.

The 34-48 record this season is an indicator that the San Antonio Spurs are still in the middle stages of rebuilding and are far from a team that can compete for a top-six playoff spot. The Spurs were 13-35 against teams above .500 and had 11 losing streaks this season. In games decided by five or fewer points, the Spurs ranked 28th in the league with a 15-24 record.

Struggling to learn how to win against playoff teams and the failure to execute in close games are byproducts of the fourth-youngest roster in the NBA, with seven players under the age of 23.

So what should San Antonio do this summer to take the next step in its rebuild?

 

MORE: Spurs rank 20th in Future Power Rankings

greyline.png

State of the roster

Roster status: Retooling with draft picks and cap flexibility

The Spurs' focus entering the offseason starts with the draft in June. San Antonio has three first-round picks, but already has 12 players under contract for next season (though four of them have either partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed contracts).

Because of the roster crunch, San Antonio will need to consolidate its picks or face tough decisions with players already under contract. The Spurs could package the first-round picks they're getting from the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors to move up in the draft, or they could trade out for future first-round picks. Last year the Oklahoma City Thunder traded the No. 16 pick to the Houston Rockets for two future first-round picks. The Spurs could look to make a similar move this summer.

EDITOR'S PICKS

Beyond the draft, San Antonio is one of five teams that is projected to have significant money to spend in free agency. As we break down below, how much cap flexibility the Spurs have will be determined by what direction they go with restricted free agent Lonnie Walker IV.

The Spurs are attempting to retool without a complete tear-down of the roster. They have a solid nucleus that includes Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jakob Poeltl, Josh Primo along with veterans Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson.

That group alone, however, is not good enough to compete in 2022-23 for a top-six spot in the West and will be challenged just to participate in the play-in for a third consecutive season.

Cap flexibility and Lonnie Walker IV

There was an organizational shift in philosophy last summer in how the Spurs began to retool their roster.

Known more for drafting and developing internally with their own players, the Spurs looked outside of their family and were active in free agency. The $20 million in room was eventually used on the combination of Doug McDermott and Zach Collins.

San Antonio also actively took on unwanted salary (Tomas Satoransky, Al-Farouq Aminu, Juancho Hernangomez, Chandler Hutchison) or a player who did not fit their timeline (Thaddeus Young) to add draft picks. Since last August, the Spurs have acquired three first-round picks, the right to swap firsts with Boston in 2028 and six second-round selections.

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Wednesday, April 13
Hornets at Hawks, 7 p.m.
Spurs at Pelicans, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, April 15
Hornets/Hawks at Cavaliers, 7:30 p.m.

All times Eastern

The Spurs once again have cap flexibility, but the amount will be determined by how the front office views Walker, with his restricted free agency looming. Walker struggled prior to the All-Star break (11.2 points, 40% from the field and 29% on 3s) but improved in the second half, averaging 16.2 points, 45% shooting and 39% from 3.

Per ESPN Stats & Information, Walker ranked just 98th in effective field goal percentage among 108 players to record 50 games played and 10 attempts per game. He had the second-highest usage rate on the team (behind Murray) but has seen his role go from a starter to reserve.

San Antonio enters the offseason with $14.5 million in cap space, accounting for Walker's $13.4 million hold. If the Spurs let him walk, that cap space increases to about $27 million.

However, there are other avenues to increase flexibility outside of renouncing their former first-round pick. Josh Richardson, Romeo Langford and Jakob Poeltl are on expiring contracts (a total of $26 million) plus the Spurs have $9 million in non-guaranteed deals. Richardson has been a solid addition off the bench since he was acquired from Boston and provides a veteran presence. In 21 games with the Spurs, he averaged 11.4 points and shot 44.4% from 3.

Poeltl's $9.4 million deal is considered one the better-value contracts in the league. He started 67 of the 68 games he played this season, averaging a career high 13.5 points and 9.3 rebounds.

Even the players who are on partially or non-guaranteed contracts -- Zach Collins, Keita Bates-Diop, Tre Jones and Jock Landale -- add value to the roster.

Keldon Johnson

If history repeats itself, Keldon Johnson will be in a holding pattern when it comes to a new contract. That's not to say Johnson is not part of the Spurs' future: he is. But Johnson is not in the category of player who will get a rookie max contract extension as soon as free agency begins July 1.

ESPN's NBA Basketball Power Index

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Who is No. 1 in the latest NBA Basketball Power Index? Go to Ratings

Johnson averaged a career high 17 points in 2021-22 and shot 42% on catch-and-shoot 3s, ranking in the top-15 among 106 players with 200 attempts, per ESPN Stats & Information. Johnson also led all players in 3-point percentage on corner 3s.

Because the Spurs are competing against a mid-October deadline (the last day before the start of the season) and not opposing teams with cap space to make an offer, there is no urgency to get a deal done in early July unless of course it benefits the team and the player.

The two Spurs who signed rookie extensions in the past three years -- Dejounte Murray and Derrick White -- both agreed at the deadline. Since 2016, only the Celtics' Robert Williams has signed a non-max extension within the first four weeks of free agency.

Both sides will need to consider several factors.

For Johnson, does he follow the lead of the Hornets' Miles Bridges from last offseason and bet on himself? Bridges turned down a four-year, $64 million extension and now should see a contract in the $100 million range. Bridges and Johnson share the same agent, Rich Paul.

San Antonio will examine three things:

  1. Does the threat of more teams with cap space in 2023 force the Spurs to make an aggressive offer now, instead of waiting until next offseason? Unlike this offseason, when only five teams are projected to have room, the number is expected to double in 2023.

  2. How much value is Johnson's $11.6 million cap hold in 2023? San Antonio once again is projected to have cap space and starting Johnson at a salary in the $18 million range shaves off $7 million in room.

  3. Is the contract that Miles Bridges signs as a restricted free agent a comp to what a new contract for Johnson could be? Bridges should see a contract north of $100 million but that is more a result of the forward having a Most Improved type of season and because of the threat that he could sign an offer sheet.

Offseason cap breakdown

San Antonio Spurs 2022-23 Salary Breakdown

PLAYER CAP CHARGE
*Note: guaranteed salary includes cap hold for first-round pick
1. Dejounte Murray $16,571,120
2. Doug McDermott $13,750,000
3. Josh Richardson $12,196,094
4. Jakob Poeltl $9,398,148
5. Romeo Langford $5,634,257
6. Devin Vassell $4,437,000
7. Joshua Primo $4,144,320
8. Keldon Johnson $3,873,025
9. Zach Collins $7,350,000 (partial guarantee)
10. Keita Bates-Diop $1,878,720 (non-guaranteed)
11. Tre Jones $1,782,621 (non-guaranteed)
12. Jock Landale $1,563,518 (non-guaranteed)
13. Lonnie Walker IV $13,343,688 (free agent hold)
14. Devontae Cacok $2,061,292 (free agent hold)
15. Joe Wieskamp $1,816,044 (free agent hold)
16. D.J. Stewart Jr. $1,616,044 (free agent hold)
17. Robert Woodard II $1,616,044 (free agent hold)
18. First-rounder (own) $6,445,320 (draft hold)
19. First-rounder (via TOR) $3,123,000 (draft hold)
20. First-rounder (via BOS) $2,982,240 (draft hold)
Guaranteed salary $86.2M*
Non-guaranteed $8.9M
Free-agent hold $20.5M
Total salaries on cap $115.8M
2022-23 NBA SALARY CAP $122M
2022-23 NBA LUXURY TAX LINE $147M
 
 

San Antonio Spurs Depth Chart

PG SG SF PF C
D. Murray D. Vassell D. McDermott K. Johnson J. Poeltl
T. JonesNG J. Primo J. Richardson Z. CollinsPG J. LandaleNG
  R. Langford K. Bates-DiopNG    
PG=Partially guaranteed        
NG=Non guaranteed        
 
 

Team needs

  • Rebounding

Resources to build the roster

  • The draft: three first-round selections

  • Projected $16-20M in cap space

  • Own free agent: Lonnie Walker IV

  • All-Star: Dejounte Murray

  • Future draft assets: eight future firsts and the right to swap with Boston in 2028

  • Tradable contracts: 12 players from $16.5 to $1.6M

  • $5.3M room midlevel exception

  • Cash: $6.3M to send or receive in a trade

Dates to watch

  • JUNE 24: The Spurs have until this date to guarantee the full $7.4 million of Zach Collins' contract. If they waive him before then, he's only owed $3.7 million. The Spurs structured the contract this way because of the injury risk presented by Collins, who missed 192 games during his time with the Portland Trail Blazers. Collins saw his first game action for the Spurs in early February and played an integral part in their winning streak in late March. In 28 games for the Spurs, Collins averaged a career-high 7.8 points and 49% shooting from the field.

  • JUNE 29: This is the deadline for the Spurs to tender a $6.3M qualifying offer to Walker, making him a restricted free agent. Walker fell short of reaching the starter criteria that would have boosted the offer to $7.9M. The Spurs also have until this date to tender qualifying offers to Devontae Cacok ($2.1M), Joe Wieskamp ($1.8M), D.J. Stewart Jr. ($50K) and Robert Woodard ($50K).

  • AUG. 1: Tre Jones' $1.8 million contract has $500K in protection but only if the guard is on the roster past this date.

  • There is no offseason guaranteed date in the $1.56M contract of Jock Landale, who averaged 4.9 points and 2.6 rebounds in 10.9 minutes as a rookie this past season.

  • The $1.9M contract of Keita Bates-Diop does not become guaranteed until the first day of the regular season.

Restrictions

  • The contracts of Tre Jones, Jock Landale and Keita Bates-Diop are non-guaranteed and count as $0 in outgoing salary in a trade. Prior to his June 24 guarantee date, Collins' salary for trade purposes is $3.7M.

Extension-eligible

  • Murray is entering the third season of the rookie extension that he signed in 2020. He is eligible up until the last day of the regular season to sign a three-year, $95.2 million extension. A first-time All-Star in 2022, Murray averaged career highs in points (21.1), rebounds (8.3) and assists (9.2). His $16.6 million salary for next season ranks 23rd among all point guards.

  • The downside to signing Poeltl to a team-friendly three-year, $26.3 million contract in 2020 is that the Spurs are limited to what they can offer the center in an extension. Poeltl is eligible to sign a four-year, $61.5 million extension and his $13.7 million salary would rank in the bottom half of starting centers. Per Cleaning the Glass, the Spurs' net rating was plus-8.7 (91st percentile) when he was on the court this season.

  • Former second-round pick Tre Jones is extension-eligible if the Spurs guarantee his $1.8 million contract for 2022-23. Jones started 11 games, averaging 13.5 points and 7.5 assists in those starts.

The draft

The Spurs have three first-round picks in the June draft. They are also owed a future first-round pick from the Bulls that could convey as early as 2025. San Antonio also has the right to swap firsts with the Celtics in 2028, as long as Boston's pick that year isn't No. 1 overall.

Here's how ESPN's Jonathan Givony and Mike Schmitz have Houston selecting in June:

No. 9 (own): Jalen Duren, C, Memphis

His combination of physical tools (6-foot-11, 250 pounds, 7-foot-5 wingspan), power, explosiveness and budding skill is unmatched. And the way his intensity has ramped up substantially while the game has simultaneously slowed down for him is extremely intriguing for a player who won't turn 19 until November. Duren has emerged as a major force inside the paint on both ends of the floor -- be it crashing the glass, protecting the rim or finishing ferociously and with incredible ease around the basket -- giving him a ready-made role to step into early in his NBA career. -- Givony

No. 20 (via TOR): Blake Wesley, SG, Notre Dame

Wesley is a big-time talent who has NBA feet and shift off the dribble, can get a piece of the paint at will and has at least shown enough off-the-dribble shooting potential to suggest there's room to improve. With a strong pre-draft process, it's not out of the question that Wesley gets looks throughout the teens, especially if he shoots the ball well. But for those who were skeptical about his NBA readiness and consistent impact, Wesley's showing against Texas Tech didn't do anything to ease those concerns. -- Schmitz

No. 25 (via BOS): Kendall Brown, SF, Baylor

Not turning 19 until May, Brown's raw offensive skill set and struggles defensively aren't shocking considering his lack of experience, and he still has several intriguing attributes to hang his hat on as arguably the most explosive leaper in this draft class, with a 6-11 wingspan and some real flashes of passing and ability to defend one-on-one. Still, there are question marks about what exactly Brown's role will be early in his NBA career, and whether he has the touch to develop his jump shot, which will be a key to his long-term development. -- Givony

No. 38 (via LAL): JD Davison, PG, Alabama

Davison entered the college game known as a YouTube sensation thanks to his explosive dunking ability, but quickly showed there's more to his game, displaying impressive feel as a passer and real grit defensively. He has an excellent physical profile for a guard, which has allowed him to play on and off the ball for Alabama, which has beaten some of the best teams in college while racking up plenty of confusing losses. Offense has been a major struggle at times for Davison, who isn't a polished ball handler or a consistent shooter. It's clear that Davison's struggles as a scorer and high turnover rate make him more of a long-term prospect, which has allowed more productive guards to jump ahead of him as the season has moved on.

 

Edited by TheBryMan81
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BurdineBandit

BurdineBandit 808

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Fine to see Lonnie go, thanks for your service. Keldon is a year younger and has already shown to have taken a step up, with starts by not relinquishing a starting 5 role, unlike Walker. Primo and Richardson obvs also make him expendable. Keep Richardson, he seems like a new add to the Spurs culture. I'm really excited about the 1st round picks too, 3 in the Top 25, and our highest top pick in years. Would absolutely not mind flipping a pick to get us into the Top 20 again. 

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LTtxfan

LTtxfan 48,928

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Spurs have #9 slot... Both LA teams in Lottery but don't own their Lottery picks 😋

2022 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY

TEAM   REC        PCT    GB    TOP 4    #1 OVR

1  HOU  20-62    .244    --      52.1%      14.0%

2  ORL  22-60     .268    2.0    52.1%      14.0%

3  DET  23-59     .280    3.0    52.1%      14.0%

4  OKC  24-58.    .293    4.0    48.1%      12.5%

5  IND   25-57      .305.   5.0    42.1%.     10.5%

6  POR  27-55      .329    7.0     37.2%      9.0%

7  SAC  30-52      .366   10.0    32.0%.    7.5%

8  LAL   33-49     .402    13.0    26.3%.   6.0%    * (New Orleans)

9  SA    34-48.     .415     14.0    20.3%    4.5%

10 WAS  35-47    .427     15.0    13.9%     3.0%

11   NY   37-45     .451     17.0       9.4%    2.0%

12  LAC  42-40    .512     22.0      7.1%      1.5%     ** (OKC) 

13  CHA 43-39.   .524     23.0      4.8%     1.0%

14  CLE 44-38     .537     24.0      2.4%   . 0.5%

 

 *  New Orleans owns Lakers 1st Rd Pick

 ** OKC owns Clippers 1st Rd  Pick

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SilasCoade

SilasCoade 2,620

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Posted
9 hours ago, LTtxfan said:

Spurs have #9 slot... Both LA teams in Lottery but don't own their Lottery picks 😋

2022 NBA DRAFT LOTTERY

TEAM   REC        PCT    GB    TOP 4    #1 OVR

1  HOU  20-62    .244    --      52.1%      14.0%

2  ORL  22-60     .268    2.0    52.1%      14.0%

3  DET  23-59     .280    3.0    52.1%      14.0%

4  OKC  24-58.    .293    4.0    48.1%      12.5%

5  IND   25-57      .305.   5.0    42.1%.     10.5%

6  POR  27-55      .329    7.0     37.2%      9.0%

7  SAC  30-52      .366   10.0    32.0%.    7.5%

8  LAL   33-49     .402    13.0    26.3%.   6.0%    * (New Orleans)

9  SA    34-48.     .415     14.0    20.3%    4.5%

10 WAS  35-47    .427     15.0    13.9%     3.0%

11   NY   37-45     .451     17.0       9.4%    2.0%

12  LAC  42-40    .512     22.0      7.1%      1.5%     ** (OKC) 

13  CHA 43-39.   .524     23.0      4.8%     1.0%

14  CLE 44-38     .537     24.0      2.4%   . 0.5%

 

 *  New Orleans owns Lakers 1st Rd Pick

 ** OKC owns Clippers 1st Rd  Pick

From the desk of NeverHappeningGM: Pels send Zion and the Lakers pick to OKC for both OKCs picks this year. I think both teams end up better off, but Pels would probably have to include a future pick since Zion is bolting first chance unless he agrees to a sign-trade deal for the rookie max extension.

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LTtxfan

LTtxfan 48,928

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14 minutes ago, Llogg said:

From the desk of NeverHappeningGM: Pels send Zion and the Lakers pick to OKC for both OKCs picks this year. I think both teams end up better off, but Pels would probably have to include a future pick since Zion is bolting first chance unless he agrees to a sign-trade deal for the rookie max extension.

Not sure how much the Pelicans can get for Zion right now, but it makes sense to listen to trade offers ASAP before he gets injured again.  

 

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Mitch Cumsteen

Mitch Cumsteen 18,517

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They did the coin filps and Spurs won the flip for Denver to pick 20, but lost the three way Philly/Milwaukee flip and got #25. So they have lottery pick TBD (probably #9), #20, #25 and #37 (second round).

I have some thoughts on this off season. Do we need an off season thread? Can we just continue in this one?

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