Speaker 1: 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
be in the podcast and YouTube description. Noah, how the
heck are you doing so good?
Speaker 2: 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?
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 1: No, for sure. And it's also but because they won
the lottery and because the Aaron Box and Victor Remben. Yeah,
but didn't play a ton 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. I'm not texting
during the show. I'm time stamping, So if you see
me on my phone, I'm still listening. That's all I'm doing.
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? More
beyond him? And then I think the more important question
is what did we learn about Mitch Johnson the head
coach during his stint last year?
Speaker 2: 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
now I'm not really that surprised that they went Mitch Johnson.
Like I think with the Spurs, especially during the Papovich era,
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,
He's gone through the ranks. 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: I don't know what we learned about Mitch Johnson.
Speaker 2: 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
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?
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: Right now?
Speaker 2: 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: 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 2: 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
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,
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: Season on good efficiency.
Speaker 2: 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.
So not not super shocked.
Speaker 1: 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. Jared Jackson Junior
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
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 onean 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
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 2: 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
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.
Speaker 3: With you, you got to be okay with But I
think that's part of it.
Speaker 2: Like I think part of it is taking care of
the guys that they feel secure and they're more ready
to buy into what you're what you're selling.
Speaker 3: So not again, not super surprised that it happened.
Speaker 2: 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 he had the you know, the finger issue on
his dominant shooting hand.
Speaker 3: But yeah, I mean, I'm excited to see what this
pairing looks like because I think it could be really
really good between him and Wimby.
Speaker 1: 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 Louke 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
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 2: 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: Maybe that doesn't mean win a.
Speaker 2: 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
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
number one pick.
Speaker 3: Like this is a and we'll talk.
Speaker 2: I'm sure we'll talk about Dylan Harper, but uh, fantastic
prospect in his own right, generational driver, generational touch.
Speaker 3: Maybe not the best.
Speaker 2: 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: Isn't quite there, especially off the balance.
Speaker 2: 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: 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 2: 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: Is his handles a lot tighter.
Speaker 2: 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,
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.
Speaker 3: But I'm less worried about that this season.
Speaker 2: I feel like that's still an issue, but 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: 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 Ben Yama 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 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: Yeah, No, I agree with you. Oh sorry, go ahead
if you if you had anything.
Speaker 1: Oh no, no, I thought I just thought, yeah, go ahead,
it's all you.
Speaker 2: No, I was gonna say, Yeah, that's definitely a great
point 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 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: So yeah, I think you're one hundred percent right it's
time to.
Speaker 1: 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 or
excited about. I just want to know, like, well, how
is this team planning on navigating the three guard dynamic?
Speaker 3: Yeah, that's a tough question to answer too.
Speaker 2: 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
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
guy is, you know, standing in a corner this like
in a way that they're uncomfortable.
Speaker 3: Let them play with Fox or with Castle.
Speaker 2: 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: And I think probably not on an identical.
Speaker 2: 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: And I think that's.
Speaker 2: 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: 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
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 2: 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: But start looking at guys who.
Speaker 2: 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
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
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: Like?
Speaker 2: 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 3: Do you think?
Speaker 1: 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: Yeah, I think I think I'm fine with that.
Speaker 2: 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 y, six
but he's super, strong like he's got Grim man's.
Speaker 3: Strength he is so so so.
Speaker 2: 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 At, yukon like he he he's
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?
Speaker 3: Them but, Yeah i'm fine with.
Speaker 2: 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 the de
facto wing defender out.
Speaker 3: There what do you?
Speaker 1: WANT i think everyone's going to focus on what is
the three point percentage or the jump shot percentage overall
with him in 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 basing. Liability but because 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 on.
Speaker 3: Drives, yeah AND i think that's WHERE i like kind of.
Speaker 2: 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 even
like the stuff THAT i have here in front of.
Speaker 3: Me, like out of everyone in the league last.
Speaker 2: 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 we
just isolate the floaters and we're not talking about just
non rim attempts inside the, paint like.
Speaker 3: The touch wasn't great.
Speaker 2: 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: Creates just guys out of the.
Speaker 2: 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 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 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 you,
mentioned does the efficiency spike in any area that indicates
that we can, expect you, know any any real signs
of major.
Speaker 3: DEVELOPMENT i.
Speaker 2: 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 think.
Speaker 1: 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 maybe
like not as often as the season more, on especially
if he's gonna be on the, BALL i think that
he can do. IT i don't 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 do. That but that's 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 have.
Speaker 2: Him and, now, 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 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 the.
Speaker 3: League but to, me that's not a great.
Speaker 2: 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 and
like in my, gut like in my, HEART i feel
like you know WHAT i.
Speaker 3: Mean so, again Now i'm not A Stefan castle.
Speaker 2: 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.
Speaker 3: I think he becomes innumerably more.
Speaker 2: Valuable but, YEAH i think that that's that's a that's
a tough.
Speaker 3: Ask that's a really tough.
Speaker 1: 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 two.
Speaker 3: Years that's that's.
Speaker 1: 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 this.
Speaker 2: 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 comes.
Speaker 3: In AND i think that's.
Speaker 2: 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 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 like.
Speaker 3: That that's a big.
Speaker 2: 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 put
effort nowt maybe that wanes a little bit if his you,
know his his offensive load.
Speaker 3: Increases over the.
Speaker 2: 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 a.
Speaker 1: 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 at?
Speaker 2: 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 is
a is a is a great. Playmaker he does turn
the ball over a little 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 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 i.
Speaker 3: DON'T i don't really think that's gonna be a big.
Speaker 2: 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 losing
a few late, games close.
Speaker 3: Games But i'm Not i'm not that.
Speaker 2: 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 guys.
Speaker 1: 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 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?
Speaker 2: Him oh, man that's 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 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 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.
Speaker 3: Interest people are willing to Leave sohn alone and live
with the.
Speaker 2: Consequences SO i don't know how he fits 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. 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 So.
Speaker 3: Hand that's a.
Speaker 2: Question i'll actually ask, You like where where do you
feel like So hand feels fits?
Speaker 3: IN i don't.
Speaker 1: 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 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 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 conversation.
Speaker 2: 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 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 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 San.
Speaker 1: 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 i don't think there.
Speaker 2: 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 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 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 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 of. Blocks he's
not impacting the game in 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 that's.
Speaker 3: Unrealistic Draymond green is so to me one of.
Speaker 2: 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 it's.
Speaker 3: Called i'm SURE i got that saying. Wrong for.
Speaker 2: SURE i think it's the opposite way. Around but just
because they tried to make him be a point, guard
yeah he's.
Speaker 3: Not he's not.
Speaker 2: 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: What how does this all Impact Devian, 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 like that's that's gonna be an interesting dynamic.
Speaker 2: 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 they've
got more mouths to.
Speaker 3: Feed but as far as.
Speaker 2: 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. 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 all the Big like that's not a
lot of other guys on the, roster especially like guards
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 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 more.
Speaker 3: Expendable like If harper.
Speaker 2: 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 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 the.
Speaker 3: Moment, yeah the.
Speaker 1: 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 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 his. Career and you could
do 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 all.
Speaker 3: Together, sure AND i think that's.
Speaker 2: 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 and
maybe that does Make fox more expendable in the long run,
too you.
Speaker 3: Know but, yeah there's so many possibilities with this.
Speaker 2: 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 are. Positive there's not
a lot of outcomes THAT i see, like oh, man
like this is just such a disappointing season like, This
LIKE i don't expect them to win a.
Speaker 3: Title if they won a playoff, series that would be.
Speaker 2: 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 successful.
Speaker 3: Season, yeah they have.
Speaker 1: To have one of that have not gone through. This
they have to have one of the like highest floor
of ceiling ranges in the entire.
Speaker 2: 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 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 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.
Speaker 3: Playing LIKE i think they're they've got a really deep.
Speaker 2: 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 start
on a lot of.
Speaker 3: Teams, harper that's.
Speaker 2: 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 but,
YEAH i, mean, like this is a team THAT i
think has more depth than maybe people are giving them credit.
Speaker 1: For let's talk 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 year?
Speaker 2: 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 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 season
than his rookie, season but he averaged more.
Speaker 3: Points And i'd.
Speaker 2: Love 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 aiannis or A Lebron james that like.
Speaker 3: Are so tough to.
Speaker 2: OFFICIATE i feel like he could be getting to the
line more. Often definitely more than four times a, game you,
Know like that is 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
i want him to get to the line more. OFTEN
i want to see him be more aggressive in that.
Speaker 1: WAY i think that's a realistic goal to 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 be 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 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 for.
Speaker 3: It, yeah, NO i, AGREE i agree with you. THERE
i did want.
Speaker 2: To 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 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,
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: Fox, Healthy wimby, healthy that's.
Speaker 2: 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 you.
Speaker 1: 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 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, Karen.
Speaker 3: No, yeah, NO i THINK i Like Carter. BRYANT i
do think he's a. PROJECT i don't think he's a
guy who plug and.
Speaker 2: 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 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 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 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 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 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 the.
Speaker 1: Sideline, yeah his offense was rough In 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 between.
Speaker 3: Those, yeah that would be a.
Speaker 2: 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.
Speaker 3: Terrible those guys are flying all over the.
Speaker 2: Place but, YEAH i, MEAN i the likelihood that they
that 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 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 out the
game and make sure no one else has to has
to spend another minute on the.
Speaker 3: Court SO i just would be really surprised if he
plays in any real games in any meaningful.
Speaker 1: Way the Other spurs kid that had people, Buzzing David Jones,
garcia what are you earlier impressions to?
Speaker 3: HIM i like.
Speaker 2: 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: Undersized but what a show. Man he put on a.
Speaker 2: 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 City.
Speaker 3: Capitanas he was.
Speaker 2: 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 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 smart. Score but, 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 Riley. MINNIX i will say THAT i Am i'm
A i'm A Riley minnis. BELIEVER i don't know that
he plays for The spurs much this, season but uh
love his.
Speaker 3: Game Love Riley, minnix so shout out to. Him but,
yeah those.
Speaker 1: Guys stands out stands out About minnix to.
Speaker 2: YOU i think he's another one of those guys who
just super high, feel has LEGITIMATE nba, range great catch and.
Speaker 3: Shoot, guy can shoot off movement in THE.
Speaker 2: 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.
Speaker 3: Passer. Like he's just a really cerebral player WHO i
think could play in THE.
Speaker 2: 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 they just got too many guys
WHO i just don't think he's going to see the
floor very much this season.
Speaker 3: Either are you ready to.
Speaker 1: Enter the Cookie cutter Slash Lightning round portion of the?
Speaker 3: Podcast, Absolutely i'm ready to. Go i'm ready to.
Speaker 1: 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 right?
Speaker 3: Now, yeah biggest potential?
Speaker 2: 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, 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 up.
Speaker 3: There but THAT'S i, mean that's hyper.
Speaker 2: 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.
Speaker 3: That those things more bother me than.
Speaker 2: Anything SO i, again that may be a little bit
of a cop out, answer but it's mostly the.
Speaker 3: Spacing LIKE i just don't want TO i want.
Speaker 2: To believe in these guys knocking down their open, shots
but there's only a handful of GUYS i really, trust
AND i think we went through some of those, names
like guys who will be off the, ball Like, Vicel, Champagne.
Barnes other than, That waters can do. That but he's
another guy WHO i don't really see playing that.
Speaker 1: Much, NO i was building WHEN i was trying to
map out their ten man, ROTATION i was, Like i'm
going to figure out a way to put. HIM i
couldn't do.
Speaker 3: IT i Like Lendy waters, though but, YEAH i don't
think he'll.
Speaker 1: 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 2: 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 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 Summer.
Speaker 3: League daron f definitely can play off the.
Speaker 2: 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 sobonis 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: A lot of different.
Speaker 2: 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.
Speaker 3: Do he's gonna spot, up he's gonna, Cut that's about.
Speaker 2: 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 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 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 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 1: Good for their offense. Too just to create as many
easy opportunities in transition as possible off of those, turnovers
that would find up being huge for.
Speaker 2: THEM i, think, yeah, 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 young.
Speaker 3: Team they like to.
Speaker 2: Run they have a lot of 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 their.
Speaker 3: Versatility, defensively.
Speaker 1: What do you view when you're looking at who are
going to be the ten most played players on this?
Team let's worry's that, way, Yeah, Fox, Vicelle, Castle, Barnes When,
Benyama Harper Champagnee, Johnson sohan And.
Speaker 2: CORNETTE i would love to see Sneak Kelly olinik in there,
somewhere but we can talk about him and and maybe
some funky lineups later.
Speaker 1: On they're they're just like 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 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 fiddle.
Speaker 2: 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 advantage. CREATION i 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 Taking
barnes out of the game and Throwing sohn 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, 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 gonna.
Speaker 1: Be you teased it. Before what's the what's a weird
o lineup you would like to See Mitch johnson try this?
Speaker 2: 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 Even
harper do would agree.
Speaker 3: To and then you got Wim Bin yama at the five.
There that's one THAT i think could be a lot of.
Speaker 2: 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 out.
Speaker 3: There for.
Speaker 1: SURE i want to see them go four, guards so
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 after, That.
Speaker 3: Champinne, YEAH i would throw him out.
Speaker 1: 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 in.
Speaker 3: That YEAH i, WOULD i would put him.
Speaker 2: THERE i would put him in there as your as
one of your five best defenders for, SURE i.
Speaker 3: Think.
Speaker 2: 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 Be
that would certainly be an interesting.
Speaker 3: LINEUP i have one more for.
Speaker 2: 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 the.
Speaker 3: Five that's.
Speaker 2: WEIRD i, specifically and this is one THAT i had
a specific team 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.
Speaker 1: HOLNGREN i think that would be a really good lineup
to try against The Rockets Steven, Adams, Alpern shane Gun minutes.
Speaker 2: Too, yeah, yeah. Try but those are those are my
weird line. UP i don't know if they will, happen
BUT i would like going through out there your first.
Speaker 1: ONE i think Better like THEY'RE i feel like they're
obligated if you're ever gonna play three guards and at
like the three guard lineup at any. POINT i think
your first one is, like that's an, Obligation Miss johnson
needs to try that.
Speaker 2: One, yeah and and like like you Mentioned olennik and
Women yama would be.
Speaker 3: The floor spaces. There so again the theme of the
floor spacing coming from the four and the.
Speaker 2: 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 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 early.
Speaker 1: ON i am team hashtag 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 some.
Speaker 2: 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 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 super.
Speaker 1: Well so where 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 realistic.
Speaker 3: Spot, YEAH i think realistically like forty five to forty six.
Speaker 2: 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: Puts you like that could be, eight, nine, eight and.
Ninth SO i think that's probably what we're looking.
Speaker 2: 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 they're.
Speaker 3: Not they probably.
Speaker 1: AREN'T i struggle with 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 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, Kings,
yeah BUT 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 a ton of fireworks aside FROM kd
going To houston and Then memphis loses Desm, bane so
they could be.
Speaker 3: Worse.
Speaker 1: Two it's just brutal in 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, development specifically Of
Dylan harper And Steph castle above everybody.
Speaker 3: Else, YEAH i think that's A i think those are
all fair.
Speaker 2: 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 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 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 stay?
Speaker 3: Healthy will thesell stay?
Speaker 2: 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 people.
Speaker 1: 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 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 last. Year if he's,
healthy like now 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 2: 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.
Speaker 3: Better so that would scare, Me like if The spurs somehow.
Speaker 2: Made the plan and they end up being the eighth
seed 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 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 spurs
also have the depth to kind of give The nuggets
fits a little. Bit SO i really liked 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 game.
Speaker 3: Either SO i like their chances against The.
Speaker 2: 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 everybody's.
Speaker 1: 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 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 For. Minnesota and, Then, okay what's 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 two.
Speaker 2: TEAMS i like that 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.
Speaker 3: Not BUT i think there's always a.
Speaker 2: Chance LIKE i wouldn't say that they that they would
automatically be a first round. OUT i think that they
have enough talent around them that they could surprise.
Speaker 3: Somebody they definitely could surprise.
Speaker 1: Someone So, noah, finally COULD i get one Other spurs
prediction from you for this coming? Season it could be
whatever you want it to.
Speaker 2: 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: Perhaps agency destination, anymore because free agency doesn't even doesn't.
Happen it feels like, yeah.
Speaker 2: 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, uh 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 a.
Speaker 3: Player who is that?
Speaker 2: 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 they
can't hold onto all their 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: Like, oh they might get.
Speaker 2: 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 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 their.
Speaker 1: Laps i'd agree 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 In fox And, Wenby, like
where are you if you want them or not want?
Them if they're making a big, trade what type of
player is the priority to.
Speaker 2: Acquire, yeah that's a tough. One that is a tough.
QUESTION i, REALLY i, MEAN i really Like Trey. MURPHY
i think he's kind of the archetype that you should
be looking.
Speaker 3: For a guy who's a bigger, wing not.
Speaker 2: 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 think of him
mostly as a, shooter but he's a great athlete.
Speaker 3: Too like he's he, can he's, Pop, yeah he, can
he can get off the. Floor good cutter as.
Speaker 2: 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 Can't?
Speaker 3: JOHNSON i really Like Cam.
Speaker 2: 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 at.
Speaker 3: Least i'm looking for a bigger wing like.
Speaker 1: 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 spurs.
Speaker 3: Fan, YEAH i Mean yannis would definitely intrigue.
Speaker 2: 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 all. Season he doesn't miss a ton of. Games
and 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 his.
Speaker 3: Prime SO i MEAN i would be very much interested In.
Speaker 1: YANNIS i figured you would. BE i was just curious
because we harped on 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 hugely.
Speaker 2: 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 bat.
Speaker 3: Shit that would be, crazy and that'd be Something i'd
be there.
Speaker 1: For, YEAH i, mean aside From bucks fans who. Wouldn't, Right,
noah this 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 upcoming.
Speaker 2: 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.
Speaker 3: Roll we're doing, videos we're doing, podcasts we're doing.
Speaker 2: Articles but, yeah super excited for this first, season super
excited for the basketball season to be back for THE
nba in, general and as, always thank you so much
for having.
Speaker 3: ME i always enjoy talking hoops with.
Speaker 2: You, LOOK i always look forward to this every year
at this time of the.
Speaker 1: Year, well thank you 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 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