Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is facing a long rebuilding process if he remains with the team, Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News writes. The Spurs recently traded Dejounte Murray to the Hawks in exchange for Danilo Gallinari‘s expiring contract, three first-round picks, and a pick swap, choosing to further shift their focus from the present to the future.
As Finger notes, Popovich has expressed reservations in the past about the idea of coaching a losing team, most notably when his former – and newly re-hired – assistant Brett Brown left San Antonio to coach the “Process” Sixers.
“I couldn’t do it,” Popovich said in 2015 when asked about Brown’s new job in Philadelphia. “I’d last a month.”
However, in recent years, Popovich seems to have embraced the concept of coaching a young team without realistic championship aspirations. He recently helped orchestrate the re-hiring of Brown as an assistant coach and appears motivated to return to the sidelines in San Antonio next season.
Here are some other notes from the Southwest Division:
- Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News examines the fit between Luka Doncic and JaVale McGee, who agreed to sign with the Mavericks and can serve as a rebounder, rim-protector and lob threat for Doncic. McGee reportedly expects to start for Dallas, but Caplan isn’t sure the coaching staff has made that decision yet.
- The Grizzlies‘ two-way deal with Vince Williams Jr. covers two years, tweets Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Edwards, who was drafted No. 47 overall by Memphis last Thursday, averaged 14.1 points per game at VCU last season, shooting 38.7% from three-point range.
- While it’s a massive investment, Zion Williamson‘s maximum-salary extension with the Pelicans was something the team simply couldn’t pass up, Scott Kushner of NOLA.com writes. Williamson has only played 85 games in his three NBA seasons, but he has shown in his limited NBA action that he’s a special player, says Kushner. It’s still unclear how much of Williamson’s new five-year deal will be fully guaranteed.
There’s a difference between a team that doesn’t win, and one what doesn’t prioritize winning. I don’t see why a HC would feel he couldn’t coach the former. But the latter requires a baby sitter not a HC.
I do not get the Spurs taking this path. Supposedly they tanked for Duncan, but the path they’re on will take longer than that. At this point they should look for prospects who want play student for their jobs. The new ignite.
Theyre at $64.4m for 10 players per Bas.Ref… What to do with that other 20-30 million to get to the floor.
Bad contracts. Not going to be hard. They will be loaded with assets and a chance at elite talent in the upcoming draft.
They didn’t tank for Duncan. David Robinson hurt his back and missed most of the season. They hit a lotto ball with very little odds to do so. I believe it changed how they do they lotto balls.
Of course they tanked. Yes, Robinson was hurt, but that, alone, didn’t take them from almost 60 wins to 60 losses. That season was perhaps the most open race to the bottom in NBA history.
Also, you’re wrong on the lottery, and the rule changes. This you can look up. In that period (late 90’s) the odds of teams at the top of the reverse standings were much better than they were previously or afterwards. The odds were changed in the opposite direction of what you said, precisely because it was believed that teams like SAS and BOS were losing on purpose.
Victor Wembanyama, No. 1 NBA draft prospect in 2023, changing teams in France, sources say……
He’s a generational Center prospect. Think Rudy with real offense. That’s what he’s tanking for. Size matters in NBA.
Just an advice, don’t fall for irvings antics… you guys never learn. He’ll just disappoint you in the end. Just saying.
The media is only interested in clicks and views; the rest is irrelevant. If Kyrie can generate them that’s all they would care about, much like Trump.
(I agree with you, btw)
(Also wrong thread)
Spurs don’t really make sense to me.
Wasn’t that long ago you had Parker Manu Kawhi and Duncan. The old 3 all retired and 1 young guy they had to take over left cause of a disagreement over his injury. They got back DeRozan, Poetl and picks, meanwhile Kawhi went and won a title in Toronto.
Then you had DeRozan for 3 season and did nothing with him. Didn’t build around him, didn’t trade him and ultimately he left for nothing in FA.
Now they have decided to trade DeJounte Murray and go full rebuild. Cool atleast now they have a plan but it just goes to show than since Kawhi left in 2017/18 they’ve just been mucking around for 5 years or so.
Not to mention they don’t have a point guard, they have a bunch of SG’s (Primo, Branham, Vassell, Wesley, Langford and JRich) and one centre in Poetl who is being shopped around.
Even before Kawhi left it just seems like for a while now they haven’t done anything with a game plan in mind. Just going through the paces doing there thing. It’s not even like the young guys have been developed and improving.
Not to speak badly of Pop who is a phenomenal coach but maybe it is time for him to hang the clip board up and hand it over to someone who will shake it up
They didn’t let DeRozan walk. They traded him to bulls for a 1st, 2 seconds and thad young who they flipped for another first. So basically they got 2 firsts for a guy people questioned the contract. Last year they were trying to tank and Murray ruined it.
My bad he did leave in FA but your right it was a sign and trade and they got picks and Thad young back.
I still question the direction tho.
Had DeRozan for 3 years and didn’t build around him. Then he left as a sign and trade and they got some picks back for him, got picks back for Thad Young, got picks back for Derrick White and then didn’t really build around DeJounte Murray last year.
Murray was an all star and they traded him to do a full rebuild but what do you even have to start with besides a bunch SG’s. No point guard, and 1 centre who’s getting shopped around.
Whereas just as an example look at the Raptors where you sent Kawhi, they obviously won a ring then he left them. But in the years since they have developed FVV into an all star, developed OG Anunoby into a solid 2 way player, did a couple smart deals for Gary Trent and Precious Achiwura and then obviously did really well drafting Scottie Barnes off the back of their 1 bad season. Now they are competing back at the top of the east once again and have a bright future.
Meanwhile the Spurs since trading Kawhi have now finally decided to go full rebuild.
So he gets traded. Interesting mmmmm
With the covid issues, especially in 2020, the downfall in revenue may be affecting some team’s finances. As a resulta, they grow unwilling towards handing out mega contracts, such as Dejounte Murray was looking for.
I don’t know, but he seemed like a cornerstone player, that would have a great career in San Antonio. Even as a LAL fan, I was dissapointed with the trade.
He specifically said he wasn’t resigning with them.
I read he was pressing the FO for an extension $$$…and they didn’t grant him that. It was a money issue, I think….
Popovich is a glowing fed
Popovich: The greatest NBA coach ever (apologies to Red Auerbach) … The league is better that without him.
No.
Spurs had a great draft.
Sochan, Branham, Wesley all solid picks. Sochan is a bigger Dra. Branham has 2way star potential. Wesley is a big PG (think Holiday). All three have upside. And if they get Victor in the draft. They will have the pieces to attract FA stars. Only need one or two.
link to hoopshype.com
I could see Pop as one of those coaches who keeps coaching until the day he dies. It would be really cool to see him stay through this next rebuild and see what he can do.