The Spurs have abandoned two experiments related to the development of No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, writes Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports. San Antonio began the season by starting Zach Collins at center and Wembanyama at power forward so the 18-year-old wouldn’t have to battle with other NBA big men. However, Collins’ unexpected struggles with outside shooting — he’s connecting at just 28.4% from three-point range after hitting 37.4% last season — caused coach Gregg Popovich to move him to the bench after 20 games.
“I think if we were shooting it a little bit better, I think it would have worked better,” Collins said. “The negative right now is spacing, so that’s a big reason why we went back to one big out there starting the game instead of two.”
Popovich has also stopped using Jeremy Sochan as his primary point guard, Fischer adds. Sochan is a versatile forward with a gift for passing, but he had never played point guard before Popovich decided to try him at the position in training camp. Fischer notes that instead of having a designated ball-handler, any of the Spurs’ starters are free to lead the break after grabbing a defensive rebound.
Even though the Spurs are losing at unexpected levels, dropping their 18th straight game last night, Wembanyama’s performance is providing hope for the future. He had 30 points, 13 rebounds, three steals and six blocks against the Lakers on Wednesday, and Fischer believes he’ll be a perennial candidate for Defensive Player of the Year.
There’s more from San Antonio:
- The Spurs may consider moving Keldon Johnson before the trade deadline (video link), Marc J. Spears of Andscape said on the latest Hoop Collective podcast (hat tip to RealGM). San Antonio has a surplus of wing players on its roster, and sources tell Spears that Johnson isn’t viewed as a good fit with the rest of the starting lineup.
- Wembanyama’s first meeting with LeBron James didn’t happen Wednesday because the Lakers‘ star sat out the second game of a back-to-back with calf soreness, but the French rookie was excited about matching up with Anthony Davis, per Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News. “He’s somebody I’ve studied a little bit in the past and a great player of course,” Wembanyama said, “and I’m glad I’m going to be able to play so much more times against him.”
- While Wembanyama has been outstanding, the Spurs don’t have the foundation they were hoping to build by having lottery picks in the previous three drafts, McDonald adds. Joshua Primo, their 2021 pick, is already off the roster. Sochan (2022) has been struggling, possibly because of the attempted position change, and Devin Vassell (2020) has cooled off in December after a strong start to the season.
Experiments? I’d love to know what the hypothesis being tested was. Funny, because these moves looked (from the outside) like moves designed to assure another high lottery pick. At 3-20, Sochan as THE sole PG likely accomplished its purpose, particularly since going with no starting PG is a pretty solid tanking strategy as well.
Johnson is 24. If he were any good, then you’d think his fit with the rest of a 3-20 roster (that even SAS isn’t enamored with) wouldn’t be a concern. Maybe its that he’s more of an undersized 4, and that’s not a great rebuilding piece. Problem is few teams are looking for those.
I know a team in Detroit that could absolutely use Keldon Johnson.
Memphis New York or Washington would be a better fit for Keldon Johnson
OK. I guess when you’re 2-22, you look at a guy on a 3-20 team, and think, now that’s a winning player.
Serious Question: Forget age, forget talent, etc., would Johnson be an upgrade from BB in terms of helping the team win games right now?
It was an experiment. Wemby wasn’t as effective on the wing/4 as he would be in the middle and the change in his stats show. Blocks and rebounds have increased. Pops wanted to shelter him and play a Duncan type role, but it just doesn’t work for the kid.
The hypothesis was…
What can we do with these players…?
The added chances of a high pick just made the decisions of what for them…
I’ve been saying all year Johnson doesn’t fit with this group, that Zach should be the first big off the bench and that pop is playing every player out of position. Kind of weird it seems he is blaming others as a scapegoat
What can the Spurs realistically get for keldon
The Spurs should trade anyone for picks. Hopefully some of these guys will come around. Pop needs to stop his God Complex too. We shall see if he can win another championship. Davion Mitchell woukd be a good trade target. Hopefully Collins will get on the gym and get his stroke back.
Sochan doesn’t seem gifted as a passer, and it seems that the spurs made him the unofficial pg rather than just say everyone is pg, and it seemed to mess with sochan’s decision making very badly. He now passes and stands at the first passing line instead of cutting, screening and all the little hustle plays he gave the team last year