Before they signed future Hall of Famer Chris Paul to a one-year contract, the Spurs made several calls to teams around the NBA to inquire about the availability of younger point guards who have yet to enter their prime years, according to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports.
Darius Garland of the Cavaliers and Andrew Nembhard of the Pacers were among the players the Spurs called about, Fischer reports. Cleveland has shown no interest in moving Garland and the Pacers presumably weren’t keen on trading Nembhard either — he has agreed to a three-year contract extension with Indiana that will make him ineligible to be dealt for six months.
Fischer also mentions Hawks star Trae Young and Josh Giddey – who was sent from the Thunder to the Bulls last month – as players who had San Antonio among their preferred destinations in the event of a trade. However, Young and Giddey now appear on track to open the 2024/25 season in Atlanta and Chicago, respectively, and Fischer doesn’t specify to what level the Spurs reciprocated either player’s interest.
While Paul will be Victor Wembanyama‘s primary pick-and-roll partner for the 2024/25 season, the Spurs figure to remain on the lookout for a player who can ideally fill that role for the next decade, Fischer writes.
No. 4 overall pick Stephon Castle is one candidate — he considers himself a point guard and San Antonio targeted the former UConn star for much of the pre-draft process, sources tell Yahoo Sports. However, as Fischer observes, Castle showed with the Huskies that he can thrive alongside another point guard, so even if they’re bullish on his NBA upside, the Spurs may not be prepared yet to pencil in the 19-year-old as the long-term answer at the position.
In addition to Paul and Castle, the Spurs also still have Tre Jones in the point guard mix. Jones is in the final year of his current contract and will reach unrestricted free agency next summer.
Not surprised the Spurs looked for younger options first, but I think Paul was ultimately a great choice to pair with Wemby for a season.
Assuming Paul plays around 60 games (his average the last four years, Wemby will get years of experience in a matter of months learning the P&R.
You are delusional, paul will be gone by mid season. He and popovich need to retire!
And you are apparently clueless. Paul very likely to run out the season with the Spurs and very likely to play his routine of roughly 60 fames, just as @greg1 mentions. And no chance Pop is retiring any time soon with the new contract he signed.
Try to delineate between your wants and wishes and reality. You want Paul and Pop gone by mid-season, reality is there is a 0.00% chance that happens.
As someone who watched Paul last year be a shadow of his former self and a big reason why GSW didn’t make the playoffs, I hope the Spurs are still in “looking” mode for that PG to pair with Wemby. They have plenty of time and CP3’s veteran status is nice, but he’s old. Like, old old.
He’s a one-year stopgap to gain experience from. Nothing more, nothing less. The Spurs should be quite a bit better this year, but this season is still not the priority. Next year is the earliest I would expect them to make some bigger trades and/or signings.
Of course, it makes sense that they took stock of the young PG market now. Have to be ready to pounce if and when a good opportunity presents itself, whether that’s today or a year from now.
Another bad move by San Antonio. Trade the 8th pick then sign Paul ughh. Rebuilding so fast they have already messed this up. Don’t worry when Wemby is 38 San Antonio will pick first again