Let us start at the end.
The Spurs blew a chance to get into the playoff proper with a loss to the Memphis Grizzlies — a team that ultimately lost the the Jazz 4-1 in the first round — in the opener of the playoff play-in game. There are questions about DeMar DeRozan, Greg Popovich, Becky Hammon, Rudy Gay, and Patty Mills. There are fewer questions — just “will they be good” for the rest of the roster that is like, under 27-years old.
I believe in two things: getting better and not listening to conventional wisdom. The other night while recording the Deranged Pengwin podcast episode 15 I watched Dame Lillard go off for 55 points. I vividly remember teams saying that Portland should wipe the slate clean because 1) DL was not a franchise dude and 2) the roster couldn’t “win now”. It is not smart to be contrarian, but it is smart to not consistently be in a rebuild mode just because you did not win a championship.
That has been the prevailing sense around the Spurs’ underlying business of basketball. For all the good they have done in developing there have been plenty of missteps. For all of the good roster decisions there have been plenty of poor signings. Like basketball, what matters is that they were good attempts with sound reasonings and that they learned from those decisions — good or bad news.
Dejounte Murray, Keldon Johnson, Luka Samanic, Lonnie Walker, et al are all serviceable dudes. Watching Slo-Mo over in Memphis, and Kawhi in Clipperland and George Hill in Philly and all the coaches from the Pop tree show that there is good being done in San Antonio.
That said, there are real challenges here. SA is not a great free agent destination. (Then again, neither is the Knicks franchise and NYC is a great city.) Pop is getting old. DeMar DeRozan is no one’s idea of the best player in the league.
The thing to do is enjoy the journey. Dejounte is talking about grinding in the offseason to get better and improve his game. He already has added a killer midrange game and a nice little three-point arsenal. Keldon was a beast, but could use some finesse to balance his game. Lonnie Walker can add a move that doesn’t involve an Antonio Daniels-like Statue of Liberty one-handed thing. Samanic can add some strength. Everyone can add to their shooting range. It is a process.
The local paper floated some names around and everyone is speculating. If DDR decides to bounce (to NYK?) the team will have plenty of cap space and few options. Kawhi is not walking through that door. It is a relatively weak class aside from that.
I wouldn’t hate taking a flyer on a Norman Powell, Lonzo Ball, or even a Richaun Holmes. Talent is a precious resource and having more of it is a good thing. Powell can score and the Spurs will need a proven NBA dude to do that kind of thing. Having multiple guys that can is better than just the one so spare me the we-have-to-develop-Lonnie talk. The Nets have three guys that can score at any time and that is not hurting anyone.
Ball would be a great playmaking guard to take up some of the DDR playmaking aspect. A John Collins type might be an overpay but it is talent and the Spurs will have money to burn.
Short and sweet version: I am interested in the Spurs both with and without DeMar DeRozan as I think either path means one in which they develop talent while still having a limited ceiling.