San Antonio Spurs Team Review

 

2021-22 Finish: 69-13

 

Season Highlight:

The reigning champs had one goal in mind heading into the 2022 season, back-to-back baby! And boy did things look good on this front. Lebron James was brought in for Damian Lillard and placed next to returning NSL champions Jimmy Butler and Jrue Holiday. And despite all missing there share of games through injury (thankfully usually not at the same time) the Spurs ran roughshod over the rest of the competition and claiming the best record in the entire league and the coveted number 1 seed in the stacked Western Conference. Already the league was looking forward to a rematch of the two Western Powerhouses in the conference finals.

Season Lowlight:

Unfortunately for everyone involved we never got to see the highly anticipated conference finals rematch. In one of if not the biggest controversy to ever occur in this young league, the San Antonio Spurs would be eliminated from the playoffs before a ball was even tossed in the air. In what was I�m sure an excruciating decision, the league deemed that the Spurs must forfeit their first-round matchup with the Nuggets, as they were unable to field the required 8 healthy and active players. To his credit GM Nels accepted this decision as about as well as anyone could but it was a bitter blow for the team�s aspirations of a back-to-back.

Best Trade:

Spurs send: Damian Lillard, Robert Covington
Spurs get: Lebron James, Dorian Finney-Smith, Terance Mann

Nels makes good trades, but this is the best for one simple reason. Lebron James. The king landed in San Antonio, was the most dominant player in the season and lead the team to the best record in the league, while it was hard to move on the star who led his team to a championship, Lillard would not come close to the impact that Lebron had.

Worst Trade:

Spurs send: Etwaun Moore, T.J. McConnell, Dean Wade

Spurs get: Larry Nance Jr.

It�s hard to find a bad trade for the Spurs but is it possible this one in February cost the Spurs a run in the playoffs? Two extra healthy bodies may have been the difference between having a legal playoff roster and not.

Other Notable Trades:

Spurs send: Seth Curry, Gary Clark
Spurs get: Cody Zeller, T.J. McConnell, 2024 1st

Possibly the other trade that may have cost them a playoff run, grabbing the 1^st back but getting Zeller who would be ineligible for the playoffs for two healthy bodies.

Spurs send: Jimmy Butler
Spurs get: Kelly Oubre, PJ Washington, Pick 2, 2025 1st, 2024 2^nd, 2025 2^nd

Pretty good haul for Jimmy here, and as we now know, those picks would be very important for a huge trade that would be completed after the site flip.

Spurs send: Jrue Holiday
Spurs get: Brook Lopez, Fred VanVleet, 2024 1st

Was Jrue the last remaining Spur with a ring? Nels may be able to answer that, but again pretty great value here.

Free Agency:

Nels figures to be a huge player in free agency, with roster spots and the best record in the league.

LaMarcus Aldridge ï¿½ UFA, The star veteran is currently without an NBA contract, the clock is ticking for LaMarcus

Carmelo Anthony ï¿½ UFA, Also without an NBA contract, Nels would love to have Carmello back, but will he even play in our great league again?

Dewayne Dedmon ï¿½ UFA, I�m a huge fan of this guy, such a great role-playing big man to place next to stars, he will return for sure

Cody Zeller ï¿½ UFA, Another good role playing big, hard to say whether he will be active when our free agency rolls around

Sam Merrill ï¿½ RFA, I had to google this guy, RFA so should return unless Nels really wants that additional roster spot

 

Star:

Lebron James

Who else? Lebron would be burning after that playoff debacle, such is the competitive nature of the man. If you thought Lebron was good this season, with his 31 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal and 1 block per game on 63% shooting, just watch out for an angry Lebron, one with unfinished business. The rest of the NSL is in real trouble. Age does not slow this man down, we know this, so expect him to again be in serious MVP discussions again next season. He certainly had my vote last season. There are rumours of a pending trade to the current reigning champions in Portland, but surely this is just a vicious rumour? Right?

 

Flop:

Roster Management

Harsh, but I think warranted. Nels built such a strong core, with serious, game changing talent. But there were also numerous holes, carrying multiple players that were inactive in the NBA and therefore ineligible to play in our league. While injury and bad luck certainly played a part, the outcome of not being able to find more active bodies caused a disastrous, premature end to the Spurs season.

 

Draft Grades:

#2 � Paulo Banchero

Banchero was judged as a consensus A+ pick, a super skilled, offensive big man who reminds many of Chris Webber. The number one pick in the NBA, Banchero was the right pick here and has all the tools to be a future star of the league, especially if he can improve on the defensive end.

 

The Future:

The Spurs are expected to be back near the top of the West once again after a crazy off-season. Initially appearing to be hitting the rebuild button, Nels pulled a fast one on everyone when he moved Banchero and a tonne of other future assets for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Lebron James is rumoured to be out of town, with James Harden coming in, giving the Spurs two absolute inside-outside offensive juggernauts. With a solid free agency haul, and a legal roster! The Spurs should be heavily involved in the Western Conference playoffs.

C: Dewayne Dedmon / FA / Mason Plumlee
PF: Giannis Antetokounmpo / FA

SF: Jerami Grant / FA

SG: FA / Justin Holiday / Sam Merrill
PG: James Harden / Frank Ntilikina