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The Spurs reset the timeline, in earnest
Trading your franchise point guard isn’t meant to be popular or easy. In their most deliberate move of the post-Kawhi era, the Spurs turned their star guard into a trove of assets and begin moving towards a new future.
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A flow chart determining who the Spurs will take in the 2022 NBA Draft
After 3 years we may just have this down to a science.
Analysis
Spurs player review: Dejounte Murray’s leap into stardom might speed up San Antonio’s timeline
Murray became an offensive force and a leader for the Spurs, cementing his place as part of the foundation going forward. Now the front office has to find the right pieces to put around him.
Spurs player review: Keldon Johnson’s impressive growth continued, but some questions remain
The young forward made a big leap as a shooter and now has a perfect complementary skill set on offense, but his ceiling and defensive potential remain unclear.
Spurs player review: Jakob Poeltl was indispensable on both ends
The big man anchored the defense like he was expected to, but he also showed more versatility on offense, which helped mask his lack of range and elite athleticism.
Spurs player review: Devin Vassell showed he has a high floor and untapped potential
Vassell did a good job as a role player for the 2021/22 Spurs, but can he be more than that? His third year should offer some answers.
Spurs player review: Josh Richardson was the perfect glue guy, but his future might be elsewhere
Richardson made plenty of fans in San Antonio in a short amount of time, but the veteran might not fit the rebuilding Spurs’ timeline going forward.
Spurs player review: Doug McDermott was solid, but not impactful
McDermott is a consummate pro who helps in specific ways, but he doesn’t move the needle, which makes him a questionable fit for a team like the Spurs.
Spurs player review: Lonnie Walker IV lived up to his potential, at least for a while
Walker came alive after the trade deadline, looking like a potential Sixth Man of the Year candidate, but questions about his consistency remain.
Spurs player review: The idea of Josh Primo was more exciting than the reality
The rookie showed flashes of potential, but couldn’t really contribute reliably when given the opportunity later in the season.
Spurs player review: Zach Collins was worth the wait
Collins only suited up for a fraction of the team’s games, but when he played, he proved the front office was right to take a chance on him.
The Spurs’ offseason may pivot around the power forward position and how they define it
Last season’s positionless style propped up some strengths and exposed roster flaws. Upcoming moves will depend on how they reconcile that trade-off and view their identity moving forward.
Spurs player season review: Tre Jones was predictable, in a good way
Jones performed exactly like the solid traditional backup point guard he is, but his skill set could become redundant in the future.
Spurs Player season review: Keita Bates-Diop was solid, but showed little upside
Keita Bates-Diop did what he was asked to, but didn’t really show the ability to eventually earn a bigger role.
Spurs Player season review: Jock Landale showed flashes but lacked consistency
The rookie center overcame a bad start to claim a rotation spot, but couldn’t keep it.
Keldon Johnson raised his ceiling by raising his floor
Instead of becoming a ball-dominant offensive threat like originally planned, Johnson became the best version of himself and in the process made a big leap as a player.
Devin Vassell is a perfect fit on the Spurs’ starting lineup
Vassell’s promotion should help the team on both ends while also speeding up his development.
What to expect from the Spurs’ new additions
Tomas Satoransky, Romeo Langford and Josh Richardson are Spurs now. Here’s how they fit and what they have to offer.
What Zach Collins imminent return means for the Spurs
After months of waiting, the Spurs finally have Collins available. Now it’s time to see how he can help them.
The Missing Shot From the Spurs Playbook
There’s one play the Spurs have trouble both running and defending. How can they address it?
Why the Spurs’ pick-and-roll defense is a problem
The Spurs have the personnel to make their conservative coverage work well, but they’ll need to fine tune the execution and come up with variations to keep opponents guessing.
Examining the Spurs’ mediocre defense
San Antonio currently ranks 20th in defensive rating. Here are some numbers and takeaways around an area that was expected to be a core strength the season.
Josh Primo is showing serious flashes of two-way potential
The absences of key players opened up playing time for the rookie, who’s been showing the upside that made him a lottery pick.
The Spurs are losing battles against math — and luck
Three pointer-averse San Antonio has found itself on the wrong side of basketball math this season. That includes some extremely hot shooting by their opponents that has led to their defensive slide.
A look at the Spurs’ unusual method of getting points in the paint
San Antonio leads the league in points in the paint, but is doing so by relying more on floaters and short jumpers than layups and dunks.
Spurs’ win streak highlights their tricky roadmap for success
San Antonio has strung together its first win streak of the year. What are the themes and what can be sustained moving forward?
How the Spurs’ core rotation has done so far
The Spurs have a losing record. But not everything is lost.
Keldon Johnson hasn’t made ‘the leap’ yet, but he’s making strides
Johnson is not as close to becoming a star as Spurs fans hoped early in his third season, but he might still get there eventually if he keeps improving like he has so far.
Dejounte Murray is doing more with more
The longest tenured Spur has taken another leap in his game while stepping into his team’s offensive void.
Lonnie Walker has made a subtle but important improvement
Walker is starting to look more comfortable as a secondary shot creator, which could help him find a place long term with the Spurs.
The Spurs’ season will be defined by their improvement in crunch time
As games have slowed down in the final minutes, the Spurs have been short on options for what to do and who to turn to, losing a handful of close ones as a result.
What Jakob Poeltl’s absence means for the Spurs
The Spurs will be without one of their best players for a few games. While it’s hard to find silver linings to Poeltl’s absence, it could be interesting to see if others can step up while he’s out.
Jakob Poeltl is at the center of the Spurs’ half-court show
An offense lacking in high-level on-ball creation has turned to its non-shooting center to grease the gears and create off-ball looks.
Thaddeus Young could go from throw-in to key piece for the Spurs
Young was likely included in the DeRozan sign-and-trade to match salaries, but his defense and especially his passing could actually make him a huge addition to the rotation.