The jdeleonpsn1's Podcast

In Spurscast episode 694, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs director of digital content Joe Garcia discuss: 

• The Spurs going 22-60 in the 22-23 season
• Where the Spurs finished on offense and defense
• Initial thoughts on the end of the season

The Spurs going 22-60 in the 22-23 season

The San Antonio Spurs finished the 2022-2023 regular season with a 22-60 record. While the season wasn't a winning one to get into the playoffs, being able to finish with a bottom-3 record means the Spurs will have 14% lottery odds to land the number one overall pick in the draft lottery on May 16.

Finishing with 22 wins wasn't too much of a surprise for San Antonio when you consider Las Vegas set their over/under at 22.5. The team went in a youth direction by giving multiple young players and rookies key roles, while some veteran players on the team either got waived or were traded during the 82-game season.

Where the Spurs finished on offense and defense

The Spurs finished with the 29th-ranked offense and 30th-ranked defense. While they did struggle on offense, there were some areas where they finished in the top 10, such as pace, paint scoring, and assist percentage. The defensive end was a struggle for San Antonio, where they finished bottom 10 in multiple categories on that end of the floor.

Initial thoughts on the end of the season

In the final part of the episode, Joe and I provide a player rating score for how each player on the roster finished the season. Did the player have a surprising season, a season we kind of expected, or not quite the season we expected the player to have?

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In Spurscast episode 693, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs writer Collin Reid discuss: 

• The Spurs going 0-3 in their last 3 games
• Early details with the new CBA agreement
• Four Spurs selected to the 2023 Hall of Fame

The Spurs going 0-3 in their last 3 games

This past week the San Antonio Spurs' losing streak increased to six losses in a row with losses in their last three games at Boston, against Utah, and at Golden State. With five games left in the regular season, the Spurs have locked in a Bottom-3 record for a 14% chance at the number one pick in the NBA Draft lottery.

Early details of the new CBA agreement

Friday the NBA and the NBA Player's Association came to an agreement on a new CBA agreement that will be in place for the next seven seasons once it's fully written out. Some of the changes that will impact the Spurs immediately next season include: their ability to trade with tax teams that cross the new salary cap apron, larger trade exceptions for low-salary teams like the Spurs, a 30% increase to the room exception ( which the Spurs are projected to have this summer), a potential in-season tournament that begins in November, extensions for veterans going from 120% of their previous contract to 140% of their previous contract, and an additional two-way roster spot.

Four Spurs selected to 2023 Hall of Fame

Saturday the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the list of 2023 Hall of Fame inductees, and the list includes four current/former Spurs: Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich, former guard Tony Parker, former center Pau Gasol, and former WNBA guard and former Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon.

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In Spurscast episode 692, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs director of digital content Joe Garcia discuss: 

• The Spurs going 1-3 in their last 4 games
• Early Impressions of Sandro Mamukelashvili

The Spurs going 1-3 in their last 4 games

This past week the San Antonio Spurs made a 24-point comeback against the Atlanta Hawks, then fell in three consecutive road games by more than 15 points against the New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks, and Washington Wizards.

With eight regular-season games left, the Spurs have a 19-55 record that makes them the third-worst team in the league by the record, which would allow them to have 14% lottery odds for the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft lottery if that record holds.

To prevent injuries in the final two weeks of the season, the team is being cautious with the core rotation players, sitting multiple players every other game with injury management.

Early Impressions of Sandro Mamukelashvili

With 11 games logged in San Antonio, Mamukelashvili has shown his versatility on offense, by being able to score on drives near the rim and being able to space on offense by shooting the pick-and-pop or spot-up three-pointer.

Mamukelashvili has also displayed his ball movement ability, finding teammates on backdoor cuts for makes near the rim and in the open court with alley-oop passes. Mamukelashvili's defensive numbers don't pop off the page compared to his other Spurs teammates who play the 4 and 5.

Mamukelashvili will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason and with four projected open roster spots, it's unknown if San Antonio will push to re-sign Mamukelashvili.

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In Spurscast episode 691, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs director of digital content Joe Garcia discuss: 

• The Spurs going 3-2 in their last 5 games
• Charles Bassey’s season-ending injury
• Zach Collins’ season overall

The Spurs going 3-2 in their last 5 games

The San Antonio Spurs surpassed expectations in their last 5 games, with wins over the Denver Nuggets and Orlando Magic, and losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, and Memphis Grizzlies. There was a chance for the Spurs to go 4-1 in their last five games, had they been able to win their two overtime games against Dallas and Memphis.

With 12 games left in the season, the Spurs have the second-worst record in the league which means 14% chance lottery odds for the number one overall pick, however, they're playing better basketball in their last 10 games, going 4-6. During their last 10 games, they have the 13th-ranked defense in the league. For the season as a whole, they still have the worst defense in the league.

Charles Bassey’s season-ending injury

Wednesday the Spurs announced Charles Bassey will miss the remainder of the season with a left knee cap injury. With Bassey out, the Spurs' frontcourt consists of Zach Collins, Jeremy Sochan, Keita Bates-Diop, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Dominick Barlow, and Gorgui Dieng.

Zach Collins’ season overall

Zach Collins has averaged 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 3.1 fouls, and 2 turnovers in 22 minutes per game. Collins has been one of the Spurs' Top-3 players more frequently since becoming the team's starting center after Jakob Poeltl was traded in early February.

Collins has shown his versatile ability on offense, where he can make the wide-open pick-and-pop or spot-up 3s, while also being able to scoring efficiently in the paint, where he's the team leader in post-up attempts. Collins also stands out compared to other bigs in the league in assist percentage.

Collins has scored 20 or more points in the last three games he's played in, with more made 3s taking place during those games.

Collins is outperforming his contract this season per ProFitX.ai.

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In Spurscast episode 690, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs owner Jacob De Leon discuss Devonte Graham through 10 games with the Spurs along with the following:  

The Spurs’ last three games

Roster moves for the team

Devonte’ Graham as a Spur

The Spurs’ last three games

The San Antonio Spurs went 1-2 in their last three games, with a win against the Indiana Pacers, and back-to-back losses against the Houston Rockets.

With 17 games left in the regular season, the Spurs have a 16-49 overall record, which is 14th out West and the third-worst record overall in the league. The Spurs have officially been eliminated from the playoffs in the Western Conference.

In having the third worst record in the league, the Spurs continue to give themselves a shot for 14% chance lottery odds for the number one overall pick in the NBA Draft lottery should they hold a bottom-3 record by the end of the season.

Roster moves for the team

Last Friday the Spurs waived Isaiah Roby and claimed Sandro Mamukelashvili off waivers and converted his contract into an NBA deal for the remainder of this season. With Mamukelashvili, the Spurs' roster remains full with 15 players on NBA deals and two players on two-way contracts.

Mamukelashvili has already played in two games since joining the team and has shown his ability to spread the floor as a big.

Devonte’ Graham as a Spur

Graham has played in 10 games since joining the Spurs via trade, and in that time, Graham has been the Spurs' third-leading scorer and he's second in assists per game. Graham is showing his high volume 3-point shooting ability, with the team seeing an increase in attempts and makes from three since Graham joined the team. Graham has also shown his ability to shoot pull-up 3s, where 55% of his outside attempts have been pull-up threes.

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In Spurscast episode 689, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs director of digital content Joe Garcia discuss: 

• The end of the franchise record 16-game losing streak
• Injury updates for the team
• Blake Wesley’s first 18 games

The end of the franchise record 16-game losing streak

The San Antonio Spurs ended their franchise-record 16-game losing streak Tuesday with an eight-point victory on the road at Utah. The Spurs also won their first game on the Rodeo Road Trip, finishing the trip 1-8 overall. Lastly, the Spurs ended their double-digit deficit losing streak. They're now 1-44 when trailing by 10 or more points in a game this season.

Injury updates for the team

There's a strong chance Devin Vassell returns to the court Thursday against the Indiana Pacers, with the team listing him as probable to play in the game. Vassell has missed the last two months of the season with a left knee injury, with his last game being on January 2.

The Spurs though might be without two of their lead playmakers, with Malaki Branham and Keldon Johnson both getting injured in the game Tuesday against Utah.

Blake Wesley’s first 18 games

Though he's only played in 18 games during his rookie season, Blake Wesley has stood out on the defensive end with his ability to anticipate and collect steals, deflect the ball from opponents, and rebound the ball on the defensive end at a high rate compared to other combo guards in the league.

With the injuries to Tre Jones and Branham, there could be a chance for Wesley to see increased minutes.

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In Spurscast episode 688, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs director of digital content Joe Garcia discuss: 

• The Spurs’ post-All-Star break loss to the Dallas Mavericks
• Injury updates regarding Devin Vassell and Malaki Branham
• The final games of the season for the Spurs, Rockets, Pistons, and Hornets

Spurs’ post-All-Star break loss to Dallas Mavericks

In their first game back from the All-Star break, the Spurs resumed their Rodeo Road Trip schedule with a Thursday game in Dallas. While the game was competitive for three quarters, the Mavericks' offense went on a quick run three minutes into the fourth quarter and Dallas' lead ballooned up to 19 points. By the end of the night, the Spurs were facing a 26-point loss.

The Spurs are now 0-7 on the rodeo road trip with two games left in Utah before heading home. The Spurs' franchise-record losing streak has continued, with the team dropping 15 games in a row.

Injury updates regarding Devin Vassell and Khem Birch

There's a chance Devin Vassell could make his return to the court next week on March 2 when the team returns to San Antonio against the Indiana Pacers. The Spurs will likely be cautious with bringing Vassell back, considering he's missed a lot of time due to the left knee procedure.

Regarding Khem Birch, he's suffering from a right knee injury and there's no timetable for when he'll return to the court with just 22 games left in the season. Birch was acquired from Toronto at the trade deadline as part of the Jakob Poeltl trade.

The final games of the season for the Spurs, Rockets, Pistons, and Hornets

The bottom four teams right now are the Rockets, Spurs, Pistons, and Hornets. When looking at the strength of schedule left and win projections, the battle for the worst record looks like it's going to come down to how the Rockets and Spurs finish the season.

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In Spurscast episode 687, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and the NBA Editorial Director for Fansided, Josh Paredes discuss: 

• The Spurs in their last four games
• The Spurs at the All-Star Break
• Malaki Branham’s February Start
• Roster Moves

The Spurs in their last four games

The San Antonio Spurs went 0-4 in their last four games with losses on the road in Detroit, Atlanta, Cleveland, and Charlotte. The Spurs are 0-6 on their annual rodeo road trip with three games left on the trip after the All-Star break.

The Spurs at the All-Star Break

Heading into the All-Star break, the Spurs are 14-45 overall, with the second-worst record in the league when looking at lottery odds. The Spurs are on a franchise-record 14-game losing streak.

Malaki Branham’s February Start

In eight February games, rookie Malaki Branham is averaging 18.1 points while shooting 52% from the floor, 41% from three, and 71% from the free throw line, while increasing his shot volume, three-point attempts, rebounds, assists, and he's barely-seen an increase in turnovers. He's been driving the ball more and that is evident in his attempts at the rim and increased drives per game.

Roster Moves

This week the Spurs waived Stanley Johnson, then signed Charles Bassey to a new four-year deal. The Spurs also claimed Justin Champagnie off waivers to fill one of the vacant two-way roster spots after the Philadelphia 76ers waived Champagnie Tuesday. With Bassey and Champagnie on the team, the roster is full with 17 players going forward.

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In Spurscast episode 686, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs director of digital content Joe Garcia discuss: 

• Trade deadline week for the Spurs
• Where the roster stands
• The Spurs through 55 games

Trade deadline week for the Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs made three trades during trade deadline week and the Spurs ended up with one first-round pick and seven second-round picks when the trade deadline ended.

Tuesday - The Spurs acquired Dewayne Dedmon and a future second-round pick from the Miami Heat for cash considerations. The Spurs waived Dedmon on Thursday.

Thursday - The Spurs traded Jakob Poeltl to the Toronto Raptors for Khem Birch, a protected 2024 first-round pick and two future second-round picks.

The Spurs also traded Josh Richardson to New Orleans Thursday for Devonte' Graham and four future second-round picks. The reason the Spurs came away with four-second picks is because they took on Graham's contract, who had two years left on his deal.

Where the roster stands

The Spurs now have 14 players on guaranteed deals and two players on two-way deals. The Spurs have one roster spot available. The team has 27 games remaining this season while they're dealing with injuries to multiple players.

The Spurs through 55 games

The Spurs are 14-41 through 55 games with the third-worst record in the league and with the team in the middle of a 10-game losing streak. The Spurs aren't far behind from catching the Houston Rockets and Detroit Pistons from having a bottom-two record in the league.

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The trade deadline is almost here! What will the Spurs do next? Both Paul Garcia and Collin Reid will give their predictions on what the possibilities are of the team making a move at the trade deadline. 

 In Spurscast episode 685, Spurscast host Paul Garcia and Project Spurs writer Collin Reid discuss: 

The Spurs’ last four games and 8-game losing streak

Malaki Branham’s back-to-back career high-scoring nights

The Spurs reportedly have interest in Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels

Hypothetical trades involving Jakob Poeltl, Josh Richardson, and Doug McDermott

The Spurs’ last four games and 8-game losing streak

The San Antonio Spurs' last four losses were against the Phoenix Suns, Washington Wizards, Sacramento Kings, and Philadelphia 76ers. With these losses, the Spurs are in the midst of their second 8-game losing streak of the season.

Through 53 games, the Spurs are 14-39 overall, with the 3rd worst record in the league, which means they would have a 14% chance lottery odds for the number one overall pick if they remain with the third-worst record by the end of the season. The Spurs begin their 9-game Rodeo Road Trip Monday on the road in Chicago.

Malaki Branham’s back-to-back career high-scoring nights

With Tre Jones getting injured, rookie Malaki Branham has had a chance to run more of the halfcourt offense in the pick-and-roll in the last two games. With getting this opportunity, Branham scored career highs with 22 points against Sacramento and then 26 points against Philadelphia on efficient shooting.

Branham has shown his 3-level scoring ability throughout the season, but with the injuries to the team, he's getting multiple opportunities to learn how to run the offense in the halfcourt as one of the lead ball handlers.

The Spurs reportedly have an interest in Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels

Monday the Athletic reported the Spurs are among a group of teams with trade interest in Charlotte Hornets forward Jalen McDaniels. If the Spurs don't trade for McDaniels this coming week, they may try to pursue him in free agency this summer according to the report.

Hypothetical trades involving Jakob Poeltl, Josh Richardson, and Doug McDermott

With the trade deadline approaching Thursday, Collin and I explore different hypothetical trade deals involving Poeltl, Richardson, and McDermott.

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