The DeMar DeRozan trade resulted in significant gains for the Spurs.
NBA insiders are impressed with the Spurs’ offseason
In a survey conducted by ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, scouts, coaches and executives praised the Spurs’ front office and young players.
Every year, ESPN’s Tim Bontemps puts together a group of coaches, scouts and executives and asks them some of the most relevant questions about the league. The project is not huge in scope but it offers an interesting overview of how insiders see the offseason and the state of the franchises.
You should check both Part 1 and Part 2, as they are informative and entertaining, but here are the most interesting answers involving the Spurs.
Everyone thinks Wemby will be a superstar
Victor Wembanyama put the league on notice after an outstanding rookie season in which he averaged 21 points, 10 boards, four assists, and almost five stocks per game while making First Team All-Defense and being a serious contender for Defensive Player of the Year. He probably would have gotten more than the seven All-NBA votes he received if the Spurs had finished with a better record, but his individual brilliance in his first year in the NBA was undeniable and his impact at the team level palpable, even on a roster that lacked the experience and talent to make more noise.
It’s not a surprise that after that Rookie of the Year campaign, 12 out of the 18 participants in the survey think Wembanyama will be the league’s best player in five years. The other players receiving votes were Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2), Luka Doncic (2), Anthony Edwards (1) and Nikola Jokic (1). That’s fantastic company to be in. It’s impossible to predict the future, but it feels weirdly safe to assume that Wembanyama will be, if not the consensus best player in the league, then among the MVP candidates in the upcoming years, and insiders agree.
The Spurs were the big winners of the DeMar DeRozan trade
Five of the 18 participants considered the Bulls had the worst offseason in the league, only topped by the Nuggets, who parted ways with Kentavious Caldwell-Pope without finding a replacement. Losing Alex Caruso without getting a pick back surely played a part in the perception that Chicago had a terrible offseason, but three people thought the worst move of the offseason was the Bulls’ part of the DeRozan trade and three others said it was the Kings’ side of the DeRozan trade. Everyone thinks the Spurs are the only winners from that transaction, as they landed the most valuable piece: the 2031 pick swap from the Kings.
It has been tough for the Spurs’ fan base to get excited about picks and pick swaps that can’t be used for several years, but the way they have been playing the long game seems to resonate with insiders. And the move might have positive results in the short term, as Harrison Barnes should help on the court next season and could be flipped for more assets. There’s not a lot to complain about the trade, at least from the Spurs’ perspective.
Stephon Castle might not shine immediately but has a bright future
The Rookie of the Year race often comes down to role. The players who land on a team that will give them minutes and touches have a significant advantage. It’s not surprising to see Zach Edey. who is likely going to start for the Grizzlies, get the majority of votes and Reed Sheppard, who seems NBA-ready and should get minutes in Houston, trailing the big man as the likely Rookie of the Year winners. Only one participant picked Stephon Castle to win the award, which is understandable, as the Spurs brought in Chris Paul to be the main ball handler and have Devin Vassell in place to be their scoring guard.
When asked which rookie would be the best player from this class in five years, however, Castle received three votes, trailing only Sheppard, who eight participants picked. It’s not surprising to see Sheppard top the list, especially considering his great Summer League performance and well-rounded game, but it’s good to see Castle get consideration. Bontemps quotes a West scout who thinks Castle has “big-time tools,” which has been apparent in the pre-draft process and Summer League. It’s good to see that not only Spurs fans think the rookie has a bright future ahead.
Once again, you should check out both parts of the survey, as there’s a lot of interesting stuff there. As for the Spurs, it seems they are doing well in the eyes of opposing coaches, scouts and executives, which is reassuring.
