Complete 2018 NBA offseason grades for all 30 teams
San Antonio Spurs
Key additions: Lonnie Walker IV (draft), Chimezie Metu (draft), Marco Belinelli (free agency), Dante Cunningham (free agency), DeMar DeRozan (trade), Jakob Poeltl (trade)
Key subtractions: Kawhi Leonard (trade), Danny Green (trade), Tony Parker (free agency), Kyle Anderson (free agency)
It’s not often San Antonio Spurs fans will get so upset about something negative written, spoken or thought about their team (okay, maybe it is that often), but this time, a little criticism is warranted for a franchise that was the best-run organization in the league for two decades.
Even if you believe the Kawhi Leonard trade yielded a good return, or that they did the best they could with no leverage, this is the case of a head coach who wants to compete blurring the direction this franchise actually needs to go in. It was time for a full-scale blowup. Instead, Gregg Popovich and the Spurs decided they wanted to continue to compete. Bless their hearts for that unwavering commitment to making the playoffs, as they’re fully entitled to do so, but it feels like the wrong move.
Lonnie Walker IV and Chimezie Metu were great additions through the draft. Marco Belinelli returns a familiar face and 3-point shooting to San Antonio, and getting an established star — DeMar DeRozan — for the face of the franchise is about as good as you can ask for, right?
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Well, maybe. Tony Parker is gone, leaving Manu Ginobili and Pop as the only remaining vestiges of a perennial contender. Kyle Anderson is gone too, and though San Antonio did the right thing by not matching Memphis’ inflated offer for him, the loss of his defense and playmaking still hurts. And of course, there’s losing Kawhi in such disheartening, “Immortals? We’ll Put Their Name To The Test” fashion while only getting DeRozan, Jakob Poeltl and (most likely) two second-rounders back.
“Only DeRozan?” is what you’re thinking. DDR is a great player, and the Spurs — who won 47 games last year with Kawhi only playing nine — essentially replaced a roster vacancy with him and a decent young big in Poeltl. Unfortunately, they failed to get one of OG Anunoby or Pascal Siakam in the deal, didn’t unload Pau Gasol‘s albatross contract and won’t even net a first-rounder.
DeRozan is only under contract for two years, doesn’t play defense and can’t shoot 3s. Can Pop really construct a modern NBA offense around two mid-range throwbacks with him and LaMarcus Aldridge, especially after ranking in the bottom-five for 3-point attempts, makes and percentage last year?
The Spurs will probably make the playoffs for the 22nd straight season. They’ll probably approach or pass 50 wins. But they’re not a legitimate contender anymore, they just lost their successor to Tim Duncan in gut-wrenching fashion, TP is gone and rather than embracing their mortality, the Spurs will remain proud and stubborn. There’s a certain beauty in that, but it sure as hell doesn’t mean forestalling the inevitable demise of a once mighty empire was the right call.
Grade: D+