Grading the 2019 NBA offseason for all 30 franchises
San Antonio Spurs
For a team unofficially ranked a tier below the true championship contenders out west, the San Antonio Spurs were quiet during the summer’s free agency period.
One of their biggest reasons for appearing in the headlines was through no fault of their own that wound up hampering the franchise.
Marcus Morris had originally agreed to a two-year, $20 million deal to come and join the Spurs. Having shot 37.5 percent from distance on his way to 13.9 points and 6.1 rebounds a game, Mook was supposed to be a solid addition that could stretch out a defense and handle the basketball.
What followed wasn’t a
s drawn out as the DeAndre Jordan saga circa 2015, but it was a move rarely seen in the NBA. After the New York Knicks managed to free up some extra cap space, Morris wound up reneging on his previous agreement to take a one-year, $15 million deal with the Knicks.
San Antonio was quick to find a replacement, bringing in Trey Lyles. Only 23 years of age, the former lottery pick has produced in limited minutes during his four-year career, with potential the Spurs organization has been known to extract.
Spurs are finalizing a trade to send F Davis Bertans to the Wizards, league sources tell ESPN. Bertans will be absorbed into an exception, allowing Spurs to complete deal for DeMarre Carroll.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 6, 2019
The Spurs still managed to save face, having previously re-signed Rudy Gay and brought in DeMare Carroll to shore up a noticeably thin frontcourt. Both still have what left to give to a team.
Gay was especially impressive in his first full season back from a torn Achilles, averaging 13.7 points and 6.8 rebounds a game on 40.2 percent shooting from distance.
Bringing in Carroll, however, didn’t come without its losses. The Spurs were forced to trade Davis Bertans to free up the necessary cap room. At 6’10”, Bertans ranked sixth this past season in 3-point efficiency at 42.9 percent playing 21.5 minutes a night.
Aside from the signing of LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio has rarely been a participant in the annual free-agent spending spree.
Sticking to your morals is all nice and sweet with generational talents like Tim Duncan in the fold, but with No. 21 in the rafters, it doesn’t get the Spurs any closer to a title with a roster whose ceiling is capped well short.
Grade: D+