The Clippers have just set the bar on what new NBA arenas are supposed to feel and look like. A Thread 🧵 Here is Owner Steve Balmwr showing us “Player 360 Mode”

A Plot Twist At Number One?

The tweet by long-time San Antonio sportscaster Don Harris @DonHarris4 on Wednesday night, in which he reports that an NBA Executive informed him that the Atlanta Hawks may pick UConn point guard Stephon Castle as the number one pick has raised a few eyebrows and perhaps added potential plot twist to an evolving story that has dominated screen time on both social and sports broadcast media. "For what it's worth," starts Harris' tweet. "NBA Exec: Sarr may be sliding. Castle could go 1 to ATL..."

It is widely held that Castle has been a potential target for the San Antonio Spurs. In fact, Castle worked out in San Antonio against another hot prospect, Devin Carter, last week and draft experts like ESPN Insider Jonathan Givony @Draftexpress said that Castle's defensive versatility, unselfishness, and secondary playmaking prowess would be valued additions to the Spurs' lineup and that the Spurs "have long been enamored with positional size, length and intangibles of prospects such as Castle and, to a lesser extent, (Cody) Williams.

After reading the comment by the unnamed NBA executive (via Harris) #Hawks and #Spurs fans are now left wondering why a team with two All-Star caliber point guards like the Hawks want to acquire a third guard instead of either Donovan Clingan or Zaccharie Risacher, who mock drafts have been racing to list at the top spot.

During the last 48 hours, after a press conference with Hawks GM Landry Fields, chatter had gotten louder that the Hawks brass was leaning towards selecting Castle's UConn teammate, center Donovan Clingan, with that top pick. On Monday, two officials with NBA teams (not the Hawks) told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that they believed the Hawks were high on the Huskies post player. The newspaper said the potential move could be a boon for the franchise.

As we reported in detail, and was later confirmed, Atlanta had been looking to trade that #1 pick to San Antonio for more assets. The Atlanta newspaper first called the move risky but admitted that:
"The ideal partner might be San Antonio, which holds the fourth and eighth picks, although that risks Clingan getting taken third. There is a thought that the Spurs want Risacher to pair with last year’s No. 1 pick, fellow Frenchman Victor Wembanyama. The Spurs might deem the No. 8 pick too high a cost to move up three spots. But San Antonio could still return the Hawks the 2025 first-round pick that they traded to the Spurs as part of the Dejounte Murray deal."

Despite scouting him for months, San Antonio has yet to work out Zaccarie Risacher, he is scheduled to be in San Antonio tomorrow (Friday) for that workout.

Fields was asked by the media if there was wisdom in moving back from the top pick and acquiring additional picks. He said that “we, as a group, looked at a ton of different scenarios” and that he and the decision-makers will continue to consider them. He also said his phone has “definitely been ringing” and that he’ll make the final call on the selection.

The Atlanta paper also mentioned the possibility that Fields might not find a trade partner willing to go along with his plans. Interestingly, Jonathan Givony, appearing in person on ESPN said that Atlanta had not made up their minds about what they were going to do with their pick but that they were leaning heavily towards selecting Risacher- the network’s favorite to be taken with the top pick on draft night.

In his ESPN Insider report behind a paywall, Givony added that “the status of Atlanta's Trae Young is the big question hovering over the franchise. If the Hawks have shifted their thinking toward replacing Young, or even Dejounte Murray, then suddenly things make a little more sense.

There are persistent rumors that the Hawks may be considering trading Trae Young to rebuild the team. Some league executives believe that the Hawks would be willing to part ways with Young if he expressed a desire to win sooner than Atlanta can build their roster into a contender that can have a fighting chance against Eastern Conference playoff teams like the recently crowned Celtics, Bucks, Knicks, Pacers or even the Sixers who are all reloading this off-season.

The Los Angeles Lakers have shown interest in acquiring Trae Young in the past, but those rumblings have quieted down significantly since Trae Young fired Klutch Sports as his management team and signed with CAA.

It's no secret that the San Antonio Spurs have also been mentioned as a potential destination for Trae Young since the Spurs have the cap space and draft picks to make a trade happen. Plus, a pairing of Young with Victor Wembanyama would be appealing to both players since they have both independently expressed a deep desire to "win" sooner rather than later. At one point, Wembanyama even called the idea of pairing up with Young intriguing. Of course, it would be out of character for San Antonio to make such a bold and swift move, even when presented with such an opportunity. There is fear that the move might handcuff the franchise and ultimately hurt the team’s chances of becoming a contender if the pairing doesn’t work out.

Other teams who have been linked to Young are the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder, who both have the cap space and draft picks that could entice the Hawks to comfortably "salary dump" Young and give them re-building assets.

Some sources have previously reported that the Hawks may look to break up their backcourt pairing and there have been rumors that the Hawks may consider trading both Trae Young and Dejounte Murray. It would seem that possibility is highly unlikely.

Some rival executives have even expressed a preference for Dejounte Murray over Trae Young due to his contract value and defensive abilities, but there is little doubt Atlanta would move quickly and as quietly as possible if Young expresses a desire to play somewhere other than the place where he has been the face of the franchise since his arrival.

For now, we’re left wondering if what the NBA executive told Don Harris could be a smoke screen of there’s a nugget of truth in there that might suddenly turn expectations upside down.

The NBA Draft cant seem to get here soon enough.

link:

https://x.com/DonHarris4/status/1803639690496713037

@DonHarris4 bustingbrackets.com/posts/3-player…

I can't begin to imagine the type of pressure and excitement members of the #Spurs front office must be feeling as we head closer to the #NBADraft. Big, eventful, course-changing things are about to happen.

The organization has been built from top to bottom by visionaries who will one day be recognized by the Hoops Hall of Fame for laying the groundwork now clearly imitated by other pro organizations around the league.

One of the most important and key components that sets the organization apart is its scouting department. Like an octopus with many tentacles that spreads across the entire world, the Spurs have eyes and intelligence-gathering staffers, scouts, coaches, and others who feed the team with critical information that has kept them ahead of the basketball world when it comes to trends and talents for decades.

The Spurs were among the first to tap international talent which propelled them to win championships and become a dynasty. They were among the first to tap into talent from the hoops hotspot that was Argentina in the 2000s and thanks to their selection and willingness to hand over the keys to a young French player (no not Wemby), the entire country of France now has young up and coming talent who grew up admiring, mimicking him— wanting to “win NBA Titles just like Tony Parker did in San Antonio.”

One of those French players himself grew to become a generational talent who was also lucky enough to land in San Antonio and who the Spurs have handed the keys to as well. Still, what’s more intriguing is that there may be others. During the past few weeks, we’ve been watching an almost inexplicable infatuation with French players who, one by one, have been climbing up mock draft boards ahead of the upcoming draft.

Do players that we never heard of like Alexander Sarr or Saccarie Rishacher truly have a shot at making an impact in the world’s best professional league or is this year’s draft just that weak?

I reached out and asked the opinion of a passionate basketball mind from Reims, the unofficial capital of the Champagne wine-growing region, who often travels around the country to watch and observe these young ballers who are leading this French Revolution firsthand.

He asked only to remain anonymous as he continues to do the type of work he has been doing for the past two decades- watching with trained eyes the development and growth of prospects from that part of the world.

“I follow PRO A, PRO B, juniors teams, and the French National teams in summer competitions for U15 (under 15), U16, U17, U18, U19, U20, etc,” he explained. “I have known Risacher, Salaun, and Sarr since they were fifteen years old.”

“I think France has one of the best systems to find the best prospects of the country as early as 13 or 15 years old with régional tournaments that send them to Pôle France which has become an NBA prospect factory.”

In this first part of our series, he shared with me some of his notes and insight on this year’s top five draft prospects who should be drafted by NBA teams: (1/2) 🧵 Alexander Sarr: “This is a guy who has more upside. He’s a French Unicorn- a baby Wemby. A seven-footer who can run, dribble, shoot the 3, block, and dunk.”

“The biggest concern is whether he will be able to guard NBA centers. It’s unclear to me whether he would be more effective as a power forward or as a center himself. Perhaps he would do well to play in a paired-up situation like Jaren Jackson Jr and Steven Adams or something like Evan Mobley and Jarret Allen. He has work to do on his post-up game.”

Since my background is in media and mass communications I thought it might be good to breakdown some of the information I’ve been hearing about the #NBA’s much heralded new TV deal. The implications are so far reaching that it would be impossible to try to 🧵 (1/7) chew through all the changes at once so a series of write ups might be best. One of the most immediate impacts of the new TV partnership deal is the increased accessibility to NBA games for the fans. The deal includes broadcasting rights across multiple platforms, (2/7)

This is the first we are hearing about Bridges to the Spurs. The obvious question is: Who or what do you offer the #Nets to acquire him?
Mikal Bridges is currently under a contract where he will earn a base salary of $23.3 M for the 24-25 NBA season. 🧵

athlonsports.com/nba/san-antoni… This is part of a 4-year, $90,900,000 contract Bridges signed, which includes an average annual salary of $22,725,000.
As for the Spurs’ interest in acquiring Mikal Bridges, there are several factors that make him a potential trade target…

Conflicting reports have European doctors considering surgery for Nikola Topić. If the Spurs true then that would definitely affect how far he falls in the draft and where a team might draft him. In 2001, the #Spurs took a second round pick flyer on a player (1/5)

https://twitter.com/paulgarcianba/status/1796714799247581611

named Robertas Javotkas who was Lithuanian's most promising young center. A year later, on May 1, 2002 when riding his motorcycle at around 140 kilometers per hour Javtokas started to pass a van, but the van driver did not see the motorcycle and turned left. (2/5)

The Spurs are looking to the second round as a place to bolster their defense, adding shooting depth, and finding players who can contribute to their offensive and defensive schemes. The team has diligently even brought in some players who are projected to go undrafted. #PorVida Here, however is a small list of intriguing names who are currently slated to be second round picks.

• Trentyn Flowers
Current Team: Adelaide 36ers (NBL)
6’7", 201 lbs Forward
Fit: Flowers’ athleticism and ability to play multiple positions could offer the Spurs versatility.

According to insiders and others who have spoken to front office executives, the Spurs are open to any and all possible trades and options. The basketball staff are now trying to “suss out” what might work best with #Wemby in the future. (1/4)

https://twitter.com/spurs_wire/status/1796980117706600947

“We got to see a lot of different lineups and styles and we’ve done different things throughout the season,” said Spurs GM Brian Wright. “He’s (Wemby) so unique and he does so many different things that I think he’s still learning and we’re still learning.” (2/4)

The Clarkson Conundrum: Should the Spurs Make a Trade to Acquire a Known Scorer with Local Roots?

The Spurs are at a crossroads, and the rumor mill is buzzing with the possibility of adding players who can support and surround Victor Wenbanyama in order to build a contender. Jordan Clarkson is the newest name on trade availablility lists and Spurs fans appear divided on whether a potential acquisition might move the needle in a positive direction for the franchise.

The Upside: Instant Offense Off the Bench

If we’re looking at available free agent point guards that could fit with the #Spurs, that list should begin with a player that S.A. reportedly had an interest in trading for : TYUS JONES
•Former Team: Wizards
•2023/24 Stats: 12.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 6.8 APG, 50.0 FG%, 42.6 3P% Brother of Trea Jones, Tyus brings playmaking, defense, versatility, and High IQ to the Spurs—a combination that may enhance their team dynamics and contribute to their rebuilding efforts. His skill set aligns well with their needs, making him an attractive free agent target.

A number of rumors being floated about the @Spurs going after Darius Garland should he become available this offseason. The first one who mentioned and liked that possibility was Bill Simmons who has been riding the Spurs about getting #Wemby a star point guard. But let’s break down the strategic play for the San Antonio as they consider their offseason moves, particularly regarding Garland:

As we continue to look ahead to the 2024 NBA Draft, Tidjane Salaun emerges as a compelling prospect for the San Antonio Spurs. Standing at 6’9" with a 7’0" wingspan, Salaun brings a combination of size and athleticism that’s highly sought after in today’s NBA. #PorVida #NBA His stats from the previous season in the French league—averaging 9.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and shooting 33.1% from three—showcase his ability to contribute on both ends of the floor but Salaun’s real strengths lie in his versatility.

Some fans have been asking whether the Spurs can still “draft and stash” overseas players like they used to.

The NBA has not actually implemented any new rules that prevent “draft and stash” strategies. However, there have been some adjustments regarding the signing of draft-and-stash players. Players who were selected in the second round of a draft or who were first-round picks more than three years ago are free to sign any type of contract using cap room or exceptions.

Here are some notes about Nikola Topic- a player who will be only 18 years old on draft night, but that has captured the imagination of Spurs fans as a potential lottery pick. His defensive liabilities and recent knee surgery make him a big question mark for others.

Born: 2005 Height: 6’6 | 7’0 WS | 201 LBS

Team: Crvena Zvezda (Serbia)

Here are some scouting report notes about projected lottery pick Cody Williams 6’8 | 7’2 WS | 180 lbs. Williams averaged 28.1 minutes per game, shooting 55.2 percent from the field, 41.5 percent from three-point range, and 71.4 percent from the free-throw line. He also contributed 3.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.7 blocks, 0.6 steals, and scored 11.9 points per game.