The Spurs haven’t been discussing trades with teams around the NBA since around the time Joshua Primo was waived and word of his alleged misconduct first broke, according to LJ Ellis of SpursTalk.com.
Ellis speculates that management may have its handful dealing with the fallout of the Primo situation, and wonders if an unexpectedly strong start in San Antonio may have the team feeling more inclined to stand pat and see how the current group performs.
Before they shut down trade talks, the Spurs had been seeking two lightly protected first-round picks in exchange for center Jakob Poeltl, a first-round pick for swingman Josh Richardson, and “positive value” for sharpshooting forward Doug McDermott, Ellis reports.
A source tells Ellis that the Lakers and Spurs discussed a possible swap involving Richardson, McDermott, and Russell Westbrook, but Los Angeles had only been willing to attach a pair of second-round picks to Westbrook, so those talks didn’t gain any momentum. Westbrook would have been waived or bought out if the Spurs acquired him, Ellis adds.
Here’s more on the Spurs from Ellis:
- A Western Conference scout who spoke to Ellis believes the Spurs will remain quiet on the trade market this season and wait until next summer to consider any more major moves. “With that (Primo) mess, the Spurs are going to try to stay competitive,” the scout said. “There’s no way they risk looking even more dysfunctional than they already look over there.”
- According to Ellis, the Spurs have zero interest in trading Tre Jones, who has taken over as the team’s starting point guard after Dejounte Murray was dealt to Atlanta. Spurs insiders say Jones is a “natural leader and an effective communicator,” Ellis writes.
- Spurs general manager Brian Wright has come under fire after a lawsuit filed by one of Primo’s accusers painted him as slow to respond to her allegations when they were reported to him. However, a source close to the Spurs tells Ellis that Wright isn’t in danger of being fired and insisted that the Primo situation was “handled with great care and concern.”
With Collins out for almost 3 months I’d stay within 5 games of the Wembanyama sweepstakes. Seems like a smart play at this point
In that trade SAS needs to add the picks not LAL… actually a few of them, even firsts, right?
What would be the logic behind that? From the Spurs’ POV a potential trade of Poeltl/Richardson/McDermott would be about future assets (young prospects or draft capital) and not about acquiring a player that could put them in contention; quite the opposite actually as they are aiming at a high lottery pick in the 2023 Draft! So no, the Spurs should absolutely not give up draft capital for Westbrook
Exactly how would trading away vets to acquire assets and tank represent greater dysfunction? Which team does that scout work for, the Kings?
Yes, the Spurs will likely try to compete for the foreseeable future as they should but they just don’t have the horses to compete, especially with Primo’s departure and some injuries. So they will reach the deadline with an okay but unnoteworthy record, make their trades, and embrace the tank.
Thats a strategy that sounds very spurs-like