ESPN Veteran Calls Spurs ‘Semi-Bluff’ on Victor Wembanyama as Cooper Flagg Dilemma Worsens After Chris Paul Transfer

When Rob Pelinka talked about the phrase “apron world” in the course of the draft decide introduction press convention, it had important which means behind it. The entire of the NBA is now being managed by the Collective Bargaining Settlement to crack down on energy surge. The petrifying impact of the CBA has put the groups in a minefield and the Spurs have been probably the most cautious groups when strolling by it. Regardless of having a star in rookie Victor Wembanyama, they’re but to go gung-ho of their chase for glory.

Positive, including Chris Paul bolsters their ranks, however is it sufficient to match the ambition of the Frenchman? The easy reply is a no and the Spurs could be mendacity in the event that they mentioned so to Wemby. Technically a “semi-bluff” as highlighted by Brian Windhorst.

After a 22-60 end final season, the Spurs are consistently discovering themselves nearer to draft lottery luck than the playoffs and even play-in. Chris Paul’s addition this season exhibits a average soar in ambition however that’s removed from convincing. “Like I was talking about earlier, maybe as a semi-bluff, because this is the Spurs improving without question, improving their weakest position which is point guard and them doing it with a Hall of Famer but also not doing it in a major investment they will have for years,” Brian Windhorst mentioned in the course of the newest of “The Hoop Collective” podcast.

The purpose guard has been an space of concern for the Spurs over the previous couple of seasons and including CP3 in there’s a good transfer from their perspective. However how a lot of an enchancment is it, contemplating a 39-year-old who solely performed 58 instances final season? They wanted a long-term answer alongside Victor Wembanyama to push for the play-ins and even past.

“You can go to Victor Wimbenyama and say, ‘Victor, we just got you one of the greatest point cards of all time. Look how we’re upgrading the roster.’ That’s a true statement but also at the same time, it’s not like it’s a lock, stock and barrel move. It’s like find a running mate for Victor for a long time, which is what I think is going to be needed,” Windhorst concluded.

The Spurs picked up Stephon Fort with their 4th general decide this 12 months and have the likes of Tre Jones, Blake Wesley, and Jeremy Sochan to construct with a younger core round Wemby, however how a lot will they push in the course of the common season? With a stacked draft class coming in 2025, it is just wise to tank the 12 months, however the likes of Wemby and CP3 can’t be content material with that. This places the Spurs in a dilemma, a Cooper Flagg dilemma.

How Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs are in Cooper Flagg’s dilemma?

Now the query is what precisely is that this Cooper Flagg dilemma? These versed with faculty basketball data have already projected Cooper Flagg, the Duke’s elite prospect as the highest decide of subsequent 12 months’s draft. So to bag him, the Spurs would want a seeding in the direction of the underside. However how is that acceptable for a participant like Victor Wembanyama’s caliber? His generational expertise is already attracting prospects from across the NBA to hitch him in San Antonio and he’s solely centered on successful. Wemby bagged the ROTY award by averaging 21.4 factors, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and a league-leading 3.6 blocks, so his purpose is barely in the direction of progress.

Chris Paul’s veteran expertise and wealth of Information will assist the Spurs children all through the season however he too wish to set into the sundown on a excessive. Paul’s backcourt experience and Wembanyama’s second season appear to be a scary prospect for the Western Convention. In keeping with Andrew Lopez, the Spurs shall be nearer to play-in than the underside.

“Even if Victor’s even playing at the level that he was playing at the end of the season when he was averaging 23-12, four or five blocks a game, and still shooting pretty, pretty good, I don’t think they’re going to be in a position where they’re going to be, you know, a top team for Cooper Flagg next year. I think they will be closer to the play-in than they will be to the top of the lottery,” mentioned ESPN’s Spurs correspondent in the identical podcast.

For the Spurs, with Wemby and CP3 obtainable, a projected win-loss ratio will be someplace round 35-57 to 40-42 however that can neither put them in a play-in spot, given how stacked the West is, nor will do them any favors for the coveted jewel, Cooper Flagg.

Keep tuned for extra such updates, and to observe what model maker, Leonard Armato, needed to say concerning the lethal duo, Shaq and Kobe, take a look at this video