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| RC Buford fields question after trade announcements. |
A quarter through the season, the San Antonio Spurs organization had compiled enough analysis of the team's performance so far. In response, President of Basketball Operations, Coach Gregg Popovich, and General Manager (and former Executive of the Year) RC Buford delivered to the main league office a bevy of trades that sports critics and media mainstays already have dubbed as "brilliant" and "big time" moves.
Heading to the Cleveland Cavaliers are Rudy Gay and Mike Muscala, with the former having an up-and-down season until this point, and the latter having a nice showing in the overtime win over the Portland Trail Blazers but otherwise not seeing game action behind established big men, Joakim Noah and Kyle O'Quinn, respectively. This deal may raise some eyebrows, but taken as a whole one will see the sense in
who was moved and
why.
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| Rudy Gay's tenure in Texas has ended. |
Heading to Texas is league veteran JR Smith, always controversial, yet a proven NBA champion with a prolific 1,929 3PT shots made in his fifteen-year career. Plenty of personality comes with JR Smith, a wild card asset cut from the mold of Stephen Jackson and Josh Smith (two former successful Spurs players) but if anyone can handle his antics and inconsistency, it's the Spurs organization. Smith recognizes the team he is coming to, and has always been made aware that the Spurs never put names in a hat and trade for that player whose name is drawn from said hat. "It's nice to feel wanted again," Smith said, unashamedly dissing the Cleveland Cavaliers, not long removed from taking on these very Spurs in the NBA Finals.
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| Smith also has played with Spur wing, Iman Shumpert. |
That is, before LeBron James went to the west coast, and JR Smith was left on the hook with his last long contract. Smith's defense has always been sought after, and he can also light it up if need be. If it shouldn't work out, the Spurs have acquired a non-guaranteed contract that other teams would be interested in. See
Leaked Trade Rumors (Jr Smith Grandfather Clause)
"Obviously, we thank Rudy for his effort and passion these past couple of years with us. Cleveland is looking forward to having him show their young guys how to win in this league, and we wish him the best," said VP of Spurs Basketball Ops Brent Barry, a former Spur in his own right. From a financial standpoint, the Spurs had reason for concern as Gay's contract is ending again (after re-signing with the Spurs once already) and he's only played better since that point in time. In exchange for Gay, the Spurs were able to acquire a long-term replacement with less road-wear on a longer, decent contract.
T.J. Warren, a four year player, has "gone off" against his new team in the past, proving that hard work pays off in this league,
improving his 3PT shooting percentage into the 40s and dropping a career-high forty points on Bradley Beal's Washington Wizards last season. "He never stops moving on the court," Coach Popovich spoke of Warren.
"That kind of energy and grit, determination--he is exactly the type of player we need for the future and we were very lucky to grab him." The Spurs had to part with its 2019 first round draft pick, but so goes it for the sake of valuable exchange. Heading to the Phoenix Suns is sharpshooter Davis Bertans, who continues to show flickers of improvement, but has yet to flourish into the player the Spurs took a chance on, signing him back after his initial rookie deal.
With the Suns fast-paced offense, Bertans should be able to shine brighter. Bertans had previously hit the court behind Gay or Labissiere (who's clearly improved more so far, respectively) and Leonard (prior to acquiring Ingram at the SF spot), making it hard to give him enough freedom on the court. Bertans will be able to spread the floor with star big man, DeAndre Ayton, for the Suns. For salary-matching purposes, the Suns received Kentavious Caldwell-Pope--who had begun to show signs of more consistent contribution for the Spurs--and he surely will add to their long range capabilities as a team and, possibly, perhaps, establish a defensive identity for the young unit, especially Devin Booker (one of the league's best young shooters) whose defensive "lapses" have marred his sub-superstar image.
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| Davis Bertans is becoming a Phoenix Sun. |
Going to San Antonio is 7'0" big man, but arguable 2016 draft lottery "bust" Dragan Bender. The Croatian big man had nearly a quadruple-double earlier this season with 11 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists & 7 blocks. The only problem is that the Phoenix Suns had already
declined Bender's option. Bertans has clearly shown more so far between the two, so the Spurs easily take a flier on the twenty-one year old Bender, who also spent time with the Israeli team like Omri Casspi. "I just want to improve my game, get stronger," Bender said upon hearing the trade to the Spurs, who have garnered a reputation for developing international talent well. Bender has shown flashes of similar skills to that of Bertans, a big man that can hit the perimeter shot, but the Spurs are more intrigued by his gutsy and hustle-filled performance of 7 blocks and 10 rebounds, as this was admittedly a weak point of Bertans.
The rest:
Reports coming out of San Antonio say that the acquisition of T.J. Warren cements a tough player at the starting four position, with Pau Gasol no longer with the team nor Gay. Warren's attack-mode prowess is highly valued by the Spurs, as they allegedly had eyes on Pelicans forward Julius Randle also before trade talks with the dysfunctional New Orleans team fell apart, as it was believed new VP of Basketball David Griffin's asking price for Randle (despite his ability to opt out next summer) was too high for the Spurs interest. It is reckoned that untouchable players still include Dejounte Murray, Brandon Ingram (heir-replacement to Kawhi Leonard, set for a big extension this coming summer) and Patty Mills (whose long term contract and clutch marksmanship have proven precious) and relatively new Spur Avery Bradley, whose toughness is much admired. Coach Pop has also been swayed by Skal Labissiere's continued improvement, especially this season so far though it's still early.
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| The NBA Trade-Winds blew in hard, courtesy of the Spurs. |
These moves avoid the worry of having to re-sign Gay and Bertans next summer, which means four less names on the already long free agent re-sign list the Spurs will have to stare at to move forward with this roster, as Warren is now locked up for multiple years and so is JR Smith if his play delivers. These moves also offer the wild card of Dragan Bender improving (although it will mean re-signing him, if he does) with him slotting into Muscala's spot at the five. JR Smith's talents are about-the-same with that of KCP, with Smith able to guard behind Ingram if necessary, a hybrid player like Shumpert. Smith will don #1, now available with KCP gone, the number he wore briefly for the Denver Nuggets in years past. T.J. Warren will be introduced with #24 before San Antonio's road tip-off against the Utah Jazz, and Dragan Bender will take #35. These moves also free up the Suns and the Cavaliers from any long term commitments to Gay, Muscala, Bertans and Caldwell-Pope (all set to become free agents next summer).
