Salary Cap: $165M
Luxury Tax: 201M
1st Apron: 209M
2nd Apron: 222M
Current Payroll: ~153.5M for 9 players.
Fox: 49.5
Devin 27.5
Keldon 18 (ending year)
Victor 16.7
Dylan 13
Kornet 10.5
Castle 10
Bryant 5.1
Julian 3 (team option/ending year)
The salary slot for the 20th pick is about $4M which I didn't include above in current payroll.
With the 20th pick, we are at 157.5 and I expect us to stay below the 201 Luxury tax. That's about 43M in space between resigning, trades, etc.
-----------------------
Despite being under the cap, we will operate as an over the cap team, because we are less than the MLE under the tax and the cap holds push us up higher.
Assets:
Mid-Level Exception. About $15M. We can use this to sign free agents or trade players into it. It can be split into multiple players. If a free agent, we can sign them for up to 4 years.
Bi-Annual Exception. About $5M. We can trade players into it or sign free agents. Contracts can be 2 years max.
Vet Min. As many as we want.
20th pick
35th pick
42nd pick
44th pick
Spurs have no trade exceptions.
Free Agents
Barnes
Olynyk
Waters
McLaughlin
Plumlee
Biyombo
DJG (twoway)
Harrison Ingram (two way)
I think Barnes and McLaughlin might be back. I think Biyombo will get a front office job like Georgi Dieng got. Neither Barnes or McLaughlin will get much more than the min. We could give Barnes more on a 1y deal just for trade purposes later. Vet min deals count as zero in some trade scenarios for matching salary. Vet Min+$1 counts as the actual salary.
Needs:
I can just copy and paste from previous years. PF/C that can provide physicality and shooting. We need a physical PF to pair with Wemby that can stretch the floor. Having an additional guy that can play center is a need.
Players that could be traded:
Keldon on an 18M expiring is our best trade asset as far as taking back money, but he has a lot of value off the court. I don't expect him to be traded.
Julian on a 3M expiring has a lot of trade value if he doesn't agree on contract terms for a long term deal that are team favorable. I don't expect us to trade him, either.
Fox is obviously not the fan favorite but I don't expect him to be traded this summer.
I don't expect any major deals this summer but some minor deals to add PFs to the roster will make sense.
FA/Trade Targets:
I think we will see more come on line as things start to play out.
BeefStew has been dangled by Detroit and he fits into the MLE
Portis is out once Giannis is traded and he fits into the MLE.
Anyone on a rookie deal fits into the MLE.
Because we are under the aprons:
A player making under $7.5M (Julian) can take back 200%+250k in salary. So 6.25M.
A player making between 7.5m and 29M can take back $7.5M more in salary. Keldon makes 18M so he can take back 25.5M. Devin fits in that range as well.
A player making more than 29M (FOX) can take back 125%+250k.
FAs:
Replace Lindy as shooter: Gary Trent?
PF/C:
Dean Wade: I think he would fit into the BAE. Very good defender and adequate (36%) 3pt shooter.
Marvin Bagley: I think he will want a bigger role to prove himself worthy of a big contract next summer
Ariel Hukporti: Knicks 3rd string center is a RFA but they have cap issues. He has shown a lot of promise as a rim protector. Would love him as our 3rd.
Rui: awful rebounder and passer, gives intermittent effort on defense, shooting doesnt make up for it IMO
John Collins: Do you love missed rotations and defensive assignments? He's your guy. Spurs have passed on him multiple times when he was only valued as a 2nd round pick in a trade.
Kenrich Williams: I think OKC declines his team option. He would be a solid rotation piece that can hit threes.
Jock Landale: Not much of a rim protector, but we love our ex Spurs
Vooch: Too expensive, awful defender.
Nurkic: Has been a locker room problem multiple times, probably doesn't want to split time with Kornet.
TimeLord: I think would be too expensive and too injury prone for the role we need. Think he goes back to Portland or Boston
Looney: Don't hate it as a 3rd string center that can set bone rattling screens
Thomas Bryant: didnt seem like any mutual interest last year, but would be a great 3rd center
Pickins are pretty slim. Would love grabbing BeefStew or Portis with a trade then signing Dean Wade.
Draft:
My personal Spurs Big Board:
1. Morez Johnson (would have to trade up)
2. Yaxel or Steinbach (tied - also would have to trade up)
3. Lopez - first mexican born 1st round pick? City would go wild. Plus big body and great athlete
4. Cam Carr - Devin Vassell Starter Kit, even though wrong position
5. Dailyn Swain - Bigger Keldon Johnson with great on ball defense
6. Chris Cenac - Positional size and athleticism, but seems kind of soft. Development needed.
7. Jayden Quintance - Could be a DPOY candidate, but also could be Greg Oden. 40% FT shooter.
8. Tarris Reed. UCONN center, undersized but elite athlete <or> Zuby Ejifor Pitino's monster athlete PF/C that can defend like 3-5. Both have incredible motors. Might put them above Quintance because they have a higher floor
9. Henri Veesaar. D&3 center, but skinny and not physical like we need. Hit over 40% from three, but I dont think he could play PF. More of a weakside help defender.
Not on my list for first round: Allen Graves or Jefferson. Would take either in the 2nd round, but both are subpar athletes. Graves worked as a center hub because his passing and processing was great, but he cannot stay in front of anyone even at a mid-major and at under 6'8 and 225lbs, he is too small and unathletic to make it as a rotation player on a great team. I see him as 2026 Harrison Barnes with Derik Queen's passing. I prefer Jefferson, who has 20lbs of muscle on Graves.
Luxury Tax: 201M
1st Apron: 209M
2nd Apron: 222M
Current Payroll: ~153.5M for 9 players.
Fox: 49.5
Devin 27.5
Keldon 18 (ending year)
Victor 16.7
Dylan 13
Kornet 10.5
Castle 10
Bryant 5.1
Julian 3 (team option/ending year)
The salary slot for the 20th pick is about $4M which I didn't include above in current payroll.
With the 20th pick, we are at 157.5 and I expect us to stay below the 201 Luxury tax. That's about 43M in space between resigning, trades, etc.
-----------------------
Despite being under the cap, we will operate as an over the cap team, because we are less than the MLE under the tax and the cap holds push us up higher.
Assets:
Mid-Level Exception. About $15M. We can use this to sign free agents or trade players into it. It can be split into multiple players. If a free agent, we can sign them for up to 4 years.
Bi-Annual Exception. About $5M. We can trade players into it or sign free agents. Contracts can be 2 years max.
Vet Min. As many as we want.
20th pick
35th pick
42nd pick
44th pick
Spurs have no trade exceptions.
Free Agents
Barnes
Olynyk
Waters
McLaughlin
Plumlee
Biyombo
DJG (twoway)
Harrison Ingram (two way)
I think Barnes and McLaughlin might be back. I think Biyombo will get a front office job like Georgi Dieng got. Neither Barnes or McLaughlin will get much more than the min. We could give Barnes more on a 1y deal just for trade purposes later. Vet min deals count as zero in some trade scenarios for matching salary. Vet Min+$1 counts as the actual salary.
Needs:
I can just copy and paste from previous years. PF/C that can provide physicality and shooting. We need a physical PF to pair with Wemby that can stretch the floor. Having an additional guy that can play center is a need.
Players that could be traded:
Keldon on an 18M expiring is our best trade asset as far as taking back money, but he has a lot of value off the court. I don't expect him to be traded.
Julian on a 3M expiring has a lot of trade value if he doesn't agree on contract terms for a long term deal that are team favorable. I don't expect us to trade him, either.
Fox is obviously not the fan favorite but I don't expect him to be traded this summer.
I don't expect any major deals this summer but some minor deals to add PFs to the roster will make sense.
FA/Trade Targets:
I think we will see more come on line as things start to play out.
BeefStew has been dangled by Detroit and he fits into the MLE
Portis is out once Giannis is traded and he fits into the MLE.
Anyone on a rookie deal fits into the MLE.
Because we are under the aprons:
A player making under $7.5M (Julian) can take back 200%+250k in salary. So 6.25M.
A player making between 7.5m and 29M can take back $7.5M more in salary. Keldon makes 18M so he can take back 25.5M. Devin fits in that range as well.
A player making more than 29M (FOX) can take back 125%+250k.
FAs:
Replace Lindy as shooter: Gary Trent?
PF/C:
Dean Wade: I think he would fit into the BAE. Very good defender and adequate (36%) 3pt shooter.
Marvin Bagley: I think he will want a bigger role to prove himself worthy of a big contract next summer
Ariel Hukporti: Knicks 3rd string center is a RFA but they have cap issues. He has shown a lot of promise as a rim protector. Would love him as our 3rd.
Rui: awful rebounder and passer, gives intermittent effort on defense, shooting doesnt make up for it IMO
John Collins: Do you love missed rotations and defensive assignments? He's your guy. Spurs have passed on him multiple times when he was only valued as a 2nd round pick in a trade.
Kenrich Williams: I think OKC declines his team option. He would be a solid rotation piece that can hit threes.
Jock Landale: Not much of a rim protector, but we love our ex Spurs
Vooch: Too expensive, awful defender.
Nurkic: Has been a locker room problem multiple times, probably doesn't want to split time with Kornet.
TimeLord: I think would be too expensive and too injury prone for the role we need. Think he goes back to Portland or Boston
Looney: Don't hate it as a 3rd string center that can set bone rattling screens
Thomas Bryant: didnt seem like any mutual interest last year, but would be a great 3rd center
Pickins are pretty slim. Would love grabbing BeefStew or Portis with a trade then signing Dean Wade.
Draft:
My personal Spurs Big Board:
1. Morez Johnson (would have to trade up)
2. Yaxel or Steinbach (tied - also would have to trade up)
3. Lopez - first mexican born 1st round pick? City would go wild. Plus big body and great athlete
4. Cam Carr - Devin Vassell Starter Kit, even though wrong position
5. Dailyn Swain - Bigger Keldon Johnson with great on ball defense
6. Chris Cenac - Positional size and athleticism, but seems kind of soft. Development needed.
7. Jayden Quintance - Could be a DPOY candidate, but also could be Greg Oden. 40% FT shooter.
8. Tarris Reed. UCONN center, undersized but elite athlete <or> Zuby Ejifor Pitino's monster athlete PF/C that can defend like 3-5. Both have incredible motors. Might put them above Quintance because they have a higher floor
9. Henri Veesaar. D&3 center, but skinny and not physical like we need. Hit over 40% from three, but I dont think he could play PF. More of a weakside help defender.
Not on my list for first round: Allen Graves or Jefferson. Would take either in the 2nd round, but both are subpar athletes. Graves worked as a center hub because his passing and processing was great, but he cannot stay in front of anyone even at a mid-major and at under 6'8 and 225lbs, he is too small and unathletic to make it as a rotation player on a great team. I see him as 2026 Harrison Barnes with Derik Queen's passing. I prefer Jefferson, who has 20lbs of muscle on Graves.
