With the year almost coming to an end, the San Antonio Spurs’ success has increased exceptionally from the last NBA season and has shown glimpses of the team’s full potential.
With the Spurs momentum right now, we can learn many things from the team’s strengths to its weaknesses, and what changes should be made to be more successful moving forward.
The main issue with the Spurs right now is their defense and as great as Victor Wembanyama is defensively the team’s perimeter defense is mediocre. The Spurs are allowing too many shot attempts beyond the arc and it’s leading to opposing teams out scoring the Spurs. Chris Paul is a great individual player but seeing him play defense brings me stress every time. He always needs help from a second defender then causes miscommunication allowing easy points around the court.
The Spurs have many weak links in the team, and I’m specifically talking about Zach Collins and Malaki Branham. Collins over the time has always been outshined by the other backup centers of the team like Dominick Barlow who played phenomenally but sadly signed to another team at the beginning of the season and right now it’s Charles Bassey who is outshining Collins. In Branham’s case, he just doesn’t fit in with the team. His chemistry with the team is lacking when on the court and he struggles with recognising the correct plays in many situations. Sadly there’s another player who also has been struggling and I hated seeing him decrease in momentum, I’m talking about Tre Jones. With many conversations of him being the true duo for Wembenyama, it might be that time of the year to find a way to trade these players even if it needs a pick as well.
The Spurs have to be ready for the future and with the very young talent the Spurs have right now they shouldn’t waste any time. A move the front office should consider is trading for Lamelo Ball. In order to make this trade the Spurs would need to give away Keldon Joshon, who’s had a great season so far, Tre Jones, Malaki Branham, and three first round picks. Not only will the Spurs receive a legit superstar point guard but they’ll be able to replace two weak links in the team who already are losing minutes. Losing Keldon would hurt but the outcome would be much better than the current state of the Spurs. Having Lamelo Ball and Stephon Castle on offense would create so many opportunities in scoring and improve team chemistry drastically. Although Lamelo’s defense is considered a bit shaky it will still be an improvement to the players who are being traded for him, he would help with rebounding and steals thanks to Lamelos height and lengthy arms.
A countertrade for the Spurs that they should consider is trading for Evan Mobely, making the team’s defense scary to play against. In order to make the trade the Spurs would need to give up Zach Collins, Harrison Barnes, and 4 first round picks. The four picks sounds a lot and it is, but if the Spurs keep the picks that means they will seek improvement in years to come delaying players’ potential. The San Antonio Spurs shouldn’t risk their season for rookies who are at this point not showing capabilities to lead a franchise for them besides Cooper Flagg of course, but going for Cooper is a loss cause since many other teams have better chances of receiving the first round pick.
The Spurs should be ready to make switches and to commit to them and take full advantage of them, with many talented players like Victor Wembenyama and Stephon Castle who are finding their groove, they should consider their best opportunities to emphasize them. Chris Paul is great, but his career is closing near to an end so these trades and improvements must be done as soon as possible before time runs out. If the Spurs seek to move on from him after two seasons they should consider their resources and use them to establish a plan to be more successful.
