San Antonio Spurs

The celebration tour has come to an end, the Spurs management have finally sobered up and began shifting their sites to the upcoming defense of the 2022-23 title. The unexpected 2nd trophy has made its way home Victory Capital Performance Center, nestling comfortably into place alongside to the maiden title from the 2020-21. After admiring the accomplishments, reflecting on the season that was and smiling at the many moments from the comeback chip, GM Nels locked the cabinet, thus closing the door on the chapter that was, last season. Turning to the corridor without a backwards glance a familiar urgency returned to the Spurs GM's mind, "it's time to get back to business." 

 

After arranging a hot cup of coffee and being seated at the desk where business is done, the computer screen was opened, immediately followed by the pings of notifications. Well wishes and congratulations received and filtered through, until finally the business emails- Trade Offers. Before being able to comprehend what next to do the constant question of what would the title defense look like? needed to be answered. Do we bring back key players? Can we take a big swing? Do we trust the pieces we have? 

Item 1- James Harden. What does his future look like in San Antonio? Is he still one of our pillars to success? 
Item 2- Do we extend Vucevic? 
Item 3- What do we do with Dillon Brooks and his sign and trade contract? Do we trade it or let him walk? 
Item 4- Are there any little pieces we can add to improve the right now without damaging the long-term outlook? 
Item 5- Who do we target in free agency? 

The questions were rolling in with a simple solution to all, "we should go for it."

2023-24 will be a season where the Spurs will swing for the fences and chase the opportunity to be the first franchise to go back-to-back. The Championship core will remain in tact, Harden, Giannis, McGee and Vucevic will once again make up the core of this team but their might be some incoming additions and sad farewells in between. 

The most exciting addition will be Spencer Dinwiddie on Free Agency day, where a deal has been agreed to in principal for Brooks to go in his personally desired move for the playmaker who is destined to bypass a move to Toronto. What we lose in defensive grunt, we make up for in basketball IQ and outside scoring efficiency. It's a move that gives the Spurs 4 80+ guys to build around with the potential of a long term extension of Dinwiddie possibly later in the season. 



GM Nels will be looking for little moves as FA approaches, but the core will likely remain in tact as new rules encourage stability and internal growth.