So... I guess I'll get this started. This figures to be a pretty well scrutinized offseason, although I don't expect them to make any major moves - just fix some things around the edges. And I don't think there's much use in speculating about the draft until the lottery and we see how things shake out with both their own and the Toronto pick.
So other than endless bullshit Trae Young and Darius Garland trade rumors, what do we have to look forward to?
Team Needs: They have to get more outside shooting. They have to reduce their turnovers (much of that is on Victor, btw). They have to get better defensively overall. They could definitely upgrade point guard (as well as just about every other non-Victor position, if we're being honest). I think they need another bruising big. Mostly, they need some vets who know how to win. They check all those boxes combined with internal growth and barring injury, they are vying for the play-in even in this brutal conference just because Wembanyama is that fucking good. And getting better at a frighteningly rapid pace.
The Roster: Again, it would shock me to see any major moves. That's just not their m.o. Here is how I see the roster shaking out with the 15 spots:
1. Wemby - they should probably keep him around for another year to make sure last year wasn't a fluke.
2. Vassell - will almost assuredly be back.
3. Jones - will almost assuredly be back; would be solid backup in an ideal world and not your starter. I was starting believe in his three point shooting post all star break. Then he went 3-19 in the final five games. Woof.
4. Collins - they can't move off his contract without sending assets. The Wemby/Collins lineups were a disaster early, but in hindsight I wonder how much of that was due to point Sochan and/or Wemby just starting to feel his way in the league. We saw more of those Collins/Wemby combos late and they weren't nearly as atrocious.
5. Keldon - he's always the name brought up in trades but I don't know what they could get for him. He's underperforming his contract on one hand, but is a such a strong culture guy on the other. It doesn't make sense to unload him unless some other team falls in love with an undersized forward who doesn't finish well, is inconsistent from 3, is sporadic on defense and carries a pretty bad cap number. Yeah, he's not going anywhere.
6, 7, 8. Sochan, Wesley and Branham - you have to give these guys at least 3 full years before making a decision on them. All three have had their bright spots and plenty of horrific moments, but they are each only 20 years old. It's waaaaay too early to give up on any of them. Don't make me go through the list of really young guys who stunk for two years before turning it on in year 3.
9. Sidy Cissoko - he's on a two year deal and another really young guy (just turned 20) who almost assuredly will be back. No way they punt on him.
10. Mamu - they gotta bring him back on a cheap deal, right? Right? Probably? Maybe?
11. Spurs first round pick
12. Toronto's pick or their own second rounder (#35 overall). If they can get that SRP on a two way or move it altogether, it opens up another roster slot.
Barlow is another 20 year old who has shown quite a bit of growth. Can't they put him on another two way? That would help free up a roster spot as well. I'd imagine they'd like to keep him, all things considered.
So that leaves three spots, four if the Toronto pick doesn't convey. I think they move off Graham although the success of his archetype (undersized no defense playing point guard chucker) in limited sample size around Wemby may be instructive for future roster construction (vis a vis Rob Dillingham in the draft). They would have won more games playing him over Wesley and probably Jones (or alongside Jones) in crunch time. Bassey can't stay healthy, so they probably cut him too. Cedi? I think he's a goner. They have to upgrade from Champagnie who actually had some moments lately, especially defensively. But he's got two more years plus a third year team option at a paltry $3 million per. I just have a suspicion that they're going to keep him much to my chagrin, but otherwise he seems like good ballast to be used for matching cash in a trade.
Free Agency:
It's a piss poor free agency class and they don't have a ton of cap room, even if they clear some salary moving off Graham and Bassey. As much as they could benefit from Malik Monk or Grayson Allen, I think they're long shots to even pursue either. Scratch Allen - he just signed a relatively cheap extension in Phoenix. D'Angelo Russell may also be out of their reach. Same with Hartenstein. I don't see them pursuing big names on the downsides of their careers like Klay Thompson or Demar Derozan or even Tobias Harris. But they have to add some floor raising, tone setting vets and outside shooting.
Nic Batum would be a dream for me - he's French, won't be expensive or require a long term deal, is clutch, can shoot from outside, and is a tremendous defender even at 35. They should be looking at low cost guys who know their role in the vein of Justin Holiday, Gary Harris, Malik Beasley, Andre Drummond, Robert Covington, Monte Morris, Kyle Anderson, etc. Will Toronto pick up Bruce Brown's option? Will Memphis pick up Luke Kennard? I wouldn't mind them kicking the tires on either of them should they be available.
Finally, there is still the Pop question. You just never know when he's going to pull the plug on this thing. If that happens -- and I don't think it will -- then we're looking at a whole new batch of issues.
Finally, I'll leave you with 30 minutes of Wemby doing ridiculous shit. GSG.