Vic-and-Roll Mailbag: Trade Deadline Scenarios, Tre Jones, and Fortifying the Frontcourt

How are the Spurs shaping up as they enter the second half of the season?

Welcome to another edition of our weekly mailbag! Our readers sent us some fantastic questions, and we churned out a handful of answers in between a weekend road trip to San Antonio and a meeting with the maintenance man to reboot our heating system!

As always, thank you for supporting our publication! Please feel free to share your two cents in the comments and let us know what else is on your mind! Your favorite hoops franchise may be down in the dumps, but we hope you have an outstanding week!

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1.) How can the Spurs solve their inconsistent three-point shooting? - Arthur Butler (Substack)

San Antonio owns one of the least efficient offenses in the NBA, and their horrendous shooting only worsens their struggle to put the ball in the basket. The Spurs rank 28th in three-point percentage (34.5%) this season, a defect that often puts them behind the eight-ball in the pace-and-space era, where winning the battle beyond the arc is a vital element to finding an equation for sustained success.

Gregg Popovich was once resistant to the notion of his ball club firing at will from the perimeter, but he has embraced the triple in recent years, with San Antonio taking the tenth-most three-pointers in the association. With that said, of the nine players on the roster who have launched over 100 threes, only Doug McDermott, Julian Champagnie, Cedi Osman, and Jeremy Sochan have shot above league average (36.7%).

Perhaps the most damning number for the Silver and Black is them shooting 31.9% on open threes, the second-worst mark in the NBA. Zach Collins, Keldon Johnson, Victor Wembanyama, Malaki Branham, and Tre Jones are primarily culpable for tanking that percentage, going a combined 66-of-255 (25.9%) on those pristine looks. Though Spurs fans may not be shocked to see Jones, the rest of those names are disappointing.

So, how can the front office solve their long-range issues? Considering this is a team-wide dilemma, their best bet is cashing in on the draft and free agency. However, San Antonio will also rely on their brand-new shooting development coach, Jimmy Baron, to help their youngsters refine their jumpers. Though he may not possess a decorated NBA resume, he will have a chance to work with several talented prospects.

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2.) With Giannis and Embiid dominating San Antonio, is it worth pursuing another defensive big if Wemby is most effective at center? - Romualdo Valdez (Substack)

This topic is something that has been running across my mind. Ultimately, it might be best for San Antonio to sit out of talks for another center who can redirect some of the defensive pressure off Victor Wembanyama when the Spurs face intimidating physical forces like Giannis or Embiid. After all, the names who fit the bill will likely cost more than the Spurs should be willing to spend on the trade market for a non-star.

As tempting as it might be to pair Wembanyama with a sturdy body like Rudy Gobert, Brook Lopez, Walker Kessler, or Isaiah Hartenstein, all those teams are either fighting for postseason seeding or accumulating young assets in preparation for a rebuild. One or two first-rounders have little value for contenders if it means losing the centerpiece of their defense. Second-rate prospects won’t move the needle for the Jazz either.

As we discussed with the three-point shooting problems, San Antonio can afford to be patient and use their cap space and draft picks to address those holes this summer. No one in their front office should be in any hurry to expedite their long-term plans at the expense of losing the leverage of having the capital to chase a disgruntled superstar to partner with Wembanyama once reaches the height of his generational potential.

Watching the Spurs relinquish historic outings to opponents is undeniably frustrating for diehard fans. But it is instrumental to remember Giannis and Embiid are all-world scorers who demolish defenders with their outlier size, strength, skill, and athleticism on a nightly basis. Few organizations have the personnel to stop them, which is one of the many reasons they are perennial MVP candidates and future Hall of Famers.

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3.) What can the Spurs do to improve their bench? - William Goodman (Substack)

The short answer is nothing, at least not right now. Regardless of what their miserable record suggests, the Silver and Black have been inching toward becoming a competent team over the last month. Shifting Wembanyama to center and promoting Jones to the starting lineup have prompted gradual improvements. But a handful of adjustments to their bench rotation have also helped their recent course correction.

Moving Keldon Johnson and Zach Collins to the bench ensures the Spurs have a tried-and-true scorer and playmaker on the court at all times, which theoretically makes the minutes that Wembanyama rests on the sidelines manageable. Factor in the secondary facilitating from Osman, floor spacing from McDermott, and defensive intensity from Wesley, and you almost have the blueprint of a serviceable second unit.

There are certainly deficiencies across that lineup, and injuries to Malaki, Collins, and McDermott have thrown third-stringers like Sandro Mamukelashvili and Dom Barlow into action. Regardless, San Antonio has the fourth-highest scoring bench in the NBA (45.4 PPG) since December 23rd, and that trend should continue now that Keldon and Zach are fully healthy and have a chance to build some chemistry.

Rather than searching the trade block for role players to bolster their bench, the Spurs should be busy scouting the 2024 NBA Draft Class for prospects who can revamp their roster and shore up some of their weaknesses. Nikola Topic, Zaccharie Risacher, Cody Williams, and Rob Dillingham should be at the top of their lottery wishlist, and one of them will make an appearance in the next Vic-and-Roll Mailbag.

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4.) Sounds like Tre Jones is mostly okay, but would Blake Wesley get starting duties if he misses some time? - Spursian Empire (Substack)

Spurs fans everywhere had their hearts skip a beat when Tre Jones limped off the floor during the fourth quarter of a competitive contest with the Sixers, but you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing he only suffered a minor ankle sprain. Though the fourth-year guard is questionable to suit up against the Thunder tonight, it sounds like he will not spend much time on the sidelines, even if he sits out this matchup.

Nonetheless, someone will have to replace Jones if he misses a game or two, and Blake Wesley could be the recipient of a temporary promotion. The second-year speedster is in the middle of a miniature breakthrough that has seen him earn a role off the pine as a defensive spark plug. He has averaged 4.4 points and 2.2 assists over that stretch, but he looks ill-prepared to orchestrate the offense for extended periods.

Malaki Branham has lost the privilege of nightly minutes, and Coach Popovich should think twice before resorting to the Point Sochan experiment again. Seeing how the 74-year-old playcaller has preferred to keep his rotations intact, it might not be out of the question for Devonte’ Graham to receive a spot start. He has defensive limitations, but the floor general can balance scoring with facilitating while protecting the ball.

Then again, PATFO have continually mentioned this season being an evaluation year. And is there a better time to assess how much progress Blake has made as a decision-maker and ball-handler? The 20-year-old has the wheels to leave defenders in the dust in transition, and he is slowly learning how to integrate a calculated change of pace in the half-court. Matching up with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander would be a tough test.

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5.) If the Spurs make moves at the trade deadline, what do you think they will want to prioritize in return? - Emmanuel Cortez (Substack)

Before we discuss what San Antonio is looking for at the deadline, we should first talk about which Spurs are reportedly available. Michael Scotto and Jake Fischer have both reported that General Manager Brian Wright and the front office are open to finding a landing spot for Doug McDermott, Cedi Osman, and Devonte’ Graham. We got a little nugget about Marc J. Spears hearing consistent buzz around Keldon Johnson.

Aside from Victor Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan, no one should be untouchable on this roster. But it makes sense that the Spurs are interested in clearing out minutes for their collection of youngsters. Unfortunately for San Antonio, each of their veteran sharpshooters likely have minimal value around the league. Keeping that in mind, they will probably prioritize early-second-round picks in any return.

The Silver and Black were able to snag a late-first-rounder from Toronto for Thaddeus Young in 2022, so maybe Brian Wright will find a way to finagle another lopsided deal. However, Osman and McDermott are the only productive role players for San Antonio to dangle on the trade market, and they each come with notable defensive concerns on and off-ball. Never say never. Crazier things have happened.

As for Keldon, he is the longest-tenured player on the roster and a cornerstone of their team culture. Not only is his scoring crucial to a team short on reliable bucket-getters, but his vocal leadership and relentless motor are intangibles that make him invaluable even when he goes cold from the field. Though every player has a price, landing an All-Star might be the only rational reason to package Johnson this season.

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6.) What role will Devin Vassell have if the Spurs acquire a more proficient scorer to pair with Wemby? - @spursfanrig (Twitter)

We entertained the idea of trading for Trae Young in our previous mailbag. And while it is not a realistic outcome, landing a superstar of his caliber would benefit everybody in the 2-1-0. Having a game-changing running mate would make Victor Wembanyama an unparalleled presence on both ends. But one of the greatest side effects of adding a genuine second option is how it would make life easier for Devin Vassell.

The fourth-year guard inked a five-year, $146 million extension this offseason, making him the highest-paid player in franchise history. That lucrative deal came with brand-new expectations, and a sizable section of Spurs fans believe he has failed to live up to his end of the bargain. While his contract is expensive, he will make a similar salary as Khris Middleton, someone thriving next to a one-two punch of Giannis and Dame.

Devin is in the middle of his first season as the second fiddle to Wembanyama, and he has performed well enough. The 23-year-old has tallied 17.9 points, 3.5 boards, and 3.5 assists per game on .459/.364/.811 shooting splits. While he has raised his efficiency on an uptick in responsibilities, those numbers plummet to 14.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 3.7 assist per game on .352/.293/.800 shooting splits when Victor is out of commission.

San Antonio is a little over halfway through their schedule, but it is safe to say Vassell is probably best suited as the third option who can feed off All-Star counterparts. The former 11th overall pick is capable of mesmerizing scoring outbursts when he catches fire, but his difficult shot diet lends itself to deflating off nights. If he moves down the totem pole, some of those contested shots should turn into wide-open looks.