Latest news with #SanAntonioSpurs'

Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Trail Blazers sign former first-round G Blake Wesley
The Portland Trail Blazers signed guard Blake Wesley on Tuesday. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Wesley, 22, averaged 3.7 points and 2.0 assists in 58 games off the San Antonio Spurs' bench last season. He has averaged 4.3 points and 2.4 assists in 156 career games (four starts) since the Spurs drafted him in the first round (25th overall) in 2022. Wesley shot 36.1 percent from 3-point range in 26 games after the All-Star break last season. --Field Level Media Field Level Media 2023 - All Rights Reserved
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
San Antonio Spurs' perfect move in 2025 NBA offseason
The post San Antonio Spurs' perfect move in 2025 NBA offseason appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2024-25 season may not have worked out as the San Antonio Spurs had hoped, with Victor Wembanyama's season-ending injury taking the wind out of the team's sails. Nonetheless, they still lucked out in the draft lottery, winning the second overall pick, and they used that selection add Dylan Harper, the talented guard out of Rutgers, to their burgeoning young core. The Spurs are preferring to take the slow approach when it comes to building around Wembanyama. They are not yet going all-in; instead, they have decided to try and develop their young players and have them grow alongside each other — similar to how the Oklahoma City Thunder coalesced into the powerhouse, championship-winning team they are today. Only time will tell if this is the correct approach. But with Wembanyama being just 21 years of age, there's no reason to rush anything in this regard. Given how many good moves the Spurs made this offseason, it's hard to pinpoint just one perfect move. But their handling of this particular situation shows that the team has a specific roster-building vision that they aren't just about to compromise despite the availability of this certain superstar. Spurs decide not to pull the trigger on a Kevin Durant trade Make no mistake about it, Kevin Durant remains one of the best players in the association. He is an ageless wonder who defies modern medicine; despite already being 36 years of age with a history of significant lower-body injuries, he still averaged 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists in 62 games last season on an insane 64.2 true shooting percentage. Durant would have given the Spurs an incredible superstar trio that would have had them among the favorites to land an outright playoff spot, even in a loaded Western Conference. He is a perfect fit alongside De'Aaron Fox, a man who can get to the rim at will (who also has the clutch gene), and Wembanyama, a versatile three-level scorer who is the most impactful rim protector in today's NBA despite his youth. Durant also has some defensive utility, as he can help protect the rim from the weakside and he's still fairly mobile, even at his relatively advanced age. He will flourish as the team's number-one option on offense, especially when the team has the role players to be of support to him and to enable him to be at his best. The problem, however, is that acquiring Durant would have required the Spurs to give up some significant pieces. According to reports, the Phoenix Suns, a team that's in desperate need of a youthful infusion, were demanding that the Spurs give up Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, three first-round picks (including the 14th overall selection of this year's draft), as well as one of Jeremy Sochan or reigning Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle, in exchange for Durant. Suffice to say, there was no way the Spurs were going to pony up that many assets, even for a player like Durant. Durant is going to be 37 years of age before the start of next season, and as much of an ageless wonder as he is, one has to be realistic and determine that he's not going to be a part of San Antonio's core for very long. Meanwhile, Castle or Sochan or Vassell, while they may never reach the level Durant is at, are young pieces who will be staying with the team for quite a longer time. The Thunder have also shown, in their roster-building model, that giving time to their young players to develop into the players they can be and then simply deciding to make changes when the time is right (such as trading Josh Giddey for Alex Caruso) is the way. This is not to say that the Spurs should hold on to those young players for dear life. If the right superstar player becomes available, then they should go for him. Someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo would be perfect, although the Milwaukee Bucks would want to hold on to Antetokounmpo like their life depended on it. But the Spurs were right in not going all-out for Durant. They're better off waiting instead of jumping the gun. They say good things come to those who wait, and San Antonio is putting that to the test. San Antonio adds perfect Victor Wembanyama complements Building a roster around Wembanyama has to be one of the most fun tasks for a general manager. His defensive excellence and all-around offensive game allows executives to go in whatever direction they want. And the Spurs are looking to bolster their defensive identity this offseason, as evidenced by their aggressive signing of Luke Kornet, who was picked up on a four-year, $41 million contract. Kornet has become a legitimate NBA rotation piece, as he has finally figured out how to utilize his 7'2″ frame to be one of the best deterrents in the league. He may not be the most mobile, but his sheer length allows him to be a defensive menace — even when he's far away from the player he's defending. He made the Kornet Contest one of the most viral yet effective moves in NBA history; this is when he jumps despite being far away from the jump-shooter to try and prevent them from seeing the rim. The numbers don't lie; this move works. A Kornet-Wembanyama frontcourt would make it close to impossible for opposing teams to score near the hoop. And when the Spurs close down the paint, they won't need to send much help defense — allowing them to remain stuck to opposing shooters on the perimeter. This is without even going into detail on the potential of Carter Bryant to be one of the best defenders in the NBA. Bryant moves his feet like a seasoned veteran, keeping in stride with opposing ballhandlers. He's 6'6″ with a 6'11' wingspan, and he has the makings of someone who'll be having a long NBA career — especially if his jumpshot develops. Kelly Olynyk is also a good addition. It cost the Spurs two young guards in Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, but Olynyk's ballhandling, playmaking, and shooting for a big man also allows the Spurs to get creative with their lineups around Wembanyama. Related: Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, Rudy Gobert face off in different kind of battle Related: Spurs' Dylan Harper flaunts new Nike signature logo


USA Today
16-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dylan Harper update: No. 2 pick shut down by Spurs after 2 summer league games
Dylan Harper will reportedly miss the remainder of the San Antonio Spurs' stint in the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN. Harper missed the California Classic and the Spurs' first game in the desert due to a minor groin issue, as described by the team. He debuted on Saturday and made his second and final appearance on Monday to help the Spurs win in each contest. The No. 2 overall pick averaged 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and one steal on 35.7% shooting from the field in those two outings. He logged 44 total minutes. Harper had the opportunity to get a taste of action at the next level with the team after missing four games due to injury. Of the players guaranteed to be on the team next season, Harper shared the court with fellow first-round pick Carter Bryant in each game. Those two games served as the first competitive action for Harper since the end of last season at Rutgers. He finished with seven turnovers and was inefficient from the field, which doesn't appear to be a concern for the team after shutting him down. Harper has drawn comparisons to Cade Cunningham as a bigger guard who can score, play with physicality and see the court well. He projects to be a franchise cornerstone and someone who should play a significant role for the team next season.
Yahoo
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Spurs' Victor Wembanyama says he's been cleared to return following blood clot
San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, center, sits court side during the first half of an NBA summer league basketball game between the Spurs and Philadelphia 76ers, Thursday, July 10, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker) San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama expects to play this coming season and has been fully cleared after dealing with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder for the last few months, he told the French newspaper L'Equipe in remarks published Monday. There was no immediate comment from the Spurs on the report. It has been expected that the team anticipated Wembanyama would be able to start this coming season, though there was no official word until now. Advertisement 'I'm officially cleared to return. … I'll finally be able to play a bit of basketball again,' Wembanyama told the French sports daily. Wembanyama was the league's rookie of the year two years ago, and Spurs guard Stephon Castle won that same trophy this past season. Wembanyama was the front-runner to be defensive player of the year last season when he was diagnosed with the blood clot in his right shoulder in February. He was averaging 24.3 points, 11 rebounds, 3.8 blocks and 3.7 assists when he was shut down; the only other player in NBA history to finish a season averaging all that was Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1975-76. Wembanyama has traveled extensively in recent months and spent time last month at a Shaolin temple in Zhengzhou, China. The temple is a place that welcomes visitors who wish to study Chan meditation, Shaolin Kung Fu, traditional Chinese medicine and more. ___ AP NBA:


Time of India
22-06-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Victor Wembanyama keeps a secret notebook for wisdom from NBA legends like Kevin Durant and LeBron James
The San Antonio Spurs' centerpiece for the future, the 21-year-old French phenom Victor Wembanyama, has turned heads for how he approaches greatness. What's not often seen is his personal notebook, where he stores advice from legends. The Spuers superstar recently shared that he is willing to note wisdom from active NBA legends, including Kevin Durant and . Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Victor Wembanyama quietly records advice from NBA greats like LeBron and Kevin Durant in a notebook During a live taping of The Shop: Uninterrupted at Fanatics Fest in New York, Victor Wembanyama peeled back the curtain on a unique part of his process. 'I have a note on my phone with questions to ask the guys, KD [Kevin Durant], 'Bron [LeBron James],' he shared, sitting alongside LeBron James and NFL icon Tom Brady. 'I had the chance to talk to [Nikola] Jokić for 45 minutes at All-Star [weekend]. And I'm taking notes.' That moment gave fans a glimpse into how seriously the Spurs star studies the game and its greatest minds. Wembanyama's hunger to learn doesn't end with casual conversation. 'When I'm told something, I don't forget it. It's super precious, for sure,' he added. That philosophy, combined with his freakish 7-foot-3 frame and raw talent, is what makes his ceiling so terrifyingly high. Before a blood clot in his right shoulder ended his season prematurely, Wembanyama was averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and a league-leading 3.8 blocks per game. The setback raised concerns, but the support from peers like Durant has been heartfelt. 'I'm glad they caught this early,' Durant said after a Spurs win over his Suns. 'That can affect your overall health… I'm thinking about Vic… he's gonna put his best foot forward every day. ' That mutual respect isn't one-sided. On Kevin Hart's Cold as Balls podcast, when asked if he's a big Durant fan, Wembanyama didn't hesitate: 'That's right.' Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He later doubled down in an interview with M6 Info after the Paris Olympics, calling Durant his 'favorite childhood player.' Laughing, he added, 'I made it clear that I wanted to learn from him, perhaps only steal one or two of his secret techniques.' Also Read: If trade rumors surrounding Durant pan out, and the Spurs do become a landing spot, the student might soon train daily with the teacher. But regardless of what happens, Wembanyama's notebook will continue to grow, filled with hard-earned wisdom from legends who've already left their mark, and one who's just getting started.