The objective of the San Antonio Spurs with the absences of Victor Wembanyama and Gregg Popovich
The Texan franchise will no longer have their coach or superstar for the remainder of the season and they could try to go for the number 1 pick in the Draft
The San Antonio Spurs haven't had the best of weeks. Firstly, they lost their superstar and 2023 number 1 draft pick, Victor Wembanyama, for the entire season due to blood clots in his right shoulder. On Thursday, it was announced that their legendary coach, Gregg Popovich, would not return this season after suffering a minor stroke in November.
The Spurs, one of the most successful franchises of this century, have faced some setbacks in the last two seasons. However, the future looks promising, despite the current string of tough losses. The Spurs are optimistic that Wembanyama's blood clots won't keep him sidelined for long and that he will recover in time for the next season. After returning from the All-Star Game, the 21-year-old player informed the Spurs' medical staff that he was not feeling his arm normally. Nevertheless, they are confident he will return next season and lead the Spurs back to glory.
Although it is a disappointment for now as the Spurs had playoff aspirations, it could potentially benefit San Antonio in the long run. According to Tankathon, the Spurs have the ninth-best chance of getting the number 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, with a 4.5% probability. If the Spurs continue to lose games, those odds could increase, and, if fortunate, they might select one of the best prospects of the last decade, Duke Cooper Flagg. Flagg is poised to be this year's top pick and is likely to become an All-NBA player in the coming years. The potential duo of Flagg and Wembanyama would intimidate the other 29 teams.
Popovich Won't Coach This Season Either
Popovich stated that he won't return as coach this season but hopes to come back in the future. "I’ve decided not to return to the bench this season," said Popovich in a statement released on Thursday. "Mitch Johnson and his staff have done a wonderful job, and the resolve and professionalism shown by the players, sticking together throughout a challenging season, have been outstanding... I'll remain focused on my health in hopes of coaching again in the future."
However, if he is unable to return for any reason, there are a handful of names that could take over. Some names that come to mind are Mike Brown, James Borrego, who started his NBA coaching experience as an assistant with the Spurs, and Sam Cassell.
Borrego would be the top candidate if the Spurs decide to go with someone familiar. He was recently the head coach of the Charlotte Hornets and was in the running for the head coaching position with the Los Angeles Lakers last summer. The 47-year-old coach has championship experience with the Spurs, and if Pop cannot continue, it is expected that they would pursue him or the other mentioned candidates.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El objetivo de los San Antonio Spurs con las ausencias de Victor Wembanyama y Gregg Popovich