BREAKING: Jokic’s playoff ending statement is warning Spurs can't afford to ignore
Brian Wright must tread carefully.
Denver Nuggets v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Seven | Joshua Gateley/GettyImages
The Spurs can’t afford to mortgage the future with trades to build the now. The future is bright, far brighter than most other teams in the NBA, and to gut the current nucleus of young players to acquire an established veteran would be a mistake felt for years to come.
Further, teams with depth have the formula to play deep into the playoffs, and fellow players have noticed that. Nikola Jokic, Nuggets forward with multiple MVPs, stated as much in his playoff-ending statement to the media recently.
The best NBA teams have a strong rotation
It seems like the teams with depth are the ones winning. He specifically mentioned the Thunder, who play about 11 players, the Pacers, another ten players, and Minnesota, also with a deep rotation. The commonality of these three teams is that they’re still in a position to win a championship. The only team still remaining without extra bodies beyond their starters is the Knicks.
If depth is the blueprint to success in today’s NBA, then the Spurs are on the right track. The organization has been completely rebuilding over the last few seasons, and it appears they’re turning the corner, as they improved by 12 wins last season from the season prior.
The team drafted Victor Wembanyama first overall in 2023. He’s been nothing short of fantastic for the Spurs, winning the Rookie of the Year award as well as being named an all-star this past season. In 2024, Stephon Castle was drafted fourth overall by the Silver and Black. He rewarded that confidence by winning the Rookie of the Year award as well.
The Spurs drafted both defensive stalwart Jeremy Sochan and sharpshooting wing Devin Vassell with lottery selections over the last five seasons. They are building a core.
They’ve got impact veterans. Team leader Keldon Johnson was a first-round selection. Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes were brought in to help the team move to the next step. Guards Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham were both first-round picks.
The depth is there
The team needs more continuity and time together. They're still a young team; most of their impact players are under 25 years old. If Jokic’s words have any truth to them, then the Spurs need to stay the course.
The allure of adding a star player like Giannis to this roster is awfully tempting. Who wouldn’t want a 30-year-old all-star coming off averaging over 30 points and almost 12 rebounds per game last season? A player like that has gravity, providing spacing to the Spurs’ shooters and opening the lane for penetration players like Castle.
But what if Castle’s included in that trade to acquire a Giannis-type player? The Spurs would have to part with significant roster pieces as well as draft capital they’ve acquired over the years to obtain a player of that caliber.
It’s not worth it
The Spurs are building a roster of players that will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come. This plan is sustainable. Let the core nucleus grow together and watch it blossom.
The team has its shooter. It has its slashing wing player. It has its premier perimeter defender—which has become more important than ever in today’s game—and it has its star.
They’ve got pieces off the bench, and the draft capital of the number two and 14 selections in this year’s first round. They’ll extend that core four to a core six. They’re poised to be consistent winners if they keep the team together.
The lust to trade for a star to win a championship now is one that’s tough to suppress. There are many teams who’ve tried, fewer who’ve been successful. The Suns of recent times, the Knicks during the mid-2000s, and the Lakers before them, with their super team. They’ve all failed. When Kevin Durant jumped ship to Golden State, it led them to a title, but they were already a championship team.
The best player in the NBA said that teams with depth win. He’s a voice that Spurs Nation needs to listen to if the Silver and Black are to achieve great success moving forward.