By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2024-06-27 21:43:45
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
2024年6月26日，星期三，2024年NBA选秀大会首轮结束后，马刺总经理布莱恩·赖特在胜利资本训练中心接受媒体采访。
周三晚上8点左右，NBA总裁亚当·萧华(Adam Silver)走上布鲁克林巴克莱中心选秀夜的讲台，撒了个谎。
或者说，至少是不完整的真相。
“2024年NBA选秀大会第八顺位，”萧华宣布，“圣安东尼奥马刺队选择了来自肯塔基大学的罗布·迪林厄姆(Rob Dillingham)。”
马刺队在技术上确实做出了这个选择，这是事实。然而，根据联盟事先安排好的一笔交易，直到几个小时后才正式宣布，马刺队已经同意与明尼苏达森林狼队进行交易，并代表森林狼队选择了迪林厄姆。
这笔交易的消息最终还是泄露了出去，这让聚集在马刺队总部外参加球队举办的选秀派对的人群感到困惑。
一天后，马刺总经理布莱恩·赖特承认了显而易见的事实：马刺队之所以进行这笔交易，是因为他们认为森林狼队提供的资产——2031年不受保护的首轮签和2030年的选秀权互换机会——对于他今年无意使用的选秀权来说很有价值。
赖特还承认了关于这位最终将用2031年首轮签选中的球员的另一件事。
“很显然，”赖特周四说，“现在他还是个11岁的孩子。”
在接下来的七年里，马刺队在如何使用从森林狼队那里得到的选秀权方面将有多种选择。
其中，他们可以雇佣一个人开始在全国范围内考察小学生。
或者，他们可以保留这个选秀权，并最终将其与他们积累的其他选秀权一起打包，交易给一个年龄更大、实力更强、并且——希望——能够改变以明星核心维克托·文班亚马(Victor Wembanyama)为中心的建队计划的球员。
如果一切按计划进行，马刺队很可能在本世纪末之前就不会拥有2031年的选秀权了。
一向谨慎的赖特无法保证今年夏天会发生如此重大的举动。
“我们拭目以待吧，”赖特说。“你要一步一步地解决这些问题，第一步是完成选秀。你总是在寻找机会来提升球队。我们会积极进取，但也会采取策略，看看事态发展。”
2024届新秀的基石是来自康涅狄格大学的后卫斯蒂芬·卡斯尔(Stephon Castle)，他身高6英尺6英寸，防守出色，马刺希望他成为球队后场的长期答案。
马刺队在周四增加了两个二轮秀，他们接受了印第安纳步行者队的现金，向下交易了一个顺位，在第36顺位选中了西班牙控球后卫胡安·努涅斯(Juan Núñez)，然后在第48顺位选中了北卡罗来纳大学的前锋哈里森·英格拉姆(Harrison Ingram)。
目前还不清楚本赛季与海外球队签约并将代表西班牙国家队参加巴黎夏季奥运会的努涅斯是否会被列入今年的球队名单。赖特说，这“还有待决定”。
无论努涅斯何时进入NBA——无论是今年还是以后——不难想象他有一天会为文班亚马送出轻松扣篮的传球。
2024年5月20日，德国新乌尔姆：在2024年5月20日于德国新乌尔姆举行的乌尔姆ratiopharm竞技场进行的篮球联赛季后赛乌尔姆ratiopharm队对阵伍兹堡篮筐队的比赛中，乌尔姆ratiopharm队的胡安·努涅斯控球。(图片来自Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
一位NBA分析师称努涅斯是今年选秀中最具创造力的传球手。这位20岁的球员已经在海外参加过高水平的比赛，在上赛季效力于德国联赛冠军球队并担任主力。
“他可能是这届新秀中最好的挡拆球员，无论是传球还是组织进攻，”赖特说。“他很有勇气，很有竞争力。他是一个赢家，而且他在最高的舞台上做到了这一点。”
与此同时，英格拉姆预计将在下个月加入马刺队的夏季联赛阵容，并可能在秋季竞争一份双向合同。
赖特说，英格拉姆最大的优势在于他的多才多艺。
这位身高6英尺6英寸的英格拉姆在斯坦福大学开始了他的大学生涯，他在那里扮演的是控球前锋的角色。在转学到北卡罗来纳大学后，英格拉姆无缝衔接，成为了3D球员。最后的反应是我们最喜欢的部分
@Ticketmaster | #ad pic.twitter.com/K2U5qhAcVv
— 圣安东尼奥马刺队 (@spurs) 2024年6月28日
“像他那样改变自己的比赛方式并不容易，”赖特说。
随着周四的到来，关于马刺队前一天晚上没有做出的首轮选择，仍然存在疑问。
与森林狼队的交易为马刺队在今年夏天腾出了大约700万美元的薪资空间，最高可达2600万美元。
这个额外的选秀权让马刺队在2031年之前拥有了11个首轮签，可以打包在未来的交易中使用。
在本就拥有NBA最年轻阵容的情况下，本赛季不花钱培养第二个首轮秀的想法也是他们考虑的一部分。
“我认为你要权衡的是，另一个年轻球员在这个位置上的阵容影响力，以及这位发展中球员的未来，”赖特说。“但除此之外，我认为这只是我们认为第八顺位的价值，公平的价值，以及我们得到的回报。”
尽管如此，赖特表示，放弃前十顺位的决定并不容易。
“这些决定总是很困难，因为你在选秀上付出了所有的努力，而且肯定会有你喜欢的球员，”赖特说。“但你必须权衡什么是对未来最好的。我们觉得我们得到的方案是有道理的，可以放弃第八顺位。”
赖特说，即使周三的交易最终没有带来更大的收获，马刺队仍然会这样做。
“在孤立的情况下，我们觉得这对于第八顺位的价值来说是公平的，”赖特说。
有一点很清楚：马刺队还没有完成他们2024-25赛季的阵容建设。
他们将带着三个空缺的球员名单进入7月的自由球员市场——根据德文特·格雷厄姆(Devonte’ Graham)、朱利安·尚帕尼(Julian Champagnie)和查尔斯·巴斯(Charles Bassey)等合同没有完全保障的球员的命运，空缺的数量可能会更多。
“我们想要建立一个可持续发展的东西，”赖特说。“你必须一块砖一块砖地建造它。到目前为止，我们做出的所有决定都是基于这个前提的。”
这其中就包括周三晚上，当萧华在纽约走上讲台撒谎时。而在圣安东尼奥观看直播的人群则不合时宜地欢呼起来。
赖特和马刺队希望今年的选秀大会因为卡斯尔而被人们铭记，也许还会因为一两个出人意料的二轮秀而被人们铭记。
如果2024年的选秀大会最终因为提供了一个帮助马刺队再次取得飞跃的未来选秀权而被人们记住呢？
这将是一个不错的安慰奖，即使他现在只是一个11岁的孩子。
2024年6月27日，纽约州纽约市：胡安·努涅斯在2024年NBA选秀大会第二轮中以第36顺位被圣安东尼奥马刺队选中后，在ESPN海港区工作室接受媒体采访。
2024年6月27日，纽约州纽约市：哈里森·英格拉姆在2024年NBA选秀大会第二轮中以第48顺位被圣安东尼奥马刺队选中后，在ESPN海港区工作室接受媒体采访。
2024年6月26日，星期三，2024年NBA选秀大会首轮结束后，马刺总经理布莱恩·赖特在胜利资本训练中心接受媒体采访。
2024年6月26日，星期三，2024年NBA选秀大会首轮结束后，马刺总经理布莱恩·赖特在胜利资本训练中心接受媒体采访。
2024年6月26日，星期三，2024年NBA选秀大会首轮结束后，马刺总经理布莱恩·赖特在胜利资本训练中心接受媒体采访。
点击查看原文：Spurs' GM Brian Wright explains trading away a top-10 pick
Spurs’ GM Brian Wright explains trading away a top-10 pick
Spurs general manager Brian Wright fields questions from the media at the Victory Capital Performance Center following the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Around 8 p.m. Wednesday night, NBA commissioner Adam Silver stepped to the draft-night podium at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn and told a lie.
Or at best an incomplete truth.
“With the eighth pick in the 2024 NBA draft,” Silver announced, “the San Antonio Spurs select Rob Dillingham from the University of Kentucky.”
It is true the Spurs technically made that pick. However, in a prearranged deal the league could not announce until it was formally approved hours later, the Spurs had agreed to a trade with Minnesota and were selecting Dillingham on the Timberwolves’ behalf.
News of the deal eventually trickled out, befuddling a crowd that had gathered outside the Spurs’ headquarters for a team-thrown draft party.
A day later, Spurs general manager Brian Wright acknowledged the obvious: The Spurs made the swap because they believed the assets Minnesota was offering — an unprotected first-round pick in 2031 and a pick swap opportunity in 2030 — were good value for a pick he had no intention of using this year.
Wright also acknowledged something else about the player who will eventually be selected with that 2031 first-rounder.
“Obviously,” Wright said Thursday, “that’s some 11-year-old right now.”
Over the next seven years, the Spurs will have myriad options when it comes to the pick they took from the Timberwolves.
Among them, they can hire someone to begin scouting the country’s elementary schools.
Or they can hold onto the pick and, eventually, use it as in package with others they have stockpiled to trade it for someone older, better and — hopefully — a difference-maker in the building project around star centerpiece Victor Wembanyama.
If all goes to plan, the Spurs will likely not own the that 2031 pick by the turn of the decade.
Always close to the vest, Wright could not guarantee such a huge move will happen this summer.
“We’ll kind of see,” Wright said. “You work through these things in stages and the first stage was getting through the draft. You’re always looking for opportunities to improve the team. We’ll be aggressive but also strategic and see what unfolds.”
The cornerstone of the 2024 draft class is Connecticut guard Stephon Castle, a 6-foot-6 lockdown defender the Spurs hope will be their long-term answer in the backcourt.
The Spurs added a pair of second-round picks Thursday, accepting cash from Indiana to move one spot down and select Spanish point guard Juan Núñez at No. 36 before nabbing North Carolina forward Harrison Ingram at No. 48.
It is unclear whether Núñez, who is under contract this season overseas and will be playing with the Spanish national team in the summer Olympics in Paris, will be considered for this year’s roster. Wright said that was “TBD.”
Whenever Núñez does matriculate to the NBA — whether this year or beyond — it will not be difficult to imagine him throwing easy-to-dunk passes to Wembanyama someday.
NEU-ULM, GERMANY - MAY 20: Juan Nunez of ratiopharm ulm controls the Ball during the Basketball Bundesliga Play Off match between Ratiopharm Ulm and Wurzburg Baskets at ratiopharm arena on May 20, 2024 in Neu-Ulm, Germany. (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
One NBA analyst called Núñez the most creative passer in this year’s draft. The 20-year-old has already played in high-level games overseas, starring for the team that won the German League championship last season.
“He’s probably the best pick-and-roll player in the draft as a passer and creator,” Wright said. “He’s got moxie. He’s competitive. He’s a winner, and he’s done it on the highest stage.”
Ingram, meanwhile, is expected to join Castle on the Spurs’ summer league team next month and could be a candidate for a two-way contract in the fall.
Wright said Ingram’s best skill is his versatility.
Beginning his college career at Stanford, the 6-foot-6 Ingram operated in a point-forward type of role. After transferring to North Carolina, Ingram seamlessly transitioned into a 3-and-D role.the reaction at the end is our favorite part
— San Antonio Spurs (@spurs) June 28, 2024
“It’s not easy to transition your game the way that he did,” Wright said.
As Thursday dawned, questions remained about the first-round pick the Spurs did not make the night before.
The trade with Minnesota netted the Spurs roughly an extra $7 million in salary cap space to use this summer, up to $26 million.
The extra pick gave the Spurs 11 first-rounders between now and 2031 to bundle in a future trade.
The idea of not paying to develop a second first-rounder this season, on a roster that already ranks among the NBA’s youngest, was also part of the calculus.
“I think you weigh that with the roster impact of another young player in that spot and the developmental player,” Wright said. “But I think outside of that it was also just the value for what we thought the eighth pick was, fair value and what we were getting in return.”
Nevertheless, the decision to move a top-10 pick was not an easy one, Wright said.
“Those decisions are always difficult because you do all the work on the draft, and there’s definitely players that you like,” Wright said. “But you have to weigh the calculus on what’s best for the future. And we felt like the package that we got was one that made sense to move off of the eight pick for.”
Even if Wednesday’s trade does not eventually lead to some sort of bigger haul, Wright said the Spurs would still make it.
“In a vacuum, we felt like it was fair value for what the eighth pick was,” Wright said.
This much is clear: The Spurs are not finished building out their 2024-25 roster.
They will enter the July free agency period with three open roster spots — and more depending on the fates of players with contracts not fully guaranteed, like Devonte’ Graham, Julian Champagnie and Charles Bassey.
“We want to build something that’s sustainable,” Wright said. “You’ve got to build it brick by brick. All the decisions that we made to this point have kind have been under that premise.”
That includes Wednesday night, when Silver took the podium in New York and lied. And a crowd watching back in San Antonio cheered out of turn.
Wright and the Spurs will hope this year’s draft is best known for Castle, and perhaps an unexpected second-rounder or two pulled out of thin air.
And if the 2024 draft eventually becomes remembered for providing a future pick that helps the Spurs make another leap forward?
That won’t be a bad consolation prize, even if it is a current 11-year-old.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 27: Juan Núñez speaks to the media after being selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 36th pick during the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft at ESPN Seaport District Studios on June 27, 2024 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 27: Harrison Ingram speaks to the media after being selected by the San Antonio Spurs with the 48th pick during the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft at ESPN Seaport District Studios on June 27, 2024 in New York City.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright fields questions from the media at the Victory Capital Performance Center following the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright fields questions from the media at the Victory Capital Performance Center following the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright fields questions from the media at the Victory Capital Performance Center following the first round of the 2024 NBA Draft on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.
By Jeff McDonald, Staff writer, via San Antonio Express-News