By Jacob Douglas | Pounding The Rock (PtR), 2025-04-19 22:31:26
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。
合同续约、两个首轮选秀权以及更多的选择，都将在今年夏天占据重要地位。
感觉好像每个 维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 时代的休赛期我们都会这么说，但今年夏天对圣安东尼奥马刺队来说确实意义重大。自从赛季中期完成 德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 的交易后，马刺队已经朝着争夺季后赛席位迈出了明确的一步。凭借两个乐透签和大量的交易筹码，圣安东尼奥队有真正的机会将目前的阵容打造成一支下赛季有能力进入季后赛的队伍。为此，他们需要在未来做出一些重大的决定。
他们今年夏天做出的决定，可能会为未来几年马刺队的发展奠定基础。合同续约问题日益突出，选秀中可能会增加一两个新的核心球员，而且今年夏天似乎会有几位NBA球星进入交易市场。以下是圣安东尼奥队今年休赛期必须做出的几个最重要的决定。
德阿隆·福克斯和杰里米·索汉的合同续约
马刺队的两名关键球员都有资格在今年休赛期续约。新近加盟的福克斯可以签订一份为期4年，价值2.29亿美元的续约合同。福克斯已经表达了与马刺队续约的意愿，而且如果圣安东尼奥队没有长期签下他的打算，他们也不太可能促成这笔交易。问题是，这会是一份 顶薪 续约吗？
几位NBA球星为了给球队提供长期的财务灵活性，都接受了低于顶薪的合同。 扬尼斯·阿德托昆博 (Giannis Antetokounmpo) 在2023年没有等待超级顶薪就选择了降薪续约， 杰伦·布伦森 (Jalen Brunson) 为了尼克斯队也选择了降薪，快船队也以折扣价续约了 科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard)。福克斯是一名能改变球队命运的球员，也是文班亚马的理想搭档，但在一个充斥着被第二层工资帽限制的球队的联盟中，他算得上是一名顶薪球员吗？签下一份顶薪合同，会在长期内限制马刺队的财务运作。
与此同时， 杰里米·索汉 (Jeremy Sochan) 有资格在今年夏天续签新秀合同。这位前9号秀刚刚结束了一个赛季，他在篮筐周围的稳定投篮中，投出了职业生涯最高的53.5%的命中率，场均贡献11.4分和6.5个篮板，同时还打出了出色的防守。尽管他在一个不稳定的角色中，并且因为恼人的伤病只出战了54场比赛，但他看起来仍然是一名进步的球员。
索汉和文班亚马之间有良好的化学反应，而且优秀的侧翼防守者很难找到。然而，他的投篮不足会在他在场上时堵塞油漆区，这对于一支围绕文班、福克斯和 斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 建立的球队来说，并不是一个理想的情况。这可能会影响他的合同谈判。 德文·瓦塞尔 (Devin Vassell) 签下了一份新秀级别的续约合同，年薪为2700万美元。你如果告诉我索汉的合同年薪在1500万到2000万美元之间，我也不会感到惊讶。
如果索汉和马刺队未能达成续约协议，他将在2026年夏天成为一名受限制自由球员。他是否在今年夏天续约，可能会表明圣安东尼奥队对他在球队长期发展中的定位的看法。
谁将担任主教练？
在理想情况下， 格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 能够完全康复并重返马刺队的教练席。但在本周再次出现健康问题后，这种情况似乎越来越不可能了。圣安东尼奥队的主教练位置存在着一个主要的问号。
米奇·约翰逊 (Mitch Johnson) 作为代理主教练完成了本赛季的比赛，他面临着一个不完美的阵容和一些不及时的伤病，处境艰难。因此很难判断他是否是一名优秀的NBA主教练。话虽如此，自由市场上有很多优秀的主教练。
迈克·马龙 (Mike Malone)、 泰勒·詹金斯 (Taylor Jenkins) 和 迈克·布登霍尔泽 (Mike Budenholzer) 都与马刺队有着渊源。其中两人曾作为主教练赢得过NBA总冠军，而詹金斯则是孟菲斯灰熊队中最优秀的球员发展者之一。如果马刺队在今年夏天出现主教练空缺，那么在文班亚马的带领下，这很可能会成为NBA中最具吸引力的职位。
NBA选秀
马刺队最近在选秀中表现得相当不错。文班亚马毫无疑问是状元，斯蒂芬·卡斯尔很有可能成为年度最佳新秀，他们还培养了像索汉和瓦塞尔这样可靠的角色球员。圣安东尼奥队将有机会在充满天赋的2025年选秀大会上再引进两名年轻球员。
圣安东尼奥队有6%的几率获得状元签，26.3%的几率进入前四顺位。他们最有可能以第8顺位选中球员，并且还拥有亚特兰大老鹰队的选秀权，预计为第14顺位（3.4%的几率进入前四，0.7%的几率获得状元签）。
2025年选秀大会呈现头重脚轻的特点。前四顺位的所有球员都具有全明星的潜力。在此之后，质量有所下降。不过，马刺队仍然有可能通过他们的首轮选秀权选中一名长期首发球员。或者，他们也可以决定打包这些选秀权，并通过交易获得一名球员，从而朝着立即具备竞争力迈出一步。
他们可以增加更多的射手、内线球员以及有能力从板凳席上得分的球员。在第8-15顺位之间，马刺队可以选择像 康·克纽佩尔 (Kon Knueppel)、 拉希尔·弗莱明 (Rasheer Fleming)、 利亚姆·麦克尼利 (Liam McNeeley)、 德里克·奎恩 (Derik Queen)、 卡曼·马卢阿奇 (Khaman Maluach)、 科林·穆雷-博伊尔斯 (Collin Murray-Boyles) 或 阿萨·纽厄尔 (Asa Newell) 这样的球员——所有这些球员都可以填补球队的需求。
追逐大牌球星
顶级球星的流动可能会定义这个休赛期。密尔沃基雄鹿队可能会在首轮出局。菲尼克斯太阳队一团糟。亚特兰大老鹰队在输掉两场附加赛后无缘季后赛。像阿德托昆博、 凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant)、 德文·布克 (Devin Booker) 和 特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 这样的超级球星有可能出现在交易市场上。马刺队拥有足够的资产和合同来进行一次大手笔的运作。
圣安东尼奥队参与球星交易市场，很可能最能表明球队对当前阵容的看法。如果他们认为自己已经准备好进入季后赛，那么交易得到杜兰特是有意义的。文班亚马、福克斯和另一位球星组成的三巨头，将是联盟中最令人兴奋的天赋组合之一。
重磅交易可能会让他们付出未来的选秀资产，甚至可能是一两个长期核心球员。斯蒂芬·卡斯尔似乎是不可交易的，因此瓦塞尔、 凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 和索汉是球队最好的交易筹码。圣安东尼奥队的前厅需要决定是否要为了短期的提升而抵押掉他们的一些长期资产。
点击查看原文：The biggest decisions for the Spurs this offseason
The biggest decisions for the Spurs this offseason
Contract extensions, two first-round picks and more choices loom large this summer.
It feels like we’ve said this every offseason of the Victor Wembanyama era, but this summer is a big one for the San Antonio Spurs. After the midseason De’Aaron Fox trade, the Spurs have made a clear step toward contention. With two lottery picks and plenty of trade assets, San Antonio has a real opportunity to turn this roster into one capable of making the playoffs next season. They have some big decisions ahead of them to do so.
The decisions they make this summer may lay the groundwork for what the Spurs look like for years to come. Contract extensions loom large, a new core player or two could be added in the draft, and this summer seems like it could be headlined by a few NBA stars hitting the trade market. These are the biggest decisions San Antonio has to make this offseason.
De’Aaron Fox and Jeremy Sochan’s contract extensions
Two of the Spurs’ key players are extension-eligible this offseason. The newly acquired Fox could ink a 4-year, $229 million contract extension. Fox has expressed interest in re-upping with the Spurs, and it’s unlikely San Antonio would have pulled the trigger on a trade without the intention to sign him long-term. The question is, will it be a max extension?
Several NBA stars have taken less than the max to give their teams long-term financial flexibility. Giannis Antetokounmpo did it in 2023 by not waiting for the supermax, Jalen Brunson took less for the Knicks, and the Clippers got Kawhi Leonard on a discount extension. Fox is a franchise-changing player and an ideal running mate for Wembanyama, but is he a max player in a league filled with teams hamstrung by the second salary cap apron? Signing him to a max contract will financially restrict the Spurs in the long run.
Meanwhile, Jeremy Sochan is eligible for the rookie-scale extension this summer. The former 9th-overall pick is coming off a season where he shot a career-high 53.5% from the field on a steady diet of shots around the rim, averaging 11.4 points and 6.5 rebounds while playing good defense. He looked like an improved player despite playing an inconsistent role and only appearing in 54 games due to nagging injuries.
Sochan has good chemistry with Wembanyama, and finding good wing defenders is hard to come by. Still, his lack of shooting clogs the paint when he is on the floor, which is less than ideal for a team building around Wemby, Fox, and Stephon Castle. That may hurt him in contract negotiations. Devin Vassell signed a rookie-scale extension that earns him $27 million a year. You could tell me Sochan’s deal nets him anywhere from $15-$20M per year, and I wouldn’t be surprised.
If Sochan and the Spurs don’t agree to an extension, he’ll become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2026. Whether or not he signs an extension this summer could indicate how San Antonio feels about his fit with the team long term.
Who will be the head coach?
In an ideal world, Gregg Popovich would be completely healthy and return to the helm of the Spurs. After another health scare this week, that seems to be less and less likely. There is a major question mark at the head coach position for San Antonio.
Mitch Johnson was put in a tough position as acting head coach to finish the season. He dealt with an imperfect roster and a handful of untimely injuries. It’s pretty hard to judge whether or not he’s a good NBA head coach. That said, there are a LOT of solid coaches on the open market.
Mike Malone, Taylor Jenkins, and Mike Budenholzer all have Spurs lineage. Two of them have won NBA championships as a head coach, and Jenkins was one of the best talent developers in the league with the Memphis Grizzlies. If the Spurs have an opening this summer, they will likely be the most attractive job in the NBA with Wembanyama leading the way.
The NBA Draft
The Spurs have done pretty well for themselves in the draft recently. Wembanyama was a no-brainer at number-one, Stephon Castle will likely be the rookie of the year, and they’ve developed solid role players like Sochan and Vassell. San Antonio will have the chance to grab two more young players in a talented 2025 draft class.
San Antonio holds a 6% chance at landing the number-one pick and a 26.3% chance at a top-four selection. They’ll most likely select 8th overall, and also own the Atlanta Hawks’ pick, which is slated to be 14th (3.4% chance at top-4, .7% chance at number one).
The 2025 Draft is top-heavy. The first four players selected all have All-Star upside. It falls off a bit after that. Still, the Spurs could grab a long-term starter with either of their first-round selections. Or, they could decide to package those picks and acquire a player via trade, making a step toward contending right now.
They could use more shooters, big men, and players capable of scoring off the bench. In the 8-15 range, the Spurs could grab players like Kon Knueppel, Rasheer Fleming, Liam McNeeley, Derik Queen, Khaman Maluach, Collin Murray-Boyles, or Asa Newell – all players that would fill a need.
Big game hunting
The movement of big-time talent will likely define this offseason. The Milwaukee Bucks could be headed for a first-round exit. The Phoenix Suns are a mess. The Atlanta Hawks missed the playoffs after losing two Play-In games. There is a chance superstars like Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Trae Young are on the trade market. The Spurs have the assets and contracts to make a big splash.
San Antonio’s involvement in the star trade market is likely the biggest indicator of how the organization feels about the current roster. A Durant trade makes some sense if they think they’re ready to go on a playoff run right now. The big three of Wembanyama, Fox, and another star would be one of the more exciting collections of talent in the league.
A blockbuster trade would likely cost them future draft assets and maybe one or two pieces of the long-term core. It would seem Castle is off the table, so Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Sochan are the team’s best trade assets. San Antonio’s front office will need to decide whether it wants to mortgage some of their long-term pieces for a shorter-term upgrade.
By Jacob Douglas, via Pounding The Rock