By Mike Finger, Columnist | San Antonio Express-News (SAEN), 2025-06-26 14:55:32
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。
2025年6月25日，星期三，2025年NBA选秀首日结束后，马刺队总经理布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright) 在圣安东尼奥拉坎特拉岩石区球馆接受媒体采访。
马刺队不只是满嘴陈词滥调。
他们深信不疑。
他们以所有“老套”的信念和“老套”的灵魂坚信，自己不应该跳过任何一个“老套”的步骤。他们相信，正如总经理布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright) 在对球队选秀之夜进行了一番彻底“老套”的总结时所说，他们只是想一步一个脚印，埋头苦干，避免本末倒置。
他们实在不擅长拟标题。
他们也无法吸引点击量。
但仅仅是做了所有人都在周三预料到的事情？
听起来再老套不过了，但他们可能赢得了这次选秀。
马刺队本可以做一些更有创意的事情。在选秀前的几天里，他们本可以交易得到凯文·杜兰特 (Kevin Durant)。他们本可以接受费城队日益激进的报价，以换取榜眼签，并得到一两名能立即帮助他们取胜的球员。他们本可以利用第14顺位挑选一名大个子来填补眼前的需求。
然而，他们什么也没做。他们用自己的首轮选秀权选择了当时最好的球员，然后用第二个选秀权也做了同样的事情，即便他们意识到可能需要一段时间才能看到回报。
这些举动并非出自一个仅仅因为听起来聪明才声称“一步一个脚印”进行阵容建设的组织。
这些举动出自一个做梦也想不到以其他方式运作的组织。
看看自从两个夏天前马刺队得到维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 以来所做的一切。从最后一颗乐透球尘埃落定的那一刻起，一个新的争冠窗口期就已开启倒计时，布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright)、首席执行官R.C. 布福德 (R.C. Buford) 和 El Jefe 格雷格·波波维奇 (Gregg Popovich) 都承受着巨大的压力，要立刻全力以赴地投入其中。
然而，第一年，他们抵制住了。他们让文班亚马在一个众所周知尚未准备好竞争的球队中，经历他在NBA的第一次磨砺，因为年轻的核心团队需要时间共同成长。而这样做的附带好处是，输球让他们得到了斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle)。
第二年，是时候取得进步了，但不是那种急于求成的进步。他们签下的老将——克里斯·保罗 (Chris Paul) 和哈里森·巴恩斯 (Harrison Barnes)——并非为了取代任何年轻球员，而是为了提升、培养他们，并释放他们的潜力。随后，他们完成了关于迪阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox) 的交易，这笔交易没有让马刺队付出任何长期价值的代价，并且有望在2027年及以后让他们变得更好。
现在，进入第三年，又有一种假设认为，是时候让每一个举动都围绕着当下，并在一个休赛期内从乐透区球队一跃成为总冠军竞争者。但这不是事情的运作方式。在NBA，事情从来都不是这样运作的。而马刺队继续以他们理解这一点的方式行事。
例如，周三马刺队用榜眼签选中的罗格斯大学的迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper)，他对于一个已经拥有持球型后卫福克斯和卡斯蒂尔的后场来说，可能不是最无缝衔接的即插即用型补充，这是否有一些合理的疑问呢？当然有，但马刺队并不期望他能立刻奏效。
他们可以循序渐进地让哈珀替补上场，给他作为控球后卫获得大量的锻炼机会，同时也能在与福克斯和卡斯蒂尔搭档时找到节奏。他们可以找出哪些有效，哪些无效。想必，他们会比去年赢得更多比赛。但在做到这些的同时，他们不需要看起来像一个成品。
选择卡特·布莱恩特 (Carter Bryant) 更是这一策略的绝佳体现。这位亚利桑那大学的侧翼球员在第14顺位被选中，他很可能在今年11月和12月不会在奥斯汀以外的赛场上获得太多出场时间。去年他在大学联赛中也还没有完全准备好成为主要的贡献者，在野猫队场均出场时间不足20分钟。
但布莱恩特之所以被许多人预测为前十顺位新秀，以及布莱恩·莱特 (Brian Wright) 称马刺队曾认真考虑过向上交易得到他时可能没有说谎的原因在于，他的外形和打法都符合如今每支NBA球队都渴望的那类球员。如果你观看了刚刚结束的总决赛全部七场比赛，你可能会注意到雷霆队和步行者队在场上充斥着高大、运动能力强、能够防守多个位置并具备三分投射能力的球员。
那就是布莱恩特的能力组合。这是马刺队在2027年、2028年或2029年季后赛征程中将会需要的能力，而当他们在周三做出选择时，这远比今年10月揭幕战的阵容深度名单可能缺少什么要重要得多。
这是马刺队当年选择德章泰·默里 (Dejounte Murray)、德里克·怀特 (Derrick White)、凯尔登·约翰逊 (Keldon Johnson) 甚至科怀·伦纳德 (Kawhi Leonard) 时所做出的选择类型。当一个球队明确自己的发展方向，并且不为现状感到恐慌时，它就会做出这样的选择。
而这正是一支球队在选秀之夜表现平平，你对他们最糟糕的评价就是他们很无聊时的那种选秀之夜。
即使这听起来再老套不过，但这正是他们最大的优势。
Fans celebrate the Spurs selection of Arizona forward Carter Bryant with the 14th pick at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright speaks to media following the first night of the 2025 NBA draft at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Carter Bryant walks off the stage after being selected 14th by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Carter Bryant poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 14th by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Carter Bryant poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected 14th by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dylan Harper poses for a photo with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected second by the San Antonio Spurs In the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dylan Harper greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected second by the San Antonio Spurs In the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dylan Harper reacts after being selected second by the San Antonio Spurs In the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dylan Harper reacts after being selected second by the San Antonio Spurs In the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Dylan Harper hugs supporters after being selected second by the San Antonio Spurs In the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Wednesday, June 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Spurs general manager Brian Wright speaks to media following the first night of the 2025 NBA draft at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright speaks to media following the first night of the 2025 NBA draft at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright speaks to media following the first night of the 2025 NBA draft at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright speaks to media following the first night of the 2025 NBA draft at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Spurs general manager Brian Wright speaks to media following the first night of the 2025 NBA draft at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Arizona forward Carter Bryant’s selection by the Spurs with the 14th pick is shown on the outdoor screen at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Fans wait for the Spurs to pick at #14 at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Fans celebrate the Spurs selection of Dylan Harper with the second pick at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The Spurs selection of Dylan Harper with the second selection on the overhead screen at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Spurs fans celebrate the Spurs selection of Dylan Harper with the second pick at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Alex Garces Jr, center, and other Spurs fans celebrate the Spurs selection of Dylan Harper with the second pick at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Alex Garces Jr. waits for the Spurs to make their first pick at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Claire Garcia, left, and Matt Fernandez enjoy the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Nanette Bronder holds up giant heads of Victor Wembanyama and Jeremy Sochan seated next to Stephanie Arch, left, at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
A fan shows his displeasure of the Dallas Maverick’s selection of Cooper Flagg at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Fans wait for the Spurs first selection of the night at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Fans wait for the Spurs to make their first selection of the night at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The Spurs Coyote poses for a photo with Fayd Brooks Tchou, left, and Tyrus Tchou at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The Spurs Coyote poses for a photo with Tracey Contreras and her son, Benson, 5, at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Spurs fans wait for the draft to start at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Amy Garcia, left, and Karina Asher take a selfie at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Gerardo Renteria sits at the front of the crowd at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Alex Garces Jr, right, and his son Aven Garces, 14, wait for the Spurs first draft pick at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Tricia Ammann receives a Spurs shirt after signing up for the Spurs Fan Club at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
Fans wait at the front of the line for Spurs gear after signing up for the Spurs Fan Club at the Spurs Draft Watch Party at Frost Plaza in La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
点击查看原文：Spurs' cliché approach makes them winners with Harper, Bryant
Spurs’ cliché approach makes them winners with Harper, Bryant
Spurs general manager Brian Wright speaks to media following the first night of the 2025 NBA draft at The Rock at La Cantera in San Antonio, Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
The Spurs don’t just speak in clichés.
They believe in them.
They believe, with all their clichéd heart and with all their clichéd soul, that they’re not supposed to skip a single clichéd step. They believe, as general manager Brian Wright noted in a thoroughly clichéd summary of the franchise’s draft night, that they were just trying to put one foot in front of the other, to keep their heads down, and to avoid placing the cart before the horse.
They are terrible at writing headlines.
They’re hopeless when it comes to generating clicks.
But by doing exactly what everyone expected them to do on Wednesday?
As cliché as it sounds, they probably won the draft.
The Spurs could have done something a bit more original. In the days leading up to the draft, they could have traded for Kevin Durant. They could have taken a team like Philadelphia up on its increasingly aggressive offers to grab the No. 2 overall pick, and acquired a player or two who would’ve helped them win right away. They could have used the No. 14 selection on a big man to fill an immediate need.
Instead, they did none of that. They took the best player available with their first draft choice, then they did the same with their second, even while realizing they might have to wait a while for that one to pay off.
These are not the moves of an organization that claims to take roster-building one step at a time only because it sounds smart.
These are the moves of an organization that wouldn’t dream of operating any other way.
Look at everything the Spurs have done since landing Victor Wembanyama two summers ago. From the second that last lottery ball popped into place, the clock has been ticking on a new window of championship opportunity, and there’s been pressure on Wright, CEO R.C. Buford, and El Jefe Gregg Popovich to jump through it right away, with all six feet.
That first year, though, they resisted. They let Wembanyama take his first NBA lumps with a team everybody knew wasn’t ready to compete, because a young core needed time to grow together. The side benefit of that was that the losing led them to Stephon Castle.
The second year, it was time for progress, but not the rushed kind. The veterans they added — Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes — weren’t meant to supplant any of the youngsters, but to lift them, to nurture them, to unlock their potential. Then came the deal for De’Aaron Fox, which cost the Spurs nothing of long-term value and conceivably makes them better in 2027 and beyond.
Now, entering the third year, there’s been another assumption that it’s time to make every move about the present, and to vault from lottery team to title contender in one offseason. That’s not how this works. That’s not how it’s ever worked in the NBA. And the Spurs continue to operate like they understand this.
For instance, are there legitimate reasons to wonder if Rutgers’ Dylan Harper, who the Spurs selected with the No. 2 overall pick on Wednesday, might not be the most seamless plug-and-play addition to a backcourt that also features ball-dominant guards Fox and Castle? Of course, but the Spurs don’t expect it to click right away.
They can ease Harper in off the bench, giving him plenty of repetitions as a point guard, in between stretches alongside Fox and Castle. They can figure out what works, and what doesn’t. Presumably, they’ll win more games than they did last year. But they don’t need to look like a finished product while doing it.
Selecting Carter Bryant was an even better illustration of this approach. Bryant, the Arizona wing player taken No. 14 overall, probably isn’t going to see much non-Austin action this November and December. He wasn’t quite ready to be a big contributor in college last year, either, averaging fewer than 20 minutes per game with the Wildcats.
But the reason Bryant was projected by many as a Top 10 pick, and the reason Wright probably wasn’t lying when he claimed the Spurs gave serious thought to trading up to get him, is that he looks and plays like the type of guy every NBA team wants these days. If you watched all seven games of the just-completed Finals, you might have noticed that the Thunder and Pacers flooded the floor with tall, athletic players who could guard multiple positions and shoot from 3-point range.
That’s Bryant’s skill set. It’s a skill set the Spurs are going to need on a playoff run in 2027 or 2028 or 2029, and when they made their pick on Wednesday, that was far more important to them than what might be missing from this October’s opening-night depth chart.
It’s the type of pick the Spurs made when they took Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Keldon Johnson and even Kawhi Leonard. It’s the type of pick a franchise makes when it knows where it’s going, and when it isn’t panicked about where it is now.
And it’s the type of draft night a team has when the worst thing you can say about them is they’re boring.
Even when, as cliché as it might sound, it’s their biggest strength.
By Mike Finger, Columnist, via San Antonio Express-News