Welcome back to Hold My Banner! In this clip, we’re diving deep into the San Antonio Spurs as we gear up for the new NBA season. Victor Wembanyama looks ready for the upcoming season. We’ll break down how the Spurs fared in the offseason and what moves are raising eyebrows. We’ll also discuss what’s a realistic outcome for the team this year and whether Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes can make a significant impact on the win column.
We’ll also touch on the roles of emerging stars like Victor Wembanyama, Keldon Johnson, and Devin Vassell. Could Wemby snag the MVP award if the Spurs finish in the top 4 of the Western Conference? Plus, we’ll see how the contributions of Tre Jones and Jeremy Sochan might shape the team’s success.
Tune in for all this and more as we dissect the Spurs’ potential and what to expect from their upcoming season! Catch 'Hold My Banner' every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on NESN's Youtube, Twitch, Facebook, and wherever you listen to podcasts.
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We'll see if he has the health and the mental attitude to be able to do so. George, how do you feel about the Spurs upcoming season? I wish when we talk about the Spurs team. Tell you that Rob Dillingham was still on the Spurs team. Man. draft day, you and me were hyped. Hiped. I was like, they got Dillingham. They got a great slashing guard and NBA ready guard, a guy that can lock in and finally perimeter dudes to play off of WEMB. And they tell him up to T-wills, which I love that landing spot to make Minnesota better. But this is a team in the draft. They add Stefan Castle, tough defensive first guard. Was great for Dan Hurley in repeating his national champions and the guy that had to work his way up to the spot that he's in at his talent level too, like transferring to UConn. Dan Hurley, again, the most out of them. I love Stefan Castle's game, but the offensive piece is still leaving things to be desired. But signing a Chris Paul, signing a Harrison Barnes in free agency. The leadership is there to teach these guys. And that's why you bring CP3 in and also let's see what minutes he plays, but what role he is because he can be there in the playoffs. I'm excited to see WEMB in the leap he makes, man. I like their off season that Dillingham trade the will forever haunt me of what are you doing? Because if you draft well, especially with that second apron coming down and you don't land free agents, like the reason your headliner was Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes is because you are in San Antonio. Now, as WEMB grows and gets better, then that gravity will be to get guys to play there because they'll see how good he is and he can win and he can be the guy. I do like their off season though because they vastly improved. And think about guys like Devin Vassell at that two spot, 6'5", 200, Big Guard, Ken Shoe, averaged almost 20 a night with more moving parts. But most importantly, there's more help for WEMB. I don't know if there's anyone else outside of Texas, more excited about a 60 loss team than you and I. I like what they did this off season and I think it's going to be a big jump because when you watch WEMB and I said it to you today. When he lost in that gold medal game against USA, how pissed off he was, how he didn't want to hug anybody, he didn't want to meddle, he didn't want to talk to anybody. Man, old school and us coming out, that's what I want to see from a kid that has that much God given ability and talent, but it's that drive and that want. As we talk about how these guys get motivated and fueled, I'm excited to see how WEMB gets fueled. So, I'm really excited about this first team and I think they do make a big jump day. Yeah, I think they make a big jump. How big of a jump? I'm not sure yet. I don't know. I think this is a play in team. I don't know if I have them as a playoff team just yet because they have some things that they have to figure out which is like how are they going to fit in these young guys. I asked the same question with the Rockets with Reed Shepherd, but like, does Stefan Castle get minutes on this team, you know what I mean? Is Devin Visele ready to take the next jump and not just be a guy who Jack shots and plays defense, which he's good. He's a good shooter. Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge Devin Visele fan. I dropped him in fantasy his rookie year because I was that big of a fan of him as a basketball player. I think he's a good basketball player, but can he make that take that next step? We don't know yet. Kelton Johnson, he's been flying under the radar for so long because this team has been so bad, but 16.6 rebounds through his system last year. That's not enough. They need another guy who's going to be a guy for them. Wimby can't just carry an offense. He won't be able to do that. He's a great player, but a little bit to what Jack said, he's a jump shooter. And with that, you know what I mean? Just like Steph Curry, you need other guys around, great jump shooters, you know what I mean? Steph Curry can't just win you games by himself. We saw that before, you know what I mean? No offense to my Steph Curry lovers. He's the greatest point guard of all time. He can't win a game by himself. Neither can Victor win Biyama. He's going to put them in a lot of positions to win games, but they need a second guy who's going to be consistent. So I would love to see a Steph on Castle be built up because the Spurs aren't winning an NBA championship this year. That's not, that's the honest truth. You know what I mean? I would love to see a Harrison Ingram, a guy they also took in the draft this year. Get, you know, build up. He's probably going to spend more time in the San Antonio G League than, you know, Steph on Castle Will. But it's one of those things where their guards are loaded again. I mean, you got Trey Jones. You got a Hall of Famer Chris Paul. You got Devin Vasil. You got Malachi Branham, who played a lot of great minutes for this team last year. You know what I'm saying? You add Brandon Boston Jr. who they hope can be a good player for them, which is why they took a chance on signing him and adding him to this team. So you have a lot of potential there. Once again, a lot of potential guys who could be great, who could be good for this team, but you need to figure out who is going to be that second guy next to Victor in the future. And it's not going to be Chris Paul. I don't see anyone on this current roster. And that's why, like, I'm not saying Dillingham could have been that guy, but he can elevate of a cell because of what Dillingham would bring, especially as a slasher, a guy that likes to go to the cup and go around the rim. And as an NBA ready guard right now, but they need that too. But because of Wendy, that's why we put him in this conversation of playoffs and play in. I like that call of them being in the play. It's going to be a massive leap for them. But if someone has specials, Victor Wimbanyama on both ends of the floor, especially defensively, how he's a straight up shot eraser, not a blocker eraser. I just think he brings so much upside. And we know what the spurs are. We know what Greg Popovich is. Like, guy comes in. Basically, they're a G League extended team, bring in, teach him how to play the game, ship him off. Look at Derek White. Look at some of the pieces that have been around the league, right? Even a Lonnie Walker at this part in his career, but I'm not going to put him and DY in the same breath. I would like to see them build something with WMB, though. It's just a uniqueness of the NBA of I've never been to San. You ever been to a Spurs game? You spent your time at Utah? Yeah, no, I've been to San Antonio a couple of times, but never been to a Spurs game. We got to go to a Spurs game, bro. Just the fact that we're in San Antonio, Texas, the Alamo, and then wherever that building is, one of the worst arenas in the league. And they have one of the most talented players on the globe. Yeah. I just love it. I just, I just, this is why I love sport. Hey, what would make me love sport even more is this Spurs team being in the playoffs. Yeah. Okay. So look, I have to ask you this because I would be remiss to not ask you this Travis has Stefan Castle as his rookie of the year. That's who he's been rolling with. I could text him right now. He's going to tell me the exact same thing. Stefan Castle is his guy. Do you think Stefan has a path to becoming the rookie of the year in the NBA this year? I think the scoring has to be there when I want to think about who the rookie of the year is going to be in the minutes. And that's why I keep going to that Dalton Connect. We spoke about it with Reed Shepherd. He's like, where is minutes going to come from? Where is shots going to come from? Dalton Connect is a guy on both ends of the floor, big physical, strong, but has to play now for your Lakers because they did it get the Mar because their best player decided to go and take the max money he can and just blow up them actually building out a team. I think because of the usage, I think because of the role and I think because of scoring and opportunities will be there. It's tough and you keep floating them my way. I just don't see anything outside of Dalton Connect. I don't because I need to see that actual likelihood of Castle, but he's not he's not a number two or three on this team scoring wise at least. He could play important minutes. I mean, he could be like all rookie defensive, but I just don't I don't seem being all like a rookie of the year. Yeah, I know they should have an award for that. He might be first time first team, all rookie team, but I probably don't see him winning Ricky of the year now, especially because Chris Paul is here. Trey Jones has to play because he's such a good guard. He takes care of the ball basketball. A lot like his brother, you know what I mean, terrible defensively, but you know, really good at commanding and offense. I did want to ask you this too. Now, this is a hypothetical, right? Well, I love talking to hypotheticals. If if if if the Spurs were somehow to miraculously end up being a top 14 in the West this year. Well, Victor, when the I'm a when MVP. Yes, let's think about. I can't picture when you say top four. I'm just picturing four. Yeah, but let's see the West real quick. Okay. See is the one seat. I think you and I are lock and step with that. We see the T wolves taking a leap and also the nuggets falling off the things. Minnesota could be that too. Yep. Mavericks has a three. They got better. We'll see what Luke could get to him and Kyrie, a good young talented team that got that playoff experience. I could jump in Derek Lively. Yeah. It's not going to be the Clippers. Maybe the Suns as a three, but if you have Victor, when Bonjama and the nuggets could be that three, but I hate how that roster keeps going. But that's exactly it. Like if they're the four seed, let's just think about who they're in front of. Yep. Yokech, Booker, KD, Shoot, Warriors, Kings. If they're the four seed and the only way they get to being beyond a plate, I think we could say if they're a six seat or better, does he get MVP, but that top four seat of what it says. Yeah. Yeah. I think he'd be MVP because you know it's going to be on the back of when being his impact on the floor, right? Yeah. No, I think I'm right there with you. It's just kind of crazy to think about like, if he were to do that, like the world would be on fire. I think like the amount of windy clips that we would have on Twitter, I don't even think I'd be able to find any other topics to talk about because he'd be the only one. You know what I'm saying? So I'm right there with you. He's a, he's a special player. And if he gets the opportunity to be a winning player in this league because he was already, people were talking about him for defensive player of the year, which I think he should have won. I think they only won 22 games and he was the fit. I thought he should have been to a defensive player of the year. So, have you tacked on winning to the resume that he's already kind of built up throughout his rookie season? Man. And I, you only expect him to get better, right? Like that's the thing. Like, yeah, exactly. You're projecting by putting this hypothetical and I agree. Right. Like he averaged 21 and 11 last year. You know what I mean? So it's like, I only expect him to average at least 25 next year. You know what I mean? Like, it could be kind of scary. The last thing I did want to ask you about what this first team is too. Like, well Harrison Barnes and CP3 as the new vets of this team actually make a difference in winning for these young guys. Right now? Yes. This season. This season. I think they make a difference now. I think their impacts can be more beneficial next season, two seasons from now. Because that's the guys you get in to show them how to be a pro, to be that vet. And kudos to them for saying fine. I'll take a paycheck. I'll go to San Antonio. I'll take on that veteran role. Going from a guy in Harrison Barnes. That is a key piece and a big piece for the Warriors. And even a guy like Chris Paul everywhere he's been of going, I'll be around greatness. And I think that's Chris Paul loves ball. He loves the sport. He loves the league. He loves pouring himself into the younger guy. So it's a reflection of the leaders. They are like credit to them. How can I say they wouldn't affect the winning right now? And it's beyond what they do on the floor, literally in measurable stats. But how they can elevate a guy like a vessel. And how Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul can elevate guys like a Stefan Castle. And just being around Wendy, you know. Yeah. I agree. I think the biggest part about those two coming in is that they understand defensive positioning. Right? When you look at the Spurs roster, they do have some good on ball defenders. The guys who are good athletes who slide their feet well and all that type of stuff. Vassel, Kelton Johnson, Jeremy Schoenen, obviously Wimby. Those are four guys that are probably going to get either a lot of minutes or be started for this Spurs team that can really be good on ball defenders. Where they lack is defensive positioning. And that's where Chris Paul in practice is tugging guys jerseys. That's where Harrison Barnes is talking to guys on the sideline in game. Hey, like you need to be two steps over here. Hey, you need to be one step over here. Hey, you need to be talking here. Tell me what you're thinking here. Duh, duh, duh, duh. These two guys can really helping those aspects of the game. The nuance that people don't see on TV. You know what I mean? That's where, like you said, two, three years from now. These guys are going to remember like, Oh, yeah. HB told me I got to be two slides to the left on this when this happens. You know what I mean? Oh, yeah. Chris Paul told me when this screen comes, I got to get low and do this to get through it. Vah, vah, vah, whatever. You know what I mean? Those things where it's like defense is a physical thing for sure. It's a want to physical. Gotta be strong. Gotta be fast to be a great defender. No question about that. But it's also as much of a mental game as offense is. Honestly, you have to be able to understand what the offense wants to do, what guys like, and how to take it away. And those two dudes understand that at a high level. To take away options, to take away what the opponent is seeing is so important. And you point it out, and that's again of like what they will do will be measurable. And we won't, we won't know it, but they will. You said it's in practice, and we see it on national TV. When we see the sellers to find castle being in the right spot at the right time or just knowing how to counter some of the offensive sets are facing and screens and how they're being put or attempted to be put in these mismatches, but knows how to get out of trouble. And get a defensive stop. It'll be credit to those two. So that's why I think it's important. Like, I like this free agency signings. They need that number two. But it's about the long term with Victor Wembanyama. I think that's what's so important with this team. So I think it'll impact this team now. I'm excited to three, four years from now. And shoot man, when Wendy gets to the mountaintop, the credit that Chris Paul will get, and Harrison Barnes will get, and you put, you put guys like that around Greg Popovich to and his staff. Like, what more can you want for Wendy? And I'm excited for a guy like Stefan Castle to be there, because again, that's how he gets elevated. And that's how you even get ahead of schedule with Stefan Castle, where he's ready to play now defensively, and as a point guard, as a ball handler. But offensively needs to bring more, and those guys will bring it out of them. 100% I'm with you. And I love that you said when Wendy gets there, because I got a feeling that he's going to be up there at least a couple of times in his career. I'm doing that now, because when we speak about these guys, you have to project. Yeah. You know, and I get the if, I get the if, but you have those special players. They're those special people, not if, but when. Wendy is one of those guys. 100%. 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