There’s no denying that it was a brutal week for San Antonio Spurs followers.
A bizarre exhibiting in NBA All-Star Weekend—the place Spurs gamers Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama had been disqualified from the Expertise Problem—was nearly forgotten due to the dangerous information that adopted.
On Thursday, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Wembanyama, the second-year sensation from France, has been dominated out for the 12 months as a result of blood clots in his shoulder.
It’s clearly very scary when blood clots come into play for athletes. Everybody within the NBA world remembers when Chris Bosh was identified with this and needed to step away from the game, and there have been a number of different examples since.
After a stable rookie 12 months, Wembanyama was in line to win his first of many Defensive Participant of the 12 months awards, however he’ll now be ineligible. His absence may also harm the Spurs on each side of the ball.
Including insult to harm, legendary coach Gregg Popovich will stay sidelined for the remainder of the season whereas he recovers from a stroke suffered in November. His return to the NBA is unknown.
Inside two days, Spurs Nation was handed a whirlwind of dangerous information. It places the Spurs in a bizarre spot. Earlier than the NBA commerce deadline, they made an enormous splash by buying and selling for De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings, a commerce that was truly working seamlessly earlier than all of this dangerous information.
That commerce is not going to imply a lot for the rest of this season. The Spurs are the No. 12 seed, and it’s laborious to see them rallying a lot increased than that in a loaded Western Convention with out their finest participant.
Mitch Johnson has achieved a pleasant job treading water for the Spurs because the interim head coach. But when Popovich’s future stays unsure, San Antonio could possibly be compelled to look towards the long run.
Subsequent season can be a pivotal 12 months 3 for Wembanyama’s improvement and restoration from this blood clot scare. The Spurs already made an enormous splash by buying Fox through commerce, and whereas that was not fairly an “all-in” transfer, there can be expectations for them to no less than be a playoff staff subsequent season.
At 24-30, their finest wager might be to stay up for subsequent season. Hell, perhaps attempt to shut down Fox for a number of video games and jockey for NBA Draft lottery positioning. Bear in mind, the Spurs personal the Atlanta Hawks’ choose as nicely from the Dejounte Murray commerce, so there’s an avenue for them so as to add much more younger expertise this offseason.
It’s not all dangerous information for San Antonio. They’ve a pleasant younger core—they simply want to ensure they capitalize on it. Popovich and Wembanyama have reportedly been in shut communication after the large man’s analysis, which can deliver a slight smile to the faces of NBA followers in all places.
