2013-14 Finish: 60-22

Season Highlight



Five years have passed since the Spurs made the playoffs, but this year they returned in a big way, surging to the top of the standings and capturing their division. Most NLL bottom-dwellers never seem to recover, but Leeroy’s Spurs are a rare example of a once great team that collapsed and then rose again from the ashes. A combination of smart drafting, good trades and patience helped the Spurs return to prominence in the NLL.


Season Lowlight



There is no one that GM Leeroy hates more in the league than his archrival GM Greenmig of the Los Angeles Lakers. These two GMs have an intertwined destiny that has lasted for more than a decade. After handily dispatching the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the playoffs, Leeroy and his Spurs had to face Greenmig and the Lakers. In an epic series, the Spurs shot ahead to a three game lead, but then the Lakers came back and took the next four to win the series. Did Greenmig exploit the system with an unorthodox lineup? Maybe. Did Leeroy lose again to the one GM that makes losing sting the most? Definitely. 


Best Trade



Wait? Did the Spurs get Wesley Matthews for Lance Thomas?! Greenmig would complain of fraternal in-trading yet again. If you look closer, the Spurs would later send Raymond Felton and 19 GM points to the Mavs, but STILL: Wes Matthews for Felton, Thomas and 19 points is a steal. Score another one for the brothers.

Worst Trade

The Brooklyn Nets send Cole Aldrich and Maalik Wayns to the Phoenix Suns. The Brooklyn Nets send Derek Fisher to the San Antonio Spurs. The Phoenix Suns send Gerald Green to the Brooklyn Nets. The Phoenix Suns send Perry Jones to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Tony Allen to the Phoenix Suns.
The Brooklyn Nets send a 1st-Rounder (Bkn) to the Phoenix Suns.

This isn’t an awful deal, however I think Tony Allen’s defense might have helped in the Lakers series. Perry Jones has yet to prove himself on the Spurs’ roster.


Other Notable Trades

The Phoenix Suns send Deron Williams, Brian Roberts and Colton Iverson to the San Antonio Spurs. The San Antonio Spurs send Rajon Rondo, Kosta Koufos and Luc Mbah a Moute to the Phoenix Suns..

A fair deal for both sides if both players are healthy. Deron Williams definitely had a better season than Rondo last year, but that isn’t a guarantee for this season. A swap for two of the best point guards in the game.

Lots of clunky contracts moved in this deal. If Teletovic makes good on his potential, the Spurs will win out, but for now, both teams moved paperweight deals around.


Best FA Signing

The Spurs didn’t sign any free agents of note this past season.


Worst FA Signing

The Spurs didn’t sign any free agents of note this past season.



Star



Anthony Davis- The Brow is Exhibit A for the Spurs’ renaissance. In his second season in the league, Davis proves that sometimes a first overall pick is the right pick. Last season, he averaged 14.6 ppg and hauled in 11.5 rpg. He is just going to get better and better.


Goat



Marcus Thornton- The best goat is a Gone Goat. Marcus Thornton stunk it up last season for the Spurs, hitting only 36% of his shots. This is not something you want from your clutch shooter. He wasn’t much better from beyond the arc, nailing only 37% of those. He did hit 98% of his FTs. Leeroy wisely shuttled off Thornton’s nearly $10mil salary to the Washington Wizards, a team that has increasingly become the dumping ground for formerly good players.


Draft Report Card

The Spurs didn’t have a first round pick this year, but grabbed two second round players.

Spencer Didwiddie- A great gamble by the Spurs. Dinwiddie would have gone earlier, but scared teams off with his ACL injury. This guy is a combo guard with good size and if he heals up, could be one of the steals in the year’s draft.

Jerami Grant- Is another great gamble. He is one of those long, athletic players with heaps of potential. Another wise pick by the Spurs, especially since there was very little risk in taking a second rounder. 

Looking To The Future

The Spurs come into next season intact and should compete again for tops in the West.  Nikola Pekovic, however, seems to have found his way into Leeroy’s dog house and will likely be traded. A Pekovic trade will create an interesting situation for the Spurs, especially if they move the Brow to center, or decide to start Miles Plumlee. The team definitely needs bodies in the paint, so if Pekovic does go, the team will need to replace him. Bringing in Corey Brewer gives the team a legit three, which means Matthews can play in his natural position.

The Spurs also need some upgrades on the bench. If one or more of the starters go down, the team will be in trouble. They have serviceable players, but no true threats waiting in the wings in case disaster strikes.

Upcoming Free Agents

Brian Roberts- Is a restricted free agent and could command some attention in the market. As primary backup to Williams, Leeroy should look to keep Roberts, but if the cost is too high, he can probably find a suitable replacement in the FA pool.

Shelvin Mack- Another restricted free agent. Mack will likely re-sign with the Spurs rather than test the waters.