Chris Paul To Be Aggresively Persued By San Antonio Spurs

Chris Paul’s future is still uncertain. On June 7, it was reported that the Phoenix Suns had met with Chris Paul. During that meeting, the team told the veteran that there has a possibility he could be waived before his fully guaranteed salary triggered on June 28th. Paul has been in Phoenix since 2020 and had the fourth-highest assists per game in the NBA this season.

However, Phoenix is looking for any possible way to overhaul their roster after their “win now” plan failed. Despite his impressive numbers, especially for someone in their age 38 season, his cap hit appears to be too much for the Suns. If Paul is still on the roster on June 28th, he will have to be paid $30.8 million. According to the latest updates on the situation, the team is doing everything they can to move Paul without waiving him. Now, new rumors are hinting at one very interested suitor.

San Antonio Spurs Want Paul

First reported by LJ Ellis of SpursTalk, San Antonio is extremely interested in pursuing Paul. “When free agency opens, a scout for a Western Conference team believes the Spurs will make a hard push for either Chris Paul or Fred VanVleet. He posits that the opportunity to pair Wembanyama with an experienced playmaker at point guard will ultimately be impossible for San Antonio to pass up.”

Ellis also pointed to the reason why the Spurs are so eager to bring Paul. For just the third time in franchise history, the Spurs own the #1 pick in the draft. The last two times they have been in this position, they drafted Hall of Famers David Robinson and Tim Duncan. In 2023, they will be able to draft generational prospect Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama, who has been playing professionally in France since 2019, will likely need a little adjustment to the NBA. However, his transition will be made all the easier by a player like Paul. Furthermore, Paul has actively relished serving in a veteran leadership role in his recent stints with the Thunder and Suns. Essentially, he is the perfect player to bring over to the Spurs to help Wembanyama achieve his potential. Follow all the latest sports news here at HotNewHipHop.

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San Antonio Spurs Reportedly Looking To Acquire Another First-Round Pick

The San Antonio Spurs took a major step forward in their rebuild last week. On a tense night, the Spurs won out when they were granted the first pick in the NBA Draft lottery. That gave them the privilege of expected generational talent Victor Wembanyama. The French superstar has been the presumptive first-overall pick for years now.

The Spurs have missed the playoffs in the last four seasons and won just 22 games in the 2022/23 campaign. That’s an eight-game dropoff compared to the season prior. The most recent season included dismal 1-win months in November and February. However, moves during the season, which pointed to a tank job, have set up the Spurs nicely in terms of draft capital. However, recent rumors indicate the Spurs might not be done yet.

Spurs Looking For Another First Rounder

AUSTIN, TX – APRIL 06: Kevin Knox II #11 of the Portland Trailblazers drives past Dominick Barlow #26 of the San Antonio Spurs in the first half at Moody Center on April 06, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Cortes/Getty Images)

According to Rafael Barlowe of NBA Big Board, “The San Antonio Spurs are said to be working the phones looking for deals to acquire an additional first-round pick, preferably in the lottery, to add a point guard.” The rumor comes after reports that the Spurs met with PGs Cason Wallace and Amen Thompson at the NBA Combine.

Both players are intriguing prospects. However, both will likely come at a steep price. Thompson is expected to be off the board by the fourth pick, going either third or fourth. While the Spurs do have a wealth of picks, teams will be wary. No one wants to provide the Spurs with too many elite picks in this year’s stacked draft. Meanwhile, Kentucky’s Cason Wallace is expected to go early in the double-digit picks. While as not as steep a price, the Spurs can still expect to pay heavily to trade back up that high in the first round. This is just the latest in a bevy of trade stories surrounding the first few picks of the draft. The Blazers are reportedly willing to trade the third-overall pick in order to add an “elite” small forward. Meanwhile, the Rockets are fielding multiple calls about the fourth-overall pick.

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SOURCE SPORTS: San Antonio Spurs Win NBA Draft Lottery, Own Right to Draft Victor Wembanyama

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The San Antonio Spurs have won the Victor Wembanyama lottery. On Tuesday (May 16), the NBA Draft Lottery was held, with the Spurs winning the top pick in the 2023 Draft and the right to draft the phenom from Paris.

The draft lottery was held at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. As the Spurs were revealed as the winner of the No. 1 pick, team owner Peter J. Holt audibly screamed during the broadcast.

“It’s going to be unbelievable,” Holt said. “Our future was already bright, now it’s going to be through the moon.”

The last time the Spurs picked No. 1, they drafted Tim Duncan in 1997. Before that, they used No. 1 to draft David Robinson in 1987.

The second overall pick will go to the Charlotte Hornets and third to the Portland Trail Blazers.

“People talk about generational talent, and they only think on-court skill, but it’s bigger than that,” Spurs general manager Brian Wright said to ESPN. “His ability to be a great teammate, his ability to think the game, unique challenges, you see him doing things that you wouldn’t even have guessed someone could do. His approach, his professionalism.”

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Stephen Jackson Calls Out Former Teammate’s Performance

Stephen Jackson recently appeared as a guest on KG Certified. During his appearance, Jackson talked about many different topics. Including his run with the San Antonio Spurs. Jackson was a member of the 2003 Spurs championship. A moment in his career he doesn’t take lightly. The road to the NBA was never an easy one for Jackson. Some of the roadblocks Jackson came across would be enough for anyone to give up on trying to make the league. However, there is a reason Jackson had such a successful career in the league. But when discussing the Spurs 03 title run, Jackson didn’t hold back on one of his former teammates.

Jackson believes that Tony Parker may get too much praise for the Spurs 03 championship run. Parker became the legendary leader of the Spurs offense. However, in 03, Jackson claims that Speedy Claxton may have saved the Spurs on multiple occasions. In the interview with KG, Jackson mentions that Parker was getting cooked in every matchup throughout the playoffs. However, in the end, the Spurs earned the championship crown. Check out the clip of Jackson discussing Parker’s play below.

Stephen Jackson Happy To Win Title With Spurs

Also, Jackson felt he was being slighted by the Spurs during that time in his career. Jackson stated that he knew San Antonio wasn’t interested in bringing him back the next season. Stating the team was trying to mess with him mentally during the 03 season. Even though the Spurs and Jackson weren’t seeing eye to eye, the two parties still came together in winning the championship. Jackson said winning the championship in Texas meant everything to him. Jackson is from Texas.

The next season Jackson did find a new home in Atlanta. However, 03 wasn’t the last time Jackson would see success in his NBA career. The Texas native got to be a thorn in the side of the Dallas Mavericks once upon a time. Jackson was a part of the Golden State Warriors team that upset the one-seed Mavericks in the 07 playoffs. Also, Parker didn’t finish his career in a terrible way either. Do you agree with Stephen Jackson’s comments on Tony Parker during that series in 03? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section. For the latest NBA news, keep it right here at HNHH.

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SOURCE SPORTS: Spurs’ Gregg Popovich Ties Don Nelson for Most NBA Victories by a Head Coach

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On Monday night, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Los Angeles Lakers 117-110. That win makes coach Greg Popovich one win away from becoming the NBA’s all-time winningest head coach. Popovich is currently tied with Don Nelson at 1,335 victories.

On Wednesday, Popovich can break the record with a win against the Toronto Raptors. Nelson previously told reporters, “I can’t wait” for Popovich to break the record. “I want him to have it.”

The significant part about getting this record for Popovich is that all 1,335 victories came with the Spurs. In 1996, Popovich, then serving as San Antonio’s general manager, fired Bob Hill and inserted himself as his head coach. That proved to be a great move looking back. The Spurs have since become one of the winningest teams in NBA history under Popovich’s watchful eye. He’s won five championships during his time with the team, reaching the NBA Finals six times.

Popovich may go down as the greatest coach in NBA history. One more victory will all but lockdown that debate.

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