Fan episode: San Antonio Spurs fans’ thoughts on roster construction, expectations, Project Marvel

Fan episode: San Antonio Spurs fans’ thoughts on roster construction, expectations, Project Marvel

Hey, it’s been a while since we had a fan episode right here on Laws First. Let’s get the fan opinion when it comes to Project Marvel expectations and roster construction. You are Locked on Spurs, your daily San Antonio Spurs podcast, part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day. Happy Monday. Welcome back to Locked On the Lock NBA Network. I’m your host, Jeff Garcia, Spurs writer for Kenz San Antonio. Glad to have you all back. Hope you had a great weekend and we welcome you back right here on Loft Spur. Subscribe forever. Get your favorite podcast, iTunes, Spotify, K5 Plus app, YouTube, you know what to do. Go subscribe right now. You guys are the every dares. We appreciate you all keeping the numbers up on the YouTube side of things. Those numbers keep me climbing and climbing every single day. So, I definitely appreciate it. What are we talking about today? If you’re watching on YouTube, you can see on your screen right now, but if you’re not, uh, we haven’t had a fan episode in quite some time. Uh for those unfamiliar with these, basically a fan comes on and they represent the entire fan base on a couple topics. As you can see on your screen, uh we’re going to be discussing Project Marble later on the show, uh fan expectations next season and so far the current roster construction. So our guest is going to be giving their opinion and then the opinion of the fan base as a whole. and we’ll see where Spurs fans feel, you know, at least on the spectrum of uh emotions heading into this off season when it comes to your silver and black. So, yeah, I got a lot to uh discuss. And quickly before we begin, uh, for those unfamiliar with Project Marble or do not live in San Antonio, basically in a nutshell, it’s just a big project, so hopefully that will pass by voters where they can redo the entire downtown area and bring the Spurs Arena from the east side of San Antonio, which is again, for y’all don’t live in San Antonio, it’s pretty far away from downtown, and just bringing a new arena closer inside the downtown area. And it’s more than just that. It’s the arena, it’s the top rates, upgrades. So, in a nutshell, that’s what it is. And you can probably tell it’s going to be very pricey. So, more on that later. With that being said, let’s go to bring in our guest. Uh, I think he’s ready. I see him ready. I’m seeing him backstage. I think he’s ready. Yeah, he he he’s he’s not doing anything I shouldn’t be putting on screen right now. Look who’s back, everybody. Mr. Angel Gutierrez. He is going to rep the fan base today. Angel, welcome back to Lock Call Spurs. Thanks for having me, Jeff, man. Good seeing you again, my man. Yeah, good to see you, man. How was your weekend? Uh, you know, no complaints, man. Still alive. Living here daylight. Yeah, still alive. I see you’re in your car right now. So, if you’re if you’re going to Ducks Brothers, I’ll take a large copy. Let’s see. Give me a uh give me one for later. I’m just kidding. All right. Well, uh, Angel, are you ready to rep the fan base? Let’s do it, brother. I don’t know if everybody will agree with me, but let’s do it. So, shocker, right? Yeah. Well, look, you’ll join a long list of people get cooked here. Uh, Rudy Compos cooked. Uh, Sith Elias cooked. No matter what they say, they get cooked. So, I don’t want you to be in that list, but if you go on the list, no surprise. All right. Spurs fans, you know how they can be. All right. So, Angel. Yeah. Let’s start off with I guess start off with roster construction. The pretty much the new uh players they brought on from Olen to I trust. Look, AJ, if you knew who Lindy Waters was, more power to you. I had no idea who this guy was. uh to Luke Corzant. Um let’s start off with your opinion first. What do you personally think about the roster construction? Do you like the direction Brian Wright is taking the roster into next season? Like for me, my my deal was like the Spurs needed more size because they were small after Wendy went down, right? They needed more size, which they addressed it with Cornet. You know, I know people were talking about, you know, four years. They thought that was too much money. Uh but then of course when you got the details of the contract then it ended up being a good signing. Um and then of course Olen I like the trade for Oolen is I mean if you can stay healthy you know he can be a bruiser type power forward can shoot. Uh but also he’s one of those ones that can get under the skin of players. You know that’s what he’s kind of known for as well back when remember the time of Kevin where you just look at his elbow in the play that Yeah. Yeah. So you know they addressed it there. I just think they still they’re still adding two more guards, too many guards on there. I know they made the trade for Brandon Wesley. Uh but then with the water signing um and then I understand the Jones Garcia signing which I burning up a summer league but again it’s another guard you know this person needs shooting but at the same time they I think they need more size and let these players who they’ve been developing for a while now you know have them break out see if they can you know be the shooter that they need around Wimi. So, yeah. But, but if you had to give like a thumbs up or thumbs down, where do you stand on that as far as the roster right now? Thumbs up or thumbs down or you still kind of I don’t know yet. Yeah, I’m kind of in the middle. I’m I’m I’m still in the wait and see approach. I think, you know, they they made some moves. They made some decent moves, but again, it all boils down to whether they all cohesively get together and play right, you know, to take that next step. So, I’m still kind of on a wait and see. I’m on a wait and see with with the group. So, yeah. Yeah. As far as as far as like Jones Garcia, I was a little surprised they brought him on. I was kind of leaning towards they were not simply because you mentioned too many guards and here’s a guy Yeah. that has paid his dues, you know, from the GLeague going undrafted trying with the Jazz Sixers and then he has this showing out at Vegas summer league and I thought for sure another team was going to scoop him away and they never did. So, they brought him on, but look, it’s good to have insurance. Look, hey, the sporty three-point shooters, right? I mean, he was probably one of the better ones at summer league. We’ll see that translates to the NBA. And then you mentioned Oolen and with Oolen, I do like the signing. I I agree with you. They needed more size. Check that box. But I think the force space he brings at that position is going to bring uh a lot of uh well, less headaches for San Antonio. But I want to talk to you more about the guards here. Bro, are you worried that the combo the trio arbor bottles say castle aren’t good three poor shooters? You know, I I was at first like, you know, because I was all for the Fox tree. You know, Spurs gave up very little for Fox and that was going to be the future, right? The one two of him in Webby and then the Spurs luck didn’t get the second pick. And I was still kind of on the fence with Harper because, you know, you he was just a freshman and you still developing his game, you know, because for all I know, he’s going to be something a lot later, right? But, you know, he’s still young and it wasn’t known as a knockdown shooter. So, I wasn’t really sure how that fit in with Fox. And then, of course, now with Capel, who he has a good shot, a three-point shot, he’s just he has to hit them. And I think he’s going to he’s going to eventually develop as well, you know, as a dependable three-point shooter. But, as of right now, for all three of them, man, I don’t know. That’s going to be, you know, Jock is going to have to really stagger, you know, their minutes as far as, you know, not if he plays them all at once, see how it works, you know, at the beginning season, test it out, and then he’ll be able to figure out probably closer to the midway point as to, okay, can I play all three of them starting or does one come off the bench or does two come off the bench because he still got the cell as well? Uh, Ken, another guard uh that needs to be gently time. So, I think I think it’s going to be rocky at first, you know, especially Harper’s got to get his feet wet. Got to get himself a feel for the game and then to try to mesh in with Castle and Fox and also to to learn how to play with the superstar kind of like Wimi. So, I think it’s going to be rocket at first, but I think they’ll get the they’ll get the gist of it, you know, past Allstar breakout, I think. All right. All right. Well, I got to ask you, you look at the entire fan base is how they’re reacting on social media, maybe talk to you in person. How are fans feeling about the direction of the roster? I think the most I think I would say majority of basketball likes the roster, you know, because you remember back in the day when when Die came in, he came into a season veteran team and now you’re you’re dealing with a bunch of young guys who are the oldest guy as Harrison Barnes, you know, he’s just what they’re already two. So, I mean, I think it’s I think it’s excitement. I think the team with all their flash that they have now with these rookies that are, you know, they’re pretty much a human highlight. You know, anyone can throw a human highlight out there and this person getting recognized for their youth and the talent that they have now, you know, for having three lottery picks in a row, which I know that sounds kind of like, yay, we the lottery again, but at the same time, you know, that’s how you accumulate talent to get where you want to be. You just look at Oklahoma City for all those years of us. Oh, now they made sure assets whatever they got and they won the championship that way and then Houston Rockets do the same thing as well. So there got the right coach, beat the right pieces trade and here they are now. Now they got a big piece of Kevin Durant. So right, I’m I’m seeing it for the Spurs fan. I’m I’m excited. Yeah. I think for me for the fan base, they do like I I think they love the the direction of the team. It’s just a matter of health, you know. Yeah. Obviously. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Health. Health and definitely key. And it’s not just for the Spurs, for any team, you know, in the league, but whatnot. But, you know, you you brought up, you know, excitement and everything. Let’s talk about that. So, let’s talk about fan expectations. Uh uh are fans or should fans be hyped or should they pump the brakes a bit? We’re going to talk about that right here on Lock On Spurs or should I say this fan episode of Lockdown Spurs. Joined by Spurs fan Angel Gutierz. But first, I want to talk about Fivehour Energy. That’s right. Time to fill up and turn it up with 5Hour Energy Transfusion. It brings the bold grape, ginger, and lime flavor of your favorite golf drink minus the alcohol into a quick energizing shot. Whether you’re seeking birdies or just making memories with friends, this is a hole in one for your energy game. 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The code is not good on subscription orders. So whether you’re meeting up with friends or trying to turn 18 holes into 36, get the energizing boost you need to power through. Order transfusion flavored 5-hour energy shots today. And we’re back here. Loft Spurs joined by Angel Gutierrez. He’s repping the fan base right here on this fan episode of Loftton Spurs. And before we hit the break, he started calling about excitement. So fans are getting excited. Angel’s getting excited, too. But Angel, should fans maybe temper expectations? And I bring it up because last Friday on Friday’s show, we talked about fans tempering expectations. Maybe they should. We had a pro and con kind of thing. Where do you stand? I know on paper the Spurs look pretty deep and pretty good, but do you think this is gonna be a really good team or you kind of like, you know what, I gotta let me see it first. Give me about two, three months into the season and then I can tell you how I feel about this team. Where do you stand? Uh, I I’m more about that they’ll do more I think they would get more wins than last than this past season. I think they’ll they’re going to start slow, but then they’ll pick it up and starting slow because they got to fit in the pieces that they got, right? And they’re still they’re still unanswered questions about who’s going to really be starting outside of Fox and Wimi who are going to be pretty much in my my opinion. So, um I think I think we should get excited. I think they’re going to be better. Um um my expectation would be like you know play in at minimum you know challenge for maybe the six seed but for sure I think I see them as playing and then there it could be one of those dangerous season they can get into a seven or eight seed you never know especially the seven gang series you know they could they could prime for a first round upset of somebody depending they get the right team so I I’m that’s what my expectation is um championship tender No way. You know, you know, I and I can’t see them as the top four cuz the West just it’s going to be a blood bath, man. It’s just too many good teams on the West. Um, but I I I foresee them that they can at least make a run for the playin. For sure. That’ be my Can you imagine Mr. Playin next season? Oh, hell’s going to break loose, man. Because they It’s going to be bad with the fans. Yeah. Fan base is going to freak out. Yeah, exactly. Why don’t we do all these all these deals, right? Hey, speaking of the fan base, are fans keeping expectations realistic or not? I’m sorry. Repeat that. Are fans having realistic expectations or not? What are you What are you seeing from the fan base? Uh, from what I’ve been seeing, I think they’re having realistic expectations. man, you’re going to have some they’re going to be like, you know, they’re going to be 50 wins plus and which I don’t see that. I’ll be honest. I don’t see them winning 50. I’ll be if they win 50, man, that’s that’s like exceeding expectations. Uh but I think for the most part, I think everyone I think everyone I see is in agreeance that they’re going to be a lot better than last year. And with Webby missing half the season, I mean, they still won, you know, a little over 30 games, which was an improvement from the year before when they did have Webby for most of those games. Uh so you know like with Castle 2 and those you can use the Fox only got a sampling of that. So with the full training camp Mitch Johnson now his system in new assistant coaches uh especially with that defensive coach they got from from the Mavericks. Um I think they’re going to win more with the defense and I think a lot of these pieces that they got is going to help them with that to help them win games especially they have those struggling shooting nights. Again, we don’t know who are going to be the the shooters on this team outside of uh you know, who we know is so I guess Kelvin to an extent, you know, we just don’t know yet. So, yeah. Yeah. I I think that that’s the one area that I’m a little worried about is the perimeter shooting because let’s face it, the NBA, if you live by the three, you die by the three nowadays. if you’re not taking a wide open three even though there’s a wide open layup. You know, you take the wide open three instead of the layup and that’s how ridiculous it is. But so that’s the only concern I have. But other than that, I think what they’re going to do is they’re going to be like, “Hey, if we can’t make our threes, we’re going to stop you from making threes.” And I love the defense that they’re building right now in San Antonio. But you know, I want to go back to this. Do you think are fans expecting playoffs or play yet? Where do you did they stand? I think I think majority is playing. I think realistically I think more fans are expecting play in. Um there’s gonna be some fans feel playoffs, but I think I think majority see realistically that you know it’s still a a young bunch that is growing and they have the talent as long as they can they stay healthy they have the talent to get to at least compete for a playin. So right, you know, I I I would it would meet my expectation. I think it would be mo meet most fans expectations that they get like a a playing spot, you know, whether that’s seven, eight, nine or 10, right? So as long as they get one of those playing spots, you never know. And I just I just think that that would be a a great a great result for the season, especially with all the new changes that they got. And and of course Mitch implementing his his system. So yeah, exactly. Yeah, it’s it’s his system now. The training wheels are off. No more Papovic on his side as we saw last season. It’s all it’s his show now. So we’ll see. Yeah, there there’s there there’s a little bit of a wild card to all this. There’s the shooting. There’s rook technically rookie head coach now, Mitch Johnson, and then new pieces brought on and new coaching staff. So there’s a lot to come together. That’s why I’m expecting maybe a little bit of a slow start, but I think after about 3 months in, you’re going to really start seeing them click and get going. So hopefully that’ll happen. We’re talking with Angel Coutier. He is here on this fan episode of Loft Spurs, repping the fan base, giving his personal opinion when it comes to the silver black. We’re not done with Angel. When we get back, we’re going to discuss Project Marble. Where are SP? Well, basically our Spurs fans freaking out. You know, this expensive thing. Spurs, you should pay for it. You know what’s going on here? Let’s talk about that in just a sec. We’re back right here on lockdown spurs joined by Angel Guutier. He’s referencing the fan base on this sand episode of Lockd Doll Spurs. And one thing that is really on the mind Spurs fans for now is Project Marvel. Uh just to repeat to those that San Antonio, it is a pretty big project to bring the Spurs from the east side of San Antonio to downtown San Antonio, new arena, and it’s beyond that. at its new facilities, upgrades to the dome, uh entertainment district, sports entertainment district. It’s a bunch going on, but it’s very, very, very expensive. Uh projections is near 4 billion. I heard 5 billion. Angels E told me here four. The point is it’s very pricey. Now, on Friday last week, it was announced that the Spurs had announced what they’re going to contribute, $1 billion, and that’s where we stand as of this recording. Angel, what are Spurs fans thinking about this project? Do they want it to go through? Do some think it’s unrealistic? Or do some Spurs fans feel like, “No, hey, y’all want a new home. You pay for your new home.” You know, Spurs Spurs Spurs fans want it. You know, I think all Spurs fans would agree that the Spurs belong downtown. I mean, that’s that’s the that’s the money maker for the city is all downtown and the Spurs are part of that. Um what Spurs fans they want to hear is obviously taxes and Spurs fans want owners to pay for it because now everything costs you know in the billions now especially you know state of the art technology everything that you see these new arenas you know but you know I think first fans had to realize that you know we all have a they don’t have an owner with deep pockets you know like a Steve Balmer you know who paid for most of the arena into it del himself out of pocket But this guy’s that deep pocket don’t have it. They they have three big majority owners, you know, with Dell Six Street as well as the holds and they still got minority minority orders, right? Still. So, I mean, you know, it’s just not one owner that just has deep pockets put all the money into it. Having said all that, I I think Spurs fans want the arena to be downtown because where it’s at now, it’s a bad spot. There’s no no development that happened like they promised whether that was on the Spurs, whether that was in the county. You can share blame in both, but you know, I I would I hear Spurs fans, you know, like, hey, you know, why should we foot the bill when you haven’t won anything? Which is true, but at the same time, you know, you know what’s going to happen if they move out and someone’s willing to give an arena, you know, and they move, then you’re going to be like, “Oh, we had the opportunity and we just didn’t do anything about it or we complained or bitched about it, you know?” also you know that I just think that you know have to be realistic they do have to at least put something in there since we don’t have a very rich owner you know so yeah but I I think the majority they want the arena it’s just going to be a matter of you know Kenneth first put up more than what they initially offered which is still a lot of money know dollars but I’m sure there’ll be some some way that first fans Even you know the city itself you know the public can get a better explanation better understanding as to what really will be coming from public funds you know and just city tax which you know the city can’t they can’t raise city taxes anymore you know so they have to understand that as well so what would get to me is that let’s just say it passes and the vote passes and they start construction it’s going to be how many years before it’s done I think wouldn’t be maybe almost done done with his career or something like close to it, you know, it’s going to be a while. It’s not going to have not passes in tomorrow the arena. It’s going to take quite some time. So, I think Spurs has got to keep that in mind that it’s not going to be an overnight thing. It’s going to take a lot of time. There’s going to be stall stalling scheduling, you know, funding, you know, and whatnot. But I think might I think what they’ll do, they do it in pieces. Maybe they’ll start with the Spurs arena. get that done first and then move on to upgrades to the dome get that done. You know, I think they’ll do that live downtown and I don’t know if I’ll be here during that construction in downtown San. But the point is like I’m not looking forward to that at all at all. I think that’s going to be a mess downtown. Your thoughts? Oh yeah, most definitely. I mean, you know, when you put it that way about, you know, WMBB’s age factor when that arena is completed, if if if it finishes at what 20 20 209 or something like that. Yeah. Somebody. Yeah. I mean, it’s I mean, it’s not only just the construction and then what’s completed, where’s the parking going to be? You know, where are they going to park it? Yeah. And you know, they talked about extending the convention center and it’s kind of like, okay, was it’s big enough already. Where else can you go with it? You know, that you go into heartbeat that could be there. Uh um and then this whole walkway deal. I thought I conversations with my dad and like my dad pointed out like there’s a walkway there already just, you know, behind it, right? Why do another one? It’s already there. And I get the dome, you know, the dome’s the, you know, pretty much the bread and butter outside of, you know, for, you know, revenue, you know, all eyes on Sanua for sporting events, final fours, but, you know, if you want to host more final fours, they said, you know, you need to do more with the album, right? So, it’s going to be tough, man. Um, all that side, you know, those pain points, it probably be worth at the end. And I mean because right now there’s there’s constructions in downtown like you pointed out man all of you know Cesar Chavez you know Alamo Street all that’s under construction right now and it’s just a pain just to find parking down there and I can’t imag Yeah. Yeah. Well I can say first I do live downtown and it’s I’ll exit my place and then I’m like it’s a detour. I mean during the first thing I see detours. Detours. These will go around this. That’s not even close to any type of groundbreaking construction for the new sports complex in San Antonio. So, it’s going to be interesting where Spurs fans um feel about this as we get closer and closer to the vote. But, it feels like a what you’re telling us a lot of Spurs most Spurs fans are thumbs up. They want this to uh go ahead and pass. He is. And by the way, yeah, and by the way, you you know what it’s like uh when you go to the the conventions, the Comic-Con that I host. I’m pretty sure you have a hard time finding parking as well. So, you know. Yeah. Yeah. And that’s just for a a Comic Con now. Imagine Spurs games. Yeah. Good lord. That’s going to be fun times. Fun times ahead. He is Age of Gutierrez. Uh make sure to Oh, wait. You know about your X handing. Yeah, we we didn’t bring that up. What? How can fans cop you on X? Yeah. Uh I’m on X there. I have it at uh at uh GoodyFyam 3. G T I E F A M3. Um, I also have the same handle on Instagram as well, but mainly I’m I’m mainly on X. So, yeah, that would be the handle. There you go. Goody fam 3. Make sure to follow him on X. Uh, Angel, we appreciate you taking time out of your schedule to join us here at Lock Sports to rep the fan base. And uh, hope you don’t get cooked too bad. I hope you don’t. You probably will. So, it’s done. Brace yourself. Brace yourself. Yeah. Not too old. He’s ready. You heard him. You heard him. He’s ready. All right, Angel. Once again, thank you uh for hopping on to this episode of Lost Sean Spurs. Everybody else, we thank you for locks your first listen each and every day. Free and available wherever we get podcast, iTunes, Spotify, Kens Plus app, YouTube. You know what to do. Go subscribe right now. We’ll be back tomorrow to talk all things silver back as the long off season continues. But we’ll get you through it right here on Lock Daw first. So for Angel Gutierrez, I am Jeff Garcia. We’re going to put our lock on this fan episode of Lock on Spurs.

The Silver and Black’s roster shakeup has fans talking.

Host Jeff Garcia and fan Angel Gutierrez dissect the San Antonio Spurs’ recent moves, including the Luke Kornet signing and Cedi Osman trade.

They analyze how Victor Wembanyama and the young guards fit into the evolving lineup. The conversation shifts to realistic expectations for the upcoming season and the potential impact of new head coach Mitch Johnson’s system.

Plus, a talk on Project Marvel – the proposed downtown arena that’s stirring up excitement and controversy among Spurs faithful.

0:00 Intro: Fan episode on Spurs expectations
3:34 Discussing Spurs’ offseason roster moves
8:04 Fan reactions to team’s roster direction
12:23 Expectations for Spurs’ upcoming season
16:13 Fans anticipating play-in or playoff berth
19:08 Project Marvel: Downtown arena proposal debate
24:09 Potential challenges of downtown construction

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