Love has had a rough time since LeBron James left Cleveland, falling out of the rotation due to various injury concerns, but the Spurs are hoping to reignite that championship fire inside of Love, whose rebounding and perimeter scoring will give Drummond some help down low. It also allows Brandon Ingram to slide down to the SF position, if needed. The Spurs intend to use Love primarily at the backup five spot, freeing them up to experiment with lineup possibilities. With Love's injury concerns, the Spurs plan to set his minutes at 25 per game.
Meanwhile, in exchange for Buddy Hield, the Spurs have parted with sophomore Devin Vassell and rookie selection, Josh Primo, with some draft picks to acquire the sharpshooter. The Spurs lose some height in acquiring Hield for Fournier, but Hield is a deadly spot-up off-ball marskman who should benefit from San Antonio's trusted playmakers and Coach Popovich's elaborate offense. Pairing Buddy with Freddie V in the starting lineup will ensure that San Antonio has two deadly snipers, much like last year.
Otto Porter "took the money and ran" on a max salary contract years ago, with injury history spoiling it thereafter, but the Spurs are confident the worst is behind him. San Antonio has agreed to terms with Porter, Jr, via its mid-level exception on a three-year contract worth 30.15 million.
Otto is a natural scorer and a career 40% 3PT marksman, whose scoring ability and pretty fadeaway jumper, along with a pure perimeter
touch and veteran presence, was much-needed. Porter's height also helps matters, as he has
proven to be a solid wing defender during his stints in Washington,
Chicago & Orlando, an ideal 6'8" sixth-man to have.
In other league news, the Philadelphia 76ers, fresh off a third loss to the Spurs in the NBA Finals in recent memory, have traded Tobias Harris. Trader's remorse set in for the Sixers, who reacquired Joel Embiid from the Rockets to pair alongside the deadly James Harden. Both players have scored 40+ in the Finals against the Spurs, and the 76ers are definitely eyeing a 4th meeting this year. The young Rockets were happy to say yes on Simmons, who still has a long career ahead of him.
Philly will now get to see the alternate future, if only two seasons later, had they kept Embiid originally whilst acquiring Harden. The 76ers are eager to see the classic center/guard duo go to work. The last time Embiid faced off against the Spurs, it was a historical double-overtime clash and the big man had 40 points & 25 rebounds with 3 blocks.
The Lakers have also made a move to nab Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards, along with a bevy of savvy veterans to hopefully capture that elusive western conference title from the Spurs.
The Lakers are hoping that Westbrook's playmaking and passionate athleticism will pair nicely with Anthony Davis & LeBron James. The King is still recovering from a dislocated shoulder that James suffered in the series-ending loss during the Western Conference Finals last season against the Spurs.
