Earlier in the offseason, the San Antonio Spurs signed legendary point guard Chris Paul to a one-year deal. However, before bringing him in, the Spurs reportedly had their eyes set on two other guards instead. According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Spurs inquired about Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland.
“The Spurs will be one team to monitor for Nembhard moving forward, sources said, after San Antonio registered trade interest in Nembhard this offseason. Before San Antonio brought Chris Paul to organize the Spurs’ offense around Victor Wembanyama, sources said San Antonio called various teams around the league exploring veteran guards who have still yet to enter their primes. Cavaliers All-Star guard Darius Garland was another talented ball-handler the Spurs called about, sources said, although Cleveland has rebuffed any inbound trade interest for Garland to date.”
Additionally, Fischer said that Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and new Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey had interest in joining the Spurs this summer. San Antonio, however, did not have the same interest in bringing either of the guards to the team.
“And as long as that role remains undetermined, playmakers from Trae Young — who had the Spurs on his wishlist of next teams, sources said, if Young had moved this summer — to Josh Giddey, who also held an interest in joining San Antonio, sources said, before Oklahoma City moved Giddey to Chicago in exchange for Alex Caruso, will point to the Spurs as a desired home alongside Wemby.”
In addition to signing Paul, the Spurs drafted point guard Stephon Castle with the No.4 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. It is likely that the Spurs will let Paul run point for one season and move on from him next offseason to open up more time for Castle.
San Antonio Spurs Reportedly Pursued 2 Rising Guards
Indiana Pacers Extended Andrew Nembhard
On July 24, news of the Pacers signing Nembhard to a contract extension broke. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the extension is for three years and is worth $59 million.
Last postseason, Nembhard played some of the best basketball of his career. During Indiana’s Eastern Conference Finals run, the Canadian native averaged 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. Furthermore, he shot 56% from the field and 48.3% from beyond the arc.
Darius Garland is Not Interested in Getting Traded
After Cleveland’s playoff loss to the Boston Celtics, reports of Garland wanting a trade surfaced. However, Garland recently made it clear that he does not want a trade (subscription required).
“I don’t want to be traded,” Garland told cleveland.com during an exclusive interview before exiting the arena late in the fourth quarter Sunday afternoon. “Those are just rumors.”
Garland has spent the first five seasons of his NBA career with the Cavaliers. During the 2021-22 season, the Cavaliers guard made it to his first career All-Star team.
