San Antonio Spurs 1987 Preseason Presser

[Eazy P]

Good morning and welcome to the 1987 San Antonio Spurs preseason presser. We are glad to have you here.

Before we open the floor to questions, I want to frame exactly where this organization stands as we enter the 1987-88 campaign.

Last year was, by almost any metric, a historic success. We won 61 games. We played a brand of basketball that electrified this city. But we are not here to hang regular season banners. For the second straight year, we ran into the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals and fell to them but this time 4-1. The reality we had to face this summer was simple. As currently constructed, we couldn't get over that hump. We lacked the specific versatility required to dethrone the champions.

So we didn't just tweak the roster, we rebuilt the philosophy of this team. This has been the busiest and most transformative offseason in recent Spurs history.

We made the difficult decision to move Mark Aguirre and Kiki Vandeweghe in a blockbuster deal to bring Chris Mullin to San Antonio. In Chris, we have acquired perhaps the purest stroke in the NBA. By pairing him with Isiah Thomas and Michael Jordan, we’ve created a backcourt with an unparalleled basketball IQ. To bolster our frontline, we executed a sign-and-trade for Rodney McCray, whose defensive flexibility is exactly what you need when you're chasing elite wings in the West.

Furthermore, we took an aggressive stand in the paint. We matched the restricted free agent offer to keep Mark West in a Spurs jersey, traded for the legendary power of Darryl Dawkins to provide that "Chocolate Thunder" intimidation, and kept Mike Gminski to ensure our frontline remains the deep.

Let's talk about TC. What I have seen at camp has exceeded our expectations. Michael Jordan is doing what only Michael can do. He’s come back with a refined post game and a defensive intensity that has set the tone for every practice. He isn't just 'getting better, he’s evolving into a leader who demands perfection. Chris has been a revelation. His conditioning is at a high and the way he spaces the floor for Michael and Isiah has fundamentally changed our offensive geometry.
Rodney McCray is showing major potential bumps. His ability to grab a rebound and initiate the break as a point-forward allows Isiah and Mike to run the lanes, making us potentially a dangerous transition team in the league.

With a core of Jordan, Thomas, Mullin, McCray, West, Gminski, and Dawkins, we have the scoring, we have the grit, and we have some depth to hopefully survive the war of attrition that is the NBA Playoffs. We didn't build this team to win 61 games again but we built this team to be hopefully the last ones standing in June.

The road to the title still runs through Los Angeles, but this time, we’re going to try and bring a different kind of fire.

I’ll open it up for your questions and as always I will answer to the best of my ability.

[AngryBanana]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: Can you give any insight to your talks with the 76ers? Did they reach out to you, or you them? Did they counter offer at all if it was your offer? Do you think they will do one TC this whole season?

[greepleairport]

McCray took quite a leap in TC this season. In Golden State, we were looking to train him up a bit more. Have you considered upping any of his stats, or are you happy with where he's at?

[BigDaddyd8720]

Picks Emmington, SLOE Gazette,

What's it like to not only have such a talented roster that seemingly got better, but also to be young enough to be able to sustain success for many years?

[IamQuailman]

It takes a lot of balls to send 2 elite scorers out for a player that has the potential to be an elite scorer but isn't there yet. Do you think that losing both Kiki & Mark Aguirre will shorten your short term playoff window while Mullin continues to fill out?

[WigNosy]

Steve Duin, the Oregonian:

What did you see in Mitchell Wiggins that made you decide to pursue him so aggressively in Free Agency? And are the rumors true, that the Team Option was just to get him on board and you never intended to exercise that option so you'd have room to extend Chocolate Thunder and the Two Mikes (Gminski and Jordan)?

[Eazy P]

Chet Youbetcha, Dimmadome News: Can you give any insight to your talks with the 76ers? Did they reach out to you, or you them? Did they counter offer at all if it was your offer? Do you think they will do one TC this whole season?

I reached out to him and we had a good conversation. I knew in order to get a player like Mullin I would have to give up at least a purple player. I decided to just go with my best offer of two purples for 1. He wasn't pressured into it. He took his time and thought about the pros and cons. I think if he does a DC his team could be dangerous. Might need a nudge.

[Eazy P]

McCray took quite a leap in TC this season. In Golden State, we were looking to train him up a bit more. Have you considered upping any of his stats, or are you happy with where he's at?

Yes We have decided since we really can't train anyone else that we would train him a little more. We trained his quickness, jump shot potential, INS and Reb currents. We want to to do this now so that next season's TC he could hopefully get another bump.

[Eazy P]

Picks Emmington, SLOE Gazette,

What's it like to not only have such a talented roster that seemingly got better, but also to be young enough to be able to sustain success for many years?

It's a good feeling but at the same time I was here 3 or 4 seasons ago and still haven't reached the Finals. I am beginning to think I am the problem. Plus I am starting the season going same SMH. Hopefully this go around I can actually capitalize during this window.

[Eazy P]

It takes a lot of balls to send 2 elite scorers out for a player that has the potential to be an elite scorer but isn't there yet. Do you think that losing both Kiki & Mark Aguirre will shorten your short term playoff window while Mullin continues to fill out?

If you know me I don't trade a lot and it took a lot for me to move those guys. I do think me team may fall off a little but hopefully not long. I need Jordan to be fully himself but with guys that demand the ball it's hard for him to become that elite guy. I am hoping Mullin growth is quicker and if so I think the team will really good.

[Eazy P]

Steve Duin, the Oregonian:

What did you see in Mitchell Wiggins that made you decide to pursue him so aggressively in Free Agency? And are the rumors true, that the Team Option was just to get him on board and you never intended to exercise that option so you'd have room to extend Chocolate Thunder and the Two Mikes (Gminski and Jordan)?

I know players hate coming to San Antonio so i offered him a contract to get over to the team. I needed depth but also needed the extra season for the expansion draft. I have to expose a player from my team and Wiggins would be that guy. I will have room to extend all if they want to be here.

[Mike Lowry]

As you mentioned, you don't make a ton of trades regularly, what happened to 12 years a Spur?
I mean, I think the moves were brilliant to say the least, but do you expect to remain active moving forward, or was this just a one off to flex under the cap?