Keita Bates-Diop: Spurs' 'Biggest Loss' of the Offseason?
The San Antonio Spurs may not have lost much this offseason, especially after adding No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama, but that doesn't mean they went unscathed.
In a recent list of all NBA teams' biggest wins and losses, Bleacher Report took its shot at determining exactly what the biggest loss for the Spurs was. Naturally, the other side of the report listed a 7-4 rookie as San Antonio's bright spot, but the biggest loss may be a little disputed by some.
"[Keita] Bates-Diop was a nice role player for San Antonio this past season," Bleacher Report wrote. "[He averaged] 9.7 points on 39.4 percent shooting from three, though at age 27 he didn't truly fit the rebuild."
It may sound surprising, but calling San Antonio's situation a rebuild still completely holds true. Despite Wembanyama's addition, there still is a lot of work for coach Gregg Popovich to get done while he remains with the team, and Bates-Diop was a part of that. That's what makes him leaving sting, especially given the high praise he received from his veteran coach.
"He hasn't been here very long, but he obviously has a nose for the game," Popovich said of the veteran small forward. "He understands spacial relationships out there, and for a young guy, that's pretty impressive."
Bates-Diop will be taking his "nose" to Phoenix next, where he'll join its star-studded group scorers featuring Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal and Devin Booker, leaving the Spurs without a facilitator and locker room leader — though the latter role is set to be filled by the string of veterans who have made their way to San Antonio via various transactions.
However you spin it, losing Bates-Diop hurts the Spurs, as would any roster move, but putting that together with their additions? It changes the perspective. Bates-Diop will go on to contend for a title with the Suns, but the Spurs are now able to look at their new squad and have hope to do the same.
So, if Bates-Diop is in fact the biggest loss of the offseason, things are certainly looking up in San Antonio.
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