Gregg Popovich Announces He's Not Returning To Coach The Spurs This Season, Which Means It's Time To Tank For Cooper Flagg

David Dow. Getty Images.

When it was first announced earlier this year that Pop was stepping away from coaching due to his stroke, I'm not sure anyone expected him to return to the sidelines this season. What's the point? When you're dealing with serious health issues, coaching basketball is probably last on the list of what's actually important. The good news is that he's recovering and in good spirits, and from a basketball standpoint, he didn't close the door to eventually coming back next season. All in all, that's the best case scenario if you ask me.

You see, now with Wemby also out for the season due to his blood clot issue, it's time for the Spurs to smash that tank button. Think of this as a bit of a David Robinson 2.0 situation where their franchise guy gets hurt and the Spurs had that one down year in 1996-97 (20 wins) and were immediately rewarded with this guy

Andy Hayt. Getty Images.

Which in my humble opinion, worked out pretty well for the Spurs.

Fast forward to 2024-25, and there's a possibility that exists where we relive this sequence of events with another generational prospect. This guy

It's now in the Spurs' best interest to do everything they can to avoid as many potential wins as they can. Let's say Pop was healthy enough to return, I don't think you can risk any potential lift he might give the team and how that might translate to wins right now. When healthy, the Spurs were flirting with the Play In and it made sense for them to try and win so Wemby could get the playoffs reps. But now? Circumstances have changed and tanking the last stretch of the season could very well change the franchise forever….again.

As it stands today, the Spurs have some work to do

I think at this point getting into the top 3 is not going to happen, those teams STINK and are also actively trying to lose. But can the Spurs outtank teams like the Sixers and Nets? I could see it. For whatever reason the Sixers refuse to pull the plug on their season even if it comes at the cost of that draft pick (top 6 protected, otherwise it goes to OKC), and Brooklyn still plays hard as shit to the point they may fall backwards into some wins here and there. 

I'll remind you, back in 1997 the Spurs did not have the best Lottery odds when it came to who would win the Tim Duncan Sweepstakes. They were actually 3rd when it came to their Lottery odds and ended up winning it anyway. In 1993 the Magic won the Lottery with just a 1.52% chance. In 2014, the Cavs won with 1.7% which were the 9th best odds. Just last season we saw the Hawks win the Lottery with only a 3% chance, which were the fifth lowest odds to win the #1 pick since the Lottery was invented in 1985.

The point is, there's a path to a world where we see Wemby/Flagg/Fox/Castle etc be the new future of the Spurs. You don't think the NBA might have a rooting interest in making sure their new prized possession Wemby has enough talent to win at a high level? The NBA is heavily invested in the Wemby business, so if you are someone who puts stock into conspiracy theories, you have to at least entertain the idea.  

History does tend to repeat itself, so when I see a Spurs big man who has been otherwise healthy go down for the year, the losses immediately start to mount and then Pop decides he's also not coming back which potentially boosts their chances of losing even more, I can't help but feel like we're right back in 1996. 

Maybe it's a longshot, but don't be surprised if we see a Spurs envelop get pulled when we learn who wins the Cooper Flagg Sweepstakes.