The San Antonio Spurs made headlines earlier in the offseason when they signed legendary point guard Chris Paul to a one-year deal. However, it has now been revealed that before bringing in Paul, the Spurs had their eyes set on two other guards – Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard and Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland.
According to Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports, the Spurs inquired about Nembhard and Garland as potential additions to the team. Additionally, Fischer mentioned that Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and new Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey had expressed interest in joining the Spurs this summer. However, it seems that San Antonio did not reciprocate the interest in either of these guards.
The pursuit of Nembhard seemed promising for the Spurs, but on July 24, news broke that the Pacers had signed the talented guard to a contract extension. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Nembhard’s extension is for three years and is worth $59 million. Nembhard’s performance during the Indiana Pacers’ Eastern Conference Finals run last season showcased his skills as he averaged 14.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game. He also boasted impressive shooting percentages of 56% from the field and 48.3% from beyond the arc.
As for Darius Garland, after the Cleveland Cavaliers’ playoff loss to the Boston Celtics, rumors swirled about him wanting a trade. However, Garland has since clarified that he is not interested in a trade, putting those speculations to rest.
The San Antonio Spurs have been active in looking for talented guards to bolster their roster, and while their pursuit of Nembhard and Garland did not come to fruition, it is clear that they are dedicated to improving their team for the upcoming season. With Chris Paul now in the mix, the Spurs are poised to be a force to be reckoned with in the NBA.
