What to Make of Joshua Primo's Fall? Good Question: All Things CW

No one knows what to expect of the former Crimson Tide basketball player, and first-round NFL draft pick, who finds himself a free agent with an uncertain future.

The All Things CW notes column by Christopher Walsh will appear in five parts this week, one each day as the Alabama Crimson Tide prepares to host Austin Peay.

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Take 4

It's difficult for Alabama Crimson Tide fans to have a strong opinion on what happened to former basketball player Joshua Primo, especially since the reason he was released by the San Antonio Spurs on Oct. 28 wasn't initially disclosed, and the details may now never be fully known. 

Earlier this month, a former psychologist for the Spurs, Dr. Hillary Cauthen, sued the team and Primo for indecent exposure incidents she claims San Antonio ignored and attempted to cover up. She also filed a criminal complaint against the former Crimson Tide standout.  

However, on Thursday, an agreement between all sides was reached, apparently closing the issue legally.   

Specifically, the Spurs, Primo and Cauthen “agreed to resolve” Cauthen’s lawsuits against the franchise and former player, as Primo was waived and has yet to sign with another professional team.  

The terms of the agreement(s) were not disclosed.

Spurs CEO RC Buford released a statement Thursday saying that the situation was “a matter we take seriously,” and that the organization has ensured that all parties were treated with dignity and respect.

“As an organization, we are continuously evaluating and refining our processes so they ultimately reflect the values and culture of who we aspire to be every day,” Buford’s statement said. “To that end, we have decided to collaborate with Dr. Cauthen and other experts in an effort to review and improve our workplace processes and procedures. 

"This is a learning opportunity for us, and one that we are certain will make us better moving forward.”

Cauthen said in her suit that Primo repeatedly exposed his genitals to her during their individual private sessions. His attorney, William J. Briggs II, responded and said in a statement that his client “never intentionally exposed himself to her or anyone else.”

So where does that leave Primo? 

Probably with another team when some of the dust settles. He's still only 19 years old. 

After a stellar performance in the NBA combine, which made him a lottery pick, the 6-foot-6 guard/forward was the No. 12 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. With it came a four-year contract worth $18.4 million. 

The team had just picked up the $4.3 million 2023-24 option when Primo was suddenly released.

Consequently, for another NBA team to claim Primo it would need to have the necessary room under the salary cap, in this case be able to absorb his $4.1 million salary this season plus owe him the $4.3 million for 2023-24.  

In other words, they'd have to make a $8.4 million commitment. That's a pretty expensive gamble.  

Primo averaged 5.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 50 games as a rookie, and also played some with franchise's G-League team in Austin last year. He played in just four games this season and averaged 7.0 points.

Dr. Cauthen was contracted with the Spurs beginning in September 2021 and first reported Primo to team management in January. Per the suit, she filed “numerous complaints” with the team’s leadership about the alleged sexual misconduct. 

San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich said he could not comment on when he was first informed about Primo's alleged behavior and what decision/actions may have been taken because it had become a legal matter.

"I would only add that anybody that has observed the Spurs over a very long period of time knows that an accusation like this would be taken very seriously, without any doubt whatsoever," Popovich said. "No equivocation, the Spurs organization would be on top of it. I am absolutely confident that the men and women on the managerial staff that dealt with and are dealing with this did so purposefully, efficiently, promptly and did it with the utmost care for everybody concerned, the accuser, the accused, the people in the organization, to make sure that everybody still felt comfortable and safe. I'll just leave my comments at that."

As someone who has dealt with the organization and the coach in the past, I can vouch for that reputation. Popovich doesn't get enough credit for being outspoken for social causes and being in the corner of his players. 

But the franchise is out a first-round pick, a player it had invested in for the future. It might think twice about drafting a project so young for a while.  

We'll have to wait and see the long-term impact with Primo, who at one point released a statement saying he was dealing with mental health issues and was stepping away from the game for a while. Moreover, he's no longer part of an organization that has an outstanding record for developing talent. 

And fans are left with a non-feel good story, or at least a disappointing one that's going to feel kind of weird for a while.  

See Also:

Take 1: Did Alabama Play The Road Schedule From Hell?

Take 2: Why Strength of Schedule is Alabama's Biggest Playoff Asset

Take 3: Throwback Thursday? AJ McCarron, Memphis Showboats Both Back

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