@GrimLore you wanna talk to me about repotting spruce in this thread?
Sure, and I going to tell you what I am seeing there before beer 30!
Those buds you are seeing are not going to pop this year, they are setting for Spring when you will see them expand and finally bust open with lush new growth.
If you don't want them to do that, perhaps to fatten the branches or any of a dozen reasons do not cut them off now, wait until the tree is dormant in early Winter. At this point it will just bleed sap and not do any good for the tree.
Most Spruce toss their sap and energy to the upper portion of the plant but it can be controlled a bit by Winter pruning and heavy sealing, like a tube of outdoor contractor adhesive, not much else stops the sap at cuts when it is growing and really slows down development. Also, be careful what you cut away from the lower portion as it will take ages to replace.
Repotting can be done right now, during the hot weather BUT I am going to toss some advice your way as it is potted and they react a bit different then landscape.
Remove the nursery pot by cutting it away and avoid handling the trunk of the tree. If you knock the needles off of the trunk now you will really mess up the tree as the sap needed for the upper portion will pump out the base...
Cut off "some" of the lowest root. I think 2 inches on yours guessing the size.
Just handling the root ball break up the outer roots gently and not a lot, like an inch at most.
Slip pot into similar substrate at this time of year. Everything you did up to this point will promote the roots growing out horizontal and repeated a few times it will allow a much more shallow potting down the road.
Water it in good and if it is anything like Spruce here I soak mine hardcore up to three times a day because I keep it in full sun.
Spruce are pretty cool honest but they do need a bit of different care the first few years.
I think I covered what I experience here but if there is any more call me anytime!
Grimmy