With only one recreation to go within the preseason, the San Antonio Spurs had a choice to make with its roster. With 16 gamers on assured contracts, San Antonio wanted to chop a participant as a way to get to the league customary 15 roster spots. To fulfill that requirement, the Spurs waived veteran huge man Khem Birch on Thursday, in keeping with The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The San Antonio Spurs are waiving heart Khem Birch, sources inform @TheAthletic @Stadium. Birch has averaged 5 factors and 4.4 rebounds over six NBA seasons.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2023
Birch was traded to San Antonio as a part of the Jakob Poeltl deal in February that netted the Spurs a 2024 first spherical decide and two second spherical picks (2023, which turned Sidy Cissoko, and 2025.) Birch appeared in only one preseason recreation for the Silver and Black, the place he performed 11 minutes, tallying 4 rebounds and a pair of assists. He was sidelined for many of his Spurs profession with a knee harm.
With an more and more gifted huge man group that features Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins, Charles Bassey, Sandro Mamukelashvili and Dominick Barlow, Birch was on the skin wanting in. The Spurs have prioritized their youth over the veterans they picked up in draft compensation trades. Birch, Cam Payne, Lamar Stevens and Reggie Bullock have been all waived after being acquired by way of commerce.
With the Spurs down to fifteen gamers, their major roster is ready. Nonetheless they do have one out there two-way contract that could possibly be handed out to a participant all through the season. Candidates at the moment with the crew embody Charles Bediako and Erik Stevenson. San Antonio might additionally look externally to discover a participant to fill the spot.
The Spurs will take their 15-man roster into the common season with simply three newly acquired gamers, Wembanyama, Cissoko and Cedi Osman. They’ll face off agains the Dallas Mavericks of their common season opener on October twenty fifth.
