Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2023-24 participant opinions! The sequence will take a look at the 15 gamers who completed the season with the San Antonio Spurs on assured contracts (so no two-way gamers as a result of we noticed so little of them this 12 months, and no Doug McDermott). Get pleasure from!
Dominick Barlow
2023-24 stats: 33 video games, 4.4 factors, 3.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 49.6 FG%.
Contract Standing: Restricted Free Agent
Age: 20
Out of the entire promising younger gamers on the San Antonio Spurs roster, Dominick Barlow was the one left with no clear function. Getting into the season on a two-way contract, Barlow had tantalizing flashes of upside, however didn’t have a path to constant minutes to comprehend that potential. He went backwards and forwards between San Antonio and Austin, destroying G League competitors and taking part in spot minutes within the NBA.
That was till a stretch in January, after which once more in March the place the Spurs different large males battled accidents. That opened a chance for Barlow, who was given a shot because the again up heart, or typically a reserve ahead. He performed 20 of his 33 video games within the months of January and March. As for many 20-year-olds making an attempt to make a profession within the NBA, the ends in these video games had been combined. Barlow has clear chops as a defender. He can change out onto smaller gamers and sustain together with his fast toes. He additionally confirmed a little bit of nastiness across the basket regardless of being undersized. He’s a employee on the offensive and defensive glass, consistently placing his physique on the road to avoid wasting or lengthen possessions.
Barlow flashed offensive talent as effectively. He has smooth contact from the mid-range and expanded his vary out to a few, the place he hit three of his 9 makes an attempt. His deal with is healthier than most large males, and very similar to the remainder of the Spurs bigs, he can move it a bit. His stellar G League numbers shouldn’t go unnoticed, both. In 19 video games performed in Austin, Barlow averaged 23.7 factors, 7.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.
Wanting ahead
A knee harm sidelined Barlow on the finish of the season. If not for getting harm, we in all probability would have seen him play an even bigger function within the final stretch of the 12 months with so many rotation gamers sitting out. Very similar to the tip of 2022-23, this is able to have been a time for Barlow to earn his approach into extra minutes sooner or later. Sadly for him, others like Sandro Mamukelashvili and Sidy Cissoko confirmed that they need to be thought-about for rotation spots within the years to come back.
Barlow has the talent to change into a rotation participant within the NBA sooner or later. The issue is there isn’t a transparent path for that to occur in San Antonio. The Spurs are dedicated to a whole lot of entrance court docket gamers with Victor Wembanyama, Zach Collins and Charles Bassey on the roster. Except the Spurs transfer Collins and don’t decide up Bassey’s contract, it’s robust to see how he suits into the rotation. His minutes on the 4 alongside one other large had been shaky at greatest. His long run success will probably be as an undersized heart.
That mentioned, the Spurs aren’t ready the place they’ll merely surrender on younger expertise. Barlow is a restricted free agent, that means San Antonio can match any contract an opposing workforce affords him. It’s onerous to think about somebody tossing a bag at Barlow, that means he needs to be inexpensive. At worst, he’s a 3rd large man who has promising upside. At greatest, he develops into Wembanyama’s long run backup.
Prime efficiency
Remaining grade: B
Up Subsequent: Sandro Mamukelashvili
Earlier Opinions
Sidy Cissoko
Charles Bassey
Devonte’ Graham
