There are 12 San Antonio Spurs underneath contract for the 2024-25 season (together with Devonte’ Graham, Julian Champagnie and Charles Bassey, whose contracts are non-guaranteed.) They’ve 15 first spherical picks with varied protections over the following seven drafts. They’ve 21 second spherical picks in that point. This summer season they’re anticipated to have round $19 million in cap house, and don’t have too many long-term contracts limiting their flexibility. There are solely 15 roster spots (and three two-way slots) to fill.
The Spurs roster math is an advanced equation today. One thing must give finally.
That is typical of rebuilding groups. They compile belongings till it’s time to press the fuel and purchase the expertise that helps them contend for championships. We noticed the Minnesota Timberwolves empty the chest for Rudy Gobert. Regardless of making the finals with a comparatively younger core, the Phoenix Suns traded main draft capital and younger gamers to accumulate Kevin Durant.
The widespread denominator in these conditions is a younger star, and a few proof of success. Within the season earlier than the Gobert commerce, the Wolves made the playoffs behind Anthony Edwards and Karl Anthony-Cities. Previous to buying and selling for Durant, the Suns made it to the finals behind the stellar play of Devin Booker and Chris Paul.
The Spurs have one piece of the puzzle found out. After a historic Rookie of the Yr-winning season, Victor Wembanyama has solidified himself as a future star on this league. Regardless of his emergence, San Antonio nonetheless completed the season 22-60, the identical document because the season prior. Whereas the Spurs have a core piece of their rebuild, they haven’t but confirmed that the remainder of the roster is able to compete. All indications from San Antonio’s entrance workplace is that they received’t rush this course of.
“You realize, folks’s opinions… They don’t know, they don’t perceive,” Spurs head coach and head of basketball operations, Gregg Popovich informed L’Equippe final season. “Once they see us draft somebody like Victor, everybody is aware of he’s proficient. However it’s not nearly expertise. Michael Jordan’s first title got here in his seventh 12 months. Nikola Jokic simply received his first ring, and it took him eight years.”
He then added:
“We’ve each proper to hope that issues will go sooner for Victor, however you may’t skip phases,” he mentioned. “It takes time to construct a crew. If it had been that straightforward, you’d have a special champion yearly. For the final twenty years, we’ve had the identical organizations. Our cycle of success has been lengthy, stretching over three many years. Sooner or later, you need to begin from scratch. That’s the place we’re right now.”
Spurs normal supervisor, Brian Wright has echoed comparable messaging over time:
So if the Spurs aren’t going to “skip steps” and proceed to construct the roster slowly, how do they handle all of their belongings? You possibly can solely develop so many younger gamers. Guys on the fringes of the roster will begin to be pushed out. Third 12 months gamers like Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley might want to present they’ll contribute or they could be on the surface trying in. Two-way success tales like Dominick Barlow and Sandro Mamukelashvili might be casualties. Powerful selections on whether or not to re-sign veterans like Cedi Osman and Graham will have to be made.
San Antonio has an opportunity to herald two top-ten picks this 12 months and will have three first rounders in a loaded 2025 draft. An inflow of younger expertise is coming, and the Spurs might want to develop them. However simply what number of younger gamers can you are taking the time to develop whereas Wembanyama is blossoming right into a celebrity?
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder confronted an analogous scenario. With a humiliation of riches by way of younger gamers and draft belongings. In 2021, they’d three picks within the first spherical. They traded a type of for 2 future first spherical picks. Punting belongings down the highway to prioritize the gamers already on the roster is pretty widespread for groups with so many belongings. That is one thing the Spurs might look to do as they proceed to develop the roster round Wembanyama. Commerce down or out of drafts to proceed stockpiling picks that may later be utilized in commerce to accumulate stars.
That transfer, cashing in a few of the chips for a giant time participant that may assist the Spurs contend, looms over this roster. With the entire belongings and younger gamers at their disposal, it has to come back in the end. Name it a consolidation transfer. Name it huge whale searching. Name it no matter you need to name it. It looks like an inevitability at this level. Regardless of the chatter, it doesn’t appear doubtless it occurs this summer season, given the organizations feedback and the crew’s lack of success to date. Finally it might want to occur to not solely enhance the roster however to subject a authorized, 15-man crew.
Wright, Popovich and the remainder of the Spurs entrance workplace have put themselves in an advantageous scenario. They’ve a seven-foot-five French phenom to construct a contender round and a serious provide of belongings to take action. There are powerful selections on the horizon, and a few fan favorites could also be casualties of these. San Antonio’s roster is on the precipice of some huge modifications. They’ll be coming, whether or not it’s this offseason or quickly after.
