After buying and selling the eighth total choose within the 2024 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs cleared round $26M in cap area this summer time. In the event that they wave a few of their non-guaranteed contracts, the Spurs shall be amongst the few groups with the cap room to signal free brokers to $20M+ offers. San Antonio has loads of holes on their roster they may tackle in free company.
The Spurs have been twenty eighth within the NBA in three-point capturing final season, hitting 34.7% of their threes. They’d the fourth most turnovers per sport at 15.1 per sport. With Victor Wembanyama main the way in which, their protection improved however was nonetheless twenty second in defensive ranking (116.4). They lacked shot creators that might create open appears to be like subsequent to Wembanyama and Devin Vassell because the Spurs completed twenty sixth in offensive ranking (110). Going into free company, they want wings and guards who can shoot and defend.
The 2024 free company class is just not plagued by stars. Paul George leads the pack however will search for extra money than the Spurs can present. This summer time shall be good for groups in search of function gamers. As San Antonio continues to develop their younger core, they may complement them with veteran function gamers in free company. Listed below are just a few guys the Spurs can goal when the free company interval opens up on June thirtieth at 5 p.m. CT.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, 6-foot-5 guard/wing
2023-2024 stats: 10.1 factors, 2.4 assists, 1.3 steals, 46% FG, 40.6% 3PT, 89.4% FT, 56.6% eFG
The Spurs may use a veteran presence with Cedi Osman and Devonte’ Graham probably on their means out of San Antonio. How about one with some championship pedigree? Caldwell-Pope has been the proper match with the Denver Nuggets these final two seasons. He supplies a sensible off-ball wing who can hit photographs from deep and play good protection on the opposite finish. The three&D wing was a vital a part of their 2023 championship run and among the best plug-and-play free brokers in the marketplace.
The Nuggets are pushing up in opposition to the second apron of the wage cap. Bringing again Caldwell-Pope in FA appears unlikely given their monetary state of affairs. In actual fact, Nuggets GM, Calvin Sales space, made a press release that makes it appear sure that KCP will play for an additional workforce subsequent season.
I requested Calvin Sales space about retaining Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
“If you have a look at good groups prior to now, they needed to discover a approach to change fourth, fifth starters.”
You’re gonna wanna hear in. pic.twitter.com/w42AcvCtqw
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) June 27, 2024
Of the groups with projected cap area, the Spurs are the perfect match for KCP. They’ve a gap on the wing and will use a veteran 3&D presence. The query is, will they fork over the mandatory cash to get a deal performed? ESPN has projected KCP’s subsequent contract to be upwards of $20M per 12 months. San Antonio must sacrifice a big quantity of their cap area for an growing old function participant. That huge contract may be used down the street to accumulate a star. A shorter, team-friendly deal that also will get KCP his cash may make sense for the Spurs, as they appear to take care of their flexibility transferring ahead.
Gary Trent Jr., 6-foot-5 guard/wing
2023-2024 stats: 13.7 factors, 1.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 42.6% FG, 39.3% 3PT, 77.1% FT, 53.1% eFG
San Antonio struggled to make open threes final season. It was one of many causes that groups have been in a position to key in on Wembanyama within the paint. In free company, they may goal the perfect wide-open three-point shooter within the NBA who could also be cheaper than different choices. Trent Jr. hit 51.9% of his open threes final season and knocked down 39.3% of his whole makes an attempt from that vary.
At 26 years previous, Trent Jr. suits the Spurs’ present youth motion. He’s coming off a down 12 months the place he noticed much less taking part in time and a drop in scoring manufacturing. If San Antonio may seize the capturing wing for reasonable, it may very well be a worthwhile guess that he will get again to the close to 18 factors per sport manufacturing he offered in years prior. Trent Jr. is just not an ideal participant. He’s not an impactful defender or playmaker and struggles to attain across the basket. He shot simply 46.4% on twos final 12 months. Nonetheless, the Spurs want shooters, and he is likely one of the finest in the marketplace.
Naji Marshall, 6-foot-7 wing
2023-2024 stats: 7.1 factors, 1.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 46.3% FG, 38.7% 3PT, 79.1% FT, 54.2% eFG
Spurs followers had their eyes on Marshall as early as final season. The versatile wing can guard a number of positions, make bodily performs inside and knock down open threes. San Antonio wants extra wing depth. Marshall may step in and begin in a flexible lineup heavy on protection and size.
The Pelicans are stacked on the wings with Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III. Marshall will probably be seeking to land someplace he can play a bigger function and earn extra money. San Antonio may present each of these and nonetheless have the cap room to signal one other participant. It’s onerous to discover a higher match in free company than Marshall and the Spurs. They want higher defenders and shooters on the wing. San Antonio may use some gamers that present a degree of competitiveness and “nasty” to match Wembanyama. Marshall checks loads of packing containers for the Spurs.
Tyus Jones, 6-foot-1 guard
2023-2024 stats: 12 factors, 7.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 48.9% FG, 41.4% 3PT, 80% FT, 56.9% eFG
The Spurs’ wants on the wing have been well-documented. They may additionally use one other playmaker or two. Tre Jones’ older brother is likely one of the finest true level guards within the league. Tyus ought to be excessive on the Spurs’ listing of free agent targets this summer time. Jones has the perfect assist-to-turnover ratio within the NBA and knocks down threes at a 41.4% clip. Tyus isn’t the athlete or defender that Tre is, however his abilities as a scorer and playmaker are extra superior.
Jones may are available in and take over his little brother’s function as the start line guard whereas Tre runs the second unit. A Tyus and Wembanyama choose and roll could be a pleasure to observe, and his jumper would add one other wrinkle to the motion. His presence within the beginning unit ought to assist San Antonio in the reduction of on among the turnover points they confronted final season. He’s not a switchable defender or significantly stout on the level of assault, however San Antonio may have loads of defenders to again him up.
Oddly sufficient, the Spurs have a little bit of a logjam at guard. In the event that they plan to play Stephon Citadel at level guard, Tyus would take minutes from Tre and Citadel. The Spurs must get inventive on how they make the most of these three gamers. That’s with out factoring in Blake Wesley and Malaki Branham, who’re coming into pivotal years of their careers. Tyus is a greater participant than any guards the Spurs have at this level. He’ll probably be a scorching commodity on the open market however suits too many wants for the Spurs to not make a play for him.
Luke Kennard, 6-foot-5 guard
2023-2024 stats: 11 factors, 3.5 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 44.8% FG, 45% 3PT, 88.9% FT, 61.7% eFG
The Spurs desperately want three-point capturing, so why not pursue the perfect shooter in free company? Kennard was second within the NBA in three-point proportion final season behind Grayson Allen. Kennard takes 75% of his photographs from three-point vary and depends on ball motion to get him open appears to be like. He would fill the Doug McDermott-sized gap within the Spurs roster as a three-point specialist who can knock down jumpers off screens and area the ground subsequent to Wembanyama.
The Memphis Grizzlies declined Kennard’s $14.8M workforce possibility on Saturday. In keeping with ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, each groups are desperate to pursue a restructured deal. San Antonio would have the cap area to supply the shooter a financially profitable deal that might assist them steal him from Memphis. Kennard performed simply 39 video games final season after coping with accidents. Years and cash on the contract will probably matter to the veteran shooter.
Honorable mentions: Haywood Highsmith, Valuable Achiuwa, Dario Saric, Lonnie Walker IV, Markelle Fultz, Gary Harris, Nicolas Batum, Evan Fournier, Keita Bates-Diop
