The Spurs stuffed their final two obtainable roster spots with two acquainted faces. Sandro Mamukelashvili and Charles Bassey will return to San Antonio on one-year minimal offers to supply depth on the huge ahead and heart spots.
It’s not shocking to see the 2 again, however it didn’t appear predestined, both. The Spurs needed to surrender their rights to Mamu, who they’d made a restricted free agent earlier within the offseason, and waive Bassey, who was on a non-guaranteed contract to get entry to their cap area to ink Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes. Mamukelashvili was a fan favourite because of his character, effort and on-court chemistry with Victor Wembanyama, however with the arrival of Harrison Barnes to take the ahead minutes that had been unclaimed after the exits of Doug McDermott and Cedi Osman, he might have been pushed out. Bassey suffered a season-ending damage final yr and could not actually show his price regardless of exhibiting flashes of worthwhile two-way potential. With the entrance workplace having the room exception at their disposal, they may have regarded elsewhere.
They didn’t, which in all probability has to do with a naked market but in addition with the idea that continuity is necessary and retaining useful gamers who’ve proved to be a match with the Spurs’ tradition is extra wise at this stage than in search of marginal enhancements in expertise that may not pan out. The Silver and Black had a tough 2023/24 season, however the temper of the workforce by no means bought nasty. There was no finger-pointing and whereas there was apparent frustration with all of the dropping, the locker room appeared largely at peace. Bassey and Mamukelashvili contributed to that concord, with Mamu particularly doing an ideal job of staying prepared as a substitute of sulking a couple of lack of taking part in time and taking advantage of his alternative when it arrived.
Overvaluing continuity can backfire if it means bringing again gamers who clearly can’t contribute, however, for all their limitations, Mamu and Bassey confirmed sufficient progress in San Antonio to deserve a better look. When he was wholesome and given minutes, Bassey was a workhorse on the boards, an ideal finisher inside and an bettering defender who was studying extra about positioning and self-discipline. If his explosiveness continues to be there and he has continued to check the sport, he might flip right into a strong backup heart. As for Mamu, he had some powerful moments earlier within the yr however got here alive late within the season when the accidents piled up for the Spurs. He averaged 11 factors, 10 rebounds and two assists within the final eight video games whereas capturing 37 p.c on three-pointers and becoming effectively subsequent to Wembanyama. So far as rounding out a roster, a workforce might do worse than these two.
The principle counterpoint to the optimism concerning the return of Bassey and Mamu isn’t onerous to seek out. Neither participant might get severe minutes on some terrible groups and, whereas nonetheless younger, neither appears to have an enormous quantity of untapped potential. There have been definitely prospects obtainable at eighth within the final draft that will have made for extra thrilling additions and perhaps it could have made sense to take some possibilities on different free brokers, contemplating we’re possible speaking concerning the third-string heart and fifth ahead. It’s a sound place to take since operating it again in any approach was the very last thing the Spurs ought to have accomplished and the distinction between this yr’s workforce and final yr’s one isn’t enormous by way of names. The hope, nonetheless, is that by bringing in the correct reinforcements, the items of a roster that made little sense will all fall into place.
The Spurs absolutely valued continuity greater than some would have hoped for after a horrible season. They may have 12 returning gamers from a workforce that gained simply 22 video games, which looks as if too many. The entrance workplace might be accused of being too cautious and preoccupied with the longer term to deal with the now. There may be room for criticism even concerning the strikes they made to place the ending touches on their roster.
These criticisms must take note of that typically huge change doesn’t require bombastic strikes however a easy dedication to sticking with what works and a willingness to establish and repair what doesn’t. By making tactical additions to deal with particular points whereas not compromising the chemistry and familiarity that was already in place, the Spurs might seem like a totally completely different workforce regardless of having many acquainted faces.
