The Spurs needed to redefine success over the previous few years, a course of that was painful for a franchise that contended for practically twenty years. First-round exits and play-in spots changed championships earlier than a rebuild shifted the targets towards particular person improvement and expertise acquisition.
The 2024-25 NBA season just isn’t a return to kind for a San Antonio staff that has extra modest targets than the Larry O’Brien, but it surely signifies step one on the trail again to the place the franchise as soon as was. The Spurs, for the primary time for the reason that Kawhi Leonard debacle, have the cornerstones to construct on and the need to win.
The rebuild is way from over, however the Silver and Black will not be in tanking mode anymore. After an experimental season, the entrance workplace signed Chris Paul and traded for Harrison Barnes to convey some consistency and management to a staff that confirmed flashes of competence at instances throughout Victor Wembanyama’s rookie 12 months however usually suffered from the everyday points that plague younger teams that lack a number of blue-chip prospects. The roster doesn’t look a lot completely different this 12 months, with fourth general within the 2024 NBA draft choice Stephon Fort including to the inexperience of an excellent portion of the projected rotation, however the normal strategy seems to be extra typical. The Spurs are absolutely valuing improvement, however there’s a construction in place to facilitate it now.
The large query is how a lot better the staff will likely be when it comes to wins. Not having as many empty possessions on offense will assist, and people fewer turnovers ought to forestall simple buckets from opponents, however will the turnaround be important sufficient within the standings? The Spurs had the purpose differential of a 26-win staff final season, higher than the 22 wins they obtained however nonetheless among the many worst within the league. Even at age 39, Chris Paul will assist convey order, and Harrison Barnes will make the precise play as a rule, however neither of these guys are difference-makers at this level of their careers. A variety of the problems that made final season onerous to observe at instances — ball handlers who can’t shoot, defenders with subpar bodily instruments, position gamers who lack courtroom imaginative and prescient — are nonetheless there. An precise mandate to win and added playmaking are good steps in the precise course however not sufficient to vault a flawed staff into playoff rivalry.
Inner improvement remains to be the most important issue for the Spurs. It’ll take particular person enchancment for the staff to take the subsequent step. San Antonio has just one top-tier participant, just a few B-level guys and a number of C-tier complementary components. If some specialists can turn out to be two-way guys, the secondary scorers up their effectivity and one or two of the seemingly inconsequential names flip into constant contributors, the play-in is a sensible chance even within the gauntlet that’s the West. Preseason introduced some causes for optimism within the type of Julian Champagnie’s scorching taking pictures, Fort’s and Blake Wesley’s protection and a few strong play from a completely wholesome Zach Collins, however the staff wants extra. The absence of Devin Vassell to begin the season, though not anticipated to be long-lasting, offers others the chance to step up, however they may not be capable to.
The opposite path again to relevance, if the supporting forged stays imperfect, is for Victor Wembanyama to show into the fire-breathing monster his expertise suggests he may very well be quickly and make the whole lot else not matter. When Wemby was on the courtroom final season, the Spurs’ protection boasted a defensive score that will have them ranked fifth within the league. He’s already a game-changer on that finish. Offensively, San Antonio would have ranked twenty eighth with the large man on the ground. Unlocking Victor’s scoring and passing potential is an important activity. Chris Paul will assist, however offering Wemby with area to function and serving to him overcome a few of the decision-making points that plagued him throughout his rookie season will take a concerted effort from the teaching employees and each different participant. If he does make the leap, life will likely be simpler for everybody else.
On the stage of the rebuild the Spurs are in, there must be no stress. Wembanyama goes to be round for some time, there are some good younger items already in place, and there’s loads of cap area and commerce property to usher in reinforcements. There’s even a highly-touted draft class to get enthusiastic about if issues go terribly unsuitable. The entrance workplace proved that persistence is considered one of their virtues by buying and selling the eighth decide of the previous draft for future property, and as strong as including Chris Paul and Barnes was, utilizing cap area to accumulate them was not the kind of big-time transfer a win-now staff makes. Setting unrealistic expectations for a roster that’s clearly a piece in progress will solely result in disappointment.
And but it’s inconceivable to keep away from hoping for tangible and important enchancment, each in execution and within the standings. The Spurs don’t have to make the playoffs, however on the finish of the journey they should have a clearer concept of what works going ahead, not in a theoretical however in a sensible means. Anything could be a failure.
After 5 years in purgatory and two tearing issues down, the Spurs now have the chance to set the precise basis to construct their subsequent contender. The work they do that 12 months will resonate sooner or later. An important and interesting season awaits.
