After simply 17 video games, De’Aaron Fox’s season as a Spur is over. The star level guard can be out for the remainder of the 12 months as he recovers from surgical procedure to repair a lingering damage on his finger that has been bothering him since coaching camp with the Kings final October.
It is sensible for Fox to not wait till the offseason to go below the knife, because the play-in seems unlikely for the Spurs. He Nonetheless acquired to satisfy his teammates, put on Silver and Black for a number of video games, and present the house followers how dominant he will be with a 32-point close to triple-double earlier than being shut down.
Whereas it’s a superb factor Fox is prioritizing being wholesome to begin subsequent season, his absence will have an effect on this 12 months’s crew. So let’s check out what being with out Fox the remainder of the way in which means for the Spurs.
Stephon Citadel’s Rookie of the 12 months probabilities enhance drastically
The Spurs might go numerous other ways in how they fill the beginning spot left vacant however Citadel and Jeremy Sochan seem to be the most effective bets. Between the 2, Citadel is extra prone to get the nod, as Sochan doesn’t match seamlessly subsequent to Bismack Biyombo and has been the crew’s backup middle with Charles Bassey out. In all chance, Citadel will begin, which ought to assist him get Rookie of the 12 months.
Now, Citadel has had barely higher numbers per 100 possessions coming off the bench, so the swap might at a look damage his case for RoY. However two different elements should be thought of. First, Citadel has performed much more minutes when he has began, and minutes is what he must get his counting stats up greater than something. He’s not notably environment friendly, however he’s productive. Second, Citadel will possible nonetheless get to guide models. With Fox gone and with the rookie possible transferring into the beginning spot, the second unit could have no ball handlers. Blake Wesley will possible get some enjoying time and perhaps Malaki Branham can be let loose of the doghouse, however the duty to attain and create can be on Citadel if he shares the ground with them.
Past getting the numbers for Rookie of the 12 months, spending as a lot time as potential with veterans and Vassell ought to produce other advantages. Citadel might nonetheless win the award coming off the bench, however the expertise he’d get by dealing with the opponent’s finest gamers on a nightly foundation ought to pace up his growth, which ought to be one of many foremost priorities going ahead.
Higher lottery odds might make up for the misplaced alternative to construct chemistry and continuity
The reality is the Spurs’ season was over when Wembanyama was sidelined. The play-in grew to become an unlikely purpose. The dedication to beginning and giving Chris Paul heavy minutes and the choice to play Sochan out of place meant forfeiting the possibility to construct the kind of continuity that will have been unbelievable to have for subsequent season. Even then, there was nonetheless the chance to get Fox, the newcomer, to develop some chemistry with the opposite vital gamers on the roster. That chance is now sadly gone.
The upside is the Spurs will possible be worse within the quick time period and will realistically transfer up a few spots when it comes to lottery odds, assuming they will out-tank the Bulls and Path Blazers. This draft class is projected to be superb on the prime, so having a greater probability to land a top-three decide just isn’t the worst comfort prize for a season that was derailed by well being points. With the Hawks’s decide more and more wanting like it should land within the teenagers, getting San Antonio’s first-rounder within the prime seven can be massively helpful. Even when there aren’t any prospects on the vary that the entrance workplace thinks might match the core, which appears unlikely, they will nonetheless transfer the decide for a veteran or commerce for a future first, as they did with the eighth total choice prior to now draft. Tanking was presupposed to be a factor of the previous, however circumstances change and groups alter.
There are nonetheless causes to observe the remaining video games. As talked about, Stephon Citadel’s growth may very well be accelerated by the unlucky scenario the franchise finds itself in. Others who had seen their position shrink or who’ve been buried on the bench might have new alternatives. Accidents have made it unattainable to construct on this season as a crew, however there’s nonetheless numerous particular person development that may occur and can be enjoyable to trace.
