The Spurs headed into the 2024/25 season in search of solutions. Their solely certainty was that Victor Wembanyama was a celebrity within the making. The whole lot else, from what fashion of play suited him greatest to which gamers complemented him nicely, was up within the air.
To search out these solutions, San Antonio left extravagant experimentation apart and introduced two rock-solid veterans to offer playmaking and taking pictures, which have been sorely lacking in Wembanyama’s rookie season. The remainder of the roster largely stayed intact. They performed it protected, hoping to seek out the soundness that will permit them to attract conclusions.
Alas, to no fault of their very own, the Silver and Black couldn’t really benefit from the regular season they wanted. Accidents, well being scares, and trades abounded. Their up-and-down yr did supply positives, and the workforce is trending in the fitting course, however many questions nonetheless stay unanswered.
Accidents received in the way in which from the start. The announcement that Devin Vassell wouldn’t be obtainable to begin the season, thus forcing the teaching employees to reconfigure lineups, foreshadowed what would come. After beginning out trying like an early Most Improved Participant candidate, Jeremy Sochan was the subsequent to fall. Warning dictated they’d be introduced alongside slowly, and each got here off the bench for some time. Wembanyama shined, and the makeshift beginning lineup did nicely as San Antonio exceeded preseason expectations, however there was a way {that a} quarter of the way in which into the season we hadn’t seen the true Spurs. One other Sochan harm adopted earlier than Wemby was dominated out for the yr. In the end, the Paul, Vassell, Sochan, Barnes, Wembanyama unit that everybody anticipated to be a staple solely performed 136 minutes unfold out over 12 video games.
The disruptions from health-related points weren’t confined to the courtroom. Gregg Popovich suffered a stroke in November, which saved him away for the remainder of the season. There was confusion in regards to the severity of his situation, so a return wasn’t absolutely dominated out till late within the yr. Interim coach Mitch Johnson did nicely underneath terrible circumstances, however his inexperience was evident as he struggled with in-game changes and, extra importantly, with discovering constant roles for his gamers because the months handed. Popovich in all probability wouldn’t have been in a position to steer the roster to a play-in spot after Wembanyama was dominated out for the season, and growing the Spurs’ lottery odds appeared to be a suitable final result by the entrance workplace, contemplating the refusal to shore up the middle place in Wemby’s absence. Nonetheless, the workforce felt directionless at instances.
The 2 predominant targets of discovering solutions and changing into aggressive have been past attain, but it surely doesn’t imply it was a misplaced season for the Spurs. The turmoil allowed Stephon Fort to have an even bigger function than he possible would have with higher harm luck, and the rookie didn’t disappoint, displaying super potential. With a wholesome Wemby, the workforce was hovering round .500 regardless of missing rim strain from most ball handlers and having subpar backup middle play. Wembanyama established himself because the preeminent defensive power within the league, and by shifting his offensive sport in direction of the perimeter extra, he made the pairing with Jeremy Sochan, the workforce’s different defensive ace, viable. Lastly, the franchise pulled off a fantastic commerce that introduced De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio, a transfer that vastly raised the roster’s expertise degree.
Now the workforce heads in direction of one other essential offseason. Wemabnyama ought to be again at full well being. San Antonio might have two lottery picks. There’s not sufficient cap house to be a participant in free company, so nailing a signing with the mid-level exception, hopefully to shore up the middle depth, appears paramount. Chris Paul is superfluous with Fox round and would possibly retire, however there ought to be a speak about probably holding on to him if he’s prepared to fill a smaller function. Devin Vassell’s and Keldon Johnson’s late-season surges will in all probability preserve them off the commerce block, but it surely wouldn’t be stunning to see the entrance workplace subject calls if there’s curiosity. However the extra necessary resolution, by far, will come all the way down to teaching. Gregg Popovich hasn’t dominated out a return, but when his well being points result in his retirement, the Spurs might want to discover a everlasting substitute, whether or not by eradicating the interim tag from Mitch Johnson or making an out of doors rent.
There was an excessive amount of adversity in the course of the 2004/25 season to be ok with it, however hardship can breed resilience. There are arguably extra questions now than final offseason, however there’s additionally one other yr of knowledge to make use of within the pursuit of solutions. San Antonio’s return to relevance was possible delayed however not derailed.
How lengthy it takes to get again on schedule will depend upon how shortly the decision-makers discover readability on the 2 predominant elements, Wembanyama’s return date and Popovich’s future. As soon as that’s settled, the arduous work of making an attempt to construct on a 2024/25 season that provided little certainty will start.
