Welcome to Pounding the Rock’s 2024-25 participant evaluations! The sequence will take a look at the gamers who completed the season with the San Antonio Spurs on assured contracts and who performed consequential minutes and/or a significant position (so no two-way gamers as a result of we hardly noticed them this 12 months, and no gamers who have been traded away).
Devin Vassell
2024-25 stats: 31 MPG, 16.3 factors, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 36.8 3FG%
Contract Standing: 4 years, $106 remaining (estimated)
Age: 24
Devin Vassell didn’t have the kind of 12 months the Spurs have been anticipating after they signed him to a large extension that kicked in final season. He began the season with an harm and missed the primary few video games earlier than coming off the bench for some time. As soon as he reclaimed his beginning spot, he alternated between good and dangerous performances, passive showings through which he was invisible and stretches through which he was a difference-maker on each ends. His manufacturing improved in March, when San Antonio wasn’t enjoying for something. In 2024/25, Vassell took a step again on offense, confirmed some flashes on protection, however, greater than something, he did little to dispel the notion that he’s not constant sufficient to be the most effective gamers on a profitable crew.
Probably the most curious instance of Vassell’s ups-and-downs got here within the stark distinction between his splits within the first and second halves of video games early within the season. Earlier than the All-Star break, Vassell averaged 18.1 factors per 36 minutes within the first two quarters on 41.1 % from the sector and 31.3 % from past the arc whereas attending to the road 1.8 occasions. In second halves, he averaged 19.7 factors per 36 minutes, taking pictures 46.6 from the sector and 39.7 % from exterior whereas taking pictures 2.9 free throws. He grew to become an absolute demon from the corners and on quick jumpers and floaters after halftime. The distinction in in-game splits was even starker earlier within the season, as he produced like a scrub within the two opening frames, got here alive and produced like a borderline All-Star within the third, after which settled right into a stable contributor within the fourth. It was weird.
The glass-half-full conclusion from this Vassell season is that he clearly can attain the heights wanted from a 3rd choice on offense when he’s at his greatest. The glass-half-empty place is that it’s exhausting to foretell when he’ll ship or sleepwalk into an inefficient night time, making him exhausting to belief.
Trying forward
Vassell will enter the second 12 months of his extension, which incorporates unlikely bonuses, with the target to indicate that he can both be a constant scorer and creator, a killer off-ball defender who can contribute on the opposite finish, or ideally each. Having a wholesome offseason might assist him massively, as he might add some power to get his ending again to the place it was in 2023/24 and begin the season in rhythm. His protection really appeared like an enormous asset on the crew stage when he was enjoying with power later within the season, and his jumper is a weapon. Whether or not it’s to enhance the Spurs’ playoff probabilities or improve his commerce worth, the franchise wants one of the best model of Vassell to indicate up. He might be an integral a part of an excellent crew as a starter or a sixth man, and his expertise with the membership might be extraordinarily priceless through the first season with out Gregg Popovich on the helm.
The large query looming is whether or not Stephon Citadel enhances Vassell or makes him superfluous. Citadel is a creator who can shoot and is at his greatest on the level of assault on protection, whereas Vassell is extra of a complementary shooter and floor-spacer who thrives off the ball. In principle, these two could be nice on the wing collectively. In observe, Citadel is a satisfactory jumper away from providing a stage of physicality within the perimeter on each ends that Vassell can’t match. With two lottery picks within the subsequent draft and Citadel already in place, Vassell might ultimately discover himself being a luxurious the Spurs can afford to do with out if the up-and-downs proceed. Hopefully he proves that the defensive enchancment is actual and that he can keep wholesome and in rhythm, giving San Antonio a long-term piece to construct round.
Prime efficiency
March 4, vs. Brooklyn Nets. Profession-high 37 factors on simply 20 photographs, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, 4 steals.
Closing grade: B-
Up subsequent: Victor Wembanyama
Earlier Evaluations:
Bismack Biyombo, Charles Bassey, Malaki Branham
Blake Wesley
Sandro Mamukelashvili
De’Aaron Fox
Julian Champagnie
Jeremy Sochan
Keldon Johnson
Harrison Barnes
Chris Paul
Stephon Citadel
