The season will begin in fewer than three months, and the San Antonio Spurs will not take pleasure in being a shock staff. They’ve made up for that by bringing in a veteran assistant coach in Billy Donovan who received twice on the College of Florida, and signed Tobias Harris, including one other seasoned participant able to reduction scoring in huge video games who may also be anticipated to have a crucial position within the non-Victor Wembanyama minutes.
The stretch through which the staff‘s greatest participant rests is among the most necessary within the recreation since opponents attempt to hit the accelerator. When Jimmy Butler was on the Miami Warmth, too many video games have been up within the air throughout his 4 to 6 minute break firstly of the fourth quarter, and the non-Nikola Jokić minutes in Denver are a part of the rationale the Nuggets haven’t returned to the Finals throughout the prime of an all-time nice as a result of he has to do an excessive amount of.
The Spurs’ main scorers within the non-Wemby minutes have been normally De’Aaron Fox or Devin Vassell, and their scoring risk within the entrance court docket was Harrison Barnes. Including one other cellular choice to the frontline with a superior means at entering into the physique of defenders will guarantee Fox, Vassell or whichever guard is on this rotation in 2026-27 doesn’t get worn out, and it’ll make it simpler to cowl for Luke Kornet’s limitations.
Harris’ versatility might even permit for some experimenting with him because the small-ball 5 in opposition to sure matchups to protect pace, which he hasn’t tried in his profession for any important stretch. With respect to Luke Kornet, whose epic chase down block on Isaiah Hartenstein was one of many highlights of the playoffs, he doesn’t transfer his ft quick sufficient and is at risk in opposition to competent exterior shooters.
The sting Harris brings on this situation is guarding on the degree of the display. To not indicate he’s some famend defender, however Harris shall be extra of a assist versus greater ball handlers as a result of he has sufficient foot pace and power to make it troublesome for them on the transfer. On high of that, utilizing him right here may very well be simpler than taking part in Carter Bryant because the backup huge for the reason that teen’s exuberance hasn’t been harnessed, and it causes him to choose up too many fouls.
Think about a bombs-away lineup of Harris subsequent to Fox, Barnes, Julian Champagnie and Vassell. A pleasant wrinkle can be making him the primary passer to the submit in a break up motion set. Harris would then flip immediately right into a screener, and if a giant is guarding him, it would possible make sure the shooter has much more area as a consequence of many bigs not being snug hovering the surface, particularly if their man doesn’t have the ball.
The video under is from Dustin Aubert (The Basketball Academy) and it’s about two minutes, however please study the primary possession from a New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors recreation from just a few seasons in the past. The Warriors generally run break up motion, and the person to deal with right here is Kevon Looney. It is a excellent instance of how making the large man the initiator of the set places the protection on ice.
Final season, the Spurs would lose the choice of their huge man being the trailing shooter when Kornet got here in for Wemby. Counting on Harris on this position retains that choice in play and he’s an honest shooter on the catch, making 38.1 p.c of makes an attempt, but this plummeted to 31.6 p.c within the postseason.
Moreover, bigs wouldn’t sustain with Harris on catch-and-go strikes, and so they may attempt to compensate by force-feeding mismatches on the opposite aspect. An excellent scheme can offset that, and his submit expertise would additionally unlock the perimeter. The primary take a look at to see if this may very well be an actual choice needs to be in opposition to the lower-level bigs and progress because it goes on.
Needless to say Harris had one in all his greatest playoff runs with the Detroit Pistons in 2025-26 and it notably got here subsequent to a high-level playmaker in Cade Cunningham. Nonetheless, it wasn’t the prefered position for him as a result of he ended up having to do an excessive amount of because the second choice.
In San Antonio, Fox and particularly Dylan Harper can make sure that he will get the ball in very best conditions, since one in all them will most likely be on the ground always. One of many playmakers working with Harris on display rolls can be efficient, and so would placing him in movement. He is aware of play with out the ball, so it’s straightforward to check him taking open 10-foot jumpers after curling round stagger and cross screens.
Some could not view Harris as a house run addition since he’s not the flashiest and has solely been higher than a league-average 3-point shooter in 4 postseasons, however he’s within the very best position as a fourth choice. Don’t be shocked if he performs his most significant, impactful ball with the Spurs.
