For probably the most half, the San Antonio Spurs have accomplished what followers wished them to do within the draft and free company. They drafted their potential point-guard-of-the-future in Stephon Fort and added veteran assist at their weakest positions — level guard and ahead — in Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, who must also each assist with the Spurs’ outdoors taking pictures and playmaking woes.
Simply these additions alone have created some intriguing rotation discussions when looking forward to subsequent season. We already know that Paul would be the start line guard, which implies Tre Jones can be his backup, however how else will the beginning lineup change? Julian Champagnie, who survived being waived to make room for the Barnes commerce, will seemingly be moved to a bench position, however who will change him? Will Fort instantly get thrown right into a beginning position off the ball, or will Barnes be a starter?
No matter occurs, the veteran additions actually make the Spurs a lot deeper than final season, with a second unit presumably led by Jones, Keldon Johnson, and Zach Collins (name me an optimist, however I’ve religion he’ll return to his 2022-23 type) plus some mixture of Fort, Barnes or Champagnie, relying on how the beginning lineup shakes out. To not point out, there’s nonetheless three open roster spots to work with, which the Spurs might use to usher in extra depth or re-sign renounced gamers similar to Sandro Mamukelashvili, Charles Bassey or Cedi Osman.
That being mentioned, I’ve discovered myself responsible of forgetting a few names when speculating in regards to the potential rotation subsequent season: Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley. Whereas the latter has been out and in of the rotation his complete two-year profession, the previous has often been in it, each in beginning and bench roles. Nonetheless, the truth that Branham specifically retains escaping my thoughts when fascinated by the rotation could also be telling.
In each of Branham’s two seasons, he obtained out to a gradual begin earlier than turning issues round, however final season nonetheless represented a little bit of a sophomore stoop for him. Though his three-point taking pictures jumped from 30% to virtually 35%, the remainder of his numbers went down, together with his total taking pictures numbers, factors per recreation, and minutes performed. He’s not a lot of a playmaker, averaging simply 2 assists per recreation, and for being drafted as a shooter, he has been extra part of the Spurs’ maligned offense the final two seasons relatively than an answer.
As for Wesley, he obtained a cross for his rookie struggles after struggling a knee harm simply two video games into his profession, however anybody who hoped to see extra in his second season was left disenchanted. With a poor 2023 Summer season League exhibiting being a precursor, practically all of his numbers dipped within the common season as effectively, with the one notable rise being in his two-point taking pictures (which might solely going up after a disastrous rookie season, the place he was within the backside percentile of the complete league across the rim). He stays uncooked and undisciplined, however his athleticism and defensive instincts do present glimmers of intrigue.
Below regular circumstances, we might be assuming that each Branham and Wesley would get their requisite 4 years to show themselves, then go from there. Sadly, due partly to a shifting timeline, one or each of them might not get that full alternative. With the Spurs lucking into Victor Wembanyama, the rebuild has been sped up, and the additions of Paul and Barnes present that whereas the Spurs aren’t overreacting, they’re rushing issues up a bit, and this received’t be a wholly natural rebuild.
Add the truth that the Spurs might have wherever from two to 4 first spherical picks subsequent 12 months (their very own and the Hawks’ choose, plus probably the Bulls’ top-10 protected and Hornets top-14 protected) in addition to two picks in 2027, and so they might in a short time run out of roster spots for any younger gamers who haven’t confirmed themselves. Proper now, of all of the gamers nonetheless on rookie contracts, Branham and Wesley discover themselves closest to that precarious place.
The Spurs have proper up till 24 hours earlier than the 2024-25 common season begins to train the fourth-year staff choices on them and Jeremy Sochan, and whereas Sochan is a secure guess to be picked up, one or each of Branham and Wesley might not be so fortunate. It has been famous that the Spurs seem like working on a one-year time line, with the belief being that they need to preserve the books clear for a a lot deeper 2025 free company class.
The addition of Barnes, who has two years left on his contract, places a $17 million dent of their cap area subsequent summer time. In the event that they don’t choose up the 4th 12 months choices of Branham and Wesley, that will be practically $10 million in cap area saved for the 2025-26 season. Even when the Spurs do choose up their 4th 12 months choices, it’s onerous to think about them engaged on extensions for both participant with no massive leap in manufacturing. In any other case, they’d change into free brokers in 2026.
None of that is to say the Spurs needs to be giving up on both participant. They every deliver a singular skillset and nonetheless have one other degree they might unlock, however when the time comes to begin trimming the roster to make room for upgrades, their weaknesses could also be onerous to miss. Neither has fairly confirmed to be a dependable level guard (ought to Jones transfer on subsequent summer time), and neither are adequate shooters to assist unfold the ground at taking pictures guard. In addition they lack the defensive self-discipline and potential upside of somebody like Fort or they might choose in subsequent 12 months’s a lot deeper draft.
Of all of the Spurs’ younger gamers, the stress is on Branham and Wesley to show themselves greater than anybody else, and this upcoming season may be their final likelihood to earn a spot within the Spurs’ future plans.
