The information nobody needed to listen to was introduced. Victor Wembanyama will miss the remainder of the season after being recognized with deep vein thrombosis in his shoulder.
It’s a scary time for each Wembanyama and the Spurs, because the star massive man’s profession could possibly be in jeopardy if the clotting points are persistent. Fortuitously, the franchise appears optimistic a few full restoration and the possibility of getting Wemby obtainable subsequent yr.
It could be reckless to invest with no extra data obtainable, so at this level, the working assumption is that San Antonio’s famous person will return subsequent season. With that basis in thoughts, let’s check out what the information about Wemby means for the group.
The timing is dangerous within the brief time period however good in the long run
There’s no changing somebody pretty much as good as Wembanyama, but when the information had come out a couple of weeks earlier, the Spurs might have at the least tried to get a high quality massive man to attempt to salvage the season. Alas, the commerce deadline got here and went and there are actually only a few choices to plug the key gap Wembanyama’s absence leaves in San Antonio’s heart rotation. A group that was already skinny at that place and was electing to play small due to the inadequacies of their backup bigs now finds itself within the unenviable place of getting to improvise an answer to dropping probably the most impactful massive males within the league. The timing of the prognosis, so far as this season is worried, couldn’t be worse.
Taking the lengthy view, nevertheless, presents a extra constructive outlook. Probably the most encouraging side is that Wembanyama ought to have loads of time to endure remedy and hopefully get better in time for subsequent season. Coaching camp is seven months away, so heading into 2025-26 there needs to be readability about Wemby’s availability. Had the unlucky scenario occurred earlier within the yr, followers would haven’t solely missed out on witnessing Wemby’s ascent but in addition the Spurs would have doubtless not been in a position to get De’Aaron Fox. Had it occurred later within the yr, the timeline for remedy would have been tighter. Proper now San Antonio is out of the play-in within the standings, so Wembanyama shouldn’t be lacking a contending yr, like Tim Duncan did within the 2000 season.
If Wembanyama returns subsequent yr, because the group expects him to, the rebuild stays completely on schedule. His absence will make the remainder of the season much less satisfying nevertheless it gained’t disrupt San Antonio’s meticulous plan to construct a winner.
The season is over and the Spurs ought to deal with it as such
Whereas there’s not sufficient time to completely tank, the Spurs ought to think about their season over and act accordingly. There’s no must fake that the group, with out Wembanyama, could make the play-in. Even with their greatest star dominating his minutes, the yr was shaping as much as be transitional and the information simply confirms it. With that in thoughts, the entrance workplace and the teaching employees ought to utterly change how they method the remainder of the season. It doesn’t imply they need to go all out to attempt to lose, however there’s no must juggle the parallel objectives of successful and growth. The precedence ought to shift totally to the latter, even when it means having to make some powerful choices.
Charles Bassey ought to get each probability to show he could be a rotation heart within the league, as quickly as he’s wholesome. The Spurs invested little cash however allotted him a roster spot for 2 seasons and it’s unclear if he’s value one. Figuring that out is a should. To a lesser extent, the identical applies to Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, who’ve had extra alternatives and can be beneath contract subsequent season. Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes will get minutes and their management might proceed to be invaluable to a younger group that has misplaced its coach and famous person for the yr, however there needs to be a concerted effort to search out enjoying time for youthful gamers like Stephon Fortress and Jeremy Sochan. Even younger veterans like Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson ought to see their roles enhance because the entrance workplace evaluates their half sooner or later. De’Aaron Fox needs to be thought-about the centerpiece, for now.
The objective of successful to make the play-in is gone. It doesn’t imply the Spurs ought to blatantly tank, nevertheless it does imply they need to shift all their focus to the longer term and act accordingly by way of personnel and rotational choices.
The information about Wembanyama’s well being issues is devastating. There’s no must spin it another approach. A younger star who clearly loves the sport can be sidelined for the remainder of the season, and that’s the best-case situation. There are not any silver linings right here and nobody can blame followers for trying out on the season and solely caring about Wemby’s restoration.
The Spurs’ decision-makers don’t have that luxurious. They should proceed to enhance the group in order that when Victor Wembanyama is again, he’ll have the supporting forged his expertise deserves. The following few months can be large for the franchise, so hopefully everybody concerned will rise to the event and excel at what they’ll management to at the least mitigate the unfavorable affect of the unlucky scenario dealing with the group.
