With simply over two weeks till the Spurs open the 2023-24 NBA season, there are two remaining questions: who can be within the beginning line-up (which was not answered of their preseason opener with Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan being held out), and who would be the odd man out, because the Spurs nonetheless sit at 16 assured contracts and might want to reduce somebody earlier than October 26.
It’s straightforward to imagine that, barring a commerce, it’s all the way down to both Khem Birch or Cedi Osman since they’re the one two who haven’t performed any regular-season minutes for the Spurs. Birch was acquired final season within the Jakob Poeltl commerce however didn’t play as a result of a knee harm, and Osman was acquired within the offseason from the Cavaliers. A minimum of on the basketball courtroom, Osman appears to have the higher hand contemplating he has a more healthy monitor report, gives a skillset the Spurs want in three-point capturing, and it’s laborious to disregard that he bought common minutes within the preseason opener whereas Birch didn’t play.
However past something on the courtroom, Osman simply looks like a really likeable human being. Though he initially realized of the commerce through social media (which is rarely ideally suited for any participant or a very good search for a company), he was nonetheless completely happy when it occurred because of the vacation spot. He not too long ago informed the San Antonio media that whereas he loved his six years with the Cavs, it was time to maneuver on, and he couldn’t have been happier to land with the Spurs.
“It was time for a brand new chapter.”
Cedi Osman stated though he bought phrase of the commerce to San Antonio from Twitter, it was what he had been asking for. pic.twitter.com/mJ1FsFIZUP
— Kelly Iko (@KellyIko) October 6, 2023
Not solely that, however he’s a very good cultural match with the Spurs as effectively. Initially born in Macedonia and a Turkish citizen by way of his father, he suits proper in to what appears to be an rising Overseas Legion 2.0 together with Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Sidy Cissoko and Charles Bassey. Gregg Popovich has all the time beloved bringing in overseas gamers who carry incite to different cultures, and Osman does simply that.
None of that is to say Birch shouldn’t get his probability to earn the ultimate spot or that one other transfer (like buying and selling a veteran) gained’t be the way in which the Spurs in the end attain 15 assured contracts, however with every passing day, the extra I see of Osman, the extra it appears like he’s right here to remain. He simply appears like a Spur.
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