2023-24 season: 22-60
Highlight of the season: Every minute played by Victor Wembanyama.
How it ended
With dreams of more. The Wemby Show (patent pending) was worth over 60 losses just to cement him as the league’s most exciting young star. It took a few months for Wembanyama to stand out, as he was hampered by strange decisions by the Spurs coaching staff to play Jeremy Sochan at point guard, Zach Collins at center and flank the rookie with virtually no shots to optimize spacing.
It wasn’t until point guard Tre Jones entered the starting lineup and Wembanyama moved to center that the rookie began to play much differently than a rookie. In 42 games starting under Jones, the 7-foot sensation averaged 23.2 points, 11 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 3.9 blocks and 1.3 steals in just 29.8 minutes per game – one of the most statistic per minute production lines of anyone. in the league, let alone a 20 year old who isn’t even allowed to buy a drink.
Not everything was rosy, as the records can attest. Sochan’s impact was inconsistent, as was Keldon Johnson’s defense and decision-making. Jones, with all the credit he deserves for helping to unlock Wembanyama, remained a poor shot and an unaggressive scorer. The team relied too heavily on players who wouldn’t be able to make a rotation on most teams, playing Julian Champagnie, Cedi Osman, and Blake Wesley for over 3,500 minutes combined.
As it stands, the Spurs really only have three goaltenders: Wembanyama, Devin Vassell – who has played admirably all year, settling into the No. 2 spot – and an unprotected 2025 first-round pick courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks, who in theory could turn into star Cooper Flagg if the Hawks have another disappointing season. It may seem cruel to evaluate an unknown selection of 13+ NBA players, but that should say a lot about the Spurs’ talent level.
With the Spurs in the offseason, it’s time to evaluate. Johnson is on a great deal as he will make just $19 million next season and $17.5 million in each of the next two years. This type of contract is attractive, especially for expensive teams, and the Spurs should be willing to answer calls while maintaining a high asking price. Cheap, productive players are valuable, and if they can play on the wing, like Johnson, there is an added premium.
Moving forward, the name of the game for San Antonio will be patience. Rushing to find an older complementary playmaker – even if Spurs can afford it – would be unwise, as his direction should be to open and maintain the longest competitive window possible with Wembanyama in charge. That doesn’t happen if they sign a 28-year-old player.
Greater need in the off-season
The Spurs specifically need two things: shooting and playmaking. While it would be nice to add defense, it’s unlikely they’ll find a player who does all three and fits their schedule. Floor spacing and walkability are the two most crucial elements to be placed alongside Wembanyama in the next decade.
Draft focus
It’s clear that Spurs need a playmaker and facilitator to give Wembanyama more touches. Serbia’s Nikola Topić averaged more than six assists per game before suffering a knee injury this season. Kentucky freshmen Reed Sheppard and Rob Dillingham are also two options, or the Spurs could take a swing at UConn’s Stephon Castle. -Krysten Peek
Projected draft picks (pre-lottery): Nos. 5, 35 and 46
Salary cap details
The Spurs could be looking at more than $30 million in cap space, and that’s after Vassell and Collins’ extensions kick in. Devonte’ Graham only has $2.8 million guaranteed out of $12.6 million, which means they are likely releasing him. Osman’s $6.7 million contract is also coming off the cap, which further allows the Spurs to become “free and restricted agency trolls” over the summer.
San Antonio should almost immediately make life difficult for the Toronto Raptors by offering guard Immanuel Quickley a max or near-max contract. Toronto has matching rights, but it’s a big contract to swallow and will put a lot of money on their books in the long run. If the Raptors decide not to combine, the Spurs will have a new point guard without giving up any trade assets. If Quickley is signed, the Spurs should turn to Tyus Jones, Tre’s older brother, and offer him a substantial two-year contract that won’t hurt their long-term cap space.
Whatever San Antonio ends up doing, it’s crucial that it doesn’t panic. The future is simply too important to take any major risks, especially so soon.
Top free agents: None
Goal for next season
Significant progress. While other young teams are in no rush to improve due to the lack of a clear star, Spurs can expect a huge level of internal improvement through Wembanyama and will need to flank him with a higher level of talent than they have. year. Remember, even if San Antonio improves significantly, your pick over Atlanta won’t be impacted. So the Spurs could find themselves in a much better spot in the win column and still receive a high lottery pick in 2025. If that’s not an ideal situation, what is?
What can move the fantasy needle
It’s time to find a true point guard to pair with Wembanyama. Tre Jones looks like a solid addition, but Spurs need to accelerate the development timeline after Wemby’s historic debut year. And please, no more Gregg Popovich’s Sochan experiments. Additionally, we will increase Wemby’s minutes beyond the 30-minute limit. In 30-plus minutes this season, he averaged 22 points, 12 rebounds, four assists and a ridiculous five shares per game. -Dan Tito
