Chris Paul isn’t anticipated to return to the San Antonio Spurs in free company, however there are three higher matches that the Spurs might goal this offseason.
Final offseason, the San Antonio Spurs went out and received Victor Wembanyama each a mentor and level guard in Chris Paul. He’s 39 years previous and didn’t match the Spurs’ timeline, though he averaged a strong 8.8 factors and seven.4 assists whereas beginning each single sport.
Halfway via the season, the Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Fort broke out because the Rookie of the Yr. On high of that, the Spurs are anticipated to draft Dylan Harper second total, leaving no room within the backcourt for Paul.
Because of this, the Level God isn’t anticipated to return to the Spurs. Nonetheless, his veteran management and expertise have been extremely precious to the younger group, and the Spurs ought to look so as to add one other veteran subsequent to Harrison Barnes for locker room management.
Whereas Paul definitely matches the invoice, there are three free brokers who fill a place of want on the court docket, as effectively.
The Spurs, as evidenced by their struggles with out Wembanyama on the court docket final season, are in determined want of a backup heart.
Free agent Brook Lopez is the best choice, and he has championship expertise that the Spurs desperately want.
As a floor-spacer and shot-blocker, he might, in principle, share the ground with Wemby in outsized lineups, though his principal position could be main the second unit, offering some much-needed rim safety.
The Spurs might draft Derik Queen, Maxime Raynaud, or one other backup massive and keep younger, though having a confirmed veteran, even one previous his prime, definitely has its benefits.
Lopez could have loads of suitors, together with the Los Angeles Lakers, though the Spurs can provide simply as a lot taking part in time and barely more cash.
Lopez averaged 13 factors, 5 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks whereas capturing 37.3% from deep final season.
Whereas the Spurs appear to have an elite, younger backcourt rotation, particularly in the event that they draft Harper, Bruce Brown can slot in off the ball and function a secondary facilitator each off the bench and as a starter.
The last word “glue man,” he might play a Josh Hart-lite position for the Spurs. Since profitable a title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, he has bounced across the league, taking part in for the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans.
He’s not a quantity scorer, however he can move, rebound, and defend, and wouldn’t be a foul mixture off the bench subsequent to Jeremy Sochan on protection and Julian Champagnie on offense, particularly if a real level guard remained on the ground.
Brown’s $45 million cope with the Pacers after profitable a title was a large overpay, and his subsequent contract will probably be much less profitable, cementing him throughout the Spurs’ funds.
Brown averaged 8.3 factors, 4 rebounds, and two assists whereas capturing 33.3% from deep for 2 groups final season.
Barring a commerce, the San Antonio Spurs could have a wing rotation of Harrison Barnes, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie. All of these gamers are serviceable, if not strong, shooters, however solely Barnes shot over 38% from deep final season.
Within the fashionable NBA, there’s no such factor as an excessive amount of capturing, and Luke Kennard would carry a burst of reliability to the younger roster.
Whereas he’s much less skilled than Lopez and never a champion like Brown, he has twice led the league in 3-point share and is third all-time with a profession mark of 43.8% from deep.
He’s not an excellent defender, however with Wembanyama or Jeremy Sochan behind him, that’s not a serious concern. With stops on the Pistons, Clippers, and Grizzlies, he has seen a little bit of all the things and could be one other worth signing for the Spurs.
Out of all three gamers listed, Kennard’s on-court influence may be probably the most obvious, however his lack of playoff expertise means he would carry the least to the locker room, placing an even bigger load on first-year head coach Mitch Johnson’s plate.
Kennard averaged 8.9 factors, 2.8 rebounds, and three.3 assists whereas capturing 43.3% from deep final season.
