Spurs News – Page 24 – Syndication Server

Spurs listed among ‘teams that improved most this offseason’

How much did the San Antonio Spurs improve this summer?

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The San Antonio Spurs went 22-60 this past season, marking their third-worst winning percentage in franchise history (.268). The last time they won less than 30% of their games (1997), they were rewarded with Tim Duncan at the following draft. This time around, their prize was Victor Wembanyama. Needless to say, the Spurs have picked some good years to lose.

Drafting Wembanyama was the biggest move they made this summer, but it wasn’t the only one. They also drafted Sidy Cissoko, re-signed Tre Jones, Julian Champagnie, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, and traded for Cedi Osman, Reggie Bullock, and Cameron Payne. Their roster should look similar next year but with a few more veterans thrown in there, along with Wembanyama and Cissoko.

According to Dan Favale of Bleacher Report, the Spurs are among the top six teams that have improved most this offseason.

“This isn’t just about the arrival of Wembanyama, either,” Favale wrote. “The Spurs used their cap space to take on real basketball players. Reggie Bullock is a legit three-and-D wing. Cameron Payne adds half-court wiggle and playmaking. Cedi Osman will space the floor.

Signing Julian “What If He’s a Higher-End Kenrich Williams?” Champagnie to a regular NBA contract will matter. The Spurs have Dominick Barlow, coming off a two-way, in restricted free agency. They aren’t immediately playoff-bound, but they’ve improved enough, in more ways than one, to ensure the West is devoid of pushovers.”

With Wembanyama, a slew of veterans, and a whole offseason of development for the youngsters in tow, how many games will the Spurs win next year?

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Mock trade sees Spurs ditch veteran for 24-year-old big man

Heading into the offseason, the San Antonio Spurs had a ton of cap space, and there was some speculation that they could look to spend this summer. Instead, they stayed relatively quiet, allowing their selection of Victor Wembanyama to take center …

San Antonio re-signed Tre Jones, Julian Champagnie, and Sandro Mamukelashvili while also making trades for Reggie Bullock, Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens (who they have since waived), and Cameron Payne. But the Spurs could still consider more moves if they are willing to shake things up. There’s still room to add.

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report suggested a trade that would see the Spurs get younger and add more picks.

Summer Leaguer Charles Bediako would be ‘strong addition’ to Spurs

Should the San Antonio Spurs give Charles Bediako a chance?

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As the San Antonio Spurs‘ offseason progressed, it was clear that Victor Wembanyama was the center of attention, and rightfully so. The Spurs made him the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, and considering the 19-year-old is already an international superstar. In his Summer League debut, the arena sold out.

But he wasn’t the only player on the Spurs’ Summer League squad. It was full of other interesting talent, including the likes of Julian Champagnie, Dominick Barlow, and Malaki Branham (although the latter had an up-and-down stint). And among the youngsters, rookies, and “veterans,” undrafted free agent Charles Bediako made a name for himself.

According to Matt Guzman of Inside the Spurs, Bediako would be a “strong addition” to the team should San Antonio look to bring him aboard.

“Should Barlow end up with a two-way contract, that does lower the odds of Bediako earning one as well, but then again, it could happen.

San Antonio will likely be monitoring his status around the league before making a decision, but if it does decide to test the waters with Bediako, he’s already shown them that what he can do … and that would be a strong addition to the Spurs’ roster,” Guzman wrote.

In five Summer League games, Bediako averaged 5.2 points and 5.2 rebounds while shooting 50.0% from the field.

At 6-foot-11, Bediako has good size and showed enough skill in Summer League, and at just 21 years old, he still has plenty of time to develop his game and put on even more muscle.

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Jeremy Sochan second-most ‘promising’ Spurs prospect behind Wembanyama

Is Jeremy Sochan the second-best prospect on the San Antonio Spurs behind Victor Wembanyama?

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The San Antonio Spurs drafted their new face of the franchise with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, selecting 19-year-old French superstar Victor Wembanyama. The youngster is set to take the reins atop the organization, but he’s not the only player on the roster.

This past season, the Spurs were one of the worst teams in the NBA, and that was largely because they are in the midst of a rebuild. Their roster is full of youngsters looking to improve and develop their game. Wembanyama may be the best of the bunch at this point (or at least the player with the most potential), but Spurs fans should keep their eyes on the rest of the roster, too.

According to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, Jeremy Sochan is the second-most promising prospect on the Spurs roster behind Wembanyama.

“If there’s any downside to teaming up with Wembanyama, it’s that a ranking like this will never put you on the top rung,” Buckley wrote. “Sochan could easily hold down that spot for a number of other teams, though, as a 6’9″ playmaker with Defensive Player of the Year potential.”

Sochan just wrapped up a successful rookie season in which he appeared in 56 games, starting 53 of them, and played 26.0 minutes per contest. He averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game while shooting 45.3% from the floor and 24.6% from beyond the three-point arc.

The 6-foot-9 20-year-old forward has a ton of potential on the defensive side of the ball and has already shown great leadership skills during Summer League.

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Spurs fans should ‘expect’ Devin Vassell to sign contract extension

Whether it be this summer or next, San Antonio Spurs fans should expect Devin Vassell to receive a contract extension.

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The San Antonio Spurs quietly made a bunch of moves this summer. Obviously, drafting Victor Wembanyama with the first pick took center stage, but they were active outside of that, too. They didn’t make any big-time free agency moves with their cap space, as some expected them to, but they found ways to keep busy.

San Antonio re-signed Tre Jones, Julian Champagnie, and Sandro Mamukelashvili, drafted Wembanyama and Sidy Cissoko, and traded for Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens (who they waived), Reggie Bullock, and Cameron Payne. However, there’s still room for the Spurs to make more moves, specifically on the internal front.

Devin Vassell is eligible to sign a contract extension with the Spurs, and whether it be this summer or next, Marilyn Dubinski of Pounding the Rock expects a deal to get done.

“If he is indeed a part of their future plans, the Spurs need to tie him down, but there shouldn’t be any panic over how long it takes,” Dubinski wrote. T”hey have right up until the start of the regular season to come to an agreement, and players waiting until October to sign extensions is nothing new. Expect Vassell to eventually sign one, whether it’s tomorrow or on October 23, and even if it doesn’t happen this year, there’s always next summer to work with him.”

This past season, Vassell appeared in just 38 games, starting 32 of them. He averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest while shooting 43.9% from the field and 38.7% from behind the three-point line.

How much should the Spurs give Vassell in an extension?

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Spurs’ Dominick Barlow looked like ‘whole new player’ at Summer League

San Antonio Spurs big man Dominick Barlow looked great during Summer League.

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Last season, the San Antonio Spurs were one of the worst teams in the league. But this summer, that all changed, as they were able to select Victor Wembanyama with the first pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, completely changing the future outlook of their franchise. The 19-year-old is already a superstar.

But he’s not the only player on their roster, and at Summer League, they were able to take a look at some of the other young talent they will be surrounding Wembanyama with. And while some players fell flat, big man Dominick Barlow showed out, proving that he’s worthy of an NBA contract.

According to Marilyn Dubinski of Pounding the Rock, Barlow looked like “a whole new player” at Summer League, as he struggled a bit during his time with the Spurs this past season.

“I’ll go with Dominick Barlow. He looked so lost on an NBA court for the majority of last season but seemed like a whole new player at Summer League,” Dubinski wrote. “Yes, the competition level is different in Vegas, but I didn’t expect him to come out and tear up the court the way he did. He has made his case to be on a guaranteed NBA contract, and hopefully that comes with the Spurs. Runner-up would be Julian Champagnie, who already had a guaranteed contract coming in but more than justified the Spurs’ decision.”

In four Summer League appearances, Barlow put up 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.3 blocks per contest while shooting 62.5% from the floor.

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Who should start for the Spurs: Tre Jones or Keldon Johnson?

If it comes down to it, who should the San Antonio Spurs start next season – Tre Jones or Keldon Johnson?

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In just one summer, the San Antonio Spurs went from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the most interesting. Obviously, drafting a talent like Victor Wembanyama will do that, but nonetheless, the Spurs are set to have a bunch more eyes on them this season than they did last year.

Wembanyama is set to take over as the face of the franchise, meaning he will undoubtedly be in the starting lineup. Gregg Popovich has stated that Zach Collins will start at the center spot next to Wembanyama. And Devin Vassell, a rising young talent, and Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio’s rookie last year, seem like fair bets to take up two other spots.

Pounding the Rock’s Marilyn Dubinski recently wrote about the Spurs’ starting five dilemma, weighing the options of Tre Jones or Keldon Johnson as the team’s final starter.

“With the main part of the Spurs roster likely set, the most debated question has been who will be in the Spurs starting lineup on day 1,” Dubinski wrote. “Top overall pick Victor Wembanyama will surely start at power forward (he is not ready to bang with NBA centers down low), and Gregg Popovich has already said that Zach Collins will be the starting center, so assuming those two facts remain true, then what? Someone from last season’s main starting lineup will have to move to the bench, be it Vassell, Tre Jones, Keldon Johnson or Jeremy Sochan.

“Vassell’s job might be the safest if only because of that aforementioned upside and him being the best shooter of the bunch. Sochan also shares that potential upside trait and can play multiple positions despite being labeled as a power forward, so it might come down to Tre Jones and Keldon Johnson, who will both be returning on new contracts. If the Spurs feel they need a true point guard on the floor, Jones is the man. If they want to get experimental and just want their five best players on the court regardless of position, Johnson would start. Both seem unselfish enough to accept 6th man roles, so it will be fascinating to find out what direction they go.”

Who should the Spurs start next season if it comes down to it – Jones or Johnson?

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Spurs’ Blake Wesley’s performance in Summer League deemed concerning

Should the San Antonio Spurs be worried about Blake Wesley’s play at Summer League?

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The San Antonio Spurs have had a great summer so far, and while drafting Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick is the clear highlight, Summer League should be a close second. Not only did they get a chance to look at Wembanyama on the court, but multiple other players showed out, including Julian Champagnie and Dominick Barlow.

However, not everything was sunshine and rainbows for the Spurs during Summer League. Some players struggled at times, and when posed with the question of “whose play worried you the most during Summer League play?” the writers at Pounding the Rock unanimously chose Blake Wesley.

Mark Barrington isn’t ready to say he is worried, but he did see some causes for concern.

“I don’t want to say I’m worried, but I have some concerns about Blake Wesley’s offense,” Barrington wrote. “He has shown some progress at times, even using the mid range shot a few times when the paint is too congested. But too often, he puts his head down and gets to the paint with no plan on how to get the ball into the basket. I have a lot of hope that he’ll eventually figure it out, but for now, he’s really inefficient on offense. He’s a solid defender, so even if he just improves a little bit on offense, he could be the Spurs’ point guard of the future, or at least an important part of the rotation.”

Meanwhile, Bruno Passos went all in, saying he’s worried about Wesley’s play.

“I’ll say Wesley, and I’m ready to mean ‘worried,'” Passos wrote. “At his size, and with a mounting stockpile of young talent on the roster, the margin for error is too thin if you’re not a reliable knockdown shooter, a reliable floor general, or at least someone who can create an advantage when you need it. It feels like the best version of him is a gunner with a long-ish leash and bright green light to do some stuff, so I’m hopeful the Spurs give him a crack at that if the other pieces of his game don’t quite come together.”

Marilyn Dubinski and Jesus Gomez also weighed in on the subject, both choosing Wesley as well.

In four Summer League games in Las Vegas, Wesley averaged 12.8 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per contest while shooting 31.0% from the field and 21.4% from beyond the three-point line.

What did you think of Wesley’s performance at Summer League?

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Cam Payne will help Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama: ‘Fueled by experience’

Cameron Payne has a real chance to help Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs.

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The San Antonio Spurs have stayed active this summer despite not making any blockbuster free agency signings. Their massive move was drafting Victor Wembanyama, as he’s set to be the face of the franchise for many years to come. However, since then, they’ve made additions around the edges of the roster.

In a multitude of trades, the Spurs added Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens (who they have since waived), Reggie Bullock, and Cameron Payne. All have some level of experience, but Payne has been through a lot during his NBA career, giving him a unique perspective and an opportunity to help the Spurs’ youngsters, including Wembanyama.

Matt Guzman of Inside the Spurs thinks Payne could be a real help to this young Spurs squad.

“Reggie Bullock, Cedi Osman and Payne are joining a new era of Spurs basketball, one that’s led by Wembanyama but fueled by experience,” Guzman wrote. “And Payne is no stranger to that, as he’ll look to continue to be a strong scorer, an improving defender and most importantly, a fervent leader.

San Antonio isn’t likely to do a roster-purge of its own, either, so Payne can rest easy knowing that if he proves to be as valuable as he was to Phoenix, he’ll likely be a lasting member of the Spurs moving forward, especially as a player who adds depth for Gregg Popovich.

All-in-all, the veteran isn’t the entire answer for San Antonio, but he brings strong play on the court and a strong voice off of it, setting him up to be a big part of the Spurs’ mission of having a winning ‘Cam-Payne’ in multiple ways.”

What role should Payne play in San Antonio next year?

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San Antonio Spurs officially re-sign Tre Jones to new contract

The San Antonio Spurs officially announced they have re-signed Tre Jones.

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The San Antonio Spurs have re-signed point guard Tre Jones to a new contract, a move that was reported earlier this summer but was just officially announced by the team. The team did not reveal the details of the contract, but according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski’s original report, it’s a two-year, $20 million deal.

Jones just wrapped up his third NBA season, which was by far the best of his career. The 23-year-old point guard appeared in 68 games (including 65 starts) and played 29.2 minutes per contest. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 45.9% from the field and 28.5% from behind the three-point line.

While the move was announced at the beginning of free agency, the Spurs waited to make it official so they could use the rest of their cap space effectively.

If Jones had signed the offer when it was reported, the Spurs would have lost most, if not all, of their remaining cap space. But since they can go over the cap to re-sign their own players, they made other moves first. In turn, they were able to help multiple teams complete sign-and-trades by taking on extra salary.

They added Reggie Bullock, Cameron Payne, Cedi Osman, and Lamar Stevens in these trades, the latter of whom was just recently waived.

Now, the Spurs have a ton of tradable contracts on the roster which can be used in future moves, and Jones is also back in place. He’ll almost certainly be the team’s starting point guard heading into next season, pairing Victor Wembanyama with a solid pass-first point guard.

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