Victor Wembanyama, Tre Jones free agency, cap space, and more

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The San Antonio Spurs have been out of the playoffs for four years now but only started bottoming out in 2022-23. They’ve collected a great group of players relative to their draft selections like Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and their draft success in later parts of the first round goes back further. All they’ve lacked was a chance to draft a potential All-Star with a high lottery selection.

The Spurs finally got that chance after winning the NBA draft lottery and the right to select Victor Wembanyama. The generational prospect has an unprecedented combination of length and skill and could lead San Antonio back to title contention. The Spurs have several other priorities in this upcoming offseason such as retaining Tre Jones and utilizing cap space, but winning the lottery cleared the most important task in building a basketball team: getting a star.

Here is a preview of the 2023 offseason for the San Antonio Spurs.

Draft and state of the rebuild

Peter J. Holt and Mark Tatum after the 2023 draft lottery

David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

The Spurs had arguably one of the least talented teams in 2022-23. They committed to bottoming out after trading Dejounte Murray last summer to the Hawks for three first-round picks. That deal, as well as the preceding Derrick White trade and the recent Jakob Poeltl trade, helped the Spurs accumulate draft picks while decimating their veteran talent. They now have a surplus of 13 first-round picks over the next seven drafts, including their 2023 first.

Historically, it’s unrealistic to expect Wembanyama as a rookie to carry the Spurs from one of the league’s worst teams in the league back to the playoffs. He could be ready to make an immediate impact that raises the Spurs floor but the rest of the roster features many young players that still need time to develop. So far, all the recent first-round picks on the Spurs roster have shown promise of being rotation players and good starters in this league. Some of these players can make up an excellent supporting cast around Wembanyama.

The combination of surplus draft equity and having Wembanyama gives the Spurs the…

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Author : Hoops Hype

Publish date : 2023-05-17 08:10:34

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