The 2024-25 NBA season is here! We break down the biggest questions, best and worst case scenarios and fantasy prospects for all 30 teams. Enjoy!
SAN ANTONIO TRACKS
2023-24 end
Offseason moves
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Additions: Harrison Barnes, Chris Paul, Stephon Castle
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Subtractions: Devonte’ Graham, Cedi Osman, Dominick Barlow
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Complete roster
The Big Question: Is Victor Wembanyama ready for prime time?
The NBA is embracing the Victor Wembanyama era, adding the San Antonio Spurs as one of 10 teams on the Christmas Day slate and scheduling 20 more of the 7-foot-4 French phenom’s games on national television.
The Spurs also span the Wembanyama era. They treated his rookie season as an experiment, trying to turn Jeremy Sochan into a point guard on a team full of projects, only to discover that, yes, maybe they should surround one of the most promising prospects in league history with some veteran leadership, especially on the ball. So they signed the best table eater of his generation.
Granted, Chris Paul will turn 40 before the end of this NBA calendar year, but only three starters last season — Tyrese Haliburton, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić — averaged more assists per 36 minutes than Paul did off the bench. of the Golden State Warriors. . Look at what the 12-time All-Star did in Oklahoma City and Phoenix, where he brought together a ton of young players and sorted them into playoff outfits.
And he has Wembanyama at his disposal. The 20-year-old can be devastating from everywhere on the court, especially if he becomes consistent with his 3-point shot, and Paul can find him anywhere. At the very least, it will be fun to watch the NBA try to stop the many outcomes that are possible in a pick-and-roll partnership between a Hall of Fame point guard and the guy with the highest upside in NBA history.
And it will be fascinating to see if Wembanyama can consistently make opponents pay from all angles. He’s already the game’s most devastating defensive force. During the final month of last season, he averaged 24.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 4.4 blocks in just 33.1 minutes of play, only shooting 44.9% from the field and 30.1% from deep. It’s scary to imagine the possibilities once his efficiency increases.
We have a proof of concept. In the Olympics, Wembanyama single-handedly kept France in the gold medal game against Team USA. In other words, against one of the greatest collections of talent the game has ever seen, Wembanyama was pretty much on his own. He will give the Spurs a chance every night.
They weren’t ready to take those chances last season. San Antonio is not without talent. Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Sochan headline an unheralded group of under-25 prospects. No. 4 overall draft pick Stephon Castle, who led UConn to a second straight NCAA title last season, will join them. Each of them can create for himself and others and defend several positions.
San Antonio is counting on Harrison Barnes to bring the same level of professionalism to their wings as Paul does to the point guard position. Barnes was once the youngest member of Golden State’s Death Lineup and has since evolved into a veteran steward, helping the Sacramento Kings return to relevance. He is a career 37.9% shooter from distance and has rarely strayed far from that mark in his 12 seasons.
Is that enough to make noise in a crowded Western Conference? That will depend on how ready Wembanyama is to own this international spotlight. There will be a time when he guarantees the Spurs a playoff spot. Have we reached that point so soon? When Wembanyama shared the floor with a competent point guard last season, the Spurs outscored opponents by 5.2 points per 100 possessions, a better mark than the 50-win New York Knicks. Upgrade to Paul, add Barnes and bring in Castle, and maybe – just maybe – they maintain the pace Wembanyama sets for them over a full season.
Best case scenario
Wembanyama arrives as a bonafide superstar. Paul remains healthy and committed to shepherding another young core. Now that the rotation makes sense, San Antonio’s young players are free to focus on their roles, and they excel within them. They understand how to complete Wembanyama and fulfill their responsibilities more effectively. He returns the favor, and the Spurs are in the hunt for a play-in spot.
If everything falls apart
Even worst case scenario is not so bad when Wembanyama is at the top of the bill. Perhaps he is still exploring the extent of his abilities. Perhaps his young teammates cannot grasp their roles until he fully realizes his role as a paradigm-shifting entity. Maybe Paul can no longer handle the rigors of a full NBA season, and the Spurs are once again experimenting at point guard. Maybe team success is still a year away. Then what? They deliver another lottery pick to put alongside Wembanyama for next year’s arrival.
A fancy spin
If you’re lucky enough to get the first overall pick in your fantasy drafts, take Wemby. The Spurs bringing in future Hall of Famer Chris Paul raises the floor for all of their players. If you hunt assists and steals in the later rounds, CP3 is an underrated option in the ninth round. Unfortunately, Devin Vassell is on the shelf with a foot injury and won’t be reevaluated until November 1. He’s a risky pick in the seventh round, but if he falls past that, he could be a great interim draft and stash.
There is some late-round intrigue with Jeremy Sochan. While the point guard experiment didn’t work last season, it was a learning moment that allowed him to initiate the offense. That’s important for fantasy, because I can see a little bit of Aaron Gordon in him. He’ll be a good rebounder and facilitator from the dunker spot, and I’m sure he’ll exceed his 12th-round ADP playing 30 minutes a night. — And Titus
schedule 2024-25
Believe in the ascent of Wembanyama. Believe in their Spurs. Take the upper hand.
