The San Antonio Spurs are not where they want to be, but Victor Wembanyama has been better than expected. Nobody believed San Antonio would be pushing for the playoffs, but the Spurs have just 17 wins and will finish last in the Western Conference. They need more talent and are still building.
This season was far from a total loss. Gregg Popovich tried the point Jeremy Sochan experiment, which failed miserably. The franchise knows they need a true point guard to maximize Wemby, and it was a fantastic glimpse at what the 20-year-old prodigy can become. Wembanyama wants to win as soon as possible, so the pressure will continue building for San Antonio.
The Spurs will improve their roster this summer. They will have at least one lottery selection and cap space to upgrade. San Antonio has a stockpile of draft capital available for trade. The front office could get aggressive, but they won’t be dealing these players after each earned untouchable status this season.
- Devin Vassell
The 6’5 wing begins a five-year $135 million extension next season. There was plenty of chatter about the contract when it was signed, but Vassell proved his worth this season. The 23-year-old is still improving too. He is averaging 19.2 points, 4.0 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.1 steals in 32.8 minutes per game. Vassell’s percentages improved significantly this season, and he is a career 36.8 percent 3-point shooter, which is a must around the Spurs’ superstar.
There is room for him to grow into an elite wing. His defense leaves plenty to be desired, but Vassell has size and length. He will continue to improve on that end, especially as the Spurs get more competitive.
The San Antonio Spurs need quality wing play around Victor Wembanyama. Devin Vassell likely settles into a small offensive role as the franchise improves, but he will remain a crucial piece as the front office adds more talent. Vassell joins the Spurs two 20-year-old building blocks in the untouchable class.
- Jeremy Sochan
The ninth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft became an afterthought the moment San Antonio won the lottery in 2023, but he shouldn’t be. The 6’8 forward has a unique skill set, and the 20-year-old is far from a finished product.
Sochan is averaging 11.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 0.8 steals in 29.7 minutes per game in his second NBA season. His lack of shooting puts his fit next to Wemby into question, but his defensive versatility and playmaking should give San Antonio hope in making those lineups work. It may not be beautiful, but they cannot trade Sochan while he is still budding.
Jeremy Sochan is far from a household name, but he could get there. Some advanced metrics are already singing his praises, and he is just in his second season. The Spurs need him to become a respectable 3-point shooter to keep the floor spaced, but Sochan will not have any issues on the defensive end.
The franchise have their alpha and some pieces. Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan are likely role players on San Antonio’s next contending team. They will be on the lookout for a second star and the remaining pieces that get them back in the hunt. It may not happen next season, but the Spurs’ time is coming fast. San Antonio has a 7’4 big man to thank for it.
- 1. Victor Wembanyama
Words may not do justice to the level of Wemby’s play as a 20-year-old rookie. He is already in the running for a spot in the NBA’s top 20 players and just getting started. Wembanyama is averaging over 20 points, ten rebounds, and three assists per game to go with his 1.3 steals and 3.4 blocks. An elite defender with room to grow, he does the impossible on a nightly basis.
Wemby is special. He was arguably the most-hyped prospect since LeBron James in 2003, and the French prodigy more than lived up to his billing. Not many rookies can drop 20 points per game in 29.0 minutes each night while shooting 46.6 percent from the field and 79.9 percent on his free throws. Never doubt Wemby because he is capable of never-before-seen things.
The Spurs had zero interest in trading the 7’4 big man from the moment they won the draft lottery. There were no questions about who to select. It was Wembanyama, and San Antonio would quickly get back into contention. The wins may still be a few years away, but being mesmerized by Wemby is not stopping anytime soon.
The San Antonio Spurs want to build a contending roster around Victor Wembanyama. Even Vassell and Sochan could be traded in the right deal. If some team is offering a superstar plus other pieces, San Antonio’s front office would accept, but there is no way to trade for Wemby. He is already too good, and the best is still yet to come.