While there are now not many people left on the free agent market and the workforce, except for upheaval via the expected trades of Damian Lillard and James Harden, is almost complete, it is time to make a first summer assessment for the 30 NBA franchises.
And after Detroit and Houston, we continue with San Antonio, which now welcomes Victor Wembanyama.
SEASON 2022/23
22 wins – 60 losses (28th)
29th attack: 109.7 points scored on 100 possessions
30th defense: 119.6 points conceded on 100 possessions
ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES
Arrivals: Victor Wembanyama, Cedi Osman, Reggie Bullock, Cameron Payne
Departures: Josh Richardson, Keita Bates-Diop
WORKFORCE 2023/24
Leaders: Tre Jones, Cameron Payne, Devonte’ Graham
Fullbacks/Wingers: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, Doug McDermott, Cedi Osman, Reggie Bullock, Julian Champagnie, Blake Wesley
Interiors: Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins, Khem Birch, Charles Bassey, Sandro Mamukelashvili
THE LIKELY MAJOR FIVE
Tre Jones – Devin Vassell – Keldon Johnson – Victor Wembanyama – Zach Collins
THE OBJECTIVE
Lay the foundations for the return to the summit. Accustomed to the heights with David Robinson then Tim Duncan, Gregg Popovich’s Spurs have discovered the league’s slums for a few seasons. While he had to take up the torch from his glorious elders, Dejounte Murray quickly took to their heels and it was therefore around Victor Wembanyama, super price of a season tanking coasting, that San Antonio will rebuild itself.
The Frenchman arrives in Texas surrounded by a monumental hype, which he himself needed to get away from, and Fort Alamo may be the ideal destination, Gregg Popovich and the Spurs protecting their players to the maximum.
“Wemby” is so expected that he will inevitably be targeted, especially in a team where he will be the headliner. But at 19, the Echassier des Yvelines will have to acclimatize to the Great League. For Spurs, it’s about understanding how he can be as effective as possible, how to best surround him, how to help him develop. A slow and global work that will allow the reconstruction of the team, and its return to the heights.
THE BIG QUESTION
What immediate impact for Victor Wembanyama? Given the strength now available to Gregg Popovich, who has just extended, the Spurs will not get involved in the fight for the title thanks to the sole presence of Victor Wembanyama. In this, his arrival is quite different from that of David Robinson, who had joined the Spurs in 1989, two years after his Draft (following two years in the navy) and had completely revived the club, with the help of another rookie, Sean Elliott, but also of Terry Cummings. A combined arrival of three All-Stars (in the making, even if Terry Cummings had already been in 1985) saving. The arrival of “Wemby” is also different from that of Tim Duncan, propelled into a competitive team in 1997 (David Robinson, Sean Elliott, Avery Johnson…) who had “tanked” for a single season, following an injury to the Admiral.
The first choice of the last Draft is thus not the keystone of the project, this piece which finalizes it. It is rather the hanger around which it must develop and take shape.
As Vincent Collet, or Draymond Green explained, it is first in defense that the Spurs should feel the presence of Victor Wembanyama. With his 2m22 under the fathom, for 2m43 of wingspan, as well as his mobility, the Frenchman is a scarecrow who will necessarily do good to the worst defense of the last season.
“I’ll tell you what I think sets him apart from most other players and what will make him very special, regardless of anything else he can do: the fact that he’s a circle protector. That’s what most people don’t talk about and what sets him apart, because if all else fails… he’ll still be the best protector we have in the NBA. So you already have one thing that puts you in an elite category” explained the interior of Golden State about the rookie from San Antonio.
In attack, his fairly high dribble will take him time to adapt, just like the physical impact of NBA players. But at Spurs, we are ready for experimentation with the unique model that Victor Wembanyama represents. The goal is not necessarily to see him dominate immediately, but to understand what works.
QUESTIONS
– What exact position for Victor Wembanyama?
It’s a bit like the question of the next “training camp”. The Frenchman would rather evolve as a power winger, and the Spurs seem to agree. That is to say, he should have a role of protector of the circle, but more in the second curtain, like a libero, while letting other interiors take care of the low post defense.
In this configuration, Zach Collins could therefore be a starter by his side to manage the Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokic and company low post, probably leaving Jeremy Sochan as a Swiss army knife off the bench.
Even if, of course, all configurations are possible depending on the opponent, especially since with his quality of shooting, Victor Wembanyama does not pose a problem against the “small ball” since he is able to spread the game. He can therefore evolve very well alongside a pivot who does not have an outside shot.
“Which lieutenants?”
Victor Wembanyama’s impact will also depend on his teammates, and their ability to give him space. And conversely, moreover, since “Wemby” must also make it possible to free Keldon Johnson and company.
The winger thus established himself as the team’s first offensive option last season, but his efficiency suffered, dropping from 48% to 45% in shooting success compared to the previous season, his 3-point address falling especially heavily from 40% to 33%. The Spurs and their star rookie will need Keldon Johnson to find the target from afar, also hoping that Devin Vassell takes another step forward, the three men having to be the locomotives of Gregg Popovich’s offensive game, pulling each other up.
As for the rest of the squad (Tre Jones, Cameron Payne, Devonte’ Graham, Malaki Branham, Doug McDermott, Cedi Osman, Reggie Bullock, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins, Khem Birch, etc.), it will above all be a question of seeing who plays best with this trio, in order to make adjustments, during the campaign or during the next off-season…
WHERE DO YOU SEE SPURS NEXT YEAR?
