The 2024-2025 NBA season is here! We analyze the biggest questions, best- and worst-case scenarios, and fantasy prospects for all 30 teams. Enjoy!
SAN ANTONIO SPURS
End 2023-24
Off-season moves
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Additions: Harrison Barnes, Chris Paul, Stephon Castle
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Deductions: Devonte’ Graham, Cedi Osman, Dominick Barlow
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Complete roster
The big question: is Victor Wembanyama ready for primetime?
The NBA is embracing the Victor Wembanyama era, adding the San Antonio Spurs as one of 10 teams on the Christmas Day roster and scheduling another 20 games for the 7-foot-2 French phenom on national television.
Spurs are also embracing the Wembanyama era. They treated his rookie season as an experiment, trying to transform Jeremy Sochan into a point guard on a team full of projects, but found they might have to surround one of the most promising players in league history with some experienced leadership, especially on the ball. So they signed the best table setter of his generation.
Granted, Chris Paul will turn 40 years old at the end of this NBA calendar year, but last season only three starters – Tyrese Haliburton, Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić – averaged more assists per 36 minutes than Paul off Golden State’s bench Warriors. . Look what the 12-time All-Star did in Oklahoma City and Phoenix, rounding up a bunch of young players and putting them into playoff-worthy outfits.
And he has Wembanyama at his disposal. The 20-year-old can be devastating anywhere on the court, especially if he becomes consistent with his three-point shot and Paul can find him anywhere. At the very least, it will be fun to see how the NBA tries to stop the many outcomes possible in a pick-and-roll partnership between a Hall of Fame point guard and the man with the highest upside in history of the NBA.
And it will be fascinating to see if Wembanyama can consistently make opponents pay from all angles. He is 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 per game, shooting just 44.9% from the field and 30 .1% shot from deep. It’s scary to imagine the possibilities once its efficiency increases.
We have a proof of concept. At the Olympics, Wembanyama single-handedly held France in the gold medal match against Team USA. In other words, against one of the greatest collections of talent the game has ever seen, Wembanyama stood practically alone. He will give Spurs a chance every night.
Last season they weren’t ready to take those chances. San Antonio is not without talent. Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson and Sochan headline an unknown group of under-25 prospects. No. 4 overall draft selection Stephon Castle, who guided UConn to a second straight NCAA title last season, will join them. Each of them can create for themselves and others and defend multiple positions.
San Antonio is relying on Harrison Barnes to bring the same level of professionalism to his wings as Paul does to the point guard position. Once the youngest member of Golden State’s Death Lineup, Barnes has since developed into an accomplished steward, helping the Sacramento Kings return to relevance. He is a career shooter with a 37.9% range 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 prepared Wembanyama is to own this international spotlight. There will come a time when he guarantees Spurs a spot in the play-offs. Have we reached that point so quickly? When Wembanyama shared the floor with a competent point guard last season, the Spurs outscored their opponents by 5.2 points per 100 possessions, a better net rating than the 50-win New York Knicks. Upgrade to Paul, add Barnes and introduce Castle, and maybe – just maybe – they maintain the pace that Wembanyama sets for them for an entire season.
At best
Wembanyama arrives as a bona fide superstar. Paul remains healthy and is committed to nurturing a new young core. Now that the rotation makes sense, San Antonio’s young players are free to focus on their roles, and they are excelling at it. They understand how to complement Wembanyama and carry out their responsibilities more efficiently. He returns the favor and the Spurs are in the hunt for a play-in berth.
When everything falls apart
Even a worst-case scenario isn’t too bad when Wembanyama is at the top of the list. Perhaps he is still exploring the extent of his abilities. Perhaps his young teammates can’t come to grips with their roles until he fully realizes that he is a paradigm-shifting entity. Maybe Paul can no longer handle the rigors of a full NBA season and the Spurs will experiment at point guard again. Perhaps team success is still a year away. What then? They deliver another lottery pick to be placed alongside Wembanyama for next year’s arrival.
Fantasy twist
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’re chasing 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 re-evaluated until November 1st. He’s a risky seventh-round pick, but if he falls outside of that, he could be an excellent temporary draft pick and stock.
There is some late intrigue with Jeremy Sochan. Although the point guard experiment didn’t work out last season, it was a learning opportunity 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 will be a good rebounder and facilitator from the dunker spot, and I am confident he will outperform his 12th round ADP playing 30 minutes a night. — Then Titus
Schedule 2024-25
Believe in the Wembanyama climb. Believe in his Spurs. Take the upper hand.
