Slotting The Spurs '24-'25

[TD 21]

Guaranteed to start and close (non blowout): Wembanyama, Vassell, Paul

Guaranteed to start and likely close (non blowout): Barnes

Likely to start and compete to close (non blowout): Sochan

Guaranteed to play significant minutes, compete to start and close (non blowout): Castle

Guaranteed to play significant minutes and compete to close (non blowout): Johnson

Guaranteed to play significant minutes: Jones, Collins

Competing for minutes: Champagnie, Branham

Deep bench/G-League: Wesley, Cissoko, Ingram (TW?), Bouyea (TW)

If any of Bassey, Barlow, Mamukelashvili and Duke Jr. (TW) re-sign, the first three would be in "competing for minutes", while the fourth would be in "Deep bench/G-League".

[Chinook]

Would project Barnes much more likely to start than close. Maybe Harry gets the nod, but I wouldn't assume that's the plan. Like I'd argue Pop's more likely to go Paul and Jones together than Barnes.

[TD 21]

Barnes is more likely to generally close than not because he's the only option who provides a combination of forward size and spacing.

Johnson will push him though while Sochan and Castle compete for the fifth spot.

[LeBowen]

What makes you think Barnes won't close? He'll be our only reliable forward.
Unless both Jeremy and Keldon are on fire, Barnes is closing.

[SpursFan86]

Would project Barnes much more likely to start than close. Maybe Harry gets the nod, but I wouldn't assume that's the plan. Like I'd argue Pop's more likely to go Paul and Jones together than Barnes.

What’s your reasoning for this? I personally think the CP3/Vassell/Sochan/Barnes/Wemby lineup is the clear favorite to both start and close. Having a veteran like Barnes who you can trust will be in the right spot and make the right decision with the game on the line makes a lot of sense (assuming your goal truly is to win games…I know there has been talk of the “stealth tank”). Not to mention he projects to be the most reliable spot-up shooter we have.

Assuming Castle is at least solid as a rookie, they’ll try to find opportunities for him to get opportunities at the end of games here and there. Keldon might get some chances too. But I think the starting 5 being discussed is pretty likely to also be the one closing things out most of the time.

[SpursFan86]

Anyways, I pretty much see things the same as OP laid out. CP3/Vassell/Wemby are pretty much guaranteed to start and close. Sochan/Barnes/Keldon are sort of all interchangeable as 3s/4s and I’d guess playing time + likelihood of closing games goes in the order I listed.

Castle comes next as long as he’s remotely decent. If he really impresses then I could see him leaping one of those guys in the second group of 3, but I think that’s pretty unlikely as a rookie.

Tre and Collins will be 20ish mpg guys. On nights where CP3 is out I would guess Tre actually gets a bigger jump in minutes than Castle, but again that’s obviously dependent on how Castle progresses throughout the season.

Champagnie and Branham will be around 10-15 mpg unless one of them takes a step forward. After that it’s pretty much garbage time minutes or guys who only play when there are a few injuries.

[Chinook]

What’s your reasoning for this? I personally think the CP3/Vassell/Sochan/Barnes/Wemby lineup is the clear favorite to both start and close. Having a veteran like Barnes who you can trust will be in the right spot and make the right decision with the game on the line makes a lot of sense (assuming your goal truly is to win games…I know there has been talk of the “stealth tank”). Not to mention he projects to be the most reliable spot-up shooter we have.

Assuming Castle is at least solid as a rookie, they’ll try to find opportunities for him to get opportunities at the end of games here and there. Keldon might get some chances too. But I think the starting 5 being discussed is pretty likely to also be the one closing things out most of the time.

Pop has historically favored smaller closing lineups, which is why I don't think Barnes' size helps him. Johnson will likely get the nod if he has the role I believe they're projecting him to play. I think Paul/Vassel/Johnson/Sochan/Wembanyama is the clear favorite to close. But if one of Sochan or Johnson sit, it will be because Pop wants ball-handling to close, and he loves to use two-PG units to address that.

[LeBowen]

Pop has historically favored smaller closing lineups, which is why I don't think Barnes' size helps him. Johnson will likely get the nod if he has the role I believe they're projecting him to play. I think Paul/Vassel/Johnson/Sochan/Wembanyama is the clear favorite to close. But if one of Sochan or Johnson sit, it will be because Pop wants ball-handling to close, and he loves to use two-PG units to address that.

Unless he makes dramatic decision making, finishing at the rim and shooting improvements, Sochan finishing over Barnes would be a detriment to the team.
It's year three, he deserves no more free passes and credit for his fundamental flaws.
Either improve or enjoy being a bench player.