So the roster is
Fox, Harper/Castle, Wesley
Castle/Harper, Champagnie, Branham
Vassell, Johnson, Bryant
Barnes, Sochan, ______
Wembanyama, Kornet, ______
TW: Ingram, Minix, ______
It could be worse. I mean, I think it's sort of a crime if Branham and Wesley get to play out full rookie contracts despite not showing anything of note. That's especially true given how many high-seconds the Spurs have traded out of during the past few drafts. Is their scouting apparatus so atrophied that they can't find high-floor guys in the 20's and 30's anymore? It really feels like they made the shift in 2021 to chase ceiling rather than production and simply can't look at prospects through both lenses simultaneously.
In terms of free-agent signings, I'd like to see the team get the best center they can that doesn't require a rotation spot. Maybe that's Biyombo. It would have been nice if it were a guy like Raynaud, but that's in the past now. For the 15th spot, I'd actually like them to look into another guard. I don't think the Spurs should be looking at Wesley and Branham as anything other than contracts at this point. They shouldn't intend on either of them getting even spot minutes. I've been split-balling roughly 124 minutes for Fox, Harper, Vassell and Castle to share. I think that can hold on an average night. But when there are injuries, rest nights, foul trouble or whatever, they really can't expect the others to take too many minutes to make up for that. Sure, depending on who it is, they can slide some forwards to play the 2. But it would be nice to have a guard who can play 10-25 minutes every once in a while and do better than Malaki and Blake. Then finally for the two-way, I'd really like the team to grab that developmental center that they don't have on the 15.
So something like this could be the roster going into the season:
Fox, Harper/Castle, Wesley
Castle/Harper, Devonte Graham, Branham
Vassell, Johnson, Champagnie
Barnes, Sochan, Bryant
Wembanyama, Kornet, Biyombo
TW: Ingram, Minix, Mensah
Place-holder names in italics
I would be disappointed in this roster, but am sort of resigned to it in the wake of the Durant trade. I get that the Spurs are apparently keeping their powder as dry as they can for another trade, and they absolutely need to make the RIGHT trade. But with guys like JJJ extending and the current trend of players seemingly choosing to avoid direct free agency, I don't know what options they'll have. It seems like Giannis, Luka or bust at this point.