Spurs Free Agent Targets: Which Players Make Sense for San Antonio?
Could Tre Jones’ brother be headed to San Antonio? (Photo via Twitter)
The San Antonio Spurs and the rest of the NBA can begin talking to free agents on Sunday afternoon. It promises to be a busy time for the Spurs, who can open up more than $26 million in salary cap room if they so choose.
Last offseason, San Antonio had plenty of cap room and opted to use it to absorb bad contracts in exchange for draft capital. The Spurs may opt to travel down a similar path this offseason, however it’s more likely that the franchise will at least attempt to sign a free agent or two. Victor Wembanyama and his teammates will surely want to improve on last season’s record of 22-60.
Let’s take a look at San Antonio’s possible free agent targets.
Potential Starters
Tyus Jones
Tre Jones’ older brother Tyus is a name that has been connected to the Spurs. The unrestricted free agent is coming off arguably the best season of his career. Playing for the Washington Wizards, the 28-year-old averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 assists and shot 48.9% from the field and 41.4% from three-point land. He also posted an absurd assist-to-turnover ratio of better than 7-to-1.
How does Tyus compare to Tre? The older brother is a better three-point shooter and has more talent on the offense end of the court. All things considered, though, they are mostly the same type of player.
Should the Spurs go after Tyus? It’s difficult to see the logic in that. Tyus won’t be cheap and there would be a lot of duplication with Tre’s skillset. If the Spurs sign Tyus, they’d lock themselves into a double Jones point guard alignment. Considering that Stephon Castle wants to play point guard, that may not be the best idea.
Tyus is a good player but I don’t think he brings enough to the table that Tre himself couldn’t bring to justify signing him to a big contract.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
One of the most successful 3-and-D players in recent history, Caldwell-Pope won rings with the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets. He plays rugged defense, shoots the ball straight and can be counted on for high IQ on both ends of the court.
I like the idea of the Spurs signing Caldwell-Pope and the two-time champion teaching San Antonio’s youngsters how to win. He wouldn’t step on any toes and he’s a player who is great in his role.
Unfortunately, I doubt Caldwell-Pope would want to sign with the Spurs. A contender will surely break the bank for him. The Spurs are probably too far away from a title to give him a huge deal.
Tobias Harris
Production-wise, Harris is still really good. Last season with the Philadelphia 76ers, he posted averages of 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists. He shot well from virtually every distance. Even though he struggled in the playoffs for the Sixers, it appears as if Harris has a few more good years left.
From San Antonio’s perspective, it’d be difficult to get behind the idea of signing Harris. He’s 32 years old and would require a lot of touches. On a team like the Spurs that is trying to give youthful players room to grow, Harris would likely just get in the way.
Chris Paul
If the Golden State Warriors end up waiving Paul, San Antonio would be one of his possible destinations. It’s easy to imagine Paul running the show as the starting point guard and making life easier for everyone else. He’s 39 years old but he looks to have enough gas left in the tank for one final run as a starter.
That said, Paul would likely prefer to go to a championship contender. With his days in the league numbered, he probably won’t be joining a rebuilding team like the Spurs.
Caleb Martin
Martin is a 28-year-old small forward who has proven he can start in the league in his time with the Miami Heat. He has also shown a knack for playing his best when the lights are the brightest.
Could Martin be wooed to San Antonio to play a starting role and help teach younger players how to win? It sounds possible. He’d be a pretty good fit because he plays defense, can hit threes and is unselfish. The Spurs could be turned off by his extensive injury history, though.
Naji Marshall
Marshall isn’t a well-known player but he quietly makes quite a bit of sense for the Spurs. As a member of the New Orleans Pelicans last season, he made 38.7% of his three-pointers and upped his efficiency across the board. Marshall is also a good passer and could have some room to grow as a 26-year-old.
For the right amount of money, Marshall may see the Spurs as a good fit because he has only started 36 games in his four years in the NBA. In San Antonio, Marshall would likely be given an opportunity to start.
Isaac Okoro
Okoro is a restricted free agent. While with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Okoro has established himself as a quality defensive player. He is also known to hustle endlessly and his three-point shot is coming around.
While it’d be good to add someone of Okoro’s defensive ability, he’s such a limited offensive player that he could do more harm than good when looking at the big picture. Okoro being restricted also makes him less attractive.
De’Anthony Melton
Melton could be a sneaky target for the Spurs. He’s only 6-foot-3 but he checks a lot of boxes. He’s a really good defensive player who rebounds and hustles consistently. Offensively, he’s an underrated passer and an accomplished three-point shooter.
Signing Melton and starting him alongside Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan and Wembanyama is intriguing. That looks like a really good defensive team that should be able to grow on the offensive end.
Last season, Melton was sidelined with a spinal injury — and that could be what ultimately scares the Spurs away.
Hired Guns
Buddy Hield
The Spurs desperately need three-point shooting and Hield is one of the most accomplished three-point shooters in NBA history. He’s a volume three-point shooter who is a career 40% shooter from downtown.
Hield doesn’t defend and the rest of his game is limited. Could the Spurs go after him? Maybe … but his lack of defense could cause the Silver and Black to look elsewhere.
Malik Beasley
Beasley is similar to Hield in that he’s in the NBA because he’s a deadeye shooter. While Beasley isn’t quite as good of a shooter as Hield, he’s a better defender.
If the Spurs are in the market for a shooter, Beasley will surely be contacted.
Old Vets
Kyle Anderson
I mean, why not? Anderson has one of the highest basketball IQs in the NBA. He can impact winning without taking a shot. He’s familiar with the Spurs. He can play a variety of positions.
If Anderson opts to leave Minnesota, the Spurs could come calling.
Taurean Prince
The San Antonio native can shoot threes and defend. Prince might not start for the Spurs but he’d at least be a trustworthy bench cog.
Nicolas Batum
Batum, 35, still has a few tips and tricks to share with younger teammates. Even as his role has shrunk in recent years, he is still someone you want on your side in a close game. He can be trusted to make winning plays.
Joe Ingles
Ingles is basically the Australian Batum at this point in his career. He can knock down shots and do smart things. At 36, he probably has only one more reasonably productive season left in his legs.
Value Free Agent Signing
Saddiq Bey
Bey is a quality player but he’s dealing with a torn ACL right now. He might miss all of next season. Could the Spurs try to lock him up on a cheap deal? There would surely be worse ways to spend their free agent cash.
Obi Toppin
Toppin is a super athlete who can shoot threes and dunk with anger. His feel for the game is still a work in progress, to put it gently.
Jalen Smith
Smith, who was Toppin’s teammate on the Indiana Pacers, is a highly productive big man. He’s a good shooter and rebounder. Smith can struggle moving laterally on defense and his feel for the game is lacking on offense. However, his sky-high production is difficult to ignore.
Precious Achiuwa
Achiuwa is a burly big man who plays with power. His three-point stroke may be too streaky to thrive in San Antonio, however.
Haywood Highsmith
Highsmith took a scenic route to the NBA but emerged as a 3-and-D forward last season with the Heat.
San Antonio’s Free Agent
Cedi Osman
Osman played well off the bench for the Spurs last season. Should San Antonio bring him back? It depends if the Spurs think other younger players are ready to take on a bigger role.
My guess is that the Spurs will try to bring him back to keep a veteran voice in the locker room.
Sandro Mamukelashvili
The Spurs made Mamukelashvili a restricted free agent and allowed Dominick Barlow to become an unrestricted free agent. It’s safe to say that the Spurs decided to bring back Mamukelashvili and let Barlow go.
If that’s the case, it’s probably the right move. Mamukelashvili played well with Wembanyama. Barlow struggled next to Wembanyama. When in doubt, you keep the guy who thrives with Wembanyama at his side.