Victor Wembanyama may be setting up something that reaches far beyond San Antonio.
The Spurs star has already made his position clear with a message on social media: “Spurs family, I’m here to stay. Whatever it takes🖤,” And according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, there’s been buzz in Las Vegas that Wembanyama could follow a path similar to Jalen Brunson’s in New York by taking less than his maximum rookie scale extension to give the Spurs more financial flexibility: “There has been word this morning in Las Vegas that Victor Wembanyama is considering signing less than his maximum rookie scale extension to provide San Antonio greater financial flexibility.”
If that happens, it would be a major win for San Antonio and potentially a useful development for the league as a whole. But it would also make life tougher for the teams that have already committed big money to their stars.
The Spurs are headed toward a pricey future, and Wembanyama is only part of the equation. San Antonio has other young players who are going to need to get paid, too.
Dylan Harper just put together an incredible playoff run, and after what he showed, he looks like someone on a fast track to superstardom. He was only a rookie last year, but a major payday doesn’t feel far off.
Stephon Castle is in a similar spot. He’s about to enter his third season, and like Harper, he’ll likely be in line for a max extension when his rookie deal runs out.
That’s where the math gets tricky. Under today’s CBA, three max contracts can make roster building a brutal exercise. The Boston Celtics recently traded Jaylen Brown, reportedly because they didn’t want to carry two players on supermax deals.
So if Wembanyama really does take less, it could give the Spurs the room they need to keep their core intact. It would mirror what Brunson’s decision did for the Knicks.
And if that idea catches on? That’s where things get interesting.
If more stars start following Wembanyama’s lead, teams could hold onto their talent longer and build deeper rosters. For everybody else, that would mean an even tougher path to winning.
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