Devin Vassell’s place in the Spurs’ starting five may not be settled for long.
San Antonio is still waiting on Tobias Harris to make his debut, and that absence has kept the rotation from fully taking shape. The Spurs held Vassell in the starting group when they moved Dylan Harper into the lineup, but Harris’ return could force another adjustment and create a crowded picture at forward.
That crowd is already easy to see. Harris, Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, and Carter Bryant are all coming off the bench, leaving the Spurs with more forwards than they can comfortably fit into the rotation. Once Harris is healthy, Coach Mitch Johnson may have to make a call, and Vassell could be the one who gets squeezed out.
It would not be a reflection of poor play. Vassell has averaged 10.6 points, his 3-point shot has not been falling with regularity, and he has defended well. Even so, the fit question remains, especially if the Spurs want their second unit to make more sense structurally.
Starting Harris or Champagnie would give San Antonio more size with the first group. Moving Vassell to the bench would also add guard depth, and his scoring could be a better fit alongside the second unit.
If Johnson goes that route, the rotation would likely look more balanced. But there is risk in changing a starting five that has been dominant, and that makes the decision tougher than it looks on paper.
The Spurs could also keep Vassell in the starting lineup and trim elsewhere, possibly by cutting into Keldon Johnson’s minutes and using Harris and Champagnie more with the second unit alongside Luke Kornet and two guards.
For now, Vassell remains in the starting five. But once Harris returns, the Spurs will have to sort out a crowded forward rotation, and Vassell may soon find out whether he’s done enough to keep his spot.
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For now, though, the timing leaves one key wrinkle. Agbaji did not make the opening-day roster, but he is expected to debut at the Spurs home opener, giving the organization a little time to sort out how he fits into the early part of the schedule. With the G League season structure always demanding quick adjustments, Austins upcoming stretch should offer a first look at whether this move is simply a depth play or something more interesting for the Spurs system. [Read more 🡒]
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Victor Wembanyama Criticism Ignores What The Modern NBA Already Proved
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For San Antonio, the bigger point is that Wembanyama is producing at an elite level without needing to force his way into that style of basketball. He is averaging 29 points per game while not relying heavily on post-ups, which says as much about the modern NBA as it does about his own skill set. The criticism may sound tough, but it also ignores how even the leagues biggest stars have adapted to the physical toll and fatigue that come with living on the block. [Read more 🡒]