Devin Vassell’s place in the Spurs’ starting five no longer feels like a given.
That’s the strange part. He just put together a strong regular season, then followed it with a terrific playoff run.
He averaged 13 points, shot nearly 38% from three, and brought stellar defense in the postseason. On paper, that sounds like the profile of a player who’s locked into a starting job.
In San Antonio, though, the picture is more complicated.
The reason is simple: the Spurs have real depth, and they may be looking at a lineup that gets even more crowded next season. Dylan Harper looks like a star in the making, and San Antonio could choose to start him right away. If that happens, the Spurs would roll out De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Harper together - a trio fans have been pushing for.
The irony is that the Spurs have mostly avoided using those three point guards together. They did it in the NBA Finals, though. And if Fox hadn’t melted down against the New York Knicks, the Spurs might be champions, with Harper not opening the season as a reserve.
There’s still a practical hurdle before that kind of guard-heavy setup becomes reality. San Antonio has work to do when two of those guards are away from the ball. The obvious answer is for them to space the floor and knock down open threes.
Castle and Harper both made noticeable strides as shooters in the second half of last season and again in the playoffs. Harper also gave the Spurs a surprise boost on the offensive glass, helping offset the spacing issues by creating second-chance chances.
If that shooting growth sticks, San Antonio could make the three-guard look work. If it does, Vassell is the one who could lose out and end up coming off the bench.
Even so, that doesn’t mean he’s fading into the background. Vassell remains a major piece for the Spurs.
He may be their best all-around shooter, and he was a real factor on defense last season. He can score in different ways, too, which could make him a natural fit in a microwave role with the second unit.
And whether he starts or not, Vassell still fits into the bigger picture. He could remain part of the closing group alongside those three and Wembanyama, giving the Spurs the spacing they need.
So while Vassell’s starting spot is suddenly in question, his importance isn’t. The only real uncertainty is whether he’ll be in the first five every night, or whether Harper eventually takes that spot as the season unfolds.
In Other News...
Harrison Barnes Faces A New Spurs Reality He Can Still Shape
Harrison Barnes arrived in San Antonio on a one-year deal with a clear understanding of the assignment: bring experience, professionalism and a steadying voice to a young roster that is trying to grow up fast. The Spurs have several players competing for minutes, and the regular season is likely to be as much about development as it is about the nightly rotation, which makes Barnes a useful presence even if his role is no longer built around heavy usage.
What gives this pairing its intrigue is that Barnes can still shape the season without dominating it. His value now may come more from the way he helps younger teammates navigate the grind, sets the tone in the locker room and provides a model of how to handle a changing role, while the Spurs continue sorting out where everyone fits in a crowded pecking order. [Read more 🡒]
Kawhi Leonards Spurs Legacy Just Got Pulled Into A New Debate
Kawhi Leonards place in basketball history has never really been in doubt, especially in San Antonio, where his rise and title run helped define an era for the Spurs. Now, though, the conversation around his legacy has shifted from what he accomplished on the floor to how voters might view him when Hall of Fame ballots eventually come into play.
Eddie Johnson said Leonard should end up in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, but he expects the recent Clippers controversy to linger in the background for a while. The NBAs investigation found Leonards uncle had pushed the team for off-court income opportunities, leading to league discipline for the Clippers and several executives, while Leonard has denied any knowledge of wrongdoing through his agent. [Read more 🡒]
Wembanyamas Rise Is Creating A Real Spurs Credit Problem
Victor Wembanyamas rise has changed the way the Spurs are viewed around the league, and not just because of what he does on the floor. His presence has made San Antonio a more appealing destination for other NBA players, while also giving teammates like Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper a chance to operate in bigger roles and lean into the defensive backbone the team is building around him.
The tradeoff is the kind of problem winning teams usually welcome. Castle has been part of a defense that ranks among the leagues best, but Wembanyamas gravity can make it harder for the work around him to get the individual credit it deserves. For San Antonio, that is a sign of how far the group has come. For Castle, it leaves an open question about how much recognition can break through when the franchise centerpiece is already drawing so much attention. [Read more 🡒]