Mitch Johnson’s guard-heavy starting group is going to have to prove it can stretch a defense before anyone buys in.
The look the Spurs rolled out in preseason game four - De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama - put the spacing concerns right on display against the Suns’ backups. It was the first time that group had shared the floor, and the offense felt cramped early as Phoenix treated Fox, Castle and Harper like drivers first and shooters second.
Fox knocked down both of his 3-point attempts and Harper hit one of two, but that wasn’t enough to force the Suns to change how they guarded the group right away. Castle missed both of his tries from deep, and San Antonio stumbled to a 1-for-10 start from the field while the paint stayed packed.
There were still some encouraging stretches. When the starters returned late in the first half, the Spurs strung together a run and started to look more connected offensively. The ball moved better, shots dropped, and the group showed the first signs of chemistry after a preseason defined by stop-and-go lineups.
The defense gave San Antonio an early edge, too. Phoenix went scoreless for the first two and a half minutes as the Spurs came out swarming, jumping passing lanes and contesting just about everything.
But once the Suns started getting shots to fall, they found more room around the rim than San Antonio probably wanted. Phoenix repeatedly pulled Wembanyama away from the basket and also had success attacking him even when he stayed home.
That’s not the kind of formula anyone expects to hold up for long against Wembanyama, but it was a reminder that the Spurs still have work to do with this configuration.
Mitch Johnson on the Fox-Castle-Harper lineup:
“First time that group’s played together. It’s been a very stop-and-go preseason in terms of lineups, so we’re just trying to get into a little bit of a rhythm. Some positive reinforcement to show them and some learning and a long… pic.twitter.com/kGXuHQ7Yss
When Fox sat out the second half because it was his first night of action, Harrison Barnes slid into the starting group, and that version of the Spurs looked better. San Antonio pushed the lead close to 20 points, with two ball handlers and two spacers around Wembanyama making the offense look far more natural.
The idea still has room to grow. But San Antonio can’t afford to spend the regular season experimenting at the expense of wins, especially with expectations already set at chasing the number one seed. If four guards are going to be part of the plan, the Spurs need answers quickly.
In Other News...
Spurs Camp Cuts Put New Focus On A Roster Battle To Watch
The Spurs trimmed their camp roster ahead of the 2026/27 season by waiving Taelon Peter, Malik Williams and Terry Taylor, part of the usual late-preseason sorting that comes with training camp competition. It is the kind of move that rarely grabs headlines on its own, but it does sharpen the focus on who is still standing as the Spurs continue to shape the back end of the roster.
Around the league, several other teams were making similar decisions, with the Hawks signing Giorgi Bezhanishvili to an Exhibit 10 deal, the Jazz adding Chance Moore and the Cavaliers waiving Jaxson Robinson. Cole Swider, DeAndre Williams and Steven Crowl were also let go by the Lakers, Clippers and Nuggets, respectively, underscoring how active this stretch can be as teams settle on their final looks before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs May Be Seeing An Early Answer Behind Victor Wembanyama
The Spurs have spent the preseason looking for the kind of sturdy interior presence that can take some of the burden off Victor Wembanyama, and rookie center Tarris Reed Jr. has given them a promising early look. Reed has stood out for his work on the glass and around the rim, including a 17-rebound game against Utah and another strong showing against Phoenix, where he finished with three blocks and nine rebounds.
For a young big trying to earn trust in a crowded rotation, that sort of consistency matters as much as the headline numbers. Reed said he plans to keep bringing effort and persistence, and San Antonio will be watching to see whether that carries into a steady role as the season gets closer. The Spurs could use a reliable backup behind Wembanyama, and Reed has at least made that conversation worth having. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Wembanyama Just Got The Kind Of NBA Respect Spurs Fans Crave
The kind of leaguewide respect Spurs fans have been waiting for is starting to show up in the annual NBA GM survey, where Victor Wembanyama landed near the very top of the conversation about the games future. The numbers tell a clear story about how front offices now view the 7-foot-4 centerpiece in San Antonio: not just as a marvel, but as the player most general managers would want building around as the league looks ahead to the 2026-27 season.
That is a striking shift considering the company he is keeping in the survey, with Nikola Jokic still setting the standard for proven greatness. Wembanyamas appeal is rooted in the rare package that has already made him such a problem for opponents, blending elite length with guard-like skill in a way that can swing both ends of the floor. For the Spurs, the bigger takeaway is what it says about the long game: GMs are not just admiring what he is now, but betting on what he could become as a franchise cornerstone for years to come. [Read more 🡒]