The Spurs will have to wait before getting Tobias Harris into the mix.
San Antonio head coach Mitch Johnson said Harris will not be available for Tuesday’s season opener against the Thunder, after the veteran forward dealt with a left calf strain in preseason.
“He’s ramping up," Johnson said, per The Athletic's Jared Weiss. "He’s progressing. He still needs some more progressing on the court.”
That update fits with what Johnson had already been saying throughout preseason. Harris was limited before the strain shut him down, and the Spurs never sounded interested in pushing him back too quickly.
"The seriousness is what it is," Johnson said during preseason, per The Athletic." We won't rush him at all.
I guess the question will be is he ready for the season opener? Totally questionable, and we will not push that at all.
So, we'll take it slow. There is no concern of this level of seriousness, and at the same time, we will not rush him at all."
The Spurs added Harris in the offseason on a two-year, $31 million deal, making him their only free-agent signing this summer. At 34, he was brought in to provide scoring support and leadership for a roster that stayed largely intact after a trip to the NBA Finals.
That part of the equation matters. San Antonio had stretches last season where the offense went cold, and Harris was expected to help steady things with his three-level scoring. Instead, he’ll spend a little more time getting fully ready after the calf issue interrupted his preseason.
With Harris sidelined, Dylan Harper, Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson are expected to handle significant minutes in the opener. Their roles were already established from last year’s team, so the Spurs will have to lean on familiar pieces while Harris continues his ramp-up.
In Other News...
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For San Antonio, the challenge is no longer just about picking up SGA at the point of attack and hoping the defense can hold up after that. The Spurs now have to track him through actions away from the ball, while also finding ways to clog Williams' passing lanes and keep Oklahoma City from turning simple movement into easy looks. It is a tougher assignment than last season, and one the Spurs will have to solve if they want to make life uncomfortable for the Thunder again. [Read more 🡒]
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Spurs Suddenly Face A Real De'Aaron Fox Fit Question
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So when De'Aaron Fox starts popping up in trade speculation, it is not just noise. The idea of a deal with Toronto involving RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley hints at how seriously the Spurs may have to weigh fit against talent, especially with so many guards already marked as part of the future. Foxs presence would bring obvious ability, but the bigger question is how he would slot alongside Harper, Castle and the rest of a backcourt that already has a lot of developmental value tied up in it. [Read more 🡒]