The San Antonio Spurs spent the summer strengthening the middle of the roster, and that work could ripple all the way out to the three-point line.
What looks like a simple upgrade in interior depth may end up changing the way the Spurs score. By adding more size and more bodies around the rim, San Antonio has given itself a much better chance to win the offensive glass. And when that happens, the payoff often comes in the form of cleaner looks from deep.
Last season, the Spurs finished 14th in offensive rebounding. That’s not a disaster, but it’s also not the kind of number that changes games. They’ve already seen how costly one extra possession can be, after OG Anunoby’s dramatic putback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Now the front line looks deeper. Tarris Reed Jr., Jayden Quaintance when healthy, Luke Kornet and even Tobias Harris give Victor Wembanyama more support in the paint. That should help San Antonio control more missed shots on its own end and turn them into second-chance points or kickouts to the perimeter.
That’s where the bigger offensive payoff comes in. Offensive rebounds don’t just create putbacks.
They also force defenses into scramble mode, and that’s when shooters can get lost for a split second. A rebounder can pull the ball back out, the defense is still recovering, and suddenly a three is there for the taking.
It’s a tough sequence for a defense to survive. A team can force a miss and still end up giving up points because it couldn’t finish the possession. In tight regular-season games and in the playoffs, that kind of sequence can swing the momentum fast.
The Spurs were 14th in three-point attempts last season, 16th in makes and 15th in percentage. Those numbers could climb if the rebounding presence improves the way it should.
And San Antonio has enough shooting to cash in if those extra chances show up. Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes all hit at least 38% of their threes last season. Carter Bryant, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle also look poised for bigger steps as shooters after showing promise after the All-Star break and in the playoffs.
The formula is pretty clear: get stronger inside, create more chaos on the glass, and that pressure spills outward into better looks from three. For the Spurs, one area of growth could end up making the whole offense harder to stop.
In Other News...
Spurs Face A De'Aaron Fox Dilemma That Could Free Their Young Backcourt
A recent trade idea has put the Spurs in an interesting spot around DeAaron Fox, with the discussion centered less on what he has already done in San Antonio and more on how his presence shapes the rest of the roster. Bleacher Reports Greg Swartz floated a scenario involving Houston that would reshape both teams, and from the Spurs side it raises a familiar question for a rebuilding club: how much should fit matter when the long-term picture is still coming into focus?
For San Antonio, the bigger appeal may be what opens up behind Fox. A move like this would clear a path for Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle to share the backcourt, giving the Spurs a chance to lean further into their younger guards. It remains strictly speculative, and there is no indication either team is lining up to make it happen, but it is the sort of idea that naturally lingers because it speaks directly to the Spurs next phase. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Opening Lineup Comes With One Immediate Problem Fans Can See
San Antonio has not yet gotten a look at the starting group it had in mind, with De'Aaron Fox sidelined by soreness and tightness keeping the intended lineup on hold. Even before a minute is played together, the unit stands out for its lack of size, a trait that could matter against bigger frontcourts and teams built to punish the glass, like Oklahoma City.
Tobias Harris is the one player in the mix who can help address that issue once he is fully back from a left calf strain. His presence would give the Spurs more rebounding and a little more size to work with, but for now the question is whether he is ready to be part of the answer when the season opens. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Suddenly Need De'Aaron Fox For More Than Just Preseason Minutes
The Spurs have opened preseason with a pair of losses, even with Dylan Harper giving them reason to pay attention in both games. San Antonio has other established pieces in place already, with Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell and Victor Wembanyama set in their roles, so the point guard spot remains the most interesting battle on the roster as the team sorts out its backcourt.
De'Aaron Fox's return to the starting lineup is now expected to matter for more than just getting him back into game shape. The Spurs need a little more edge and urgency in these exhibition games, and Fox brings a level of competitiveness that can sharpen the group while the staff evaluates how the guard rotation should settle. For now, he and Harper are the two names to watch as San Antonio decides what the pecking order looks like. [Read more 🡒]