The Spurs are set to open preseason on October 8th, and for a few familiar faces, those first exhibition games carry more weight than usual. San Antonio has some roster uncertainty to sort through, and this stretch will offer an early look at who is in position to carve out a real role this season.
Keldon Johnson is one of the names worth watching right away. He’s entering his eighth year with the Spurs, but there’s no extension in place, and a contract year always sharpens the pressure.
Johnson is coming off a rough playoff run, and his path to minutes may not be as clear as it once was with Tobias Harris and Carter Bryant now in the mix. Still, there’s a case for him.
Johnson is the kind of player who can swing a game in limited time, even around 20 minutes a night, and that burst of energy matters over the grind of the regular season. What he does in preseason will help shape the conversation.
If he looks like the same frustrating version of himself, the trade chatter could start to build before the February deadline. If he plays more like he did in the regular season last year, he could remain part of the picture well beyond this season.
De'Aaron Fox is in a different kind of spotlight. He’s starting a max contract season, but that doesn’t make him immune to scrutiny.
The Spurs have not shown any real interest in moving him after an ugly showing in the NBA Finals, yet they need him ready to go from the jump once training camp and preseason begin. A bad preseason won’t get him shipped out on its own, but continued struggles would at least force the organization to think harder about his future.
And if the Spurs ever did try to move him, that would be no easy task. A deal would be complicated, and they might have to attach multiple first-round picks to make it happen.
What San Antonio wants instead is a reset. If Fox looks more like the Sacramento Kings version of himself - attacking the rim, warping defenses and opening space for shooters - that changes everything.
Even being 10% better than he was last season would make a real difference for this team.
Harrison Barnes also enters preseason with his place in question, even if the surprise here is a little different. Some Spurs fans expected last season to be his final run with the team, but he returned on a one-year deal.
The expectation now is that he’ll serve more as depth than as a regular rotation piece, especially with Julian Champagnie and Tobias Harris ahead of him at power forward. That still matters, though, because power forward has been a problem spot for San Antonio for a long time, and Barnes gives them another body there.
He did struggle at times last season, but once he was moved out of the starting lineup, he actually played well. As a third option at power forward, he fits fine.
The bigger issue is the contract situation. Barnes’ $8 million expiring deal, along with Johnson’s expiring $17.5 million salary, could be part of a bigger trade package if the Spurs go after a major addition at the deadline.
Barnes can’t control that, but it leaves his roster spot far from secure heading into preseason.
In Other News...
Tarris Reed Jr. Faces The Spurs Test That Could Speed Up Everything
Tarris Reed Jr. has made enough of an impression in Spurs training camp to draw praise from De'Aaron Fox, who pointed to Reeds physical readiness and the progress he has already shown. For a young big trying to settle into the NBA, that kind of early notice matters, especially on a roster where every practice rep can come with extra pressure and a little education attached.
The biggest part of that education is the daily work against Victor Wembanyama, and that is hardly a normal introduction for an early-career center. Reed is being asked to absorb the lessons that come from facing one of the leagues toughest defenders day after day, and if he can turn those reps into real growth, it could help accelerate whatever comes next for him in San Antonio. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Just Sent A Clear Message About Julian Champagnie
The Spurs keep making their offseason priorities clear, and Julian Champagnie is now part of that picture for the long haul. He arrived in San Antonio after being waived by the 76ers and claimed in February 2023, then worked his way from a four-year, $12 million contract into a much bigger role once he became a starter last season.
San Antonio is still sorting out its broader rotation and the competition around the perimeter figures to stay lively, especially with Harrison Barnes back in the fold and several young guards and wings pushing for minutes. The coaching staff has been tweaked as well, so Champagnies new deal says as much about what the Spurs already trust in him as it does about how much jostling still lies ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Stephon Castle Just Got A New Challenge The Spurs Cant Ignore
The NBAs latest points of emphasis are set to put a little more pressure on offensive players who extend an off-arm to create space, and that puts Stephon Castle squarely in the spotlight. For the Spurs guard, whose game has included that kind of physical separation on drives, the leagues renewed attention means a cleaner finish to the rim may now be part of the adjustment process.
There is a flip side for San Antonio, though, and it could matter just as much. If officials are more willing to call those push-offs on offense, Castle should also get a bit more freedom on the other end, where staying attached to ballhandlers is already a tough assignment. For a young guard trying to sharpen his edge, it is the sort of rule change that can force a quick reset while also offering a small reward if he can adapt fast enough. [Read more 🡒]