The Spurs’ two-way group enters preseason with real intrigue, but also a clear uphill climb for minutes on a roster that’s already deep and loaded with talent. Maliq Brown, Ja’Kobi Gillespie, and David Jones Garcia all have paths to becoming legitimate NBA players. The bigger question is which traits they can sharpen enough to force their way into the conversation for 2026-27.
For Brown, the swing skill is simple: scoring aggression.
Defensively, he already looks the part. Brown is a smart, switchable combo big who should be able to plug into a pro defensive system without much fuss.
The problem is the other end. If he can’t give teams something to respect offensively, it’s going to be hard for him to stay on the floor in today’s game.
At Duke in 2025-26, Brown averaged 4.9 points on 3.5 field goal attempts per game. Synergy listed his three most common play types as cuts, “miscellaneous plays,” and putbacks, which says a lot about where his offense currently lives. He doesn’t yet have a reliable scoring mode that clearly projects to the NBA.
The clearest lane for him with San Antonio is as a roll man. Brown had just 11 possessions in that role last season, but that’s the kind of action that could matter for the Spurs.
De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle can create the kind of looks that let him turn hard screens and rolls into easy finishes. He doesn’t need to become a 20-point scorer, or even a 10-point one.
He just has to make defenses care.
Gillespie’s challenge is on the defensive end.
He brings plenty of juice as an offensive guard, with deep range, strong handle work, and playmaking flair. But in a league that’s crowded with small guards who can score, that skill set alone doesn’t buy much unless there’s value on the other side of the ball. NBA teams, especially playoff teams, are quick to move on from guards who can’t defend their space.
There are reasons to believe Gillespie can hold up better than some players at his size. He racks up steals and has the quickness to pressure the ball.
The real test is whether that still shows up against the best athletes in the world. That answer will shape how high he can climb in San Antonio.
For Jones Garcia, the issue is fit.
The Spurs already have plenty of players who need the ball. Fox, Harper, and Castle all drive high usage in the backcourt, while Victor Wembanyama also demands a heavy share of touches. Gillespie and Jordan McLaughlin add two more true point guards to the mix, which leaves little room for another on-ball creator.
Jones Garcia has spent most of his pro career operating with the ball in his hands. In his limited minutes with the Spurs in 2025-26, he had 10 P&R ball-handler possessions and only two spot-up possessions, according to Synergy. His G League workload looked similar, with 136 P&R handler possessions and 39 spot-ups.
That profile doesn’t line up neatly with San Antonio’s current roster. If he wants real minutes, he’ll need to adjust.
The encouraging part is that he has long shown he can shoot, going back to his rookie year in the G League and his pre-draft college season. Leaning harder into his catch-and-shoot three-ball would give the Memphis product a much better shot.
Those are attainable goals, and that’s what makes the Spurs’ two-way situation worth watching. If Brown, Gillespie, and Jones Garcia can hit those swing skills, they could turn into genuine finds.
In Other News...
Spurs Backcourt Debate Just Got A Lot More Complicated
A fresh trade idea has only sharpened the questions around the Spurs backcourt, where DeAaron Fox and the long-term fit of the roster have already been major talking points. Jonas Gendvilas of BasketNews floated a deal that would have Fox and Luke Kornet headed to Dallas, with Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford coming back the other way, a concept that immediately forces a look at what San Antonio values most as it tries to keep its guard rotation and frontcourt balance in order.
The debate gets trickier when the roster depth is part of the conversation, because the Spurs have not exactly been starving for size. With Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. added in the draft, the case for another backup center is not especially strong, which is why the idea of swapping pieces for a different kind of backcourt ceiling carries some appeal. Even so, San Antonio does not appear to be in a hurry to chase a major move, and that patience may be the biggest reason this kind of proposal is more of a thought exercise than a deadline blueprint. [Read more 🡒]
Spurs Face A Wing Depth Decision As Philly Trade Buzz Grows
The Spurs spent the offseason keeping their core intact, and re-signing Harrison Barnes gave them another steady veteran wing in the mix. On the surface, it looked like the kind of low-drama move San Antonio likes, but Barnes has already surfaced as a possible trade chip as teams around the league look for dependable shooting and lineup flexibility.
Philadelphias new-look roster still has one obvious wrinkle, even after a flurry of high-profile additions: the perimeter shooting remains a concern. That is why Barnes keeps coming up in trade chatter tied to the 76ers, even though nothing has been finalized, and why San Antonio may have to decide whether to hold the veteran wing or treat him as a movable piece if the right deal emerges. [Read more 🡒]
Victor Wembanyama Could Force A Spurs Backcourt Shakeup
The Spurs backcourt has suddenly become one of the more intriguing parts of their roster build, because there are only so many minutes and touches to go around with DeAaron Fox, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle all in the mix. On paper, that kind of guard depth looks like a strength, but it also raises the bigger question of how San Antonio wants to organize its offense around Victor Wembanyama as he continues to expand his game.
What makes the discussion interesting is the possibility that Wembanyama could eventually become more than just the centerpiece finisher. If he grows into a primary playmaking hub, the Spurs could be forced to rethink the fit of their current guards and make roster decisions that match that vision. For a team still mapping out its long-term identity, the path forward may depend on which direction Wembanyama takes next. [Read more 🡒]