Amen Thompson’s new rookie extension in Houston may end up being the kind of deal the Spurs want to study closely when Stephon Castle’s next contract comes due.
Thompson just locked in a 5-year, $208 million extension with the Rockets, a contract that can pay him up to 22% of the salary cap moving forward. For Houston, that’s a fair number for a player who has flashed real upside while still carrying questions on offense. Castle, though, has a case to be viewed as the better two-way player, even if his own offensive ceiling isn’t fully defined yet.
That uncertainty is exactly why San Antonio has to tread carefully. Castle entered the league with questions about his jump shot, and while he has done enough to inspire optimism, he still has plenty of work left before anyone can call him a reliable shooter.
Around the Spurs, there’s already a growing expectation that both Dylan Harper and Castle will eventually land 25% max contracts. That outcome is certainly possible, especially if Castle puts together an All-Star season next year.
He was arguably San Antonio’s second-best player last season as the team won 62 games and reached the NBA Finals, and that matters. But if he falls short of All-Star or All-NBA status next season, the Spurs could find themselves in a tricky spot.
Victor Wembanyama’s 30% max extension gives San Antonio some breathing room, but not enough to get reckless. If Castle doesn’t take the leap into clear third-star territory, the Spurs probably shouldn’t rush to hand him a full 25% max.
That leaves a window of about a year for San Antonio to try to convince Castle to take a little less. The Spurs may not be able to get him down to 22% the way Houston did with Thompson, but even 24% instead of 25% would save roughly $1.75 million per year.
That kind of difference may not jump off the page, but in cap management it can matter a lot. It could be the line between staying under the dreaded second apron and getting trapped above it. And if Harper eventually follows the same path, the Spurs could save around $8 million annually from their young core.
That’s the kind of edge that can change how a team is built. The Oklahoma City Thunder, by comparison, are already using 85% of their cap on their three best players. If San Antonio can get Castle - and later Harper - to take a little less, Thompson’s new contract may wind up looking like the blueprint.
In Other News...
Victor Wembanyama Just Landed A New Spurs Role
Victor Wembanyama is heading into the upcoming season with a different kind of responsibility in San Antonio. Along with the pressure that comes with his own rise, he is expected to help guide the Spurs new frontcourt additions and set the tone for a young group that will be leaning on him for more than just production on the floor.
For Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., that means a chance to learn behind a player who has already established himself as the centerpiece of the teams future. Wembanyamas influence could shape not only how the rookies develop, but also how quickly they adjust to the demands and mentality the Spurs want in their rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Steph Curry To Spurs Buzz Suddenly Feels Worth Watching
The offseason chatter around Golden State has kept Steph Curry in the rumor mill, and the noise has only gotten louder after the Warriors failed to make meaningful roster upgrades. ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins even floated the idea that Curry should think about moving on, which is the kind of comment that naturally sends speculation spinning in every direction. For San Antonio, it is at least easy to see why the idea has traction, given the Spurs mix of young talent and the kind of long-term flexibility that always invites bigger-swing conversations.
The buzz gets especially interesting because one speculative framework has Curry landing in San Antonio in a deal built around Dylan Harper, DeAaron Fox and future draft capital. It is still firmly in the realm of analysis, not anything close to a real transaction, but it is the sort of proposal that forces you to think about where the Spurs want to press their timeline and what they would be willing to move to do it. Even as the scenario remains hypothetical, it feels like the rare kind of star rumor that fits San Antonios broader rise well enough to keep watching. [Read more 🡒]
Dylan Harper Just Changed The Spurs Debate Around DeAaron Fox
Dylan Harper has spent his first year around a Spurs team trying to sort out both its present and its backcourt future, and he does not sound interested in turning De'Aaron Fox into a roster problem. Harper pointed to Fox as a meaningful part of San Antonios success now and down the road, a notable endorsement in a season where the guard rotation and Foxs contract have both been part of the conversation.
Harper also made clear that the fit questions others might raise are not his concern. He said playing alongside multiple ball-handlers has never bothered him, which only adds another layer to a Spurs guard situation that already has plenty of moving pieces. Foxs role in Harpers development is part of that story, and it leaves San Antonio with a familiar kind of good problem as it weighs how to keep this group together. [Read more 🡒]