Looking at the Spurs depth chart and what it means

It’s a new chapter in Pau Gasol’s career, and the beginning of a new chapter for the Spurs.

One of the consequences of bringing him aboard is releasing Boris Diaw, and not getting anything in return. Last season Diaw helped the Spurs win 67 games, being one of the best players on the bench, which played a huge part in helping keep the starters fresh throughout the season.

Diaw brings many of the same skills Gasol brings such as great passing and good post play, but thats not enough to take a leading role. Diaw now stands on the hot seat, waiting his turn to hear who the taker is for his contract, and most likely, he is on his way out of San Antonio.

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At the present, lets take a look at the Spurs depth chart since their last game in the 2015-16 season, if Diaw were not counted in the group.

PG- Parker, Mills, Murray
SG- Green, Ginobili, Simmons
SF- Leonard, Anderson
PF-Aldridge
C- Gasol

This list could also include omissions such as the possibility of Duncan not retiring, Boban taking the qualifying offer, and a few stragglers with partially guaranteed to non-guaranteed contracts looking to grab a roster spot after summer league.

That would mean, the Spurs will be bringing at least 11 of the 15 players from last season, back for this season.

While they won 67 games during the 2015-16 season, their weaknesses were exposed in the playoffs. The lack of athleticism and rebounding really hurt the team, and Coach Gregg Popovich, whom has athleticism on his bench, were at the hands of his younger players, and the trust is not there yet for Popovich.

Sure they may be able to knock out lower tier teams, and even Vegas gives the Spurs high odds at contending for a ring, but when they face a power house like the Golden State Warriors, or any team with both youth and athleticism, there will be more issues than not.

What this does mean? The Spurs will continue to be in contention, make it into the post season, and be one of the best teams in the league barring injuries. It does not make them a better team or a worse team, it just makes them the Spurs.

That’s never been a bad position to be in compared to the rest of the NBA, and it isn’t now. The issue now, the stakes have been raised. After failing to land Kevin Durant, whom the Spurs considered a long shot, and by him joining the Warriors, every team in the NBA is on notice to improve their roster if they want to stand a chance of winning a championship.

That one signing was very much a power shifting move. One on hand it eliminated the threat of advantage that the Thunder had over the Spurs, but on the other it shifted the Warriors power times ten.

The odds are the Spurs will integrate Pau Gasol well into the offense, much how they successfully did with LaMarcus Aldridge. They’ll have a nice inside duo of Gasol and Aldridge to present plenty of match-up problems inside. What they have on the perimeter in Kawhi Leonard is not enough, so they’ll have to be creative and tighten up the team with more youth and more athleticism, which they are still lacking at the moment. Gasol doesn’t solve either of those problems, so without changes this season, they could face the same dilemma in the post season as last year.

The Spurs are poised to ride this wave until more cap space is available next summer. Manu Ginobili and Tim Duncan will for sure be retired by then, and they can make more drastic decisions around their new core of Leonard, Aldridge and Gasol.

It may not be the most ideal scenario to fans, but the Spurs are smart, they know how to adapt to changes. All they need to do is put together a solid plan and execute it the way the Spurs do.

Next: Rookie Bryn Forbes shines in Spurs Summer league win

It’s a new chapter in Pau Gasol’s career, and the beginning of a new chapter for the Spurs.

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