San Antonio Spurs: Who should start at point guard?

With Tony Parker out of action, who should start for the San Antonio Spurs at point guard?

With Tony Parker not expected to return until January, who should start at point guard for the San Antonio Spurs? You have Patty Mills, the six footer from Australia, fresh off signing a four-year, $50 million deal. There is Dejounte Murray. Last year’s first round pick, who showed some bright flashes last year. He started 8 regular season games, and two playoff games. And then you have this year’s first round pick, Derrick White, from Colorado, who also seems to have great upside.

Parker went down with a ruptured quad tendon in Game 2 of the Rockets playoff series. This forced the Spurs to switch up the rotation the rest of the way. They would lose the Western Conference Finals 4-0 to Golden State.

Did Mills lose out on money?

Patty Mills probably cost himself a bunch of money, with his mediocre performance as a starter in the playoffs this past season. Had Mills played to his potential, he might be with another team this year. Teams may have offered him much more money than the Spurs did.

All last season, and for most of the Aussie’s career, he has been at his best when he comes off the bench. Mills never got comfortable in the starting role, and the numbers show it. I think Mills will go back to coming off of the bench this year, he’ll hit timely three pointers, and play good team defense like usual.

Can Dejounte Murray improve on a pretty good rookie season?

Dejounte Murray should open the season as the starter. He plays with a confidence that I haven’t seen in a Spurs point guard since the early days of Parker. He brings the ball up the court with his body in a very upright position. His head up and on a swivel, eyes surveying the floor, looking to make a play. When he drives in, he can get to the rim, or he can pull up.

Defensively, Murray is long enough to guard some of the premier point guards in the league. Like the Russell Westbrook’s and Steph Curry’s of the NBA. He poses a threat to cause problems with the opposing defenses, and the kid is only 20.

Defense is strong point for White

Derrick White was selected 29th overall in the draft this year. I quickly saw for myself, why the Spurs had drafted him, and not Frank Mason III. Mason was a college standout and was available. White played only one season of Division-I hoops, going for 18 points, 4 assists and 4 rebounds per game. He earned first team All Pac-12, and more importantly, was selected to the All-Defensive team, which is one of the staples of Pop coached teams.

Despite the raw talent White possesses, it will be hard to get quality minutes, with Murray and Mills ahead of him, and even tougher when Parker gets back. Look for the Colorado product to play well when his number gets called, even if it is only in samples.

Next: Looking back on players the Spurs let go in FA

In a league that has so many great point guards, the San Antonio Spurs have a plethora of good ones to shuffle in and out, and could possibly be the deepest at the position in the NBA.