B/R Highlights Harry Giles to San Antonio Spurs possibility

Bleacher Report recently revealed their nine potential steals of the summer, one of which featured a versatile big man coming to the San Antonio Spurs

After declining his fourth-year option, the Sacramento Kings have made it clear to Harry Giles that he is not exactly their top priority. Free to choose his next team, Giles will enter unrestricted free agency this summer as one of the most fascinating big men on the market. The San Antonio Spurs should be looking at the possibility of bringing him in on a shorter deal.

In a recent article predicting the biggest steals of free agency, Mandela Namaste highlighted the Spurs and Detroit Pistons as teams that Giles would fit well with. Both have limited cap room, but that could change for San Antonio depending on how DeMar DeRozan handles his player-option, and both could have to make risky deals to try to return to postseason contention.

We’ve pointed out the fit between Giles and the Spurs before. He’s very young and injuries have derailed many years of his development, but Giles still shows flashes of the promise that made him one of the most exciting high-school prospects in years. He’s not being forced out of Sacramento, but the emergence of Richaun Holmes and Marvin Bagley creates a minutes crunch. He could just need to find the right team to carve out a role with.

Between Lonnie Walker, Derrick White, and Dejounte Murray, the San Antonio Spurs have their backcourt of the future set up nicely. However, there are still several question marks around their frontcourt. Luka Samanic and Chimezie Metu have shown promise in the G-League but it’s still far too early to tell if they’ll be able to match that production at the next level.

Jakob Poeltl and Trey Lyles both played well this year but Poeltl’s status with the Spurs is up in the air and Lyles doesn’t seem like he’s a long term solution in the starting lineup. San Antonio could elect to use their upcoming draft pick on another big, but signing Giles to a short-term deal this summer would be another solution.

While he’s unlikely to develop into a team’s top scoring option, Giles could still carve out a role as a playmaking forward surrounded by slashers and shooters. A skilled passer, Giles could run parts of the Spurs offense from the top of the key, finding cutters or kicking it back to a guard to initiate a pick and roll action.

When the Spurs signed Lyles this summer it looked like he would fill an end of the bench sort of role. It didn’t take long for him to claim a near-permanent place in the starting lineup. Giles could do something similar. His career averages of 17.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per 36 minutes paint the picture of a player who has the potential and just needs the opportunity.

Both LaMarcus Aldridge and Rudy Gay will be unrestricted free-agents after the 2020-21 season. Bringing in Giles on a two-year deal would give him one year to get acclimated in San Antonio and then a year to make his mark in the starting lineup.

It would be a win-win situation for all parties involved. The Spurs would get the immediate frontcourt help the need, plus the possibility of finding their next starting big man, and Giles would come to a team with a respected medical staff and development program. In terms of career building, he could do a lot worse than signing up for a two-year apprenticeship with Tim Duncan.

Health risks aside, Harry Giles would be a great low-risk signing for the San Antonio Spurs this summer.