5 Spurs who must be let go to finally accelerate dominant Wembanyama era

The 2024-25 NBA regular season has officially concluded. The Spurs finished a tumultuous season with a 34-48 record, increasing their win total by 12 games from the 22-60 record the last two seasons that afforded them the opportunity to draft Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle in back-to-back drafts.

They'll look to add another top-tier prospect from the incoming class with one more lottery pick. After this season, they won't be back in the lottery for a long time and everyone knows it. The third season is when a player like Wembanyama really starts to take off, and with De'Aaron Fox in uniform from the beginning of the season, things will be much different.

But the work isn't done. Despite not having Gregg Popovich for almost the entirety of the season due to the stroke he suffered in early November, San Antonio still used this year to evaluate who needs to be here and who needs to go. There's much to consider, but there are players who should definitely be on a different roster next year if they want to level up.

5. Charles Bassey

Bassey has finally surpassed 35 games played in a season for the first time in his career (four years). That's an improvement but he only landed at 37, so it's not a very significant one. The role of backup center has never been more important than it is right now with a young and thin Victor Wembanyama as the starter. The team needs someone they can rely on to be available more times than not.

The former 76er had some great moments in a silver and black uniform—most notably, his six-block performance against Utah. That was back in November. I've enjoyed watching him defend the rim in the sparing minutes he's played, but there's just not enough of them. It's time to move on from Bassey.

4. Bismack Biyombo

The Spurs needed Biyombo this year. The big man situation got a little out of control with all the injuries that came in the immediate aftermath of trading away Zach Collins. Moving Collins was necessary, and obviously, the front office couldn't predict that Wembanyama would be diagnosed with deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or that Bassey would struggle with health for the entire year.

He came in and did what he could but even as the most experienced center on the roster, he couldn't stay on the floor in most games. Certain matchups dictated he come off the bench and when you're the only true center on the team and you can't be trusted to anchor the starter position in Wemby's absence, you're not a long-term solution.

To be fair to him, he was never meant to be. The Spurs were decimated at his position. They needed a bandaid, so they got one in the form of a very strong, veteran Biyombo and we thank him for his service.

3. Malaki Branham

Branham is a spark plug player the likes of a Patty Mills without as much gusto as Mills had. The Australian legend had a fire burning inside him that the Spurs hadn't found in another bench player until they put Keldon Johnson in the second unit. Branham can get hot and put the ball in the basket but he doesn't move the needle as much as you would hope when a player like that gets in the game.

It's because his defense makes his offense a zero-sum. He doesn't draw charges, get steals, or do anything on that side of the floor other than exist. That's just not enough. Also, while his offense can be appreciated, Branham has a tendency to get tunnel vision when the ball is in his hands. San Antonio had enough of that with the last iteration of Keldon Johnson. They don't need to do it again.

Branham only has one year left on his deal but there's a team option in his contract. If they could get something for him in a package with picks or players, that would be the best course of action. However, if there are no teams looking to acquire him via trade, the Spurs should just let him walk.

2. Chris Paul

Chris Paul is in a "two things can be true" situation. It's impressive that he's played all 82 games, and it would be sacrilegious to say he hasn't been valuable to this team. He's been a mentor off the floor, and he'd had his moments on the court too. But he's also a shell of himself. At 40 years old, it's time to bow out and ride off into the sunset.

But the sunset for CP3 should be a coaching gig. He's smart enough to walk right into a head coaching role if he wants it and a team is brave enough to do it. If he were to come back for another season, he'd likely have some options but he'd need to come off the bench. Especially if the Spurs entertained running it back with him. That wouldn't be the worst thing in the world but it's not the preference.

The ideal situation would be for Blake Wesley to be ready to step in as the backup point guard. His energy gives San Antonio the kind of spark they love in this franchise because it stems from his defense and that leads to offense and easy points. Wesley is young, cheap, and valuable when he plays to his potential. Hopefully, the Spurs see it the same way.

1. Devin Vassell

Vassell has had a roller-coaster of a season. He spent the majority of last offseason rehabbing his foot after having surgery in June so, I don't say this lightly, but he should be moved this offseason. However, I don't believe he should be moved because of a negative opinion of him. It's quite the opposite actually.

It's true that Dev hasn't lived up to the value of his contract, but I believe he can if he's able to keep his volume up. I don't think it's a coincidence that he's played better with more opportunity later in the season with Fox and Wembanyama out of the lineup. He seems to be a bit more inconsistent when his shots are fewer.

He only played five games in November and five in April, so let's exclude those months. In December and February, he only averaged 13 shots a game—his lowest average this season. He shot his worst percentages from three during those times (35.6% and 25.7%). He shot 15 times a night in January and March—his highest—and made 37.2% from deep in one month and 42% in the other.

With Wembanyama and Fox returning next season, Stephon Castle improving, and the addition of whatever talent the Spurs add in the offseason, there will be even fewer shots to go around. He could thrive in a different environment because he does have the talent to do so. But that's not the only reason San Antonio should move him.

Vassell is San Antonio's most valuable trade piece

The reality of making trades in the NBA is that you have to give up something that has real value to pull them off 95% of the time. Vassell has a manageable contract and he's a young talented wing who can hit threes and defend at a reasonable level.

The Spurs are not trading Wembanyama, Fox, or Castle right now and Jeremy Sochan is probably also on the list of players who won't be moved. Keldon Johnson's contract is a little too good for San Antonio to move right now with how well he's been playing recently. You want to keep him long-term now. He's completely turned it around. Now he just needs to address his defense and be consistent.

It's time for the Silver and Black to make real moves to put the right team around the Alien to challenge the other contenders in the Western Conference. They have a bunch of picks, but teams are going to want a player or two as well. You aren't getting a good player for a bad one so if you think the Spurs are going to get Cam Johnson for Malaki Branham or something, I've got news for you.

It's time for the Spurs to re-establish themselves as a perennial playoff team but to do that, they'll have to cut bait with a few guys. San Antonio is known for moving in silence when it comes to NBA offseasons but it's time to make some noise. They can start by moving off of these guys so they can bring in the ones who will help them do that.