Ja'Kobi Gillespie's two-way skill set opens a path into Spurs' rotation

Watching the Spurs in a few months will feel like the second season of any sitcom: you're excited for the development of their core characters while waiting to see what the newer cast members bring to the table. Of those new additions, Ja'Kobi Gillespie is one of the most underrated, as his shooting and defensive prowess could fill some immediate needs for the team.

The 6'1" Gillespie was one of the premier players in the SEC last season, averaging 18.4 points along with 5.4 assists, and helped the Volunteers make a run to the Elite Eight. To further convince Spurs fans of his value, he had some impressive moments throughout the Summer League, even outplaying Darryn Peterson in a head-to-head battle.

Sure, he may not have the size, dynamic athleticism, and star-level upside of some of San Antonio's other young guards, but that doesn't mean he can't provide value for this team in their quest for a championship.

Gillespie can help fill some offensive gaps for the Spurs

Last season, San Antonio finished the season top three in offensive rating for the first time since 2011. But that doesn't mean they didn't have areas for improvement—one being their three-point shooting. They were just okay on that front, ranking 14th in attempts and 15th in percentage.

In the Finals, they flat-out struggled to convert on their long-range attempts, draining 33.9%, which was concerningly below their regular-season and playoff averages. The old-heads can complain about three-point shooting all they want, but in this day and age, it's an important offensive tool for any team that wants to hoist the Larry O'Brien trophy.

Throughout training camp and the preseason, Ja'Kobi Gillespie can do himself and Mitch Johnson a huge favor by putting on an exceptional three-point shooting display. We've seen him do it on the collegiate level; in both his sophomore and junior years, he made over 38% of his attempts.

Ja'Kobi can accompany whoever is leading San Antonio's second-unit offense and spot up on the wings and corners. The effect is twofold: it punishes defenders from the perimeter while opening up lanes for players like Dylan Harper, Keldon Johnson, and Tobias Harris to attack the rim.

Gillespie is the perfect fit for the Spurs' defensive culture

Despite being undersized, Gillespie's defense makes him a great fit for San Antonio. He's aggressive on the ball, rushing opponents into tough shots or turnovers. Last season under Rick Barnes, he averaged 2.1 steals per game. He also had some good moments guarding Darryn Peterson in their Summer League bout.

Now, the Spurs have no shortage of strong on-ball defenders, but Ja'Kobi could be a good additional option to deploy off the bench if someone else gets hurt or falls into foul trouble.

If you're ready to count Gillespie out because of his physical measurements, I kindly ask you to take a look at the last two NBA Finals series. Teams like the Pacers and Knicks got great production from their small guards on the biggest stages, so the Spurs' rookie has room to make an impact.

If he can prove himself as a legitimate 3&D weapon throughout training camp and the preseason, Mitch Johnson should have no problem throwing him into the fire in his rookie year. He has an NBA-ready skill set, so it should definitely be put to use if he takes advantage of those opportunities.

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