2 Spurs that earned untouchable status, 2 that should be cut loose

The San Antonio Spurs have reached the final week of the regular season and locked themselves into a bottom-three record in the league. Although the organization pleased some fans by securing the best lottery odds and a golden ticket into the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes, the 2023 NBA Draft is only part of what could be a critical offseason for the rebuild.

With a new CBA coming into play soon that could affect how front offices approach team building, the Silver and Black must think two steps ahead about how to fill their valuable roster spots. Most players are expendable for the right price, but we should examine which Spurs must get the boot this summer and which pieces are untouchable for the time being.

Untouchable: Jeremy Sochan

The Spurs are in the fledgling stages of their full-blown rebuild, and there is no reason for them to consider moving Jeremy Sochan. He has been an invariable beacon of optimism for a young club that has struggled on both sides of the court, and he has already cemented himself as a foundational piece for San Antonio.

Sochan has averaged 11.0 points, 5.3 boards, and 2.5 assists per game, all of which are the most by a Spurs rookie in over a decade. The 19-year-old forward has posted splendid nightly numbers, but his intangibles are what has put him on the national radar. He unsettles opponents, dives for loose balls, and cleans the glass.

Most fans regarded Sochan as a defensive specialist after his lone season at Baylor, and while he has displayed outstanding positional versatility, his ball skills have been equally encouraging. Standing 6-foot-9, he can make live-dribble passes and initiate offense in a way most players his size only dream of. Those guys don't grow on trees.

Cut Loose: Gorgui Dieng

Gorgui Dieng has been a consummate professional during his second go-round with San Antonio. He has been a shining example for youngsters to follow on and off the court, and he has never once complained about not receiving minutes for one of the worst teams in the NBA. Despite offering the team a veteran presence, he looks to be on his last legs.

The 33-year-old center has averaged a career-worst 3.4 points per game on a career-low 37.9% shooting from the field. His footspeed and mobility have vanished, making him a defensive liability whenever he steps on the hardwood. His old man strength helps him hold his own in the post, but it can't stop guards from hunting switches in the pick-and-roll.

There are moments when you can see his basketball brilliance materialize as he outthinks opponents with ball fakes or hits teammates with pinpoint pocket passes on backdoor cuts. If the Silver and Black want him back on the sidelines next season, they should entertain the idea of offering Dieng a position under Gregg Popovich on their coaching staff.

Untouchable: Devin Vassell

Devin Vassell might be the only other untouchable player on this roster as the Spurs approach a crucial offseason for their rebuild. He exploded as a legitimate candidate for Most Improved Player of the Year before nagging knee soreness and a subsequent arthroscopic procedure forced him to sit out for nearly two months.

The third-year guard has averaged 18.5 points and 3.6 assists per game in a newfound role as the undisputed second option for San Antonio. While it has been tough sledding for Vassell since returning from the injury report, he has displayed promising three-level scoring potential when he receives extended minutes and a longer leash to test his limits.

Fans have witnessed Vassell develop into an elite midrange shooter and a highly accurate catch-and-shoot three-point marksman, and he should be healthy enough to build upon that foundation this summer. If he enhances his self-creation package and learns how to get to the rim more often, the six-six swingman could contend for All-Star status.

Cut Loose: Khem Birch

Although Khem Birch is under contract with San Antonio next season, the front office should already be considering releasing him this summer. The Spurs owe him roughly $6.9M in guaranteed money. But they own enough cap space to buy him out of his deal or waive him without worrying about suffering any long-term financial repercussions.

The sixth-year center was no more than a salary filler in the deadline-day transaction that sent Jakob Poeltl back to the Raptors, and no one should feel attached to him at this juncture in his career. The Spurs have talented frontcourt prospects like Charles Bassey and Dominick Barlow that should take precedence over an aging big man like Birch.

San Antonio could search for a trade partner, but it is tough to picture any contending organization spending draft capital or young assets to acquire an aging veteran. Traditional rim runners and paint protectors are a dime a dozen, and with waning athleticism and persistent knee issues, Birch is no longer an everyday rotation player in the NBA.