5 San Antonio Spurs who may not be back next season

The San Antonio Spurs are in the epicenter of their worst losing streak in franchise history as they kick off the final quarter of their regular-season schedule. While their principal goal from here on out should be improving their odds of drafting Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson this June, landing either of those once-in-a-lifetime prospects isn't a quick fix to all of the glaring issues on the hardwood.

Several promising youngsters are developing in Alamo City, but the Spurs can't hold onto everyone and expect to reach the final destination of their rebuild. Seven roster spots will be up for grabs this offseason, leaving the front office with significant personnel decisions on their plate. Given what we know about the players under contract, which of them could be on the way out of the 2-1-0 sometime soon?

1. Gorgui Dieng

Gorgui Dieng has filled the role of steadying locker room presence to near perfection this season, showing young prospects the ropes on and off the court while never whining about receiving sparse rotation minutes. He has served San Antonio well, but they must determine whether his mentorship holds enough value to keep him aboard for another go-round.

The 33-year-old center has averaged a career-low 3.1 points per game on a career-worst 38.7% shooting from the field, and it is evident the clock is about to strike midnight on his playing days in the NBA. Cutting ties with a team-first player is never easy. Nonetheless, the Spurs possess a handful of seasoned veterans who can maintain culture and standards.

2. Khem Birch

While Khem Birch is one of the ten players who will still be under contract with the Spurs next season, the front office should consider all options for moving on from him this summer. The sixth-year center was no more than a throw-in to match salaries in the Jakob Poeltl trade, and there is no shot he unseats Zach Collins or Charles Bassey on the depth chart.

The aging interior anchor fell out of the rotation in Toronto before nagging knee pain knocked him out of commission. Birch has remained sidelined in San Antonio, but there should be no rush to get him back on the court. He could be a trade or buyout candidate, and even if the Spurs have to waive him, they have the cap space to absorb that minimal financial hit.

3. Devonte' Graham

San Antonio also acquired Devonte' Graham at the trade deadline, a fifth-year guard who ended up in the doghouse with his previous ball club. The six-foot-one marksman averaged just 5.3 points per game for the Pelicans on wretched .368/347/.746 shooting splits, making it nearly impossible for head coach Willie Green to hand him extended minutes.

The Spurs are not a forever home for Graham, but they could use the final 21 games of this season to showcase his sharpshooting talents to the rest of the league. If San Antonio can inflate his nightly numbers and mend his value, then Brian Wright might be able to move the 28-year-old elsewhere in return for younger assets and draft capital during the summer.

4. Isaiah Roby

Isaiah Roby has been one of the biggest disappointments for San Antonio this season. His statistics and efficiency have taken a nosedive across the board, and he only broke into the rotation when a packed injury report left Gregg Popovich with no alternatives. The waiver-wire addition has looked more than a little tentative and uncomfortable from day one.

With Keita Bates-Diop and Doug McDermott cemented above Roby on the team totem pole and youngsters like Jeremy Sochan and Dominick Barlow taking precedence during the rebuild, there might not be room for the 25-year-old forward in Alamo City. Suffering a sprained ankle right before the All-Star Break has done nothing to help his cause.

5. Julian Champagnie

The last name on this list might be surprising since San Antonio inked him to a two-way contract less than two weeks ago, but Julian Champagnie is far from a lock to return next season. His recent deal is merely an audition with the G League affiliate, and it will be much shorter than the ones guys like Drew Eubanks and Quinndary Weatherspoon enjoyed.

Champagnie has posted 15.7 points and 5.7 rebounds in three games with the Austin Spurs, but it has come on ice-cold 29.2% shooting. Though you can never read too much into a small sample size, the G League season is coming to a close in March, and that means there are just ten more games for the rookie to prove to PATFO that he deserves an NBA promotion.