5 Spurs who won't last the entire 2023–24 season

The San Antonio Spurs' busy offseason has begun to slow down, but it may not be over just yet. Unlike the Spurs of old, each season of late has seen a lot of roster turnover, even during the regular season. During 2021–22, the team traded or waived a total of four players that they started the year with, and last season that number rose to five in-season moves.

That roster volatility raises questions about how many of the players currently under contract for next season will actually finish the year with the Spurs. Of course, San Antonio will need to move on from three players to reach the 15-man roster limit, but there are other players that are at risk of not finishing next season with the team. This could be especially true since the Spurs often prefer to have an open roster spot to be able to sign a player that they like that has become available.

Last season, the team signed Sandro Mamukelashvili after a cascade of in-season moves, and he quickly proved them right. That paved the way for him to be re-signed this summer, which leads to the question of which Spurs players won't last the entire season. Let's take a look, starting with a recently acquired perimeter player.

5.) Reggie Bullock

Recently acquired winger Reggie Bullock could make for a valuable addition to the Spurs next season. Despite that, he is unlikely to finish next year with the team. After all, he is on an affordable 1-year expiring contract, making it easy for a contender to trade for him. The Spurs could even potentially move Bullock before the start of the season to carve out playing time for younger players. However, I expect them to wait until around the trade deadline to deal with him.

That way, they could benefit from his shooting and defense while also giving him the chance to raise his trade value. There is also a chance that the Spurs exceed expectations and Bullock plays a larger-than-expected role, which might complicate the plan to trade him.

But given that he is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and the team's recent track record of moving vets for picks, Bullock playing in a jersey other than silver and black by the end of next season seems high. With most potential playoff teams short on tradeable first-round picks, the Spurs should look to add to their second-round pick collection, unless they are willing to take back salary beyond next season.

4.) Doug McDermott

Sharpshooter Doug McDermott is entering the third and final year of his contract with the Spurs, but he may not finish out his deal in San Antonio. With $13.7 million owed to him, McDermott has the second-highest salary on the team, and large expiring contracts are usually easier to move.

That may end up being true, but with the Spurs trying to trim their roster, they can't afford to take back more than one player unless they are able to waive both of them. Or San Antonio could always be a third team in another deal, for example, a possible Damian Lillard trade. That might require them to take back a player on a contract that extends beyond next season, but they could offload two players in the process.

Tyler Herro has been rumored as an option, which would require the Spurs to move on from McDermott and another player on this list to make that work. Or perhaps they could use McDermott to take back Portland Trail Blazers center Jusuf Nurkic, who would likely be included in a Lillard trade. Fortunately, for the Spurs, they have a few options when it comes to McDermott. But it seems that each option would result in him not being on the team to end next season, possibly not even to start it.

3.) Devonte’ Graham

Spurs guard Devonte’ Graham appears set to return next season and play his first full year with the team. He may not make it to the regular season, however, particularly after San Antonio traded for former Phoenix Suns backup point guard Cam Payne. With Payne now in the mix, the team has two decent options at point guard, along with projected starter Tre Jones.

That seemingly leaves Graham on the outside looking in on the rotation, and with his $12.1 million salary for next season, he is looking more and more like a trade candidate. The Spurs could look to pair him with another player or two on this list and trade them for a big expiring contract, with players such as Tobias Harris, Kyle Lowry, and Jonas Valanciunas coming to mind as potential options. In doing so, San Antonio would consolidate those players into just one, saving roster space while potentially improving the team in the process.

Graham is under contract for beyond next season, though, interestingly enough, his contract goes from $12.1 million in 2023–24 to just $2.8 million in guaranteed salary in 2024–25. That could make him valuable to another team since he is good enough to play a role off the bench, but they wouldn't be stuck paying him if he doesn't work out. Based on that, I fully expect Graham to not finish the season with the Spurs.

2.) Cedi Osman 

Small forward Cedi Osman was acquired in a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. While he might have had a chance to make the Spurs roster in another year, the team is likely to move on from him before the start of next season.

After all, with three roster spots to clear and Osman all but certain to be buried on the team's depth chart, San Antonio will look to move on from him in one way or another. Thus, packaging him in a trade in a two-for-one scenario would be the best option.

Possibly with the Spurs taking back a player who has more of a chance to contribute but has another season or two remaining on his contract. That is definitely a possibility, and San Antonio is almost guaranteed to make another trade before the start of next season, with Osman being included.

If the Spurs can't find a taker for Osman, they could always waive him after having already received an asset to take back his $6.7 million salary. Though, given his value as a reliable shooter off the bench, the team should be able to find a taker for Osman.

1.) Khem Birch

Center Khem Birch has yet to play a single game for the team after being acquired at the trade deadline for Jakob Poeltl. That isn't likely to change since the Spurs are short on roster spots. Unlike other players on this list, however, Birch will probably be waived instead of traded. If that is the case, then why hasn't he been waived just yet?

Well, one possibility is that as the Spurs prepare for the start of training camp, the more bodies they have, the better. Particularly at center. With Birch and training camp invites, the team can create four five-man lineups, with Zach Collins, Charles Bassey, and Birch operating as the centers for those lineups during scrimmages.

Another possibility is that the Spurs are waiting for a potential Damian Lillard trade, which they may be a part of, or even another deal in which they can use his $6.9 million salary to take back a better player. That would beat waiving him for nothing, but with him being at least third on the depth chart, possibly even fourth, and Victor Wembanyama probably playing at least some center, the easiest route for the team to take is just to waive him.