Breaking down the depth chart after a busting offseason for the Spurs

Centers

Starter: Zach Collins

The center position is straightforward on one end and completely up in the air on the other. After San Antonio traded Jakob Poeltl to the Raptors at the deadline, Zach Collins stepped up his production to 16.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.2 stocks per game while shooting 39.2% from three as a full-time starter. His career was in limbo after numerous significant injuries left him on the sidelines in Portland, but this late-season comeback was real. He brings everything a franchise could want from a center in the modern NBA, and Head Coach Gregg Popovich named him a 2023-24 starter before last season even ended.

Bench: Charles Bassey

The backup spot is up for debate. While Charles Bassey had a strong showing with San Antonio after the Sixers waived him last season, he ran into a hurdle when he broke his kneecap in mid-March. The Spurs saw enough flashes of talent to sign him to a four-year contract, but they found another young center on the waiver wire during his extended absence that could challenge Bassey for second string responsibilities on the depth chart.

Reserve: Sandro Mamukelashvili

Whereas Bassey brings a physical presence on the glass who can protect the paint and run the floor, Mamukelashvili has a more perimeter oriented skillset. He can stretch the floor and pass the rock like a guard, but a lack of defense puts Mamu a step below Bassey on the totem pole. Both players have a case to become the backup center, but training camp will likely be the ultimate deciding factor in who wins the job. There are positives and negatives to each player, and this could be a positional battle we watch unfold throughout the season as injuries and consistency impact their performance.