Devin Vassell must work on this skill and the Spurs will have another star

San Antonio Spurs guard Devin Vassell could be in for a big year in 2024-25 when he finally makes his debut, especially with the addition of Chris Paul. Paul should help plenty of Spurs get easier shots, specifically Victor Wembanyama but Vassell will probably be a big beneficiary.

He has developed a reputation for taking tough shots—a bad habit for a young player and one that can be hard to unlearn. To his credit, he is actually terrific at hitting those shots, knocking down 54.2% of his 7.9 contested or very contested shots per game.

Combine that with his shooting 37.2% on 6.6 threes per game, and it's clear he's one of the better shooters in the NBA. Be that as it may, Vassell could stand to take easier shots next season. If he can't, he may fail to live up to his full offensive potential.

The Spurs need Vassell to take easier shots to live up to his full potential

Last season, Vassell connected on 53.4% of his open or wide-open shots. That suggests that he can thrive taking easier shots, such as spot-ups. He should also make a concerted effort to take more shots at the rim, with him being a terrific finisher but attempting just 4.1 shots per game in the paint last season.

While those shots aren't always easier, they are often higher percentage shots that come with the added benefit of drawing more free throws.

Last season, he averaged just three free throw attempts, but he should aim for closer to five free throw attempts per game. That won't happen overnight, but more drives to the basket will lead to more shots in the paint and more free throws.

Vassell becoming more than a high-volume jump shooter would go a long way to making him a reliable second option for Wembanyama, and the Spurs need him to develop into that. If he can, it will save the Spurs a lot of time and help them build around Wembanyama faster with them only needing a third option in that scenario.

We will soon have a much better idea of what Vassell is. Is he a very good player, perhaps a number three option or a true second option? If he is the latter, his playing alongside Paul should bring that out, with CP3 helping young players reach the next step in their development.

Still, Vassell can help himself out by working on getting easier shots, particularly in the paint, to offset the difficult ones he has mastered.