Offseason Report Card: Spurs get five As, three Bs and two Cs for summer moves
![Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5085,h_2860,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/29/01h6hjc17mbj4wfy2qn9.jpg)
7. Re-signed Julian Champagnie
Signed free agent forward Julian Champagnie to a 4-year, $12 million contract
Something that smart teams do when they're not contending is collect undervalued players, taking low-risk shots that they can find a rotation piece among the discarded players around the league. The Miami Heat are unsurprisingly great at this, but the Spurs can use these next few seasons to find a few diamonds in the rough as well.
That's what they've done with Julian Champagnie ("Sham-penny") after he was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers during the season. Champagnie is a 6'8" wing who has a smooth jumpshot and some other on-ball scoring potential; he will need to become a better, stronger defender, but his shooting potential alone makes him worth a flier.
The Spurs committed a roster spot to him but did so on an absolute steal of a contract, $3 million per season for the next four years. Each of the final three seasons are non-guaranteed with August trigger dates; essentially, the Spurs can do all of their summer business and then decide whether or not to keep Champagnie. The downside risk is essentially non-existent.
Champagnie has a hill to climb before he proves himself as a long-term NBA player, but he looked good in the California Classic before cooling off in Las Vegas; the potential is there. It's the kind of bet a team like the Spurs should absolutely make.
Grade: B+