Ranking the young core by how important they are to the Spurs’ future

9.) Julian Champagnie

Julian Champagnie was also an impactful midseason addition for San Antonio. Just like with Bassey, the Spurs signed him to a two-way contract after Philadelphia released him from their roster. He had a strong finish to his rookie season and earned a multi-year deal after several stellar performances at Summer League. Regardless, the second-year forward ranks lower on this list because of his low-risk, high reward nature for the team.

There are no financial repercussions if Champagnie doesn't pan out in the long run, but Brian Wright will look like a genius if he ends up exceeding expectations on the court. The 22-year-old could be a serviceable replacement for Keita Bates-Diop this season. He does nearly everything you want from a role player. He shoots the three-ball, rebounds, and defends. Champagnie has the potential to be a part of this supporting cast for a long time.