5 Creative ways Spurs can still use their cap space

The San Antonio Spurs entered the offseason with more than $37 million in cap space, but everything changed when they won the draft lottery and the right to select Victor Wembanyama. The 7’4 generational prospect was the unquestioned first-overall pick, but the Spurs had zero plans of going all-in around the teenager. San Antonio is going to build it up slowly and do things right.

The Spurs re-signed Tre Jones, Julian Champagnie, and Sandro Mamukelashvili in free agency. They also jumped in as the third team in two trades. It allowed San Antonio to acquire Cedi Osman, Lamar Stevens, Reggie Bullock, a 2030 first-round pick swap, and two second-round draft picks at the cost of two second-round selections. The Spurs have been creative in using their cap space to pick up talented role players and additional draft capital.

San Antonio is still $6.1 million under the salary cap and wants a center to pair with Wemby. The free agent market is virtually dried up and trade season is winding down. How can the Spurs use their available space? They can keep thinking outside the box.

Creative ways San Antonio Spurs can still use their cap space

5. Waiver claims

This one does not happen often in the NBA because the team making the claim has to be able to fit the player’s entire salary into cap space or an exception. Enter the Spurs, who could claim a player making $6 million or less that get released at some point this season. Fans just saw Bol Bol go through waivers and there will be plenty of talent released throughout the campaign for a host of reasons.

San Antonio can be opportunistic in this market like they were last season when they grabbed Julian Champagnie and Sandro Mamukelashvili. It can be a way to land a young talented player that another team did not have room for. The Spurs have time and a development system that works. They can use that to their advantage to add even more talent.

The San Antonio Spurs do not have to sit around and wait for someone to get waived. There are plenty of ways they can use their cap space to their advantage.