Spurs: 5 Veteran free agent big men targets to help mentor Victor Wembanyama

Winning the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft was just the first step for the San Antonio Spurs. Once Victor Wembanayma is officially a Spur, which will happen June 22, the true work begins for this winning organization. Not only do they have to continue to develop Wembanyama, but they will also be tasked with surrounding him with the right pieces.

Though no one expects the Spurs to build a championship contender around Wembanyama in year one, it would be wise to put him in a position to succeed from the moment he steps into the team facilities. One way the Spurs can do that is by adding a veteran big or two to help with not only his basketball development but also his professional mentorship. And recent reports suggests that the Spurs will likely explore that option heading into free agency.

1. Mike Muscala

Mike Muscala was acquired by the Boston Celtics from the Oklahoma City Thunder at the NBA Trade Deadline in an attempt to solidify the team's frontcourt depth. Though, he's only appeared in just a handful of games for the Celtics. He has a team option for next season but there's no guarantee that the Celtics will accept it. If it is declined and he does enter free agency, he could emerge as a veteran option for a team like the San Antonio Spurs.

Muscala is a stretch-5 that could work as the third or fourth big off the bench for the Spurs next season. He'd be a relatively cost-effective signing and would offer insurance behind Victor Wembanyama and a veteran presence in the locker room.

2. Georges Niang

With the amount of uncertainty that revolves around the Philadelphia 76ers heading into the offseason, there's no guarantee that Georges Niang will be back. There's a good chance he could also be looking for a change of scenery considering how up-and-down his tenure with the Sixers has been over the last two seasons.

Niang has been somewhat of a polarizing player in Philadelphia but if there's one thing he'll bring to any team it's consistent 3-point shooting. He's averaged at least 40 percent shooting from 3-point range in each of the last five seasons of his career. Considering the Spurs were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the league last season, he should be able to help on that front.

He'd also add a veteran presence to their frontcourt as he's played more the power forward position or small-ball power forward position recently. At this point in his career, Niang is not just a player that a team brings in for the sake of professionalism. He's a player that will bring a veteran aspect but also one that could seemingly play a tangible role as well.

Niang could also benefit from playing and learning under Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich. A Niang-to-Spurs move could be a win-win for both sides.

3. Dario Saric

Being traded from the Phoenix Suns to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the NBA Trade Deadline this past season, I find it hard to imagine that he's going to re-sign in OKC considering the small role he played for the team during the final stretch of the season. As an unrestricted free agent, he's another veteran option that the Spurs could turn to this offseason.

While it may not appear so in a traditional sense, Saric does have some similarities to Victor Wembanyama as he prepares to make his move to the NBA. As a highly-touted overseas prospect, Saric made the jump to the NBA during the 2016 season. He was originally the 12th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. He may not have had the same level of hype that Wemby has at the moment, but Saric did make his NBA debut with the Philadelphia 76ers will some added pressure to produce, and at a high level.

Saric can not only help on that front but he could also help another versatile forward on the Spurs roster, Jeremy Sochan. Saric would also add another element to the Spurs off the bench as a player that could offer a similar versatility that their starting frontcourt has.

4. Bismack Biyombo

Playing such a small role for the team this past season, added with the continued development of Jock Landale, it's safe to say that Bismack Biyombo probably won't be back on the Phoenix Suns next year. That could open the door for a team like the San Antonio Spurs to come in and scoop him up on the free-agent market.

Biyombo may not be in the "prime" of his career anymore but he's still a player that can rebound and block shots at a pretty consistent level. In just 14 minutes per game this past season, he still managed to average four rebounds and more than one block per game. And perhaps he could even help Victor Wembanyama on the defensive end of the floor, making the transition from the overseas game to NBA competition.

For as generational of a prospect as Wemby is, there has to be some level of a learning curve that he'll have to go through. Biyombo could help with that process, while also being a veteran big that the Spurs could also turn to off the bench.

And you'd have to imagine that the Spurs could probably sign Biyombo to a fairly team-friendly deal too.

5. Nikola Vucevic

At least on the surface, it may be a bit of a pipe dream for the Spurs to target (and land) Nikola Vucevic in free agency. But I do believe that he would be a great mentor/veteran the Spurs could turn to in an attempt to help Victor Wembanyama as he makes his transition to the NBA.

Of course, the big question is whether Vucevic is at the point in his career where he's ready to take on such a role. He'll be 33 years old by the time next season begins but has not played off the bench on a consistent basis since his rookie season in the NBA. There is a very real possibility that he'd much rather be a starter next season and/or play for a contender; the Spurs would not be able to give him that opportunity (assuming the plan is to start Wemby from the opening tip).

But perhaps he would be attracted to playing a small role in Wemby's future. Vucevic could be viewed as somewhat of a dream scenario for the Spurs this summer as they search for potential veteran big men that could help be a springboard for the Wemby-era in San Antonio.