Start, Bench, Cut: How can the Spurs sort out their point guard logjam?

The Spurs have garnered a lot of headlines this offseason, and rightfully so. They secured the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, then selected Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio also made some trades for veterans and re-signed some of their in-house free agents to long-term contracts. These moves immediately improved the franchise, and pairing these players with their young core of Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Keldon Johnson could eventually pay dividends.

These transactions also raised questions for the front office to solve, including how to sort out their logjam at point guard. San Antonio released Cameron Payne earlier this week, but that still leaves several floor generals on a roster that must downsize before the season starts. Training camp will be here before we know it, and the depth chart is wide open. Who starts at the one? Who comes off the bench? Who may not even make it to opening night?

Start: Tre Jones

Tre Jones is the obvious choice here. The 23-year-old point guard is a polarizing figure for Spurs nation, but the front office seems to like what he offers, re-signing him to a two-year $20 million contract this summer. That investment might not sound like a massive payday by modern NBA standards, but it undeniably shows San Antonio believes Jones can be a quality player.

Jones averaged career highs in almost every statistical category last season, with his minutes nearly doubling as a full-time starter. The former Duke Blue Devil took advantage of all his extra playing time, averaging 12.9 points and 6.5 assists per game while doubling his shot volume. Though his field goal percentage fell from 49% to 45.9%, his three-point percentage climbed from 19.6% to 28.5% despite taking over 100 more threes than the previous year.

Most importantly, Jones distributed the ball without committing many turnovers, which was crucial for a team that struggled to generate efficient offense. While standing at 6-foot-1 makes him undersized even for his position, he has earned the trust of Gregg Popovich. His numbers have drastically improved each year, and Jones is the clear favorite to facilitate the offense this season if the Spurs decide to run through a point guard.