Start, Bench, Cut: How can the Spurs sort out their point guard logjam?
By Sean McKenna
Cut: Devonte' Graham
Devonte' Graham has been a solid player in this league for years, but he could be the odd man out with the direction the Spurs are moving in with their rebuild. The issue isn't that the veteran guard can't play. After all, he averaged 12.9 points and 4.0 assists in 20 games with the Silver and Black last season. However, his score-first mentality has become less valuable as his assist numbers have plunged while his field goal percentage has stagnated in the mid-30s.
The Spurs would love scoring off the bench, but not at the cost of efficiency. Their margin for error is small, and San Antonio can't afford questionable shot selection if it means other players aren't getting involved. While the 28-year-old is far from ancient by NBA standards, he doesn't match the timeline of the young core. Could he be a veteran mentor for Jones and Wesley? Sure, but the organization already has a handful of seasoned players and retired legends willing to lend a helping hand.
Furthermore, the Spurs have the financial wiggle room to cut ties with Graham without suffering considerable repercussions. While the final year of his contract is worth $12.6 million, San Antonio is only on the hook to pay him $2.8 million in guaranteed money if they waive him before the 2024-25 season. Moving on from any player is tough, but when you consider Devonte' offers little to nothing on the defensive end, the decision becomes less painful.