Three Spurs that could benefit from the untimely Charles Bassey injury

2. Dominick Barlow

Dominick Barlow has spent most of his rookie season honing his craft with the Austin Spurs. Gregg Popovich has called him up to the big league club as a last resort to combat a devastated depth chart. But the franchise has handled the development of the undrafted teenager about how you might expect, especially given their track record of things slow with youngsters.

The Silver and Black might toss that methodical approach out the window as they limp toward the finish line. Barlow has shown promising flashes of two-way potential but lacks the polish to contribute to winning basketball at this phase of his career. Nothing will help him acclimate to the speed of the NBA more than going toe-to-toe with the best players in the world.

3. Gorgui Dieng

Although Gorgui Dieng probably isn't the first name to pop into your head for this exercise, he is the perfect candidate to round out our list. The 33-year-old center has rarely played this season as the Spurs have relegated him to mentorship duties and the occasional garbage-time cameo when a contest gets out of hand and they waive the white flag.

The seasoned veteran is hanging by a thread to his spot at the end of the bench. Dieng must make the most of whatever minutes he sees from here on out to prove he still belongs in the league. San Antonio released him in January and brought him back on a pair of ten-day deals, but the clock is nearing midnight anytime a lottery-bound team waives you.