A Way-too-early prediction of the Spurs' 2023-24 starting lineup

Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson
Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson / Ronald Cortes/GettyImages
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Shooting Guard: Devin Vassell

Before a knee injury sidelined him indefinitely, Devin Vassell was arguably the Spurs' best player this season. It's unclear when he'll play again this year, but fans should definitely be encouraged by his development. He proved he was far more than a 3&D player by showing he could create himself more often.

He attempted 6.4 pull-up jumpers per game and shot a respectable percentage on them. He also drilled an impressive 40.4% of his 7.0 3-point attempts per game, a large part of why he averaged a career-high 19.4 points. Assuming he will be that player whenever he returns, the Spurs got an absolute steal considering they selected him with the 11th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. With another summer to work on his game, Vassell will make an excellent starter next season.

Small Forward: Keldon Johnson

Johnson has cooled off after a scorching start to the season, particularly from three. Fortunately, he's battled through those struggles and appears to be all the better for it. Playing without Vassell for a large chunk of games has made him the primary target of opposing defenses, and he has begun to adjust to the extra attention. He leads the team in scoring and has dramatically improved as a finisher, helping compensate for his 3-point dropoff.

If Keldon can find more consistency with his jumper over the summer, he could take a big step forward next season. Whether he will remains to be seen, but it's a safe assumption that Johnson will start at small forward in 2023–24.

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