Predicting the Spurs' depth chart next year after a perfect offseason

With the San Antonio Spurs rebuilding, it seems as though each offseason is more important than the last, but this one may actually be the most important in recent memory.

The Spurs have the framework for what could be a potentially great team, but they will need to address several issues to fix their flaws and build a contender around Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox. Next, let's predict what the Spurs will look like next season after a perfect summer.

Spurs depth chart: Point guard

De'Aaron Fox
Chris Paul
Blake Wesley

The Spurs made a big in-season deal to acquire De'Aaron Fox, but things didn't go as planned with Victor Wembanyama later being ruled out for the season. Fox was later shut down for the season after playing 17 games.

The early returns were at least positive, and Fox should be better for having at least a few games under his belt with his new teammates. He'll be able to give the Spurs exactly what they are looking for: a second option to Wembanyama, who can help carry the offensive load.

The general consensus surrounding Chris Paul is that he will either retire or ring chase next season. Both seem plausible, particularly the latter, though it's not entirely impossible for him to return to the Spurs next season.

He has developed relationships with his teammates and the coaching staff. He could believe in the potential of Stephon Castle enough that he would be willing to take a smaller role to be on a potentially great team.

San Antonio could reasonably carve out around 18 minutes a game for CP3, and that would be reasonable, given his level of play and age. Paul is still a talented distributor and can hit big shots, but less is probably more at this point in his career, with him unable to get to the rim and truly break down defenses the way he needs to be able to. Even so, he could run the second unit in his sleep.

Blake Wesley has proven that he can hang in the NBA with his play as of late. He is a high-energy player who has emerged as a pest on the defensive end, and while his 3-point percentage doesn't suggest that he's a good shooter, his form at least looks much better than it did.

That could hopefully mean that he can knock down open threes enough to allow him to play some minutes at shooting guard. If Paul comes back, it will cut into his playing time, but he would still get plenty of opportunities in short spurts to prove that he can be San Antonio's long-term answer at backup point guard.

Spurs depth chart: Shooting guard

Stephon Castle
Julian Champagnie

Rookie Stephon Castle is beginning to play big minutes with Fox injured, and that will hopefully accelerate his development. He's currently averaging 14 points in just 25.6 minutes and could very well develop into the Spurs third option behind Wembanyama and Fox.

Despite being demoted to the bench early this season, Julian Champagnie has had a good year, averaging 9.6 points while drilling 36.6% of his 5.7 3-point attempts per game. Given the Spurs' need for shooting, he could still play a key role next season.

Notably, Malaki Branham is missing from this list; I think the Spurs will cut ties with him barring a late-season run. He hasn't shown as much as Wesley has to warrant keeping him around.

Spurs depth chart: Small forward

Devin Vassell
Keldon Johnson
Kon Knueppel

After a hellish February, Devin Vassell has bounced back and played far closer to the player we expect him to be. His numbers are still way down, but if he can be an efficient scorer, averaging around 17 points per game by bombing away from outside. They will also need him to continue to play inspired defense.

If he can, then the contract that Spurs fans are so concerned about begins to look like a steal again. That is considering that it declines over the next four seasons while the salary cap is set to jump by 10% each of those years.

Keldon Johnson's season has done a complete 180. During the first half of the season, he had good games but was too inconsistent to rely on. Post all-star break, he's been far more impactful, partly a result of his 3-point shot finally falling. During that span, he's averaging 15.2 points and 4.9 rebounds while drilling 40.6% from deep on 3.5 3-point attempts per game.

Lastly, we have a new addition, with the ninth pick. In this scenario, I expect the Spurs to take Duke's Kon Knueppel. He is likely the best shooter in his draft class, hitting better than 39% from three on 5.2 attempts per game and better than 90% from the line.

The Spurs haven't had a shooter of his caliber since Doug McDermott, though he is a bit stockier and a better defender too.

Spurs depth chart: Power forward

Harrison Barnes
Jeremy Sochan
Rasheer Fleming/ Noa Essengue
Sandro Mamukelashvili

It's kind of hilarious that Harrison Barnes, who was a throw-in in a trade in which the Spurs fleeced the Sacramento Kings (the first of two trades), turned out to be such a perfect fit. He's a terrific shooter who, according to Sean Elliott, has never missed from the corners. Barnes can put it on the floor and bully and hesi his way to the rim for buckets.

His fit next to Wembanyama is about as good as it possibly gets, so he's starting unless something drastic changes. Despite some big strides in his third season, Jeremy Scohan's counting stats look identical to last season's.

However, he has been far better at finishing at the rim, resulting in a massive 9% increase in true shooting percentage. His 3-point shot is still a major question mark with the hitch looking less noticeable, but he's still far from being a floor-spacing four. Nevertheless, he's still a key member of the core, with him being among the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.

With the 16th pick, I project the Spurs to take either Rasheer Fleming or Noa Essengue. Fleming's game seems almost tailor-made to play next to Wembanyama. He can shoot, defend on the perimeter, force turnovers, and block shots.

Essengue is similarly impressive defensively but 2.5 years younger and impressively fast for a 6'9 big man, which could fit in a faster-paced offense run by Fox. He also has the potential to be a stretch four.

Lastly is the return of Sandro Mamukelashvili, whose 34-point heater against the New York Knicks and solid play throughout the season should make him a lock for a roster spot.

Spurs depth chart: Center

Victor Wembanyama
Guerschon Yabusele

At center is the Spurs' sun, moon, and stars, Victor Wembanyama. Hopefully, he'll be fully healthy and able to win the Defensive Player of the Year award he was robbed of twice now next season. With part of the mid-level exception, I expect the Spurs to add Philadelphia 76ers big man Guerschon Yabusele.

He is on a one-year deal, and the Sixers can only offer around $3 million to keep him. The Spurs could offer far more to add a burly big man who can score in the paint and shoot nearly 39% from three. He'd be an ideal replacement for Harrison Barnes but has primarily played center for the Sixers and could help the Spurs there next season.

Spurs projected rotation for the 2025-26 season

Fox, Castle, Vassell, Barnes, Wembanyama

Paul, Johnson, Champagnie, Sochan, Yabusele

Wesley, Knueppel, Fleming/ Essengue, Mamukelashvili

With the Spurs having most of the pieces needed to make a contending team, a few tweaks to their depth chart could be just what they need. Fortunately, they will have two first-round picks and the mid-level exception to work with this summer to fix their flaws.