Predicting the Spurs' pre-training camp lineups and rotations

The Spurs have been busy this summer, adding valuable pieces to a roster that already had tons of success last season. Their pickups of Tobias Harris, Jayden Quaintance, Tarris Reed Jr., Ja'Kobi Gillespie, and Maliq Brown give them loads of depth.

But there is a lot of curiosity about what their starting lineup and rotations will look like, and that seems to be the overwhelming topic of debate as training camp is right around the corner. Here's a prediction of what things could look like on that front.

Predicting the Spurs' starting lineup and second unit

PG: De'Aaron Fox - Dylan Harper
SG: Stephon Castle
SF: Devin Vassell - Carter Bryant - Keldon Johnson
PF: Julian Champagnie - Tobias Harris
C: Victor Wembanyama - Luke Kornet - Tarris Reed Jr.

Mitch Johnson will likely deploy the same starting lineup that was effective last season, consisting of De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and Victor Wembanyama. This formula worked for San Antonio on both ends and helped them set the tone by jumping off to early leads.

Dylan Harper should take up the mantle as this team's sixth man after his impressive postseason performance. He must play more minutes as well, ideally over 25 per game. He can function as a leader for the second unit and also can run with the starters if De'Aaron Fox or Stephon Castle get off to slow starts or find themselves in foul trouble.

Speaking of that bench unit, Harper should spend a lot of time accompanied by Carter Bryant, Tobias Harris, and Luke Kornet. This gives San Antonio solid spacing around the second-year guard, especially if Bryant proves he can sustain his three-point shooting from last postseason.

That backup center spot will be something to keep an eye on; Kornet's experience should make him the go-to option for now. But if his playoff struggles bleed into next season, Mitch Johnson could look to Tarris Reed Jr. to fill that role.

San Antonio can get creative with some of their combinations

The Spurs' depth allows Mitch Johnson to get very creative. With more options at center, they can run some double-big lineups, having either Luke Kornet or Tarris Reed Jr. take the floor with Victor Wembanyama. Opponents would have a tough time rebounding and scoring in the paint against this sort of setup.

This team is also versatile enough to go small, making Carter Bryant a five-man, as we saw in the playoffs. Surrounding him with Tobias Harris, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, and Devin Vassell will allow San Antonio to seamlessly switch 1-5 while getting some good offensive production.

Out of any combination, the Spurs' closing lineup will be the most important. They'll be under a microscope for how they perform in the clutch, so they must find the perfect late-game combination.

Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Victor Wembanyama could be dangerous together during crunch time. There's enough ball-handling and scoring between their two guards, while Vassell can provide reliable perimeter defense and three-point shooting.

Harper and Castle's ability to orchestrate the offense will set Wemby up for easy scoring opportunities without placing too much on his shoulders. This also allows him to give his all as a rim protector in the final minutes of big games.

Now, these things are subject to change. For example, if Carter Bryant shows real growth next season, he could end up taking Vassell's spot in closing lineups as a go-to 3&D threat. The possibilities are endless, and having such a wealth of options at each position allows Mitch Johnson to experiment with who he puts on the floor.

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