Pressure is on Victor Wembanyama after Spurs filled their biggest hole

It's a new day for the San Antonio Spurs. There will be real expectations going into next season, and with those expectations comes the burden of pressure. Would there be as much if the front office hadn't addressed the backup center position? Probably not. At least there shouldn't be. But they did, and now Victor Wembanyama has what he needs to lead this team to the playoffs.

Shooting was a big problem for the Silver and Black last season, but fixing it wasn't as important as taking care of Wemby's peace of mind when he takes a breather. Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk are two vets who know how to make their presence felt in this game. Kornet, especially, will anchor the team defense when the Alien sits.

Olynyk isn't known for his stout defense, but that's why he'll likely be the third center, finding his minutes coming more sparingly. When he is on the floor, I'd expect to see another center on the floor with him to play the role of rim protector. Kelly's ability to stretch the floor allows that. Games should no longer slip away when Coach Mitch Johnson rests Vic for a few minutes, and that should change everything.

This will be Wembanyama's first real test

No matter where you look for rankings, Vic is considered one of the best in the league, walking into the season. He's been seen in top 10 rankings consistently, and, more specifically, he was just ranked as the second-best center in the league, only to the great Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP.

Even if there were a few people who thought the Spurs would challenge for a playoff spot last season, there were no real expectations. It was more of a hope or a long-shot prediction. It'll be different this year.

Wemby has De'Aaron Fox as his running mate for an entire season, Devin Vassell will be playing his sixth year in the NBA, and Keldon Johnson will be a seven-year veteran. They have the reigning Rookie of the Year, three-point shooters, defenders, and a strong front court to hold it down for a full 48 minutes.

The rotation will be deep, and the lineups will provide versatility. They'll need Mitch Johnson to be the best version of himself. He can't try to copy Coach Popovich. That's impossible. He'll have to forge his own identity, but life will be easier for everyone if Victor Wembanyama lives up to his billing. I anticipate that he will, emphatically.