Projecting Spurs regular season starting lineup after preseason revelation

Preseason has given the San Antonio Spurs a chance to try out potential starting lineups ahead of the regular season. With Devin Vassell out for the first few weeks of the season, whatever lineup coach Gregg Popovich decides on will only be temporary, but it could help to inform the team's starting lineup when he does return.

At the moment, it appears that forward Julian Champagnie has a chance to retain his spot in the starting lineup, but 4th overall pick Stephon Castle has also played well, making him another potential option. Entering the preseason, many expected Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, and Victor Wembanyama to be the starting five, but that may not ultimately be the case.

Who should the San Antonio Spurs' starting lineup be in the short term?

The Spurs starting Champagnie during the preseason suggests that they are prioritizing spacing. Compared to other options, such as Castle and Keldon Johnson, he is the better shooter and has led the team in scoring during the preseason.

There is also the added benefit of adding more size to the starting lineup with him being two inches taller than Vassell. Champagnie playing alongside Paul, Barnes, Sochan, and Wembanyama would give San Antonio four players in the starting five who are at least 6'7.

Better still, unlike last year's jumbo starting five. Paul, Champagnie, and Barnes are all good shooters, with Sochan and Wembanyama being capable of knocking down threes. There is a case to be made for Castle, who makes sense playing alongside Paul with Castle tailor-made to hound the other team's best guard. He can also get experience creating against the other team's best players on offense.

His ball handling and comfort level using screens to create advantages are intriguing and may even allow Paul to play off-ball for a few possessions. He has also shot the ball better than expected from three. Nevertheless, Pop may want to put his best foot forward and go with more experience in the starting five. Therefore, Champagnie should start in the short term.

What should the Spurs long-term starting lineup be?

When Vassell returns, who will head to the bench will depend on who plays better between Champagnie and Barnes. Champagnie has played better during the preseason and has enough size to defend threes or some fours, while Barnes isn't as quick but can defend some bigger threes and more traditional fours.

The best guess is that Champagnie earns the starting role. He might not play more than 24 minutes a game, similar to the role Danny Green played way back when, but if he can knock down shots, then he should be able to lock down a consistent role in the starting five.