Spurs achieve perfect rotational balance once they reach final form

Jeremy Sochan is expected to make his return to the floor much quicker than initially anticipated. After practice on Friday, Tre Jones said he expects the full team together on the upcoming two-game road trip to Sacramento and Phoenix. Which game he plays in is still undecided, but that seems to be the hope surrounding the team right now.

Sochan spoke to media members before Thanksgiving. He was the first to give hope to Spurs fans when he projected his return would be in "days, not months." San Antonio has never been closer to having its full complement of players than they are now. Devin Vassell is already getting back in the swing of things. Once he gets his conditioning right, he'll be reinserted into the starting lineup.

Spurs bench will finally gain stability with SA at full strength

When everything is back to normal—as far as players are concerned—the starters are likely to be Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, and Victor Wembanyama. Julian Champagnie is the obvious choice between him and Barnes to roll with the second unit, as the 13-year vet has picked up his play as of late.

Champagnie has played fine, but his 3-point shooting (35.4%) has regressed to slightly below the league average (35.9%). Barnes, on the other hand, is setting nets ablaze almost on a nightly basis by shooting 46.9% from deep. Spurs fans know just how important spacing is to the starting unit, so that must be a major factor in the decision-making process.

The small forward from New York would bolster the bench despite a slight regression in shooting percentage. He could take minutes from Keldon Johnson, who is having his worst year since his rookie season. Johnson's scoring numbers are down across the board, as he's averaging career lows in every shooting category but the free-throw line.

He brings great energy and hasn't turned the ball over a lot, but his inefficiency is a minus for a team that must place extreme value on their possessions.

The Spurs bench is ranked 17 in offensive rating and 20 in defensive rating. Their production will be elevated significantly by Stephon Castle and Champagnie's presence. That also means less playing time for Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, who have been fine at times, but there is a pecking order for a reason. It's not an insult to want to see your best players on the floor.

There will be a section on the fan base who don't love the idea of Castle returning to the bench, but it's inevitable, and it's okay. He'll still get plenty of minutes and find himself in the occasional closing lineup. Manu Ginobili laid the foundation for bench stars and selflessness in Alamo City, so there's no need to get hung up on who starts.

San Antonio has gotten off to a roaring start this season compared to past years, but they haven't had their full complement of players. They're about to have that now, and once everyone gets reacclimated to each other, the Spurs' potential to make the playoffs becomes more of a certainty.