Spurs' biggest training camp battles already feel inevitable

Just hours into free agency, San Antonio's roster is mostly set. Not because they've made any additional moves quite yet, but more so because they were already a deep team before the offseason began.

Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, and Dylan Harper all have defined roles. But there are still positions up for grabs, adding an extra level of intensity to training camp as they compete for their spots. Mitch Johnson will have tough decisions to make, but the players will ultimately decide how roles take shape before opening night in October.

Luke Kornet vs. Tarris Reed Jr. for backup center minutes

Kornet was signed to be Wembanyama's primary relief man last summer. He did a fantastic job during the regular season, but he left much to be desired in the playoffs. The Spurs addressed that by doubling down on big men and bringing in Tarris Reed Jr. and Jayden Quaintance, but the latter of the two is still likely to be recovering from his knee injury in September.

Reed can bring more athleticism to the role, and if his jump shot transitions from an empty gym to a full arena, he brings more versatility on the offensive end. There will be minutes available for both guys, but it will be a fight to see who racks up more.

Julian Champagnie vs. Carter Bryant for starting power forward

Juju took this position from Harrison Barnes last year and was paid a three-year contract just yesterday. But like Kornet, he's not making the kind of money that guarantees him anything but a spot on the roster. Champ will have to continue to work hard if he wants to hold onto that starting power forward spot because Bryant is coming, and he's hungry.

Besides Castle, CB is the most athletic player on the team. Unlike highlight specialists of the past, Bryant uses his powers for offense and defense. His ability to make up ground and block shots above the rim pairs nicely with his three-point shot and rim-running skills. If he can eliminate mistakes, he's an obvious candidate to earn a starting nod.

Can Dylan Harper force his way into closing lineups consistently?

This one isn't necessarily going to be decided at training camp, but he can still put his best foot forward. Every positive step he takes gives the coaches more confidence that they can put more on his plate. A team this deep will have several guys worthy of end-of-game minutes, but there can only be five. Building on what he did in the postseason will be his focus.

Harper is a star, and he'll eventually take over the starting role whenever it's time to part ways with Fox. Until then, he's well-equipped to take on the sixth man role, and that should afford him plenty of opportunities to make his mark. We could see him closing games on a nightly basis by midseason at the latest.

Again, most of the Spurs' roster is already set. That's a great thing. Uncertainty breeds chaos. These three competitions are important as they'll determine the margins. Whether Bryant gets the starting gig, Reed steals some backup minutes, or Harper becomes the go-to closer, these battles could determine plenty of the season before it even begins.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow