Spurs' first game with full roster made one rotational decision very noticeable

Zach Collins's play was a major point of contention among fans last season, and the microscope's intensity has only increased. The backup center position is a premier spot on the Spurs roster. The player who backs up Victor Wembanyama is replacing one of the most productive players in the league. While nobody expects Wemby-level production, the backup needs to bring something.

Last night, that backup was Charles Bassey. Collins didn't play a single minute, and neither did Sandro Mamukelashvili. However, Bassey played less than eight minutes in the first two quarters. He didn't touch the floor in the second half. He scored four points in his seven minutes, but looked out of place at times, highlighting one of several problems for San Antonio.

The Spurs' desperately need to upgrade the backup center position

One thing is clear regarding Mamu at this point: the Spurs just aren't very high on him. No matter how much the fan base cheers when he comes in or complains online when he doesn't play, the rotations aren't changing very much for him. He doesn't cost much, so moving him isn't the highest priority as he's a great locker room guy, but something needs to shake.

Jeremy Sochan played minutes as the backup center in the second half when Wembanyama needed a break. That's a humongous indictment of the bigs on the bench because there are three of them. Every one of them was healthy and available. It shouldn't be necessary to play the Polish Prince at that spot.

If this was a season of growth and no expectations, it would be less of a problem, but that's not the case. They set expectations for themselves, and the goal is to win games and "make the postseason," as Harrison Barnes so eloquently stated at practice this week. They've been clear about their goals from the start, and it was reiterated as recently as last night by Chris Paul.

The Spurs have a shot to pull it off, but they'll need more from their bench to do so. If they can stay healthy, the second unit's production should increase. They can rely less on guys like Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, who can both bring a bit of a spark in different ways but are also inconsistent. Jonas Valanciunas is reportedly available for trade, so that's a possible option worth exploring.

The trade season has officially opened, and the Silver and Black have plenty of assets to make a deal happen somewhere. Last season, the Mavericks added PJ Washington and Daniel Gafford to their roster. Neither player is a star, but they thrive in their roles, helping the Mavs elevate the team to championship contention.

The Spurs are not ready to contend for a title, but they can still get valuable playoff experience if they commit to making it there. They just need to improve the roster slightly, and they should start with the backup center.