Spurs next offseason move should be clear as day after perfect draft

The Spurs answered two questions with their stellar showing during the NBA draft, selecting can’t miss starlet Dylan Harper out of Rutgers, then sharpshooting wing Carter Bryant out of Arizona.

What they did not address, and is the next move they need to make after the draft, is acquiring a suitable backup big man to spell Wembanyama and provide quality to the second unit.

A backup big is the last piece to the puzzle

The team can go in many different directions to fill this role. They can look for undrafted players and sign a few for competition and see if one stands out. They can look for a veteran free agent to sign on a short-term, team-friendly deal, or they can make a trade for an established player at the position.

The Spurs already signed a guard and a wing on summer league contracts since the draft. There are opportunities to sign big men that went undrafted, but the likeliness of that roster spot, if even given a two-way contract based off summer league performance, providing impactful minutes is low.

As that is the unlikeliest option, that leaves two other avenues to fill the backup big role- through free agency or via a trade. Al Horford from Boston is a player the Spurs could look at to fill the role. He’s older (39 next season) but is still effective.

He averaged almost 28 minutes per game for Boston last season (27.7) but wouldn’t need to do that for the Silver and Black, as 18-20 minutes per game will likely stretch his legs a bit further. He’s effective from beyond the arc, shooting 36% last season, but over 40% the two seasons prior to that.

Over the course of his 18 year career, he has averages of nearly eight (7.9) rebounds per game as well as just over one block per game (1.1). Horford provides extensive playoff experience, having made the playoffs in 16 of his 18 seasons. He’s a locker room leader, and is well liked by teammates.

Horford is an unrestricted free agent coming off a ten million dollar salary last season. With Boston looking to get younger, there’s an opportunity for the Spurs to sign him at a reasonable cost.

The Spurs have multiple paths to solve their big man problem

If the Spurs are looking for a younger player to fill that void, Santi Aldama is a restricted free agent who has shown improvement over his four-year career in Memphis. Aldama is a 6’11” center out of Spain who was a first-round draft pick in 2021.

Aldama came off the bench for Memphis last season, starting only 16 of the 65 games he played, and averaged better numbers than the previous season in fewer minutes than the previous season. Aldama shot almost 37% from long range (36.8%), a career high.

With the lack of high-percentage long-range shooting, that will be a welcome addition to the silver and black. Santi averaged over six rebounds per game last season as well (6.4). He also averaged a career high in assists at almost three (2.9) per game.

Per 36 minutes, Aldama is even better, averaging 17.6 points per game, to go along with 9 rebounds per. Aldama played significant minutes at power forward for Memphis, and he likely has the ability to play more than just Center.

 Aldama is more of an all-around playmaker than Horford, but with a restricted free agent status, the Grizzlies will have an opportunity to match any offer sheet he signs, and thus, would make it difficult for the Spurs to secure Aldama at an affordable rate for the team.

The Spurs could trade for a back up center

If the team looks to improve via trade, they ought to look out west to old foe the Portland Trail Blazers. The team drafted another big Thursday night, and now have a gluttony of Centers to choose from. As Portland has to mitigate minutes at the position, the silver and black should take advantage of an opportunity.

Robert Williams, an oft-injured center, would be available at a reasonable cost. When healthy, the former first-round pick is a formidable force around the rim and provides defense and toughness reminiscent of the early 90’s NBA.

He only played 20 games last season, averaging 17.6 minutes per game during that time. Williams pulled in 5.9 boards across those 17 minutes and added 1.7 blocks per game as well. An impact like that is exactly what the Spurs need from their backup big.

A situation where the expectation is 18-20 minutes per night would likely benefit both Williams and the Spurs mutually. It's clear that injuries have taken their toll on him, and a limited role would provide him the opportunity to give his complete effort across a more limited timeframe, sort of like when a starting pitcher gets moved to the bullpen.

The Spurs wouldn’t have to make a major splash to acquire Williams, who’s owed just over $13 million from Portland in 2025-26 and then becomes a free agent. At only 27 years old, Williams is worth a flyer.

San Antonio did a great job on draft night. This team continues to be built properly, with a vision to be relevant for a long time. They need to fill the hole of the backup center position, and Spurs nation is confident Brian Wright will be able to do just that this offseason.