Spurs offseason priorities become crystal clear without Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs' eventful 2024-25 season is winding down with a big offseason looming. With no Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs are getting a chance to more closely evaluate their frontcourt rotation to see who they should keep and who they should get rid of this summer.

San Antonio's current frontcourt consists of Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Julian Champagnie, Jeremy Sochan, Charles Bassey, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Bismack Biyombo. That is a crowded frontcourt now, but it probably won't be next season.

There will definitely be some turnover with at least a couple of players unlikely to return next season. Additionally, with the possible departure of Chris Paul, the Spurs could shift their rotation. Stephon Castle will likely start alongside De'Aaron Fox, allowing Champagnie to sop up about 20 minutes a game at shooting guard instead of at small forward.

Johnson will play primarily behind Vassell at small forward, but also some at power forward in lineups with Sochan at the five. Sochan will also play at both the backup four behind Barnes and some behind Wembanyama.

As far as Vassell, Champagnie, Johnson, and Sochan, that's a fine rotation, especially if Vassell plays like he has in March for all of next season. The same could be said for Johnson, whose play post-All-Star Break is night and day compared to his play before it. The story at power forward and center is a bit of a different story, however.

The San Antonio Spurs must improve their frontcourt this summer.

Players such as Bassey and Biyombo are seemingly unlikely to return next season, even though Biyombo has played reasonably well. Instead, the Spurs should go in a different direction and focus on adding a big man in the draft or using some of their mid-level exceptions to add frontcourt depth.

Barnes and Sochan are both fine fits, and San Antonio should look to bring back Mamukelashvili since he will still likely be fairly cheap and gives the Spurs a floor spacing option at power forward and center. As far as draft options, they could target one of three players: Rasheer Fleming, Noa Essengue, and Carter Bryant.

Fleming profiles as a stretch four who can block shots at the rim and defend on the perimeter. He is also tall enough and long enough to play center and would be San Antonio's second-tallest player behind Wembanyama at 6'9 next season to go along with a huge 7'5 wingspan.

Essengue is the second youngest player in this draft class and already projects to be a stretch forward who can challenge shots at the rim and switch on the perimeter. Bryant projects to be a versatile combo forward who can defend threes and fours, shoot, and create offense in pick and rolls.

All three would be worthy additions, as would Guerschon Yabusele, who could be had for part of the mid-level exception. He'd give the Spurs a versatile big man who can bully his way in the paint and knock down threes at a reliable clip.

Ultimately, the Spurs have a lot of pieces when it comes to the frontcourt but are still trying to complete the puzzle. Therefore, letting Bassey and Biyombo leave, re-signing Mamukelashvili to an affordable deal, drafting Fleming, Essengue, or Bryant, and signing Yabusele should be the Spurs' offseason priorities.