Spurs' weaknesses to be addressed this offseason are easily identifiable

The Spurs are on their way to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since the 2016-2017 season. After a drama-filled series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Victor Wembanyama and company closed out the series in Minnesota on Friday night. Now, the Spurs and the Oklahoma City Thunder will battle for a spot in the NBA Finals.

This matchup will be must-see TV, and this stage of competition is where the Spurs belong. Regardless of the outcome of this series, however, team executives will start looking ahead to the future. Whether during the NBA Draft or the free-agency frenzy in the summer, the Spurs have three major areas that can be improved.

San Antonio needs more depth behind Wembanyama

It is clear that the Spurs struggle with rebounding and rim protection when Wemby is not on the floor. Statistics show that the drop in defensive efficiency when Wemby is off the court is one of the most significant efficiency declines among the league's top players. His immense impact on the game makes it easy to notice the team's difficulties when he is on the bench.

Luke Kornet, Mason Plumlee, and Bismack Biyombo are all currently backing up Wemby, but neither is a long-term asset, of course. The need for big man depth could not have come at a better time, as the 2026 draft class of centers is deep.

Even at pick 20, the Spurs can still strike gold with players like Aday Mara and Jayden Quaintance, among others. Both players have elite defensive instincts and are mobile enough to play meaningful minutes with Wemby sitting.

Spurs' perimeter defense can be improved

This past season, the Spurs were ranked as the third-best defensive team in the league, primarily due to Wemby's influence under the rim. Their perimeter defense tells a different story. The Spurs finished 28th in the league for three-point defense, allowing opponents to shoot around 40% from beyond the arc.

Given these numbers, it seems that the team is still searching for a true three-and-D player. Julian Champagnie (franchise record holder for threes in a single season), Devin Vassell, and Keldon Johnson can all get hot from deep on any given night. All three, however, are defensive liabilities, showing that they are valuable to the team on one end and not so much on the other.

Most times when opposing teams claw their way back into the game, it is because they have it so easy from three. Teams can easily get back into a rhythm because the Spurs' players rely too heavily on Wemby to shut down the paint, making them over-help and give knockdown shooters too much space.

Among the current roster, Carter Bryant has the best chance to become that long-term three-and-D guy, but he is still very raw and needs more time.

A true number two option must rise to the top or one must be added

Aside from Wemby, the Spurs have not yet identified a reliable second option for closing out games. Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and Dylan Harper have all shown flashes of brilliance in late-game situations; however, they occasionally take poor shots that put the team at a disadvantage.

Each has the potential to improve in this area with more experience, but it is a matter of how long it will take them to get to the next level. Getting Victor another superstar should be at the top of the team's to-do list this off-season.

To resolve this situation as quickly as possible, one of the three players might need to be traded away. Even if this superstar is only around for two or three seasons while Castle or Harper fully develops, having another reliable closer would give San Antonio a huge advantage over the competition.

This is a fantastic group of guys, and it’s evident that they enjoy playing together. Therefore, it would be difficult to see any get traded away. However, the Spurs need to give Wemby his Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili to build something special.

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