Starting Tobias Harris would be a mistake Spurs don't need to make

On July 6, the Spurs made the most significant addition of the summer when they signed Tobias Harris. The 13-year veteran is going to bring some much-needed versatility to San Antonio's offensive attack.

However, his arrival also started a debate in the fan base over who should start between the former Pistons forward and the newly extended Julian Champagnie. After all, Tobias has been a starter every year of his career since he was 21. The answer is as obvious as the flawed logic of a flat-earther, though.

Champ must retain his role as the starting power forward. Not because he's better than Harris overall, but because the best lineups aren't always about putting the best five players on the floor at the same time. It's the one that optimizes each unit's strengths, giving the Spurs the strongest 48 minutes possible.

Julian Champagnie is still the best fit with the starters

San Antonio's opening group was among the strongest 5-man lineups in the NBA last season. It was only their first full year together. There's no need to tinker with something that was already close to flawless.

That doesn't mean they don't have room to improve. But much of their growth will come naturally through experience. As one of the youngest starting units in the NBA, leveling up is inevitable.

Victor Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell will value the continuity. They already have chemistry with Juju, and the need for spacing the floor hasn't changed. Champ is the better shooter between him and Harris, and there's no question about who can get hotter from deep.

Having a sniping threat on the floor to contend with, who's that dangerous alongside the kind of paint presence Wemby and the guards provide, is hellacious for defenses. It provides immense value to the offensive scheme, whether he's touching the ball or not.

So, if the starters were already dominating opponents, there is no need to reinvent them.

Harris will elevate the bench more than he'll help the starting five

The two-man game between Dylan Harper and Tobi has the potential to be special. After a stellar rookie campaign, Harper will undoubtedly hit the ground running in his second season. Having someone versatile and experienced to play off would only increase his productivity.

San Antonio's bench was mostly fine during the regular season—sans the occasional bout of inconsistency—but they struggled in the playoffs in more ways than one. Brian Wright got help for the defensive side when he drafted Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., but Harris is there to provide a little bit of everything.

Last year, the starters had several strong decision-makers, but the bench only had one, and he was in his rookie season. Harris can provide playmaking from the forward position, giving them another playmaker on top of his post-scoring and midrange offense.

If you were to take both players out and look at the two groups' weaknesses, the starters would need shooting and spacing, while the bench lacked offensive diversity in its attack. Placing Harris with the reserves gives the Spurs the best chance at winning a championship. It's just better lineup optimization.

Keeping Champagnie right where he is should be a no-brainer for Coach Mitch Johnson. Let Harris strengthen the second unit. The starters don't need saving. The bench, however, needed another steady hand, and Tobias Harris is perfectly suited to provide it.

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