The San Antonio Spurs made a blockbuster transfer in touchdown De’Aaron Fox of their journey to kind a aggressive roster round Victor Wembanyama. Adding a star level guard is a big manner towards their purpose, however the Spurs nonetheless have lots of roster points to type out—most notably to find a dependable backup middle.
With the commerce deadline coming in lower than three days, who might they probably land within the fifth spot now that Zach Collins is gone?
Spurs Need a Backup Center When Wemby is Resting
One of probably the most obvious gaps within the Spurs’ lineup is on the backup middle place. With Zach Collins traded away, there isn’t a hard-nosed large man to present Wembanyama some relaxation. According to Pounding The Rock, whereas Charles Bassey has flashed brilliance, his inconsistency is a priority.
On the opposite hand, Sandro Mamukelashvili brings versatility on offense however is a legal responsibility on protection, therefore is just not a dependable long-term answer. Here are three doable options for the Spurs:
Larry Nance Jr.: The Big Floor Spacer
Larry Nance Jr. may very well be a wonderful backup middle since he can house the ground and defend at stage. Currently, with the Atlanta Hawks, Nance is taking pictures 45% from three this season, and he has retained his sturdy rebounding and playmaking expertise.
He can enable the Spurs to retain an analogous model of play when Wembanyama is off the ground as a result of he can present spacing and never harm them on protection.
The downside? Nance’s $11.25 million wage. San Antonio must bundle gamers like Malaki Branham and Julian Champagnie to match salaries, which can be a steep worth for a backup middle.
Day’Ron Sharpe: A Cost-Effective Rebounder
The Brooklyn Nets are in rebuilding mode and is perhaps open to buying and selling off the younger large man Day’Ron Sharpe. Standing 6’11”, Sharpe is physically in the paint, and an elite rebounder averaging 16.5 points and 13 rebounds per 36 minutes. His $3.98 million salary is very affordable in a trade by the Spurs.
According to Air Alamo, his toughness in the paint and ability to crash the boards would go a long way for the team. If San Antonio can get him for a second-round pick or lower-value asset, it would be a strong addition without sacrificing future flexibility.
Guerschon Yabusele: No Problem With Wemby’s Chemistry
Wembanyama’s teammate in the French national team, Guerschon Yabusele, saw his career take shape with the Philadelphia 76ers. Due to injuries in their big lineup, including those of Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond, he saw extensive action at small-ball center and thus, provides good value due to versatility on offense with respectable rebounding.
The word is that Philadelphia is shopping Yabusele in advance of his free agency, so he would be a potential low-cost addition. He’d bring additional chemistry to the Spurs, knowing Wembanyama.
If none of them will be considered as options, the Spurs could also get Mo Bamba after Jazz waived him. While his stats are pretty low, the team could help him develop his potential further.
While the Spurs got Fox, the three-team deal that sent him to San Antonio hasn’t been official just yet. The Chicago Bulls, who got Zach Collins, Tre Jones, and Kevin Huerter in the package, have 17 players on the roster and must cut or trade two players to make the trade legal.
Until then, Fox is in limbo, unlikely to make his season debut before Friday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Once the trade is finalized, head coach Mitch Johnson will have to determine his starting lineup. The no-brainer would have Fox start with Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Stephon Castle, and Wembanyama. That would end up sliding Chris Paul into a sixth-man spot, adding much-needed veteran help to that second unit.
Long-Term Roster Considerations
Acquiring Fox has been huge for San Antonio, but they have plenty more moves to make. The Spurs have a slew of first-round picks over the next several seasons and, therefore, the assets required to bring in another star.
Their next order of business should be getting a dominant wing player to complement a traditional championship-caliber trio with Fox and Wembanyama.
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