San Antonio Spurs Predicted Finish, Key Acquisitions & Fantasy Stars

With the NBA season’s tip-off less than 24 hours away, our focus shifts to the San Antonio Spurs. Last season, Gregg Popovich’s squad went 34-48 before being eliminated by New Orleans in the play-in. In these previews, we will take a look at the key acquisitions, fantasy stars and predicted finish.

Key Acquisitions

The Spurs added three first-rounders to what is one of the youngest rosters in the league this offseason after trading away All-Star Dejounte Murray.

With the ninth pick, they landed on Baylor’s Jeremy Sochan who averaged 9.2 ppg and 6.4 rpg in 30 games as a freshman. One of the draft’s best defenders, Sochan’s switchability and athleticism should tantalise San Antonio whilst he has showcased an ability to make plays for teammate, rebound at a high rate, and finish on the inside. His lack of shooting touch limits his immediate ceiling but at the very least the Spurs are adding a versatile defender who is energetic around the rim on offence.

At 20, they added Ohio State’s Malaki Branham who averaged 13.7 ppg on .596 TS% in 32 games as a freshman. A skilled three-level scorer, Branham’s frame and tight handle allowed him to develop into a strong driver at Ohio State whilst hitting on 37 of his 89 three-point attempts. There is reason to believe he can become an impactful NBA-level defender, however, making strides as a playmaker and improving his reliability as a three-point shooter will be among the aims of the development staff in San Antonio.

Notre Dame’s Blake Wesley was the third of their first-round additions after he averaged 14.4 ppg and 2.4 apg in 35 games as freshman. At just 19, Wesley may not contribute at a high-volume from the outset but San Antonio will look to tap into the finishing, playmaking, and defensive upside he showcased at Notre Dame. He hit on just 54 of his 178 three-point attempts, however, and will benefit from adding muscle – two areas the Spurs will likely focus on.

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Fantasy Stars

The Spurs roster is not built to win an awful lot of games this season so finding valuable fantasy assets may prove difficult.

Keldon Johnson may be worth a look at whilst Jakob Poeltl has proven to be a reliable centre in recent seasons.

Johnson last season averaged 17.0 ppg and 6.1 rpg on .574 TS%. With Murray now in Atlanta, expect Johnson’s usage rate and production to make another leap. The 23-year-old has developed into a talented three-level scorer, rebounder, and playmaker in San Antonio and has made improvements in each of his three seasons as a professional.

Poeltl, on the other hand, is also fresh off a career-year in which he averaged 13.5 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 2.8 apg with 1.7 bpg on .613 TS%. On offence, he is a strong finisher on the interior and a talented playmaker out of the post whilst having developed into one of the league’s best screeners and offensive rebounders. He is San Antonio’s anchor defensively and will again be poised to put up strong numbers as their first-choice big-man.

Projected Finish

San Antonio made their vision rather apparent with the Murray trade; their priority revolves around draft lottery odds. With a highly regarded draft class on deck for 2023, they will look to kick-off their rebuild in style by adding Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson. Poeltl – who may become a trade target come the deadline – is a legitimately good starting centre whilst Johnson, Sochan, and Devin Vassell are useful pieces to build around. With Popovich turning 74 in January, his time roaming the sidelines looks to be entering its twilight phase with the Hall of Fame mentor no guarantee of returning next season.

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