After a busy 2024 NBA offseason, the San Antonio Spurs appear to be in a strong position. They bolstered their roster by acquiring Harrison Barnes, Chris Paul, and rookie Stephon Castle to complement their young core, particularly Victor Wembanyama. The projected starting lineup was expected to feature Wembanyama, Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, and Chris Paul, with Keldon Johnson and Castle leading the bench. However, with Vassell still recovering from foot surgery, he is set to miss at least the first five games of the season, if not more.
The Spurs, known for their cautious approach, have not finalized who will take Vassell’s spot in the starting five. Head coach Gregg Popovich admitted that the lineup is still undecided, except for Wembanyama. “I think [Wembanyama is] going to start. After that, who the hell knows?” Popovich remarked.
Several players could step up, including Johnson, Castle, Malaki Branham, and Julian Champagnie. Although none of these options provide Vassell’s scoring ability, all have shown they can handle starting roles, except for Castle, who is a rookie. Champagnie, who started 59 games last season, is open to whatever role he plays, saying, “Do I know if I’ll start? No. If I do, hooray, if I don’t, hooray. It doesn’t really matter to me; I’m just here to make the team better.”
Branham, who has started 61 games in his two-year career, echoed a similar sentiment. He acknowledged the team might adopt a flexible approach, rotating different players into Vassell’s spot. “Nobody has a solid role, I guess you can say,” Branham noted, adding that Vassell’s absence will be felt.
As the Spurs aim to secure a playoff spot this season, whoever steps up in Vassell’s place will be expected to keep the team competitive. However, that role may come with limited security as the team navigates its options early in the season.
