SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs entered the NBA's free agency period Sunday night looking to bolster the roster they're building around superstar Victor Wembanyama.
The team has significant draft capital built up for the next few years and has taken a measured approach to spending it.
All the while, Wembanyama exceeded the expectations of many NBA insiders this past season, prompting calls for accelerated improvement of the roster through the draft and free agency this offseason.
Here's a look at the latest moves the team has made in the free agency market and the draft:
July 1 @ 2:30 p.m. - Spurs release roster for Summer League games
There will be some Silver and Black action to enjoy this summer and a chance to see the rookies - Stephon Castle and Harrison Ingram - on the court.
The San Antonio Spurs have released their 2024 Summer League team roster, which will include Sidy Cissoko and Austin Spurs players David Duke Jr., RaiQuan Gray and Jameer Nelson Jr.
July 1 @ 2:30 p.m. - Spurs reportedly targeting Batum
According to a report via Yahoo! Sports, the Spurs are targeting veteran forward Nicolas Batum in free agency.
Batum, 35, averaged 5.5 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 25.9 minutes last season with the Sixers.
(UPDATE: A later report said Batum is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers.)
June 30 @ 7:40 p.m. - Chris Paul signing with Spurs, report says
Free agent guard Chris Paul agrees to a one-year deal with the Spurs, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
June 30 @ 6:20 p.m. - NBA vet Harris gets Spurs' interest, report says
The San Antonio Spurs are among the teams interested in free-agent forward Tobais Harris, according to a report by the Philadelphia Inquirer.
"The Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, San Antonio Spurs, and Dallas Mavericks were among the teams expressing interest in the 13-year veteran, according to a source," the Inquirer reports.
Harris averaged 17.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists this past season.
June 30 @ 5 p.m. - Nate Ryan's wish list: Hayward and Paul
KENS 5 sports anchor Nate Ryan says his wish list for the Spurs in free agency includes Gordon Hayward and Chris Paul.
He calls Hayward "a veteran who makes shots" who would "set an example for young wings" if he put on the silver and black.
Paul would be a "veteran to mentor the young core," especially top draft pick Stephon Castle and Tre Jones, Ryan said.
June 30 @ 5 p.m. - Barlow enters free agency; Chris Paul to Spurs?
The Spurs did not tender a qualifying offer to forward Dominick Barlow. He is now an unrestricted free agent, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to NBA writer Marc Stein, the Spurs are also "believed to have" interest in the veteran point guard Chris Paul. The Clippers are also reportedly interested in adding Paul.
June 29 @ 9 p.m. - Mamu, Duke Jr. get qualifying offers
The San Antonio Spurs have made qualifying offers to Sandro Mamukelashvili and David Duke Jr., making them restricted free agents, according to a report from Keith Smith with Spotrac.
San Antonio now has the right to match any offers other teams may make to them.
Mamu averaged 11.4 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. In a win over the Memphis Grizzlies on April 9, Mamukelashvili snatched a career-high 16 rebounds to go with 11 points in the final eight games last season.
Duke Jr. played four games for the Spurs last season averaging 6.5 points and was 50% from the three-point line. In 34 games with the Austin Spurs, he averaged 19.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shot 37.7% from three-point line.
NBA Draft - Round 1, Pick 4: Stephon Castle
With the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the Spurs took 6-foot-6 guard Stephon Castle out of UConn, betting that the NCAA champion regarded for his top-notch playmaking and defensive grit will help the Spurs as the prepare for the second season of the Victor Wembanyama Era.
Last season, the Spurs allowed the most points per game (26.94) to opposing point guards. To get that number down, KENS 5's Nate Ryan argued, the team's best option was to add the best defender in this year’s class.
Castle started 30 games for the UConn Huskies, often drawing the matchup of the opposing team’s best player.
The Big East Freshman of the Year registered a 6-foot-9 wingspan at the NBA Combine in May, giving him the ability to fight over ball screens and disrupt passing lanes. He is arguably the most physically gifted player in this class at just 19 years old.
Castle averaged 11.1 points per game last season and helped the Huskies to a national championship as a freshman while playing mostly off the ball. He is expected to play point guard for San Antonio.
Shortly after Castle was drafted, he received a call from Wembanyama.
“We were just talking about coming down to San Antonio and how we just can’t wait to get to work,” Castle said. "I just can’t wait to get out there and show my versatility, especially with the kind of talent that we already have on that team.
Added Castle: "It being the youngest team in the league right now, I feel like our future is pretty bright.”
If there is a knock on Castle, it’s his three-point shooting. He shot just 26.7% from deep in his lone season at UConn. But on a team that included fellow likely draft picks Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer, Dan Hurley’s team didn’t need Castle to make three-pointers.
For what it’s worth, Castle made 18-25 three pointers at the NBA star shooting drill at the Combine. He played both guard positions at UConn, but has said that he prefers to go to an NBA team with a need at point guard.
Wright said the Spurs have had their eye on Castle since his high school playing days, adding they were drawn to his willingness to fill a specific role at a high-level program at UConn.
Most of the time you don’t see highly rated players go to a school and be willing to play a role," Wright said. "He played on the ball and off the ball in high school, doing things he just wasn’t able to showcase at UConn. That ability to sacrifice for the betterment of the team is something that stood out to us as well.”
Castle, for his part, told KENS 5 he's excited to transition from one program that knows how to succeed to another, now at the professional levels.
"I felt like it taught me so much being around Coach Hurley," he said. "To transition from such a high-level coach to Gregg Popovich, one of the legendary coaches, it’s a blessing. I can’t wait to get out there.”
NBA Draft - Round 2, Pick 36: Jose Nuñez
Wright and the Spurs remained nimble on the second day of the draft Thursday.
Entering the second day armed with the 35th and 48th overall picks, San Antonio worked a deal with Indiana to trade down one spot, where they took 20-year-old Spanish point guard Juan Nuñez. The Spurs received cash considerations in exchange for swapping picks.
Nuñez – who tallied 9.9 points and 4.9 assists per game with Ratiopharm Ulm last season – is regarded as one of the best passers in this year's draft class, though his shooting needs some work. He could develop into a key depth piece for San Antonio, but isn't expected to be on the roster this coming season.
NBA Draft - Round 2, Pick 48: Harrison Ingram
The Spurs stuck with pick No. 48 to select 21-year-old forward Harrison Ingram out of North Carolina.
Ingram notched 12.2 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists last season in Chapel Hill. A more established scoring threat than Núñez, Ingram marks another Spurs acquisition in the versatile defense department, and he could fill a 3-point offense void—he shot nearly 40% from beyond the arc last year at UNC.
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