SAN ANTONIO — The San Antonio Spurs are still rebuilding but have made strides to emerge from it and return to the top of the NBA.
Drafting Victor Wembanyama was a no-brainer. Allowing young players like Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Keldon Johnson to develop has been critical, and amassing plenty of future draft picks puts the Spurs in a solid position to win sooner rather than later.
But could the Spurs be among teams that could "tank" in the 2024-25 season?
NBA writer David Thorpe with TrueHoops recently wrote about teams he sees among the worst next season and in a good position for the 2025 NBA Draft.
And among the teams are the Spurs.
He projects the Spurs will win 31 games next season and throw in the towel on the season, and among are his "tank brigade" teams.
"Still, the group of teams below will likely transition into “tank mode” by year’s end," Thorpe posted. "Each team in the tank brigade rosters at least one player who can boost a contender, so expect to see a flurry of moves this season—and don’t be too shocked if one squad claws their way into the Play-In."
Considering the additions of Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes, it's difficult to see the Spurs "tanking" next season. These additions significantly increase the team's odds of winning more games.
Factor in Wemby's skyrocketing development on the court and the returning players from last season building on their chemistry; it is likely the Spurs won't be looking to lose more for a draft odds boost.
Plus, the Spurs are flush with first-round picks (starting in 2025), a bevy of second-round picks, and have plenty of cap space to make moves to speed up the rebuild and avoid another "tank" season if they choose.
Of course, it must be considered if they reach that point in the season where draft positioning outweighs wins due to injuries or the team's inability to qualify for a play-in spot.
What do you think, Spurs fans? Let us know on X at @KENS5 and @JeffGSpursKENS5.