The San Antonio Spurs’ Finals run is officially over after the team dropped game five to the New York Knicks. However, the Spurs are set to enter the offseason with the second-most cap space among Western playoff teams. With four series in the playoffs to test their young players, the Spurs have identified a range of glaring holes they can fix.
The Biggest Holes The Spurs Need To Fix This Offseason
Continuing To Grow With Homegrown Talent
This offseason, the Spurs will see key veteran contracts expire. Players like Harrison Barnes, who made $19 million this past season, and Kelly Olynyk, who made $13 million, will have to re-sign or find a new home. Although there is potential upside to signing these players, especially at a discounted price, their absence would free up valuable cap space. Also, their absence could lead to more playing time for a youngster, like Carter Bryant, to develop.
After the NBA changed its draft lottery odds to avoid tanking, front offices began planning for a future in which tanking likely won’t be a viable option. San Antonio wouldn’t have been able to draft Dylan Harper last year under the new rules. However, San Antonio’s run of picking players using other teams’ traded draft picks won’t end. The Spurs still own the 20th pick in the 2026 NBA draft thanks to the Atlanta Hawks. They also have the Atlanta Hawks’ 2027 pick.
Considering that the Spurs have a habit of finding good players anywhere in the draft, the Spurs should have no problem fixing a hole with the 20th pick. I suggest that they aim to add increased size at the power forward position or add a solid ball handler to the bench.
The Spurs should not overreact and break the bank this offseason. Many of the issues that led to the Spurs losing the finals can be fixed by the current unit or by future draft picks.
Offseason Targets
Several key free agents should be at the top of the Spurs’ spending list. Arguably at the top of this list is Dean Wade, the Cleveland Cavaliers small forward. Don’t let his position fool you; he could be of great assistance to the Spurs’ rebounding efforts. At 6’9″, he stands taller than all of the 2025-2026 forwards on the Spurs (not counting Olynyk, who spent time playing center).
Wade is also a sharpshooter from the three-point line, hitting at over 36%. His only glaring issue is that his offensive impact is minimal beyond three-point shooting. However, Center Victor Wembanyama needs all the help he can get with rebounding so that he can focus on his offense and defense next season.
Similarly gifted is Trey Murphy III. Murphy shoots even better than Wade from three with many of the same strengths. At 6’8″, he is a hair shorter but would give the Spurs a larger body that can potentially play heavy playoff minutes.
Murphy is also a ball hawk and a high-impact player on both sides of the court. The only potential downsides of acquiring Murphy are the cost of his contract and the need to trade to get him. Owed 27 million next year, he wouldn’t be able to join the team without sacrifices.
The final target is Collin Sexton, a veteran combo guard with high upside. Once thought of as the potential future star of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Sexton hasn’t panned out as he was envisioned. However, he is an excellent player off the bench and potentially a safe choice to go to in the playoffs for a bench ball handler. With the Spurs still waiting for some players to develop, having him for an attempted playoff run is an excellent safety net.
Last Word On The Spurs’ Biggest Issues They Need To Fix In The Offseason
Considering that the Spurs have reached the Finals despite limited playoff experience, it seems the team’s biggest holes are inexperience and youth. Obviously, this is a problem that time will naturally solve. However, for their other problems, the most pressing seems to be improving size at power forward. Having an excellent defender and rebounder at the power forward would take a lot of pressure off of Wembanyama. One of the holes that can be left open is the Spurs’ turnover issues. Stephon Castle is already in the gym working to improve his ball-handling skills. It won’t be long before he is a trusted playoff ball handler.
Geoff Burke, Imagn Images via Reuters Connect
