The Spurs’ recent signings of Julian Champagnie and Harrison Barnes will continue to aid the Spurs with excellent shooting. Champagnie was the Spurs’ best three-point shooter in their run to the Finals and was an important target for the Spurs to extend. Barnes, 34, is a veteran scorer who has gradually seen a decrease in minutes but is a fantastic bench player.
Spurs’ Recent Signings Create Deepest Forward Room In The NBA
Why These Signings Are Great
Starting with the Champagnie signing, the Spurs took the wise move of giving him a pay upgrade early. Champagnie still had another year on his contract, which would have only cost the Spurs three million, but signing him now has its advantages. The young forward is still on the rise, and waiting until he is an unrestricted free agent next year would be problematic, as it allows other teams to decide his value. Champagnie will now be signed through the 2029 season and will make an average of 15 million per year. For such an excellent player, this is a bargain.
Barnes signed back to the Spurs for half the money he was being paid last year. This deal will only last one year and will expire before the Spurs need to resign star Victor Wembanyama. A veteran like Barnes is an important presence for the team, considering his extensive NBA experience when compared to the young stars. In fact, he could be seen giving advice to Wembanyama, who is only 22, before game seven of the Western Conference Finals.
When combining these signings with the two recently drafted players from earlier in the week, the Spurs have the deepest forward room in the NBA. Tarris Reed Jr. looks to make an impact early, whether at the center or power forward position. On the other hand, Jayden Quaintance will not play until potentially midway through the season but looks to be a scary defender to place next to Wembanyama. Devin Vassell and Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson help to round out this excellent group, as well as rising star Carter Bryant.
This is already a major improvement for the team, seeing as a lack of size in the playoffs was taken advantage of. In game four of the NBA Finals, the Spurs failed to box out O.G. Anunoby, and he tipped the ball in to complete the largest comeback in NBA Finals history. The Spurs now have extreme versatility at the forward positions. Both of the rookies who were drafted in the first round have great rebounding skills, helping take some pressure off of Wembanyama, whose arms were scarred by the end of the playoffs from rebound battles.
Spurs Most Likely Done Making Major Signings
The Spurs have one remaining need, which is for another ball handler to join the team. Guard Jordan McLaughlin is a free agent, and the Spurs could use this opportunity to make an upgrade at the position. However, a veteran on a small contract is a more likely move. The Spurs have most likely gotten their bigger signings out of the way already and will use leftover money to sign smaller deals.
A huge trade is also unlikely unless they move De’Aaron Fox. However, that is unlikely as the Spurs front office has expressed confidence in Fox. Kawhi Leonard has also been mentioned in trade rumors, but the Spurs’ recent signings of power forwards all but confirm those Leonard-Spurs trade rumors as false.
A quiet offseason is typical for the Spurs. For some, this is a criticism, but for a franchise that is so used to success, this is only a sign of business as usual.
Featured Image: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
