Historically, San Antonio has been one of the most successful franchises in the NBA. However, after the era of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginóbili, Tony Parker, and some might even mention Kawhi Leonard, the team experienced a period of mediocrity with lackluster results. This past summer is expected to bring about significant changes, as one of the most anticipated players of the last decade is joining the team through the draft.

Spurs’ games in the upcoming season are sure to be highly popular among fans. For those who not only enjoy watching but also betting, it’s worth registering, giris and betting with the bookmaker company Pin-Up.

Key Facts

Previous season results: 15th place, 22-60.

Roster:

Arrivals – Cedi Osman, Victor Wembanyama (1st pick).

Remaining – Tre Jones, Devonte’ Graham, Malachi Flynn, Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Doug McDermott, Jeremy Sochan, Zach Collins, Sandro Mamukelashvili.

What to Expect from the Team

The event that determined the franchise’s fate for the coming years, if not the next decade, was this year’s NBA Draft Lottery, where the Spurs secured the first pick of the 2023 Draft. With this pick, the Texas-based club selected the French prospect, Victor Wembanyama.

Personally, I’m somewhat disappointed with San Antonio’s approach in free agency. Of course, the team’s management knows best how to develop the franchise. However, I don’t completely agree with their approach of waiting. This summer, the Spurs had the opportunity to at least compete for players like Fred VanVleet, Austin Reaves, Draymond Green, and Brook Lopez, all of whom, in my opinion, would have been great additions to the team.

Surprisingly, there was no apparent interest from the Spurs in any of these players. I was especially surprised that they didn’t make a strong effort to acquire Austin Reaves, whom the Lakers easily signed without overpaying for him. The Spurs could have offered him a substantial $100 million contract, or something close to that. Even if the Lakers would have overspent, the main financial burden of the contract would have fallen in the third and fourth years, just around the time when the Spurs should become competitive themselves. Meanwhile, the Lakers would have had a more heavily front-loaded contract.

Therefore, the San Antonio Spurs will spend the upcoming season in a waiting mode. They will closely observe Victor’s performance in the NBA and hope for his success. They will also experiment with lineups, such as one without a traditional point guard, featuring Vassell, Johnson, Sochan, Wembanyama, and Collins.

In my opinion, this is aimed at improving and expanding Wembanyama’s skill set, including playmaking and ball-handling, as well as the skills of other young and promising players in the Spurs’ roster. Through this waiting strategy, the Spurs are hoping to acquire a young talent in next year’s draft and possibly look at free agents in the summer of 2024.

Season Joker: Victor Wembanyama

The young Frenchman has already amazed us in the preseason, and he’s expected to perform even better in the regular season. His unique physical attributes, athleticism, and basketball skills, combined with a high basketball IQ, make him one of the most exciting players of the season. The team is also making efforts to create the best environment for his development, focusing on his growth without putting excessive pressure on immediate results or authoritarianism within the team.

Prediction: 14th place in the Western Conference.