Chris Paul is not expected to return to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency, but there are three better fits that the Spurs could target this offseason.
Last offseason, the San Antonio Spurs went out and got Victor Wembanyama both a mentor and point guard in Chris Paul. He is 39 years old and didn’t fit the Spurs’ timeline, although he averaged a solid 8.8 points and 7.4 assists while starting every single game.
Midway through the season, the Spurs traded for De’Aaron Fox, and Stephon Castle broke out as the Rookie of the Year. On top of that, the Spurs are expected to draft Dylan Harper second overall, leaving no room in the backcourt for Paul.
As a result, the Point God is not expected to return to the Spurs. However, his veteran leadership and experience were incredibly valuable to the young team, and the Spurs should look to add another veteran next to Harrison Barnes for locker room leadership.
While Paul certainly fits the bill, there are three free agents who fill a position of need on the court, as well.
The Spurs, as evidenced by their struggles without Wembanyama on the court last season, are in desperate need of a backup center.
Free agent Brook Lopez is the best option, and he has championship experience that the Spurs desperately need.
As a floor-spacer and shot-blocker, he could, in theory, share the floor with Wemby in oversized lineups, although his main role would be leading the second unit, providing some much-needed rim protection.
The Spurs could draft Derik Queen, Maxime Raynaud, or another backup big and stay young, although having a proven veteran, even one past his prime, certainly has its advantages.
Lopez will have plenty of suitors, including the Los Angeles Lakers, although the Spurs can offer just as much playing time and slightly more money.
Lopez averaged 13 points, five rebounds, and 1.9 blocks while shooting 37.3% from deep last season.
While the Spurs seem to have an elite, young backcourt rotation, especially if they draft Harper, Bruce Brown can slot in off the ball and serve as a secondary facilitator both off the bench and as a starter.
The ultimate “glue guy,” he could play a Josh Hart-lite role for the Spurs. Since winning a title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023, he has bounced around the league, playing for the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and New Orleans Pelicans.
He is not a volume scorer, but he can pass, rebound, and defend, and wouldn’t be a bad combination off the bench next to Jeremy Sochan on defense and Julian Champagnie on offense, especially if a true point guard remained on the floor.
Brown’s $45 million deal with the Pacers after winning a title was a massive overpay, and his next contract will be less lucrative, cementing him within the Spurs’ budget.
Brown averaged 8.3 points, four rebounds, and two assists while shooting 33.3% from deep for two teams last season.
Barring a trade, the San Antonio Spurs will have a wing rotation of Harrison Barnes, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Julian Champagnie. All of those players are serviceable, if not solid, shooters, but only Barnes shot over 38% from deep last season.
In the modern NBA, there’s no such thing as too much shooting, and Luke Kennard would bring a burst of reliability to the young roster.
While he is less experienced than Lopez and not a champion like Brown, he has twice led the league in 3-point percentage and is third all-time with a career mark of 43.8% from deep.
He is not a great defender, but with Wembanyama or Jeremy Sochan behind him, that’s not a major concern. With stops on the Pistons, Clippers, and Grizzlies, he has seen a bit of everything and would be another value signing for the Spurs.
Out of all three players listed, Kennard’s on-court impact might be the most apparent, but his lack of playoff experience means he would bring the least to the locker room, putting a bigger load on first-year head coach Mitch Johnson’s plate.
Kennard averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.3 assists while shooting 43.3% from deep last season.
