San Antonio seeks veteran leadership to bolster Victor Wembanyama’s development. With a potential buyout looming, the former All-Star offers the scoring punch and culture fit the Spurs crave.
Ever since they fell to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the San Antonio Spurs have placed a major emphasis on improving in two pivotal areas ... physicality and experience.
As the league shifts into the era of the double-big lineup, San Antonio came away from the 2026 NBA Draft with Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr., two big men willing to do the dirty work required to coexist next to Victor Wembanyama.
Drafting the center tandem checked off the physicality box.
As for the experience aspect?
Thus far, the Spurs have inked veteran Tobias Harris to a two-year, $31 million contract while adding two-time national champion head coach Billy Donovan to Mitch Johnson's staff.
But San Antonio may not be finished in that regard.
There had been buzz linking the Spurs to a potential reunion with Kawhi Leonard before he returned to the Toronto Raptors — but what if the franchise looked to another familiar face?
Per The People's Insider, Jake Fischer, the Sacramento Kings are expected to come to a buyout agreement with DeMar DeRozan.
DeRozan, 36, sported the silver and black from 2018 to 2021 after being the centerpiece of San Antonio's return package when it moved off Leonard eight years ago.
He knows what it means to be a Spur and would bring 17 years of experience to the franchise's young core — and that's not even mentioning what DeRozan is still capable of doing when he's on the floor.
The intangibles are absolutely a draw ... however, they wouldn't be DeRozan's only attractive quality.
DeRozan is still more than capable as a scorer, evidenced by his 18.4 points per game on 49.7% shooting this past season.
Granted, some of his statistical success may be due to the fact that he played for a poor Sacramento squad in 2025-26, but the Spurs wouldn't be asking him to do what he had to do as a King.
DeRozan would be joining Harrison Barnes and Harris as the only players aged 33 and above on San Antonio's roster, which would form a trio that the organization's young core could lean on as it continues to grow within the league.
He could serve as a microwave off the bench, giving Johnson a one-two punch of DeRozan and Keldon Johnson when the Spurs' offensive leaders rest.
But perhaps the most enticing element of a potential pursuit of DeRozan is the time he has already spent in San Antonio.
As the Spurs look to rebuild their identity and culture around Victor Wembanyama in a post-Gregg Popovich world, having players who experienced that standard firsthand carries real value.
DeRozan did.
A reunion wouldn't erase San Antonio's NBA Finals shortcomings overnight ... but if the Spurs are serious about surrounding Wembanyama with experienced, high-character veterans, there may not be a more logical buyout target on the market should DeRozan get there.
