The San Antonio Spurs didn't shake things up this offseason, but they did make one addition who is expected to play a key role in putting them over the top.
After winning 62 games last season and making the NBA Finals on the back of their young core, the San Antonio Spurs didn't really need to shake things up.
After all, their young roster was expected to take great strides this summer. Victor Wembanyama hosted Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, among others, in France this summer, and that trio is poised to run the league for the foreseeable future.
On top of that, the supporting cast is already excellent. The Spurs didn't lose a single major contributor this summer and went out of their way to sign Tobias Harris, who just averaged 13.3 points and 5.1 rebounds for the top-seeded Detroit Pistons.
Tobias Harris to Take Spurs to Next Level
On paper, the Spurs didn't really need to sign Harris. Devin Vassell and Julian Champagnie are both excellent players and are perfectly capable of playing a big role in the starting lineup. Harrison Barnes is still a solid bench option, and Carter Bryant is expected to step up.
Plus, Keldon Johnson just won Sixth Man of the Year. The wing rotation was rock-solid.
"What's weird about the Harris signing is that he's not filling a hole that desperately needed filling," said Jared Weiss on The Athletic NBA Daily. "They have a ton of depth in that three-ish space, but they don't have someone who can really play the four consistently besides Keldon Johnson. Champagnie had to try to do it. Vassell can sometimes do it, but they needed a four that could play rugged. I don't know if he fits that bill necessarily."
Harris, though, can create for himself off the dribble and play with physicality. Johnson is a physical player, although he lacks the size to match up against larger players. With Harris, that problem is solved.
Now Mitch Johnson can really plug in the best man for the job. Harris adds a touch of experience and stability.
"They needed somebody like Harris who just has more skill, more touch, and a more varied offensive game," Weiss added. "And that's just going to be so important for them because they just, they need a little bit of variance to make themselves a little bit more unpredictable."
Looking at the roster, the Spurs don't really have a single weakness. Plus, they have more depth than anyone else. The Finals are theirs for the taking.
