The San Antonio Spurs passed the Oklahoma City Thunder as the best team in the Western Conference last season, and it's a title they aren't expected to give up anytime soon.
Last season, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Oklahoma City Thunder in the regular season, bested them in the NBA Cup, and then eliminated them from the playoffs.
The Spurs, it seems, are certainly the best team in the Western Conference, alkthough them and the Thunder are 1-A and 1-B. The gap isn't as big as fans would like.
However, this offseason, the Spurs didn't lose a single rotation player and added Tobias Harris. The Thunder are hoping that recent lottery picks Nikola Topic and Thomas Sorber will break out, but they did lose Lu Dort, Isaiah Dort, and Aaron Wiggins. That's significant.
The Spurs and Thunder are expected to meet again in the Western Conference Finals. The Spurs, though, have an overlooked advantage.
Why Spurs' Roster Is More Sustainable Than OKC's
The Spurs have the advantage of boasting the best player in the rivalry. Victor Wembanyama has passed up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. OKC might have the Spurs beat in the depth department, but their growth and improvement aren't sustainable.
"The Thunder, who are the deepest team in the league, are now one of the more expensive teams in the league," declared ESPN's Brian Windhorst.
OKC has $216 million on the books this year. The Spurs are at $198 million. Looking ahead, San Antonio's roster is cheaper than the Thunder's in each of the next three seasons, often by as much as $40 million. Of course, once the Spurs extend Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, their committed money will explode, although the Spurs' trio is better than the Thunder's, and San Antonio's might be cheaper.
If Castle, Harper, and Wembanyama can be better than SGA, Jalen Williams, and Chet Holmgren, depth and committed money won't really matter.
"Forget the financial competition," said Tim MacMahon. "They're operating in a league where they're trying to compete with the San Antonio Spurs, who are going to have Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle, potentially for the next decade plus."
After Wembanyama set the example of taking less than the absolute maximum, there's reason to believe that the Spurs will have enough money left over to field a competetive--if not elite--depth chart behind the stars.
If San Antonio can do that, then the "rivalry" should be short-lived.
