The San Antonio Spurs made a blockbuster move in landing De'Aaron Fox in their journey to form a competitive roster around Victor Wembanyama. Adding a star point guard is a significant way toward their goal, but the Spurs still have a lot of roster issues to sort out—most notably in finding a reliable backup center.
With the trade deadline coming in less than three days, who could they possibly land in the fifth spot now that Zach Collins is gone?
Spurs Need a Backup Center When Wemby is Resting
One of the most glaring gaps in the Spurs' lineup is at the backup center position. With Zach Collins traded away, there is no hard-nosed big man to give Wembanyama some rest. According to Pounding The Rock, while Charles Bassey has flashed brilliance, his inconsistency is a concern.
On the other hand, Sandro Mamukelashvili brings versatility on offense but is a liability on defense, hence is not a reliable long-term solution. Here are three possible solutions for the Spurs:
Larry Nance Jr.: The Big Floor Spacer
Larry Nance Jr. could be an excellent backup center since he can space the floor and defend at a good level. Currently, with the Atlanta Hawks, Nance is shooting 45% from three this season, and he has retained his strong rebounding and playmaking skills.
He can allow the Spurs to retain a similar style of play when Wembanyama is off the floor because he can provide spacing and not hurt them on defense.
The problem? Nance's $11.25 million salary. San Antonio would have to package players like Malaki Branham and Julian Champagnie to match salaries, which may be a steep price for a backup center.
Day'Ron Sharpe: A Cost-Effective Rebounder
The Brooklyn Nets are in rebuilding mode and might be open to trading off the young big man Day'Ron Sharpe. Standing 6'11", Sharpe is physically in the paint, and an elite rebounder averaging 16.5 points and 13 rebounds per 36 minutes. His $3.98 million salary is very affordable in a trade by the Spurs.
According to Air Alamo, his toughness in the paint and ability to crash the boards would go a long way for the team. If San Antonio can get him for a second-round pick or lower-value asset, it would be a strong addition without sacrificing future flexibility.
Guerschon Yabusele: No Problem With Wemby's Chemistry
Wembanyama's teammate in the French national team, Guerschon Yabusele, saw his career take shape with the Philadelphia 76ers. Due to injuries in their big lineup, including those of Joel Embiid and Andre Drummond, he saw extensive action at small-ball center and thus, provides good value due to versatility on offense with respectable rebounding.
The word is that Philadelphia is shopping Yabusele in advance of his free agency, so he would be a potential low-cost addition. He'd bring additional chemistry to the Spurs, knowing Wembanyama.
If none of them will be considered as options, the Spurs could also get Mo Bamba after Jazz waived him. While his stats are pretty low, the team could help him develop his potential further.
While the Spurs got Fox, the three-team deal that sent him to San Antonio hasn't been official just yet. The Chicago Bulls, who got Zach Collins, Tre Jones, and Kevin Huerter in the package, have 17 players on the roster and must cut or trade two players to make the trade legal.
Until then, Fox is in limbo, unlikely to make his season debut before Friday's game against the Charlotte Hornets.
Once the trade is finalized, head coach Mitch Johnson will have to determine his starting lineup. The no-brainer would have Fox start with Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Stephon Castle, and Wembanyama. That would end up sliding Chris Paul into a sixth-man spot, adding much-needed veteran help to that second unit.
Long-Term Roster Considerations
Acquiring Fox has been huge for San Antonio, but they have plenty more moves to make. The Spurs have a slew of first-round picks over the next several seasons and, therefore, the assets required to bring in another star.
Their next order of business should be getting a dominant wing player to complement a traditional championship-caliber trio with Fox and Wembanyama.
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