Despite surprisingly ending up with the second overall pick, the San Antonio Spurs will have their work cut out for them this summer. They will have two lottery picks in the upcoming NBA draft and have been linked to two superstars in trade rumors.
Even so, a recent report by ESPN's Jonathan Givony called into question whether they will make a big trade this summer. There is something to be said for continuity and building slowly in hopes of competing over a longer period.
Be that as it may, that may not be the Spurs' best route to take given their unique roster construction and how their second-highest-paid player, Devin Vassell, fits into the team.
Keeping Devin Vassell creates a logjam for the Spurs
If the Spurs opt against making a big trade this summer and use the second overall pick to draft Dylan Harper, then it will create a logjam. San Antonio would have De'Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Vassell, and Harper on the perimeter, with all four more than worthy of big minutes. Of course, there are only 144 minutes to go around between point guard, shooting guard, and small forward. And that is where the problem comes in.
Fox, Castle, and Vassell are more likely to average at least 30 minutes a game. Additionally, Harper, as a second overall pick, should play at least 25 minutes a night. Add in rotation players Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson, both of whom played well last season, and San Antonio simply won't have many minutes to go around.
That is why the most obvious move would be to trade Vassell. That would allow the Spurs to give players such as Castle and Harper big minutes next season. Doing so would help their top prospects develop faster and possibly pay off in the long run. Barring a trade, that would be much harder to do.
Trading Vassell makes the most sense for the Spurs
The Spurs could still use Vassell's shooting, but he is a bit too streaky to rely on as a starter. He makes more sense coming off the bench, with him having averaged 20 points in the nine games he played with the second unit earlier this season. He can put points up in a hurry, but he has yet to do that consistently from game to game.
As a result, they should shop for him, presumably for a big man who can help them solve their hole at the backup center. That might be hard to swing given that Vassell makes $27 million next season, and few available centers make that much.
They could try and trade for two players, with one of those players solving their problems at backup center. That might be selling low on a player who has shown plenty of offensive upside, but Vassell's median outcome probably doesn't justify them blocking Harper from getting major minutes as a rookie.
Overall, the Spurs will have a logjam if they keep their roster together and add Harper this summer. That could hamper the development of Castle and Harper, which should force them to reconsider whether to trade Vassell this summer.