The San Antonio Spurs are thin at the point guard position heading into the offseason. The only point guards currently on the team are Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley.
Here are some potential targets to fill the gap.
Tre Jones
Tre Jones was the starting point guard of the Spurs last season. He averaged 12.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 6.6 assists last season. Jones shot 45.9% from the field and 28.5% from three point range.
Tre is an underrated point guard who doesn’t take too many risks with the basketball. He is also a great passer and can provide scoring.
The real question is whether or not he is a starting caliber point guard. He could end up being a backup point guard like his brother, Tyus.
Jones enters free agency as a restricted free agent. Out of this list, Jones is the most likely to be in San Antonio next season.
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons would fit in perfectly in San Antonio. The former first overall pick still has tons of potential in a system that fits him. He played only 42 games last season and ended the season with a knee injury.
Simmons averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists last season in Brooklyn. The Nets are looking to move him after underperforming since he was dealt there in the James Harden trade.
Simmons could fit in nicely in San Antonio with projected number one pick Victor Wembanyama. It would also be interesting to see if Gregg Popovich get the most out of Simmons’ potential.
The Spurs may be able to get Simmons for cheap in a trade with the Nets this offseason. Although he isn’t the best offensively, Simmons is a great defender who would benefit the Spurs as they were toward the bottom of the league last season in defensive numbers.
Fred VanVleet
Fred VanVleet is expected to decline his player option and enter free agency this offseason. The former All-Star would add a great offensive and defensive player to the Spurs’ lineup.
VanVleet averaged 19.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists last season in Toronto.
He would fit nicely in Pop’s system and the Spurs would be able to afford him as they will have roughly $37 million in cap space this offseason.
Scoot Henderson
Could the Spurs pull off what the Houston Texans did in the NFL Draft? The Spurs have enough draft picks in the future to trade up in the draft and possibly have two top three picks just like the Texans. There are reports that the Blazers may be open to trading the third pick.
If the Spurs can pull off a trade with the Blazers and the Hornets take Brandon Miller second, Scoot could fall straight into their hands.
Henderson is projected as the number two prospect behind Wembanyama in this year’s draft. Scoot averaged 16.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists last year with the G-Leaugue Ignite.
Scoot would pair greatly in Pop’s system and alongside Wemby. He needs to improve on his shooting, but is a great facilitator and uses his athleticism to get to the rim.
Amen Thompson
Amen Thompson is another player the Spurs could trade up for. He is projected as a top five pick in the upcoming draft. San Antonio could take him at three is they make the trade mentioned above with the Blazers and if Charlotte selects Scoot second overall.
Thompson averaged 16.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season with Overtime Elite. He needs to work on his shooting after shooting just 25% from three last season.
Thompson is a raw prospect that has plenty of potential. Like Scoot, his athleticism helps him get inside a lot and he is also a great playmaker.
Overview
Any of these players would help the Spurs greatly next season. Some are easier to get than others, but all could be a possibility as we move closer to the NBA offseason.
Stay tuned for more NBA content including news from every team.
Featured image courtesy of NBA.com
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- Source: https://thegamehaus.com/nba/san-antonio-spurs-offseason-point-guard-targets/2023/05/25/
