San Antonio Spurs: Risking Wembanyama’s Talent with Flawed Strategies
A Disaster in the Making: Spurs Could Ruin the Future of Their 7-Foot-5 Superstar
Victor Wembanyama, the 7-foot-5 phenom dubbed an “alien” capable of reshaping NBA basketball, is at risk of having his rare talent squandered by the San Antonio Spurs’ misguided strategic decisions. Since acquiring Wembanyama, the Spurs have consistently added players ill-suited for modern basketball, assembling a disjointed roster that threatens to diminish their young superstar’s potential.
The Trio of Disaster: Castle, Fox, and Harper
Over the past 12 months, the Spurs drafted Stephon Castle, the Rookie of the Year, traded for De’Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings, and are now poised to select Dylan Harper with the No. 2 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Alarmingly, all three are ball-handlers with subpar outside shooting, a combination that could prove catastrophic in today’s NBA.
Statistics highlight the issue: Fox, across eight NBA seasons, maintains a 3-point shooting percentage of just 35.2%, below the league average of 37.2%. Castle, in his rookie season, shot a mere 28.5% from beyond the arc, consistent with his college performance. Harper, at Rutgers, posted an alarming 30.8% from three, with detailed analysis of his 104 missed attempts revealing serious technical and consistency issues.
Wembanyama Isolated: Alarming Statistics
Remarkably, Wembanyama, who converts 79% of his shots in the restricted area, averages only 3.2 attempts per game in this zone—on par with players like Lauri Markkanen and Rui Hachimura. Meanwhile, Jeremy Sochan, with a career 3-point shooting percentage of 29%, gets more opportunities at the rim, averaging 5.1 attempts per game.
The reason for this disaster is clear: Wembanyama lacks the spacing needed to operate effectively, surrounded by players who cannot stretch the floor. He averages just 4.8 handoffs per game, compared to league-leader Domantas Sabonis with 21.1, and even his backup, Zach Collins, edges him out with 4.9.
Five Critical Choices for the Spurs’ Future
Option 1: Stick with the Harper-Fox-Castle Trio
The Spurs could draft Harper and hope the trio develops chemistry over time. Defensively, they could form a formidable barrier, but their lack of shooting leaves significant offensive concerns, particularly in creating space for Wembanyama.
Option 2: Trade Castle at Peak Value
With his Rookie of the Year award, Castle’s trade value is sky-high. The Spurs could leverage him to acquire a superstar like Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks or Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics, building a more balanced roster around Wembanyama.
Option 3: Trade Down for More Assets
Teams like the Utah Jazz, Washington Wizards, or New Orleans Pelicans, in need of playmakers, might offer attractive packages to trade up for Harper. The Brooklyn Nets, with the No. 8 pick, future draft capital, and Cam Johnson, could be an ideal trade partner.
Option 4: Skip the Draft for a Proven Superstar
Amid rumors surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, the Spurs could use their No. 2 pick and other assets to pursue a proven superstar, bypassing the uncertainty of a rookie.
Option 5: Trade Fox While His Value Holds
At nearly 28, with only one playoff appearance and no reliable jump shot, Fox’s value may soon decline. The Spurs could trade him to the Miami Heat for Duncan Robinson, Nikola Jović, and picks, or to the Nets for Cam Johnson and draft capital.
Lessons from History: Avoid Repeating Tragedy
The Minnesota Timberwolves with Kevin Garnett and the New Orleans Pelicans with Anthony Davis serve as cautionary tales of generational big men whose talents were wasted due to poor roster construction. In contrast, Tim Duncan thrived because the Spurs surrounded him with complementary players like Tony Parker and Manu Ginóbili, who impacted games without dominating the ball.
The formula for success in today’s NBA is clear: create spacing, play at a high pace, and surround your star with shooters and smart decision-makers. Instead, the Spurs are building a roster reminiscent of 2005, wholly out of step with modern basketball trends.
Final Warning: Don’t Waste the “Alien”
Wembanyama may be the most significant draft pick since LeBron James, and the Spurs have one chance to avoid squandering his talent. Persisting with a roster of non-shooters risks turning a game-changing superstar into an ordinary player.
With Wembanyama’s rookie contract ticking away, every misstep costs the Spurs precious years of his prime. The question is not whether Wembanyama has the talent, but whether the Spurs have the wisdom to nurture it.