Last season, the team often fell apart when Victor Wembanyama went to the bench. That can't happen this season. The Spurs had high hopes when the year began. The goal was to make the playoffs. Unfortunately, the basketball gods had another outcome in mind, and the season went off the rails after the loss of Pop, a tough schedule, and injuries overwhelmed the team.
Some of what happened was unexpected, like the Wembanyama blood clot. Nobody could have seen that coming, except maybe Doctor Strange. Others weren't as surprising. My response to Charles Bassey's injury was more apathetic than anything. He's struggled with health since he's been in the league, and quite honestly, he didn't do a ton when he was in there. He was okay, at best.
Nobody expects the backup center to make up for all of the talent Vic possesses, but you need to bring something, and it needs to be consistent. When the games start back in October, Brian Wright must ensure there's a trusty player sitting on that bench who Coach Johnson can rely on to spell the Alien when he needs a blow.
A backup center must be a high priority
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Shooting is the first problem the Spurs should address. It's the most obvious thing San Antonio needs. Getting a good center for the second unit should be 1A on the importance chart. We haven't heard much about trade prospects who fit that role, so when will it get taken care of? I'm thinking free agency is the opportunity to sure up that position.
[Guerschon Yabusele is the forgotten man](https://airalamo.com/spurs-perfect-offseason-starts-upgrading-2-backups-2-beasts) in all the understandable excitement caused by the Silver and Black landing the number two overall pick. Nobody expected that. Let's not lose focus on the other ways that Brian Wright can improve this roster. Yabusele should be at the top of San Antonio's free agent list.
He's only 6'8", so he won't help a ton with defending the rim, but he's a willing defender who can galvanize the team with his energy and shot-making. The versatile Frenchman shot 38% from three, and started a bunch of games at center for the 76ers with Joel Embiid missing nearly the entire 2024-25 campaign.
[Naz Reid is another great option](https://airalamo.com/spurs-best-kept-offseason-dream-hiding-naz-reid-breakout) if you can pull him away from Minnesota, and keep him out of the arms of the other teams who will undoubtedly have interest in him. He had a few awesome performances in the playoffs, and the Spurs would be batting 1000 by adding him. He'd probably be more expensive than Yabusele, though, and he may want to start. Those factors must be considered.
I'd love to add Myles Turner, too. That one might be the longest stretch of them all, though. I'll take either of the aforementioned players, though. This team wants to make noise next season. Add one of these pieces and let's get loud.