[Just an hour into free agency](https://airalamo.com/one-offseason-move-stands-out-obvious-first-step-san-antonio-spurs), and the San Antonio Spurs have already had a mixed start. They already lost out on potential targets such as Santi Aldama and Cam Johnson to the Memphis Grizzlies and the Denver Nuggets while seeing other teams in the Western Conference make moves.
The Houston Rockets have already been active this summer, trading for Kevin Durant, extending big man Jabari Smith Jr., and now signing Dorian Finney-Smith away from the Los Angeles Lakers. That is both a good thing and a bad thing for the Spurs, considering that the Rockets got better while the Lakers got worse.
Of course, San Antonio will have to compete with both teams next season for a spot in the playoffs or in the play-in tournament. The Lakers getting worse could help their chances of making the play-in, given that they want all that deep to begin with.
The Spurs get a one-two punch of good and bad news
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They also gave up four second-round picks to acquire Finney-Smith from the Brooklyn Nets just 4 months ago only to see him leave in free agency, which is hilarious from the Spurs perspective.
Then again, on the other hand, the Rockets, who won 54 games last season, have gotten noticeably better without losing any major players from last season's team. Adding Durant and now Finney-Smith makes them bigger and even better defensively.
Not to mention Durant is still one of the best offensive players in the NBA. He will almost single-handedly help them solve their offensive struggles that kept them from going deep in the playoffs last season.
They are, no doubt, scary, but the Spurs are still just a couple of moves and internal development away from being a problem in the West. Hopefully, the Spurs can make a big signing or a big trade to help them level up to shoot past the Rockets and leave the Lakers in the rearview mirror next season.
Ultimately, the Rockets stealing Finney Smith away from the Lakers is a double-edged sword for the Spurs. The Rockets guy got much better by adding a rotation player, while the Lakers got worse.