General manager Brian Wright controls the fate of San Antonio, and we will learn what that fate might be this offseason. One complex decision will determine what happens to the Spurs for the next decade.
The Silver and Black have only two options. Do they mortgage the future to go all-in on a championship against a loaded Western Conference, or play the waiting game with Victor Wembanyama ready to win?
It's a massive headache, and one that I am not glad I have to deal with. Instead, I'll play devil's advocate and present both sides of the tantalizing argument.
Wright goes all in to win-now
Despite the rise of the dominant Oklahoma City Thunder, the NBA has proved to be as open as ever. No reigning champ has been safe, and the second we think they are, we are proved wrong. Much like the Thunder, there is no reason why the Spurs can't go from zero to hero in an instant. We have seen it every year.
But to do so, the Spurs will need to make a sacrifice. The current roster construction isn't built to win a championship. Alongside Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, there needs to be a decisive piece to take the Spurs over the top. The Spurs have the assets and are in a place where talent is welcomed; Wright just needs to pull the trigger.
Whether it's Giannis Antetokounmpo, Lauri Markkanen, or Cam Johnson, the Spurs will have to relinquish their asset pool. This means we can say goodbye to a youth movement. But the reward? A potential championship run.
It's a big risk to take, but one that can spread joy across the Alamo City. If the Spurs were to take a swing and miss, the future of the team would hang in the balance. From what once appeared to be the team of the future could become a wasteland of withered talent.
Spurs invest in the youth
While a win-now move presents risk, so does banking on the youth. In this scenario, the Spurs hold onto the 2nd and 14th picks in this year's draft, selecting two rookies not expected to help the team immediately.
The potential for this team with two lottery selections is through the roof. Harper has all-star potential, and the Spurs can get a much-needed wing defender at 14 to craft a well-rounded starting lineup. This move would both save the Spurs money and allow them to build a much deeper bench—something that is becoming increasingly useful in the modern NBA.
With the 2nd pick, Dylan Harper is the likely selection. While he has a preposterous amount of talent, will it translate to the NBA? Will the fit alongside Fox and Stephon Castle work out? Harper seems like a safe bet, but it wouldn't be the first time a top-two selection didn't pan out.
Furthermore, there is no guarantee the Spurs grab a long-term piece at 14 either.
If these golden picks don't work out, the Spurs would throw away the best assets they have. These picks, along with the Hawks' picks and the Spurs' future draft capital, will never be more valuable than they are right now.
It remains a mystery in which direction Wright will take, but either way, we won't hear the end of it from Spurs fans if it goes awry.