Many Spurs fans are already resigned to the notion that Devin Vassell will never be what we originally hoped. While I don't necessarily believe that, I understand the frustration. He's only 24 years old, and players don't enter their primes at that age, so he still has time to grow. But we can acknowledge that a list like this one contributes to the angst people feel about him.
https://t.co/2EtjT5GLsG’s top 15 SGs in the NBA:
1. Anthony Edwards
2. Donovan Mitchell
3. Jalen Williams
4. Jaylen Brown
5. Devin Booker
6. Tyler Herro
7. Amen Thompson
8. Josh Hart
9. Austin Reaves
10. Zach LaVine
11. Desmond Bane
12. Coby White
13. Dyson Daniels
14.… pic.twitter.com/0V3OMRe9OT
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 14, 2025
If you don't want to read the entire list, that's fine. On HoopsHype's website, the article lists 26 shooting guards, and Vassell doesn't appear at all. There are only 30 teams in the league. For him not to be included in the top 26 is alarming. So far, they've only done a list for point guards and shooting guards, so maybe he's listed as a small forward, but he shouldn't be.
He spent time at that spot last season, but he's not a small forward. He was drafted as a shooting guard; he's primarily played that spot, and that's what he is. If they put him at the 3 on their next list, that will be another reason to complain. But positional confusion aside, Dev is not a finished product, and that should be clear to San Antonio fans everywhere.
Vassell still has room to grow
Everyone who has decided that the midrange master has reached his peak would be irate if he went elsewhere and thrived. They would blame him for not fitting in or the team for not getting the most out of him when really, a lack of patience would be the primary culprit.
Players are consistently entering the league at an earlier age because of how prominent the one-and-done model is these days. It's nice to get them into a professional atmosphere as soon as possible, but that doesn't mean that all of them will reach their peak quickly. The result of that is fans and organizations giving up on guys before it's time.
Vassell has been in trade rumors left and right over the past year, and that's par for the course in the league. It's not necessarily wrong. If you can upgrade, you do it. But if the franchise still believes that a guy has another level to unlock in his game, it's not wrong for them to hold on to that player a little longer.
If they're right, we'll all be happy they did. If they're wrong, he's still on a team-friendly deal that can be traded whenever they want. They have plenty of talent on the roster now to shove him onto the bench if need be, but let's hope he has that breakout season instead. It would be better for the team.