The San Antonio Spurs will head into the 2025-26 season with one of the most promising young cores in the league. Having secured their key players for the long haul, the Spurs are poised to be competitive in the future. But ESPN’s Brian Windhorst voiced some concerns about their current roster and how it could hinder their performance next season.
While speaking on “NBA Today“, Windhorst suggested that San Antonio isn’t primed to succeed if it prioritizes playing its three-guard lineup. He said:
“They’ve got some veterans on their roster, but with Dylan Harper, who is their top No. 2 overall pick, he’s already got a wrist injury. Unfortunately, he’s going to miss some time. Maybe almost all the preseason.”
“With him and Stephon Castle, you’re looking at committing to playing two very young guards. And if you’re talking about the recipe for winning in the NBA, it’s not playing young guards.”
Windhorst highlighted how the Spurs had invested heavily in De’Aaron Fox, offering him a sizable four-year, $229 million deal. With veterans such as Fox, Devin Vassell, and Harrison Barnes in the main rotation, San Antonio could face a new challenge next season when considering their lineup.
Windhorst continued, “They’re going to maybe have to walk the line a little bit between developing their young guys who they’ve drafted to put next to Victor and whether they want to actually win in a very highly competitive Western Conference.”
The analyst expressed that while he had faith in the team’s potential to be competitive in the future, the current structure, especially with the distribution of minutes and the roles in the guard rotation, could be a problem.
When looking at San Antonio’s roster, it is safe to say that the talent is present. Victor Wembanyama‘s development into one of the best floor-spacing and shot-blocking big men in the league has already placed him alongside some of the best players in the league. By pairing him with one of the most athletic point guards in the game, in Fox, the Spurs possess a lethal star duo already.
To build upon this, drafting a gifted point guard with tremendous offensive upside in Dylan Harper, to go with Stephon Castle, presents an intriguing possibility for their future guard rotation.
In this context, Windhorst’s concerns are justified. Reports have suggested that Harper’s development could make Fox dispensable in due time. Given the Spurs’ timeline, having Harper and Castle develop alongside Wembanyama and the other young players seems more feasible, too.
The report gave rise to some trade rumors at the time, but San Antonio was quick to address them by offering the star guard an extension, establishing their commitment to him.
While this could have created some conflict between the veteran and the youngster, Harper himself addressed the situation. After making an appearance on a podcast, the Spurs rookie expressed the possibility of embracing a bench role early in his career, showcasing a healthy outlook and mindset.
At the moment, San Antonio needs its young players to buy into the team’s plans and future projects. The Spurs have all the tools needed to succeed. With the right approach, this team could stun a lot of the competition in the conference.
