With the NBA season less than two weeks away, the reigning Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs are looking to defend their crown and add yet another Larry O’Brien Trophy to the cabinet.
After a heartbreaking loss to the New York Knicks in the NBA Finals, the Spurs needed to add a veteran presence to go alongside Victor Wembanyama, who signed a five-year, $252 million extension with San Antonio this offseason: Tobias Harris fit the mold perfectly.
Harris has averaged 13.3 points on near 47 percent shooting from the field over the course of his career. The 34-year-old brings consistent shooting from all three levels and is a physical defensive forward, something the Spurs lacked in the Finals. The Spurs locked him into a two-year, $31 million contract.
Along with Harris, San Antonio re-signed sharpshooting threat Julian Champagnie and veteran 3-and-D specialist Harrison Barnes. Surrounding Wembanyama with shooters allows for the big man to go to work in isolation or let the young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper get to the rim.
Given they only made one new key addition, the Spurs are relying on internal development and continuity to take them far. Will that be enough to win the NBA Finals?
What Went Wrong for Spurs in the Finals?
Some could argue the Spurs should have beaten the Knicks for their sixth NBA championship. However, late-game dilemmas sealed their fate. The Spurs led Game 4 by 26 points in the second half, but a late game-winning tip by OG Anunoby led to the shocking Knicks win.
De’Aaron Fox was on a fast break with less than 15 seconds left in the game. On that possession, Fox took a very controversial layup and missed, allowing the Knicks to have one final possession while trailing by one point. This missed layup could very well have been the difference between a Spurs sixth championship and the Knicks winning for the first time since 1973.
How San Antonio Fixed the Issue
While most fans wanted Fox off the team following the Finals, the Spurs brought in some more veteran presence that should help the team when it comes to crucial moments like the one Fox had to ease his burden. The addition of Harris gives San Antonio yet another shooting threat, which opens up the court for Wembanyama isolations and clears the paint for young guards Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper to attack.
Castle and Harper specifically should excel with the addition of Harris, as they both are excellent at getting to the basket and dishing out passes to the wings for easy threes. We saw plenty of this last season with Barnes and Champagnie. Harris might have been the only key addition on the court, but GM Brian Wright wanted to add more wisdom to the coaching staff.
He accomplished this by adding longtime Oklahoma City Thunder coach and most recently Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan to an already stacked coaching staff. Donovan brings plenty of experience, especially in the most crucial moments of the game. His addition should keep players calm and locked in when the lights are the brightest.
What Should the Spurs Look Forward to?
Despite the Finals loss, San Antonio fans have plenty to look forward to. Castle is entering his third year, Harper comes into his second year after a stellar playoff campaign, and of course Wembanyama comes into this season with a chip on his shoulder that threatens the rest of the league.
All these returning players, alongside the new free-agent additions and a strong draft in which the Spurs picked up Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed Jr. in the first round, help San Antonio pick up right where they left off.
Spurs fans might be grieving the loss in the Finals, but they won’t have to wait long for another deep playoff run.
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