Spurs Offseason Report

San Antonio Spurs


Season Review:

The Spurs once again had a strong regular season, finishing 56-26 and making it to the West Finals. However, based on the expectations, anything less than an NBA title would be a disappointment, so it will be interesting to see what roster changes are made in the off season.


Haves:

Manu Ginobili had his best season as a pro, posting career highs almost across the board. In fact, the Spurs elimination in the postseason may be traced to the groin injury that noticeably bothered him. Nevertheless, it would be surprising if the injury carried over into next season so expect Ginobili to be a solid second or third round pick. Tim Duncan continues to deliver season after season, but as he ages one has to wonder how long he can keep it up. Duncan is still an early second-round pick but those who draft him may be doing so with some trepidation. Tony Parker missed some time during the regular season but despite that he performed excellent and was without question the Spurs MVP in the playoffs. His fantasy value is comparable to Manu Ginobili and in most drafts he will likely be picked early in the third round.

Needs:

The Spurs need to get younger. Outside of Ginobili and Parker, there is no-one on the team who has more than a few years left. The main problem with the success the Spurs have had in recent years is that their draft position has been so low that they have not been able to find someone who can add value to their team immediately. This year is no exception as they pick #26. Typically, they like to draft foreign players and give them some time to mature; however, I think this year they need to draft someone who can help out right away. Two players capable of doing so are Chris Douglas-Roberts and Mario Chalmers. On top of their offensive skills, both players are accomplished defenders who down the road may be able to fill the shoes of Bruce Bowen.