San Antonio

Spurs

Wemby didn’t look great in his Summer League debut and even admitted that he “didn’t know what he was doing out there.” He certainly changed that Sunday, as he led his team in scoring and delivered a monster double-double with some key defensive stats. We’ll keep an eye on him moving forward and see if he can keep the momentum going in the Spurs’ next Summer League contest.

While the terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, Popovich should be around to coach the Spurs for the next five seasons, which would make him 79 years old the next time his contract is up. That means that he’ll be around for the first five years of Victor Wembanyama’s career, which should be enough time for him to turn this young core back into a contender.

Neither of the Spurs’ starting guards, Wesley and Malaki Branham, shot the ball particularly well on Friday. But they played well enough to help get the Spurs the win, with the latter going 6-of-16 from the field. Branham would finish with 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, one steal, and four 3-pointers in 30 minutes. While he was able to crack the rotation and even start some games last season, Wesley was not able to do the same. And that makes this summer a very important time for him with an eye toward next season. The question is whether or not there will be room in the rotation for Wesley and Branham, as the Spurs did re-sign Tre Jones.

After playing well in both of the Spurs’ games at the California Classic, including a 30-point effort against the Hornets on Monday, Champagnie produced another quality outing in Las Vegas. He was able to score on all three levels, including an impressive poster-worthy dunk during the second half, while also performing well as a facilitator. Champagnie continues to show why the Spurs rewarded him with a four-year, $12 million contract, and it’s fair to wonder if he’ll play in all of the team’s games in Las Vegas.

Wembanyama made his highly anticipated summer debut on Friday, and he had a rough go of it as a scorer. The 7-foot-4 talent struggled with his shot, but he was able to make some plays for teammates off the dribble. The defense was there for Wembanyama, as he blocked five shots and changed a few others while also grabbing eight rebounds. He’ll be back in action on Sunday against Portland, and there’s a lot of basketball to be played this summer and throughout Wembanyama’s career. The passing instincts and defense are there, and the shot should come along in time.

After committing seven turnovers in Monday’s win over Charlotte, Wesley did a better job of making plays against the Lakers. His five assists were countered by three turnovers, and the second-year guard shot well over 50% from the field. While Malaki Branham, who scored 32 points on Wednesday, should figure prominently in the Spurs rotation during the regular season, Wesley isn’t as much of a lock. That makes his development throughout the summer of even greater importance, especially with the Spurs working in Victor Wembanyama once they begin play in Las Vegas.

After sitting out Monday’s game, Branham made his first appearance of this summer for the Spurs. And he looked the part of a second-year player who boasts credible rotation experience as he took control of the offense from start to finish. He and Julian Champagnie (28 points, five rebounds, two blocks, and five 3-pointers) combined to score 60 of the Spurs’ 109 points, with the latter having scored 30 on Monday. Branham started 32 of the 66 games he appeared in last season, and he may be asked to come off the bench with the Spurs having re-signed Tre Jones. Branham will be in the team’s regular-season rotation, but a move into the starting point guard role would boost his fantasy value considerably.

The headliner in this trade is Grant Williams, who’s headed to Dallas on a four-year deal worth $54 million. Boston and Dallas will receive two future second-round picks in the trade, while San Antonio gets Bullock and an unprotected pick swap with the Mavericks in the 2030 NBA Draft. While Bullock has the potential to provide perimeter shooting and experience to a rebuilding Spurs roster, it’s fair to wonder if his career timeline matches that of his new team. He shot 38% from three after getting off to a brutally slow start last season and could be an attractive target for playoff-caliber teams in need of a 3-and-D wing.

The good news for Wesley and the Spurs is that they won the game in comfortable fashion, and he tallied eight assists. The bad: he was also responsible for a team-high seven turnovers. He has the size and athleticism needed to play either guard position, but decision-making will go a long way toward ensuring Wesley of an opportunity to lock down a rotation spot. With Tre Jones, Malaki Branham, and Devonte’ Graham still in the mix, Wesley stands to be in for a difficult fight when training camp begins in September.

Barlow, who spent the majority of his rookie season with the Spurs’ G League affiliate, was one of the team’s standouts in Monday’s summer league opener. He did the majority of his damage as the roll man in ball-screen situations, which stands to be his role during the regular season if he can crack the rotation. The defensive contributions were another positive for Barlow, who will look to earn playing time behind the likes of Victor Wembanyama and Zach Collins. With the Spurs still in the market for another veteran post player, Barlow could be in for another difficult fight for consistent playing time when training camp begins.