Heading into the 2026 NBA offseason, the San Antonio Spurs needed a power forward. While there’s still a chance that they land LeBron James, most of the realistic candidates have been taken off the board.
The Spurs were linked to John Collins, Dean Wade, Sandro Mamukelashvili, and Rui Hachimura, all unrestricted free agents. With the exception of Hachiuma, all have already been signed to a new team.
Collins is heading to Detroit, Wade to Philadelphia, and Mamukelashvili to Los Angeles. The Spurs could have offered a higher salary, a bigger role, and a better team than any of those franchises, but they fell short in one key area.
Spurs’ Long-Term Planning Halted Free Agent Signings
Next summer, the Spurs will offer Stephon Castle a rookie contract extension. Depending on how well he plays next year, it could be worth well over $250 million. In 2028, the same deal will be offered to Dylan Harper.
Knowing that keeping Castle, Harper, and Victor Wembanyama locked into their contracts is a top priority, the Spurs were only willing to pay any of the free agents for two seasons. Sure, they could have had a bigger salary per year, but the security of a three or four-year deal goes a long way, especially for aging players.
Now, Hachimura is 28 years old, as are Collins, Mamu, and Wade. However, Hachimura’s shooting prowess should age better than any of the other players’ skillsets, so he should be offered a sizeable contract after his next one expires, especially if he doesn’t lose a step on defense.
The Spurs struck out on three of their prime options, but not all hope is lost. Adding a free agent power forward would be ideal, since San Antonio could keep the rest of the core intact, but trades are still on the table.
Even with Kawhi Leonard off the block, Jaylen Brown, Aaron Gordon, and Trey Murphy III are all still available. Of course, landing them would require giving up a key player, but to fill a position of need on an otherwise deep roster, it might be a necessary move.
It’s flashy, but signing LeBron James just makes sense. He’s willing to take less money than pretty much anyone and would not insist on getting a long-term deal. By the time he’d be off the books, the Spurs could commit money to Harper and Castle. Plus, on the court, James is the savviest and best player available, especially in the Spurs’ price and position range.
Refusing to offer three-year deals was the Spurs’ downfall when it came to Collins, Wade, and Mamukelashvili. It could be the thing that makes them the best option for LeBron.
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