Spurs 2024 NBA free agency grades for every signing

While not exactly shockwaves, the San Antonio Spurs have made a few waves during NBA free agency. It started with the addition of future Hall-of-Famer Chris Paul and then continued with solid veteran Harrison Barnes in a three-way trade that allowed DeMar DeRozan to land with the Sacramento Kings. While they are still in the running for a move that could be considered a shockwave, the Silver and Black have since made several smaller moves to bring back some players from last year’s roster.

Excluding the reported pending trade offer for Utah Jazz superstar Lauri Markannen, we evaluate each of the Spurs’ free-agent signings.

David Duke, Jr.

Let’s start with the most recent move. The Spurs signed David Duke Jr. to a two-way contract to close out the last full week of July. Duke Jr., a 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard, appeared in the final four games of last season for San Antonio. He averaged 6.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 12.8 minutes, including 15 points, three rebounds and a steal against the Detroit Pistons in the season finale. In 38 games (37 starts) with G-League affiliate Austin Spurs, Duke Jr. averaged a team-high 19.8 points to go along with 6.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 32.9 minutes.

The Spurs see potential in the 24-year-old Providence alumnus, and while it’s not a headliner, it doesn’t seem like a move that would hurt.

Grade: C

Sandro Mamukelashvili

Speaking of potential, the Silver and Black see a lot of it in Sandro Mamukelashvili. A 6-foot-10, 240-pound forward, “Mamu” is the type of player who fits the Spurs’ culture. He’s a versatile big, meaning he can pass, has a knack for scoring, and his playmaking isn’t all that great. They played a role in GM Brian Wright and his team’s decision to re-sign the Tbilisi, Georgia native.

In the final eight games of last season, including five starts, Mamukelashvili averaged 11.4 points, 9.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 26.0 minutes per game. In 65 total games over the last two seasons, he averaged 6.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 13.8 minutes.

Mamukelashvili originally signed with the Spurs on March 3, 2023, before joining San Antonio, and had a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. He was selected 54th overall in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers before being traded to Milwaukee on draft night. Prior to entering the NBA, Mamukelashvili played four seasons at Seton Hall, playing in 104 games, starting 68, and won the 2021 Big East Player of the Year award.

“Mamu” is the type of player who could be really effective alongside Victor Wembanyama. He creates space and has enough athleticism to get into the lane and cause problems.

Grade B-

Charles Bassey

Although Spurs reserve centre Zach Collins put in respectable numbers when he replaced Wemby next season, many Spurs fans feel that role took a hit when Charles Bassey was injured, and that happened early on.

The former star of San Antonio’s St. Anthony High School played in just 19 games for a brief stint before suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in December 2023. In two seasons with the Spurs, Bassey has averaged 4.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 54 games. Originally signed to a two-way contract in October 2022, Bassey was converted to a standard NBA deal on Valentine’s Day 2023.

In order to make room for Harrison Barnes’ contract this summer, the Spurs waived Bassey. But with Collins suffering a torn right labrum in the season finale that required surgery, the Spurs, already looking for depth, saw value in bringing Bassey back. The organization announced on July 17 that they had re-signed him.

Grade B

Harrison-Barnes

Barnes, a starter on the Golden State Warriors’ first NBA championship team who spent four years in Oakland, California, has been very good for most of his 12-year career. His two career-high scoring seasons came in his two full seasons with the Dallas Mavericks at 19.2 and 18.9 points per game in 2016-’17 and ’17-’18. In his five seasons with the Kings since then, Barnes has helped turn that franchise back into a playoff contender.

In 82 games in each of the last two seasons, Barnes is coming off his lowest scoring average (12.2 ppg) since his last season with the Warriors. The good news is that the Spurs don’t need Barnes to score by the boatload. With Wemby leading the way, San Antonio is hoping that Devin Vassell, who averaged nearly 20 ppg last season and nearly 19 the year before, can continue to grow as a scorer. Keldon Johnson, who is just two years removed from scoring 22 points per game, is still on the list. And Jeremy Sochan, who the team has high hopes for, is still just 21 years old.

That said, the 32-year-old Barnes is arguably the team’s third-best player. He will provide the type of steady leadership that this young Spurs have been missing and will give Wembanyama another consistent option.

Grade: B+

Chris Paulus

The centrepiece of the Spurs free agency puzzle. At 39, Paul is not what he used to be. But like Barnes, he doesn’t have to be for Spurs. As crazy as it sounds, he just has to consistently feed Wemby the ball. The 7ft phenom’s young team-mates have struggled to do that at times during an excellent Rookie of the Year campaign. Paul will not only involve the 20-year-old star, he will do so often and at great times.

Paul, a 12-time All-Star and five-time NBA assists leader, led the league in that category just two years ago. He also earned a spot on the league’s All-NBA third team that season.

So while he’s not the Chris Paul who was nominated for All-NBA first-team four times and helped the U.S. win two Olympic gold medals, he still has plenty to offer. In fact, he’s hungry and eager to team up with Wemby, and in today’s game of positionless basketball, the point guard label could encompass ball-handling, passing ability and shooting from distance. Check, check, check for one of the best players to ever play the position.

Class A