San Antonio Spurs: starting lineups, locks, fringes and potential break-ins

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San Antonio Spurs Mandatory Credit: Carmen Mandato/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

After losing their floor spacing two-guard in free agency, let’s take a look at how the San Antonio Spurs starting line up may look.

In a reasonably quiet offseason, the San Antonio Spurs lost starting two-guard Bryn Forbes to the Milwaukee Bucks. This move forces a change in the starting lineup and gives coach Gregg Popovich a chance to potentially try some younger players in this role.

The Spurs had a down year last year, missing the playoffs for the first time this century. This was in part due to the team’s defense which is unusual for a Popovich-coached team. However, since trading Kawhi Leonard the team has been going through a minor transition.

The Spurs stars are aging and they need to inject some new talent into the starting lineup. Most of their big names are also in the final year of their contracts which means that they are going to be playing for next year’s deal. For some, it will their last big payday so they need to make it count.

Where do the San Antonio Spurs get their impetus from?

The Spurs had their first lottery pick this season since Tim Duncan way back in 1997 and we all know how that career went. However, Devin Vassell is most probably not going to have a hall of fame career, he has shown in the preseason that he will fit nicely into the Spurs systems.

On top of that, Dejounte Murray starts his contract extension this season and only Jakob Poeltl is 25 or older with a multi-year deal. The Spurs seem set to move more towards youth at the end of this season. With all this in mind, let’s look at the players who are a lock to make the starting five, the fringe players, and the potential break-ins for this season.

Next: Locks

San Antonio Spurs</a> lost starting two-guard Bryn Forbes to the Milwaukee Bucks. This move forces a change in the starting lineup and gives coach Gregg Popovich a chance to potentially try some younger players in this role.</p> <p>The Spurs had a down year last year, missing the playoffs for the first time this century. This was in part due to the team’s defense which is unusual for a Popovich-coached team. However, since trading Kawhi Leonard the team has been going through a minor transition.</p> <div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="light" data-text="NBA Power Rankings: Preview the Lakers and the rest" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/20/nba-power-rankings-preview-the-los-angeles-lakers-and-the-rest/" data-call-to-action="Related Story" > <div class="story-link-related"> <a class="story-link-related-btn" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-related-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/20/nba-power-rankings-preview-the-los-angeles-lakers-and-the-rest/"> <span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> NBA Power Rankings: Preview the Lakers and the rest </a> </div> </div> <p>The Spurs stars are aging and they need to inject some new talent into the starting lineup. Most of their big names are also in the final year of their contracts which means that they are going to be playing for next year’s deal. For some, it will their last big payday so they need to make it count.</p> <h2>Where do the San Antonio Spurs get their impetus from?</h2> <p>The Spurs had their first lottery pick this season since Tim Duncan way back in 1997 and we all know how that career went. However, Devin Vassell is most probably not going to have a hall of fame career, he has shown in the preseason that he will fit nicely into the Spurs systems.</p> <p>On top of that, Dejounte Murray starts his contract extension this season and only Jakob Poeltl is 25 or older with a multi-year deal. The Spurs seem set to move more towards youth at the end of this season. With all this in mind, let’s look at the players who are a lock to make the starting five, the fringe players, and the potential break-ins for this season.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Locks </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_419139" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2018/08/15328503.jpeg"> "San

<span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Knicks: 3 huge trades involving Julius Randle </a> </div> </div> <h3>DeMar DeRozan</h3> <p>The former Toronto Raptors star has continued to show that the mid-range game is not dead. <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/d/derozde01.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" ref="nofollow">DeMar DeRozan</a> is one of the most prolific shooters from between 10 feet and the 3-point line. He shot the 3-ball well in the pre-season but expect him to go back to his more natural game once the season begins. Will top the scoring sheets for the Spurs while also distributing the ball at a good clip.</p> <h3>LaMarcus Aldridge</h3> <p><a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aldrila01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-%22 target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" ref="nofollow">LaMarcus Aldridge</a> has put up similar numbers for most of his NBA career. However, what is changing is that he is becoming more of a stretch big. If the preseason is anything to go by he is going to shoot a large number of shots from behind the 3-point line. He is still solid from the mid-range and unstoppable at the hoop.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Fringe options </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_415301" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"http://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2018/08/14738933.jpeg"> "San

<span class="call_to_action">Related Story:</span> Wizards: Locks, fringe, potential break-ins </a> </div> </div> <h3>Derrick White</h3> <p>When a starting guard has been out with injury, Derrick White is usually the player tapped on the shoulder as the next man up. In fact, the Spurs have so much faith in White they just signed him to a four-year, $73 million contract extension. There is a good chance that White is the preferred option to replace Forbes in the starting lineup next season, but he does face pressure from the next player.</p> <h3>Lonnie Walker</h3> <p>The Spurs’ first-round draft pick of two years ago, Lonnie Walker missed most of his rookie season due to injury. Walker showed great development in his second season, even starting 12 games. He has a good outside shot which he takes sparingly when it is the right one. He showed during the preseason that he is going to shoot more from deep. He could be the x-factor in the starting group, should he break into it.</p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Potential break-ins </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_417690" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2020/12/23/san-antonio-spurs-starting-lineup-locks/"http://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/imagn-images/2020/12/14671113.jpeg"> "San

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