With projected number one pick Victor Wembanyama wanting to play power forward in the NBA, the Spurs could look to upgrade their starting center position this offseason.
Their starting center right now is Zach Collins who was praised by head coach Gregg Popovich last season and was given the starting role for the upcoming season.
The Spurs could still look to upgrade the position. Here are some centers the Spurs should target this offseason.
Nikola Vucevic is a floor-spacing center who can score from three and the midrange. He is also a good rebounder who can protect the rim.
Vucevic averaged 17.6 points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists last season with the Bulls. He shot 52.0% from the field and 34.9% from three.
Vucevic would bring another seven footer to the Spurs starting lineup and would add to their perimeter shooting.
Brook Lopez is coming off of a season where he was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year. He is a great defender and a reliable shooter.
Lopez averaged 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 blocks last season for the Bucks. He shot 53.1% from the field and 37.4% from three.
Lopez would add a reliable shooter to San Antonio. He would also help the Spurs’ lackluster defense.
Former Spur Jakob Poeltl was traded to the Raptors at the trade deadline last season. With the Raptors possibly heading toward a rebuild, Poeltl could leave in free agency this offseason.
He is a great rebounder and rim protector. Although he isn’t the best shooter, he is a major threat out of the pick-and-roll.
Poeltl averaged 12.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists last season in Toronto and San Antonio. He shot 62.9% from the field.
If Jakob returns to San Antonio, he would bring size and length to the frontcourt with Wemby. He would help the Spurs defensively as well.
Naz Reid missed most of the second half of last season with a wrist injury. He is a good scorer and solid defender. His quickness helps him blow by most defenders and get to the rim at a high rate.
Reid averaged 11.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 assists last season for the Timberwolves. He also shot 53.7% from the field and 34.6% from three.
Reid, although undersized, could be a solid starting center in the league. He never got a chance to start in Minnesota due to Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert ahead of him. Reid would add a solid perimeter shooter and reliable scorer to San Antonio.
Dereck Lively II is projected as a mid to late first round pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. He is a great defender whose length allows him to protect the rim at a high level. Although he is a great defender, his offensive game needs a lot of work.
Lively averaged 5.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in his freshman season at Duke. He shot 60.0% from the field as well.
In order to get Lively, the Spurs would have to trade up to get another first round pick. Lively would help the Spurs defensively and add another seven footer to the lineup.
The Spurs should look to add another center to the roster this offseason to pair next to Wembanyama.
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Featured image courtesy of NBA.com.
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