The San Antonio Spurs find themselves in familiar territory — not quite rebuilding, but not contenders either. However, the presence of Victor Wembanyama, a once-in-a-generation talent, has shifted the narrative. With a roster full of young promise and plenty of cap space, the question is whether the Spurs are ready to make a bold move. As the piece puts it: “San Antonio just needs to have guts to go for it.”
While Wembanyama was a frontrunner for Defensive Player of the Year before injury cut his season short, and rookie Stephon Castle led all first-years in scoring, concerns remain. The midseason addition of De’Aaron Fox didn’t pan out as expected, and the team still lacks reliable perimeter shooting.
Despite that, their only notable free agency signing so far has been Luke Kornet, on a four-year, $41 million deal. He fills a backup center role but does little to address San Antonio’s biggest issue: “their inability to stretch the floor with consistent shooting.”
Enter Damian Lillard. Recently waived by the Milwaukee Bucks, Lillard is recovering from a ruptured Achilles and expected to miss most of the 2025–26 season. Still, the article argues: “this is Lillard. His track record, work ethic, and elite shooting could still offer immense value.”
The Spurs don’t need him to carry the team — just to guide it. His experience and leadership could prove invaluable, especially with young guards like Castle and Dylan Harper. As the article notes, “Dame should be a veteran presence who’ll elevate a young team and provide leadership by example.”
Given his injury, Lillard likely wouldn’t demand a max contract, making a short, incentive-based deal realistic. The potential upside? If he regains even part of his All-NBA form, “the Spurs could suddenly boast a playoff-ready core led by Wembanyama, supported by a lethal veteran closer in Dame Time.”
The Western Conference is open, and adding Lillard would show the league San Antonio means business. As the writer concludes, “The Spurs have the talent, the timeline, and the cap room. Now they need the courage.”
