By the Numbers: Payroll, Pedigree and a Pick Still Owed to…

By the Spurs Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 8

Five figures frame where the Spurs stand before tonight's preseason opener: a net rating gap over Atlanta, a thin tax margin, Wembanyama's numbers from last season, the Hawks' own record and a first-round pick still owed to Sacramento. None of them turn on what happens on the floor tonight.

Spurs Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

What does San Antonio's net rating edge over Atlanta actually say?

Last season the Spurs posted a net rating of 8.4, second-best in the NBA; Atlanta finished at 2.2. That gap reflects two different places in last season's standings — San Antonio reached the Finals, Atlanta made the play-in. It says nothing about tonight. Preseason basketball with starters on short minutes rarely tracks regular-season form, and Quin Snyder's rotation has changed little since then.

How much tax room does the roster have left?

San Antonio's payroll is $198.3M, about $2.1M under the $200.4M luxury tax line. That margin is thin enough that one in-season move could push the team into the tax. It does not capture the swing coming: Wembanyama's $16.9M salary is still his rookie-scale number, well below what his next contract will pay him.

What do Wembanyama's numbers from last season actually measure?

Victor Wembanyama averaged 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds last season while anchoring a defense that ranked third in points allowed per possession. Those marks measure what already happened across 64 games. They say nothing about conditioning or health entering his fourth season, and tonight's exhibition will show only glimpses of either.

Why does Atlanta's 46-36 record matter before a preseason game?

Atlanta finished 46-36 last season, a play-in result well behind San Antonio's 62 wins. That record sets the measuring stick for tonight's opponent, not the opponent waiting when the regular season opens October 20 against Oklahoma City. A preseason result against either team carries little weight.

What does the pick owed to Sacramento actually cost the Spurs?

San Antonio's 2027 first-round pick belongs to Sacramento, one line in a draft ledger that also carries swap rights across 2027, 2028 and 2030. That pick is the lingering cost of a past trade, not a reflection of this roster's outlook. It has no bearing on tonight's lineup or this season's cap sheet.

The verdictNone of these numbers turn on tonight's score. They describe where the Spurs sit on paper — net rating, tax room, draft debt — and the answers that matter start when Oklahoma City visits on October 20.

Are the Spurs over the luxury tax this season?

No. Payroll sits at $198.3M, about $2.1M under the $200.4M tax line.

Do the Spurs have their own 2027 first-round pick?

No, it is owed to Sacramento; San Antonio holds swap rights on other future first-round picks instead.