The outlets covering San Antonio spent the last two days on Tobias Harris's absence, Devin Vassell's contract and whether this roster can take Oklahoma City's seat atop the West. The facts back some of it and leave the rest as talk.
Is Tobias Harris really out tonight, and who covers his spot?
Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot reported Monday that Harris and Jayden Quaintance are out against Oklahoma City, and Air Alamo led its injury report with the same news. The listing agrees: Harris is out with a left calf injury and an estimated return of October 23 against Houston, while Quaintance's right knee carries an early December date. No report names his replacement. Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie are the forwards available.
Did the Spurs miss their chance to extend Devin Vassell?
Paul Garcia wrote Sunday that it was the final day for a veteran extension, then followed Tuesday with a piece on why the two sides can revisit talks later. Vassell's $27.0 million salary is on the books, and the payroll of $196.1 million stays below the $200.4 million tax line, so waiting costs nothing today. Nothing reported says the Spurs tried and failed. The window closed on schedule, not over a dispute.
Are the Spurs now the team to beat in the West?
Air Alamo's Jahlil Williams predicted San Antonio will take Oklahoma City's top seed, and Pounding The Rock and The Athletic both published season predictions this week. Last season supports the ambition without settling it. The Spurs went 62-20 and beat the Thunder in a seven-game conference finals, but Oklahoma City finished 64-18 with a plus-11.1 net margin to San Antonio's plus-8.4. Both teams are 0-0. The Thunder arrive without Nikola Topic, Thomas Sorber and Otega Oweh.
What is the Wembanyama storyline heading into the opener?
Air Alamo's Ty Small argued Wembanyama's Finals memories will fuel an MVP run, and Jahlil Williams wrote that Mitch Johnson handed him a defensive to-do list. The Athletic followed him to France for a feature on his past and the franchise's future. The numbers behind the talk are 25.0 points and 11.5 rebounds in 64 games last season on a defense that ranked third. The contents of that list have not been reported beyond Air Alamo's piece.
Is the lineup with three guards actually happening?
Jeff Garcia of KENS 5 built his season outlook around a three-guard look, and Michael C. Wright's October 18 notes raised the same idea with Fox, Keldon Johnson and Harris attached. The roster has the pieces: Fox, Castle, Harper and Vassell, with Harper's 19 points against the Kings on October 16 the latest argument. Harris being out thins the forward group, which pulls the other way. No report has named the five starters.
Is Tobias Harris playing in the Spurs opener against the Thunder?
No. Harris is out with a left calf injury, with an estimated return of October 23 against the Rockets.
Can the Spurs still extend Devin Vassell?
Not this cycle, since the deadline passed Sunday, but Paul Garcia reported the two sides can revisit talks at a later date. Vassell remains under contract at $27.0 million this season.
