Spurs lock in first long-term piece alongside Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio made Vassell the No. 11 pick in the 2020 draft out of Florida State. A classic "three-and-D" wing, Vassell has improved his scoring numbers every year. Last season, he bumped his scoring average to 18.5 points, way up from 12.3 in 2021-22, shot 38.7 percent from three-point range and nearly doubled his assists to 3.6 per game.

Clearly, the Spurs think that Vassell's combination of shooting and defense fits well with Wembanyama. Vassell is already a high-quality off-ball defender, using his long arms to get deflections and disrupt passing lanes. With the young Frenchman drawing attention down low, a knockdown shooter like Vassell — who doesn't necessarily need the ball — is a perfect fit.

Vassell is the second 23-year-old that the Spurs have committed to long-term, though he's the first to truly get paid, with an average salary of $29.2 million through 2029. Last year, Keldon Johnson signed a four-year $74 million extension that runs through the 2026-27 season, giving San Antonio two young wings to surround their potential franchise center.

Those are the only two long-term pieces the Spurs have committed to. The team waived Reggie Bullock this week, despite his $11 million salary. Veterans Doug McDermott, Devonte' Graham, Khem Birch and Cedi Osman's deals all expire after this year. They may go into the season with as many as ten different players age 23 and under, with most of them trying to establish their place on the roster and in the league.

But not Vassell. He could be a Spur for a long time. His next step could be learning to speak French, or maybe learning to pose alongside a 7-foot-4 teammate.