Spurs’ New Addition at Center Will Change Everything

Heading into the offseason, the San Antonio Spurs were on a mission to find depth behind superstar Victor Wembanyama. Keeping the Frenchman spry and healthy throughout the regular season and into a hopeful playoff berth is atop the Spurs’ goals.

Amidst their busy offseason, the Spurs already added former Celtics center Luke Kornet on a four-year deal. Kornet aims to provide steady relief as a 7-footer behind Wembanyama; however, the Spurs’ newest addition brings a different specialty.

Spurs’ New Addition at Center Will Change Everything

From Zero to a Hundred

Even after bringing Kornet to fill a massive void at backup center, the Spurs were still in need of size off the bench. If one thing stood out as a Spurs weakness in the 2024-25 season, it was the lack of support around Wembanyama. Now, San Antonio has loaded up on complimentary pieces.

In a strikingly quick turnaround, the Spurs have filled out an impressive bench. Within the Spurs’ secondary unit, every positional niche is filled. The Spurs have size, shooting, and defense all ready to contribute. One could say they have too much depth. In the event of inevitable injuries, rest days, or the potential for further moves, the Spurs can rest assured that they have an adequate number of viable role players. As the Spurs push for their first playoff appearance since 2019, Olynyk and a talented bunch of bench members will play a huge part.

Olynyk Brings Necessary Versatility

Standing at 6-foot-11, Olynyk is not your typical big man. While he can valiantly fill your typical big man duties, he brings a skilled touch. The veteran is crafty around the rim, quick to make decisions, and an excellent shooter. These traits are not common in your average big man. Doing it all on the court, Olynyk has been a hot commodity on the trade market for several years. His value has been made apparent through a prolonged 12-year career that has found him visit seven different teams. At each stop, Olynyk has been strong in his role and never overstepped his boundaries. Now he joins a Spurs team that needs his versatility.

Across two different teams in the 2024-25 season, the Canadian averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. Most impressively and essential to his Spurs outlook, Olynyk shot a career-high 41.8% from beyond the arc. With his fiery shooting, the sharpshooter will help the Spurs improve upon their subpar shooting numbers from the year prior.

In head coach Mitch Johnson’s rotation, Olynyk can play a variety of roles. He can play both a primary center position and a stretch four next to another center. Johnson will have the ability to throw out a load of creative lineups. Whether he wants to play a supersized lineup with the Spurs’ breadth of size or a cast of snipers, he has the ammo to do whatever he wants. It will be a blast to watch what Johnson will do with his uniquely deep cast of role players next season. The possibilities are endless, and Olynyk’s addition makes it so much more exciting.