Spurs Re-Sign Point Guard, No, Not That One

Spurs Re-Sign Point Guard, No, Not That One

Jordan McLaughlin Returns To The Spurs On A 1-Year Deal

Shams Charania of ESPN was the first to report on Wednesday night that Jordan McLaughlin is re-signing with the Spurs. It is a one-year deal for $3 million, a veteran’s minimum contract. The 29-year-old was acquired by San Antonio in February from the Sacramento Kings via the three-team deal that also netted them De’Aaron Fox . Previous to last season, he spent five years playing with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

After joining the Spurs, McLaughlin did not see much time on the court. The 6-foot point guard appeared in 18 games for San Antonio, playing 6.9 minutes per contest. He posted averages of 2.5 points and 1.5 assists while shooting 15-28 from the field (9-20 on three-pointers).

Next season will be McLaughlin’s seventh in the league, an impressive feat from a player who went undrafted out of USC. His most productive season actually came when he was a rookie with Minnesota. In that 2019-20 season, he averaged career-highs in points (7.6), assists (4.2), and minutes (19.7).

In 288 career games, McLaughlin has averages of 4.1 points, 1.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. He has shot 44.5% from the field, 37.3% from beyond the arc, and 74.3% from the free-throw line.

Playing Time May Be Hard To Come By Again

Perhaps McLaughlin could find a way into more playing time this season. Chris Paul, in all likelihood, is not returning to the team for next season. The Spurs also traded two guards, Malaki Branham, and Blake Wesley, in the deal that brought them Olynyk. Even with three guards off the team that were there last year, it still seems unlikely that McLaughlin will be a regular rotation piece.

There are three guards clearly ahead of McLaughlin in the pecking order for backcourt minutes. De’Aaron Fox will be returning from the left pinky surgery that ended his 2024-25 season prematurely. Stephon Castle, the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, is the reigning Rookie of the Year. Dylan Harper will surely be thrown into the rotation immediately after being the second selection of the 2025 NBA Draft. Devin Vassell also split his time last season between the two and three spots.

Still, injuries do occur, and players do rest. You can do worse than having McLaughin as a depth piece off the bench, a player with a career 4.3 assist-to-turnover ratio.