Spurs' Harrison Barnes to Step Up to Start Season

The San Antonio Spurs announced that Devin Vassell will miss at least the first five games of the 2024-25 NBA season, and will be reevaluated on November 1. With Vassell out of the lineup, the Spurs will likely use Keldon Johnson, Stephon Castle, and Malaki Branham to fill the gap, and Vassell's offensive prowess will have to be carried by the entire team.

Recent offseason acquisition Harrison Barnes, a career 37.9 percent shooter from behind the arc, was expected to be one of the lesser options in the starting lineup. While he is a solid scorer and a proven weapon, the Spurs are in the midst of a youth movement and will make developing young talent their priority.

However, with Vassell out, expect Barnes to have to carry more than his fair share, especially when it comes to shooting. Victor Wembanyama, Jeremy Sochan, and the rest of the cast of characters are not solid shooters--but Barnes is.

Last season, Vassell was one of only a few legitimate outside shooting threats the Spurs had, and he was the only one who could score from deep with any degree of volume. Barnes has averaged 14 points on 3.7 attempts from behind the arc throughout his career, but fans should expect his volume to spike while Vassell is out.

The only other option is for Sochan, Johnson, and Castle to combine for double-digit attempts from behind the arc. While there is hope that Castle can eventually become a solid shooter, his 26.7 percent mark in college proves that there is a lot of work to be done.

Related: San Antonio Spurs Sign Free Agent Center

For the Spurs to stay competitive without Vassell on the court, they will have to rely on their veterans more than initially thought.