The Spurs are quietly winning free agency

The San Antonio Spurs are a rebuilding team. Every move they make is centered around maximizing Victor Wembanyama's prime years, which remain in the distant future.

That's a difficult balancing act. As a franchise, you want to improve every season. The quicker Wembanyama can start getting postseason reps, the better. Yet, you still have to crawl before you walk and walk before you run.

Since the free-agency period opened on June 30, the Spurs have quietly positioned themselves to make immediate improvements while adding flexibility toward the end of the decade.

Chris Paul's addition will ensure Wembanyama has a Hall of Fame talent sharing the court with him next season. The All-Star guard will undoubtedly raise the team's floor and play a role in Wembanyama's development in the coming months.

Furthermore, his $11 million contract is highly tradable should the Spurs find an appealing offer closer to the trade deadline.

Harrison Barnes is a three-level scoring, two-way forward. His presence anchors the wing and gives Wembanyama another veteran to lean on and learn from. Davion Mitchell added perimeter defense and grit.

However, the true star of the Spurs' offseason moves is the number of draft picks they've added to their stockpile. They have acquired a 2030 first-round draft pick that is protected for the first pick from the Minnesota Timberwolves, a 2031 unprotected pick swap with the Sacramento Kings and a 2031 unprotected first-round pick from the Timberwolves.

Those additional draft picks are the type of asset that can open the door to potential star-level trades. The more future assets the franchise has to its name, the easier it is to get involved when a star talent becomes disgruntled and wants out of their current situation.

So, not only have the Spurs improved in the immediate, but they have also given themselves a platform to make strides in the future. They've put on a masterclass throughout the first week of free agency. They're banking on Wembanyama's continued development and have given him true veterans to lean on. They've also shown him they have a road map to success.

It might not have been loud or pretty, but the Spurs are the true winners of free agency thus far.