There have been a few players that the San Antonio Spurs let slip away too early over the years. The worst part is when you see those players doing well on their new teams. Oh, that stings.
Luckily enough for San Antonio, some ex-Spurs players are set to be free agents this off-season, prompting some consideration of re-signings. When you look deeper, a few returning players make sense back in San Antonio, while others do not.
Let’s dive in and rank possible returns that would benefit the team or returns that should never happen.
Ranking from best to worst possible ex-player reunions
5. DeMar DeRozan – G
DeMar DeRozan had big shoes to fill when he came to San Antonio. He was the biggest return piece of the Kawhi Leonard trade that occurred in June of 2018. The return package also brought on a young Jakob Poetl and a 2019 draft pick (used on Keldon Johnson), but DeRozan is who everyone had eyes on the most.
Over his three seasons in the Alamo City, DeRozan averaged 21.6 points and 6.2 points per game in that span. He carried a few sub-par San Antonio teams that did not win as many games as DeRozan did in Toronto years prior. That had to have been a hard adjustment for DeRozan.
This option lands in this spot because it just would not work. Revert to DeRozan’s 2023 appearance on the JJ Redick podcast. “Pop taught me so much, but the whole transition was unexpected to me. I definitely lost a lot of confidence,” DeRozan said. He continues by saying, ‘I wish I could have played in San Antonio the way I did this season.” DeRozan was referring to his then 2022-2023 season with the Chicago Bulls, where he was an All-Star, averaging nearly 25 points a game.
DeRozan was great during his time and a solid replacement in the Leonard trade, thanks to his character and teamwork. DeRozan, a true fan favorite, did everything he could in San Antonio, and that should be enough. DeRozan does not need to return to San Antonio in any way.
Decision – Hard pass
4. Patty Mills – G
In sports, as fans, oftentimes you do not get what you want. This instant might be no different. Ex-Spurs point guard Patty Mills is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, and questions loom if both parties are interested in a reunion. The Australian sharpshooter was a fan favorite during his first tenure with the Silver and Black.
Mills, now 35, still stays true to his San Antonio roots, seemingly rooting for them and their future. He also praises Wembanyama, praising his development and declaring the probability of more championship banners at AT&T Arena in the future. Mills’ respect for the franchise is apparent.
Mills had some great moments in his time with San Antonio, always buying into their game plan and playing disciplined basketball. His superb shooting was always appreciated and the mediocre three-point shooting Spurs could use some of that today. It almost makes you picture Wembanyama swinging the ball out of a double team to a locked-and-loaded Mills, ready to drill a corner three
Still, you can be sure that a reunion between Mills and San Antonio will likely never happen, and that is okay. Fans and the front office must now sit back, watch Mills’ highlights, and express their gratitude for his years of service.
Decision – Pass
3. Marcus Morris Sr – F
It was late 2019 when Marcus Morris Sr signed a 2-year deal with San Antonio. At the time of the signing, this looked like a quality pickup for the team as Morris was coming off two productive seasons in Boston. However, a week later, Morris seemingly had second thoughts when he reversed the San Antonio deal and signed with the New York Knicks instead.
That was not the worst part though. To make this signing, San Antonio had to clear up cap space and as a result, they let fan-favorite Davis Bertans walk away. So essentially, they lost Bertans for nothing. However, they say time heals all for a reason right?
Morris Sr. in San Antonio now could make a lot of sense. While the deal would likely have to be short-term due to his age, the toughness that Morris Sr. brings to a team is hard to find. Therefore, San Antonio could benefit, even if it is short-lived.
What could give San Antonio more peace of mind in signing a guy like Morris Sr, is that he has proven to remain consistent throughout his career. You will not get 20 points and 8 rebounds a game from him and the inability to play a full-season is a concern. So a move like this is unlikely, but it still deserves a spot in the middle of this list.
Decision – Maybe
2. Lonnie Walker IV – G
When San Antonio first drafted Lonnie Walker IV out of Miami in 2018, the first thing that stood out besides his wild hairstyle was his athleticism. He wasn’t known for his shooting, but the Spurs needed young legs as they looked toward the future with Manu Ginobili’s impending retirement.
Walker IV entered the league with the ability to get out in transition, attack the lane, and get above the rim. At times, Walker IV showed signs of elite scoring ability, and since he left San Antonio, he has improved as a scorer while in Los Angeles with the Lakers and in Brooklyn with the Nets. Fans have seen him get hot and go on runs by himself, to help his team pull out victories.
Walker IV is also very active on defense, ultimately making him useful for any team, especially one in San Antonio that lacks quality bench production. Walker IV could be a little spendy given that he might demand a bigger payout than Anderson due to his age (25), but a reunion could work out.
It was apparent that when healthy and given more playing time, Walker IV could give a team a good spark off the bench. This reunion could be just as intriguing as Anderson, if not more, and the Spurs would be wise to give this option some thought.
Decision – Interested
1. Kyle Anderson – F
Kyle Anderson spent his first four seasons (2014-2018) in San Antonio, steadily growing as a rotational player in his time there.
After Anderson left for the Memphis Grizzlies in 2019, he started to carve out a bigger role as time went on. After many years, fans began to see the value that Anderson brings to a team.
Anderson, now 30 years old, is a fundamentally sound power forward who does the little things to win. He has a great basketball IQ and knows when and where to move the ball on offense. Anderson is a fantastic rebounder, getting in a great box-out position every time a shot goes up.
Welcoming Anderson back to San Antonio would be a win-win. Anderson, would not break the bank financially, allowing San Antonio to remain wealthy in terms of cap space. Anderson gives San Antonio that veteran experience, having been a part of many winning teams over his post-Spur career.
Anderson is the number one player on this list not because of his skill but because of his impact on this younger San Antonio team that showed a lot of immaturity and a lack of discipline thanks to their age last season.
