Who has impressed the most in the first three preseason games?
Mark Barrington: Obviously, it has to be Wembanyama, doesn’t it? He wasn’t playing his best and had too many turnovers, but he’s just on a different level than everybody else on the court, and in the third game it looked like he’s putting it all together. I think Carter Bryant has shown that he’s a lot more ready to make an impact than I thought from his limited play in Summer League. Small sample size, but Dylan Harper is really good and already has a polished game. But I think the best player of
the preseason is probably Keldon Johnson, who knows how to use his strength and size to make things happen on both ends of the court.
Devon Birdsong: Wemby’s always had an abundance of talent, and you could see flashes of something monstrous, but it’s the ease with which he’s doing everything that’s impressing me. Gifted though he is, his game has never seemed as effortless as it looks right now, and I think that’s a sign that the mental side of the game has finally begun to fully integrate with the athleticism. There’s virtually no hesitation in his decision-making, but not in a reckless manner – it feels perfectly calculated, and it’s honestly reminding me of Jokic’s fourth season in the league. That was the first season I can clearly remember seeing Jokic toy with opponents on the regular, and I distinctly remember having the thought that if he ever became a more consistent shooter/scorer, he’d be a beast. Crazy thing is, Wemby’s already more of a scorer than Jokic was then. If he’s able to start dictating things in a similar manner, the sky’s the limit. And I’m starting to think he might almost be there.
Jeje Gomez: Julian Champagnie is 11-for-19 from beyond the arc for a team that needs shooting. Sure, he still can’t really dribble, but that level of marksmanship, coupled with his solid defense, could get him a rotation spot. Preseason is all about proving you can contribute, and few others are filling a role as cleanly as the sharpshooting wing. A lot of those looks are assisted and from the corner, but that’s exactly what a complementary player’s shot profile would look like. Others might be getting more highlights, but Champagnie is making a case for minutes, which is impressive.
J.R. Wilco: I love what we’ve seen from Bryant and Champers so far, but it’s got to be Wemby for me. His aggression and decisiveness have stood out, as has his decision-making, but the biggest difference (and the most impressive thing from the preseason) has been how obvious it is that he now knows how to use his body. It’s fun to be a fan of a player that defenders just seem to bounce off of, and over the summer it seems that Vic has become one of those guys. It’s not merely about the weight he’s added, it’s the way he’s moving and the timing of his moves that’s been so eye-popping. Although it’s just the preseason and the competition hasn’t been the toughest, I look forward to seeing this version of Wemby going forward.
Do you like what you see so far from Mitch Johnson’s first year as head coach?
Barrington: There’s not a whole lot you can learn from preseason about coaching, in my opinion. Mitch was getting all of the guys out there and letting them play. The defensive rotations were sloppy, but that’s to be expected with so many guys missing and young players on the court. I like the fact that he was calling timeouts whenever the team got a little out of sorts, but that’s not exactly elite coaching; that’s basic stuff. I expect Mitch to really do well this season, but preseason isn’t really going to tell us much about his coaching style yet.
Birdsong: This could just be wishful thinking, but I think Johnson looks a lot more relaxed on the sideline. Not in a way that doesn’t scream fully engaged, but more in the sense that this is fully his show now. The figure of Gregg Popovich is no longer looming in the same way that it was last season (although, wait till the Spurs go on a losing streak), and Mitch just seems more comfortably authoritative. If the regular season Xs and Os match that attitude, we might find that he really is Pop’s truest successor.
Gomez: There hasn’t been much to judge Johnson by, since so many guys have been out. The Wembanyama playmaking touches are fun. There are some set plays that are clever. But the jury is still definitely out on Mitch, which is to be expected for a rookie coach.
Wilco: Pop always made the season’s adjustments clear from the very beginning of the preseason, and it seems that Johnson’s doing the same. Here’s the first play Wemby’s side ran on the first possession of the first action (the team scrimmage) we got to see this season. I hope this means the end of dribbling the ball up while Vic fights for position as he waits for the ball to be delivered to him. One play is a small thing, but as someone who’s been begging to see the team prioritize motion in order to prevent defenses from having all five guys focus on Wemby, I see some great early signs that Johnson is putting a solid foundation under the offense.
Do you think any of the fringe guys are earning rotation minutes?
Barrington: Carter Bryant is not exactly a fringe guy, because he’s a lottery pick, but he wasn’t expected to contribute right away. He’s still a very raw player, but I don’t see how you can keep him out of the rotation after he’s shown how much he can impact the game on defense and how he can make key plays in crunch time. David Jones-Garcia has stepped up late in games in preseason, but I don’t see how that translates to regular season playing time, because he’s mostly playing against guys who won’t be on a roster in a couple of weeks. He’s still earning a longer look and some chances to compete in the big league this season.
Lindy Waters III has a sweet shot and he’s solid with the ball in his hands. He could get some reps if the main guards (Fox, Harper, Castle) continue to have issues with health, or just need some rest. The guard rotation is going to be interesting with so much talent on the roster, and either him or Jordan McLaughlin are going to be the odd man out.
Birdsong: I’ve been high on Champagnie for some time now, but I also no longer consider him to be a fringe player on the roster. He’s going to see 20 minutes a game, maybe more. Carter Bryant, on the other hand, is threatening to spend little-to-no time in Austin at this point. I really liked how he looked during Summer League, and he continues to look like he has the makings of a defensive menace, using every long inch of his body to inconvenience opposing players. It’ll take an injury or two for him to get real minutes, but that’s not outside the realm of possibility.
Gomez: I mentioned Champagnie, who’s not exactly a fringe guy, since he played last season. Other than him, I’m not seeing anyone who’s impressing at the moment. Some guys do what they are supposed to, but few are standing out. Which is fine, of course. There are only so many minutes to go around and players who have not carved out rotation spots elsewhere shouldn’t be expected to break out just because they are wearing Silver and Black. That said, I still want to see what Kelly Olynyk can do, because if there’s someone who can surprisingly crack the rotation, I have a feeling he could be the one.
Wilco: I think Waters III has earned solid consideration with his excellent shooting and his solid ball-handling. If there’s any position where the team seems to be set, it’s the one, but it has to be calming to be able to can call on a vet who knows the game and won’t make any rookie mistakes while providing outside shooting (something that the team does NOT have in abundance) if the need arises.
