After spending several seasons in the tank, the San Antonio Spurs are looking to the future.
The Spurs have agreed with fourth-year wing Devin Vassell on a five-year, $146 million contract extension, Vassell’s agents told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. The deal secures Vassell’s place alongside rookie Victor Wembanyama as part of San Antonio’s long-term plans to return to championship contention.
The deal is the second extension to lock up San Antonio’s core after the Spurs signed forward Keldon Johnson to a four-year, $80 million extension last offseason.
Vassell, 23, joined the Spurs as the No. 11 pick in the 2020 draft. He was in the midst of a breakout third season in 2022-23 before a knee injury sidelined him in January. In 38 games last season, he averaged a career-high 18.5 points alongside 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.1 steals while shooting 38.7% on seven 3-point attempts per game.
A 6-foot-5 wing, Vassell projects to start in the backcourt alongside point guard Tre Jones. Johnson slots in at small forward, while second-year pro Jeremy Sochan is the anticipated starter at power forward after earning All-Rookie second-team honors last season.
The lineup, of course, centers around Wembanyama, who joins the Spurs as the most-anticipated NBA rookie since LeBron James joined the league in 2003. The 7-4 center joined the Spurs as the No. 1 pick in June’s draft.