The San Antonio Spurs are expected to be an attractive free-agent destination for players looking to play next to a star.

As the San Antonio Spurs look to add as much talent around Victor Wembanyama as possible, the NBA Draft seems to be the most attractive route for the Spurs to take, but free agency and trades remain a viable strategy.

The Spurs have never really been an attractive destination for flashy free agents, even in their dynasty years. Tim Duncan and Company did not play a “sexy” game, and their sustained success was a result of team chemistry and getting the most out of their players, not the addition of big-name free agents.

With the arrival of Wemby, the Spurs are expected to be in contention for some of the biggest names in NBA free agency.

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While Wembanyama seems to understand and believe in Spurs’ Culture, his brand ambassadorship with Louis Vuitton and off-court media attention is the opposite of “Spursy.” No matter, as the on-court results and performances speak for themselves already.

As the Spurs tweak their culture around their newest stars, adding big-name free agents has become a priority. Bleacher Report outlined four players “who might be candidates to take pay cuts to join the Spurs.”

Chris Paul, DeMar DeRozan, D’Angelo Russell, and Paul George seem to be the frontrunners to play in San Antonio on a discounted deal. All of them have different motivations to play with Wemby.

Chris Paul is a ball-handling maestro and is one of the best point guards in the NBA, but at 39 years old his days are numbered. He was touted as a mentor for the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder and could be talked into taking a pay cut to leave his mark on one of the most promising young players in the NBA.

D’Angelo Russell, on the other hand, might be pushed out of the roster of the Los Angeles Lakers after a disappointing playoff exit at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. Looking to regain some confidence and play a role on a team that doesn’t yet have the high pressure that comes with playing in Hollywood, Russell could be looking for a change of scenery.

DeMar DeRozan has an emotional connection with the Spurs and could be looking for a reunion with the Silver and Black. He was “the guy” in San Antonio from 2018-21, but at 34 years old and playing an outdated playstyle, if he comes back to Texas it would be in a complimentary role.

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Finally, Paul George might be the most appealing pairing with Wemby. George is a legitimate three-point threat and is still one of the league’s best defenders. “Adding George’s two-way ability to Wembanyama would make for an entertaining duo on both ends of the floor,” wrote Dakhil. “George has not played with a rim protector like that since his Indiana days with Roy Hibbert. Offensively, this would be a problematic two-man game to defend, with Wemby being able to pop or roll to the rim.”

The Spurs are not expected to be in Finals contention until at least 2025, but once they arrive on the scene they will be there to stay. All four of the proposed veterans have not won a ring yet, so playing next to Wembanyama would be appealing for their own legacies.

An extra advantage to signing one of these free agents would be having a player who is effectively a player/coach. All four players are veterans who were All-Stars at one point and could take some managing duties off of Gregg Popovich’s plate.