The San Antonio Spurs have officially begun their tank. After trading Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks — and even bringing Brett Brown to Gregg Popovich's coaching staff — they are ready to lose and develop their young players. Their minimal activity in signing players during free agency reinforces their belief in taking their rebuild slowly.

Murray seemed like the next star that the Spurs would build around. However, they decided to embrace an even more extreme tank and trade him away. After drafting three players in the first round, the roster will be one of the youngest in the league. Losses will be plentiful but the end result — a shot at Victor Wembenyama — could be very worthwhile.

With free agency still going on, the Spurs can make a few moves to help them embrace the tank, add more future assets and set up a rotation that features their key young players.

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2 moves Spurs still must make after first week of 2022 NBA free agency

2. Gauge the Jakob Poeltl trade market

Several teams are interested in trading for Jakob Poeltl. The 26-year-old big man has had teams interested in him during last season's trade deadline yet he remains in San Antonio. The Spurs should absolutely try to trade him away and get future assets since he is on an expiring contract.

San Antonio could trade him for draft picks but should also look to add another young center. They signed Gourgi Dieng to back Poeltl up but San Antonio could still use another reliable center. Zach Collins has not been an answer yet, so San Antonio may look to add a young center in free agency like Moses Brown.

There could be one interesting way that the Spurs find a quality trade for Poeltl: getting involved in the Deandre Ayton situation. Right now, Ayton's decision is holding up the Kevin Durant sweepstakes. If the Spurs can offer Poeltl in the mix to give to Phoenix or re-route to Brooklyn, they could walk away with more draft capital.

Although the Spurs should exhaust every possibility for dealing Poeltl to a new team, hanging onto him and trading him later is not the worst thing. Their center options aside from him are bleak and the collection of young players could use his defense to lean on. Finding a suitor at the trade deadline is a fine backup plan.

1. Trade Doug McDermott and/or Josh Richardson

Poeltl, if he isn't traded, will be helpful to hold onto during the season as San Antonio finds a reliable center rotation. Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson, however, should be moved to new teams as soon as possible.

Even with Lonnie Walker leaving for the Los Angeles Lakers in free agency, the Spurs still have Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Josh Primo, Jeremy Sochan, Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and Romeo Langford on the wings and/or in the forward spots in the lineup. Richardson and McDermott are both veterans that impede on the playing time for a good chunk of those young players.

McDermott's shooting and Richardson's defense could each be useful to a playoff team's bench. Neither is on a massive contract, so the Spurs should be able to find a team to take them.

Trading McDermott and Richardson don't necessarily have to fetch great assets like a Poeltl trade does. The big man has a clear roster spot and the team could use his services. Either wing player would simply get in the way of the young players on the roster.