With the big free agents off the board, the San Antonio Spurs went bargain-bin hunting the last few days. Their search was fruitful, as they brought back Georgian-American forward Sandro Mamukelashvili as well as another veteran reserve.
Mamukelashvili is returning to San Antonio on a one-year minimum deal, via ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.
“Free agent F Sandro Mamukelashvili has agreed on a one-year, $2.2 million deal to return to the San Antonio Spurs, sources tell ESPN,” Wojnarowski said. “George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein of @PrioritySports confirmed the deal.”
Mamukelashvili averaged 4.1 points per game on 47.1% shooting with 3.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists across 9.8 minutes last season. The Seton Hall alum got more playing time later in the season as the Spurs' injuries piled up, showing chemistry with the face-of-the-franchise star Victor Wembanyama.
The club also re-signed center Charles Bassey, via The Athletic's Shams Charania.
“Sources: The San Antonio Spurs are re-signing center Charles Bassey to a fully guaranteed one-year, $2.2 million contract,” Charania tweeted. “Deal was negotiated by Young Money APAA CEO Adie von Gontard and agent Daveed Cohen.”
Bassey has been in San Antonio for the last two seasons. The 23-year-old averaged 3.3 points on 72.5% shooting with four rebounds and 1.1 assists last season but has been hampered by knee injuries each of the last couple of campaigns.
How much will these two contribute to the team's second unit going forward?
The Spurs continue to build for the future
Both Mamu and Bassey provide short-term solutions to San Antonio's long-term vision, via SB Nation's Marilyn Dubinski.
“The Spurs had renounced Mamu’s rights and Bassey’s non-guaranteed contract to make room for the Harrison Barnes trade,” Dubinski said. “By returning on a one-year deal for the veteran’s minimum, the Spurs still stay on their reported one-year timeline as they look forward to 2025’s much deeper free agency class.”
Barnes arrived to the team from a three-team deal with the Chicago Bulls and Sacramento Kings, which sent DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento. By cutting Mamu and Bassey and bringing them back on minimum contracts, the Spurs have successfully managed the salary cap to accommodate both Barnes and fellow newcomer Chris Paul.
If San Antonio takes another step in the right direction next season, they could convince one of the many talented 2025 free agents to sign a max deal with the club and team up with “Wemby.”. A few of the options include Lauri Markkanen, Brandon Ingram, and Julius Randle.
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