Southwest Division Notebook: Spurs process Finals defeat as division rivals map offseason plans
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San Antonio’s season ended with a Game 5 loss in the NBA Finals, forcing the Spurs to watch their opponent celebrate on Frost Bank Center’s floor. Guard Devin Vassell admitted the scene “hurts a lot,” adding that the roster intends to “scratch, fight to get back into this position and have a different outcome.”
Center Victor Wembanyama said every contest in the series followed a similar script, pointing to San Antonio’s repeated mistakes and the other club’s ability to “punish” them. First-year head coach Mitch Johnson echoed the sentiment, expecting the experience to fuel a return trip to the Finals.
Johnson seeks rebound after quiet Finals
Sixth Man of the Year Keldon Johnson averaged 13.2 points during the regular season but managed just 4.4 per game in the championship round. The forward said postseason play underscored how “every possession matters,” noting that each matchup “may need something different.”
Grizzlies maintain flexibility without cap room
Memphis enters the summer with rookie standout Cedric Coward, the No. 3 pick in the 2026 draft and ample draft capital, yet projects to operate over the cap. That status lets the club absorb additional salary in trades, pursue sign-and-trade deals, and utilize both the $15 million non-taxpayer mid-level exception and the $5.5 million biannual exception. Resolving the long-running Ja Morant trade situation remains a priority.
Rockets weigh extensions, trade options
Houston was eliminated in the first round and must determine its path to contention. Retaining restricted free agent forward Tari Eason is expected to be high on the agenda, while the front office can also renegotiate veteran guard Fred VanVleet’s contract. Significant upgrades would likely arrive through trades, with players such as Jabari Smith Jr., Reed Sheppard and Steven Adams mentioned as possible pieces in a star package. A five-year, $185 million extension is viewed as a logical framework for defensive stalwart Amen Thompson.
Source: Hoops Rumors
