The San Antonio Spurs are focused on building the best young core on both ends of the court. With Victor Wembanyama leading the way, the team is off to a fantastic start. Alongside Wembanyama, the Spurs have promising talents like Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Carter Bryant, and Jeremy Sochan—an elite group of players all well under 25 years old.
### Wembanyama at the Center of Spurs’ Future
Victor Wembanyama is not only at the heart of the Spurs’ plans but also becoming the clear face of the NBA, especially as legends like LeBron James and Stephen Curry near retirement. Recognizing his importance, the Spurs announced on October 16 that they will be exercising Wembanyama’s fourth-year team option, as well as the third-year option on Stephon Castle, securing both players for the next two seasons.
### Locking Down the Young Core
Wembanyama’s fourth-year option, as the first overall pick, is valued at $16.9 million. Castle’s option, as the fourth overall pick, stands at $10 million. The 2026-27 season will be the final year of Wembanyama’s rookie contract, which means he could become a free agent afterward.
For that season, the Spurs already have $152.8 million committed to nine players. Of those, Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper are easily the three most critical pieces on the roster, even when compared to All-Star guard De’Aaron Fox.
If Castle and Harper continue to develop and thrive together on the court, it’s possible the Spurs may consider trading Fox, who was a notable addition last season.
### Looking Ahead in the Western Conference
While teams like the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Oklahoma City Thunder are expected to improve steadily over the coming years, the Spurs aim to quickly establish themselves as the top team in the Western Conference.
### Victor Wembanyama’s Future Earnings
Despite still being on his rookie deal, Wembanyama is already one of the NBA’s best players. When his rookie contract expires, he is poised to sign a massive extension with the Spurs.
Next summer, Wembanyama will have the opportunity to sign an extension before his rookie deal ends in the summer of 2027. The negotiation process should be straightforward since the Spurs have a set maximum they can offer—and they will almost certainly want to give him the most they can.
Wembanyama’s next contract could be a five-year deal worth $271 million. However, if he earns accolades like Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, or an All-NBA team selection, his contract could increase to $326 million over five years—barring any major changes in the salary cap.
If Wembanyama secures the bigger contract, his annual salary of $65.2 million would surpass Stephen Curry’s salary this season by over $5 million, making him the highest-paid player in the league.
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