The San Antonio Spurs are looking to build the best young core on both sides of the ball. With Victor Wembanyama, they are off to a great start. Add in Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, Carter Bryant, and Jeremy Sochan, and the Spurs have an elite group of players all well under 25 years old.
Of course, Wembanyama is at the center of the Spurs’ plans. In fact, he is at the center of the NBA as a whole as the clear-cut face of the league after LeBron James and Stephen Curry retire.
To no surprise, the Spurs announced on October 16 that they will be exercising the fourth-year team option on Wembanyama and the third-year option on Castle, keeping them both on the roster for the next two seasons.
GettySAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 15: Stephon Castle #5 of the San Antonio Spurs celebrates with teammate Victor Wembanyama #1 after a dunk during the 2025 AT&T Slam Dunk Contest as part of the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night at Chase Center on February 15, 2025 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
San Antonio Spurs Lock Down Young Core
Wembanyama’s fourth-year option, as the first overall pick, is worth $16.9 million. Castle’s, as the fourth pick, is for $10 million.
The 2026-27 season is the last on Wembanyama’s rookie deal, so there is a chance he will be a free agent after next season. For that campaign, the Spurs already have $152.8 million on the books committed to nine players.
Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper are easily the three most important players on the Spurs’ roster, and that includes All-Star De’Aaron Fox. If the two guards can blossom and share the court, it shouldn’t come as a surprise if the Spurs end up trading Fox, who was last season’s splashy addition.
The Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and Oklahoma City Thunder will only continue to improve over the years, although the expectation for the Spurs is that they will quickly take over as the best team in the Western Conference.
Victor Wembanyama Will Quickly Make More Money
Wemabanyama, while still on his rookie deal, is one of the very best players in the NBA. As such, he will be awarded a head-spinning contract when his rookie deal is up.
Next summer, he can sign an extension with the Spurs before his rookie contract expires in the summer of 2027. The negotiations should be rather simple. There is a set amount the Spurs can offer, and they will almost certainly be happy to give him the most amount of money possible.
Wembanyama’s next contract can be a five-year, $271 million deal. However, if he wins Defensive Player of the Year, MVP, or makes an All-NBA team, that contract will balloon to $326 million over five seasons, unless the salary cap explodes between now and then.
If Wembanyama lands the bigger of the two, his $65.2 million yearly salary will eclipse this season’s most expensive player, Stephen Curry, by over five million.
San Antonio Spurs Make $26.9 Million Announcement