Perhaps the biggest reason why the Spurs acquired Paul was for his mentorship. Paul has a history of helping
to whip young teams into shape, and the Spurs have a young roster that features six players on rookie-scale deals. Having
a future Hall of Famer who can take them aside and point things out to them
could help the development of players such as Stephon Castle, Blake Wesley, Sochan, and especially Wembanyama.
If he can get the most out of Wembanyama and Sochan next season, that could help the Spurs make a big leap and possibly even get them back into the
postseason. Moreover, Paul could be instrumental in Castle’s development, with Castle already showing the potential
to play point guard but likely starting off playing off-ball to get playing time
Paul’s helping the Spurs’ young core reach their full potential could have a lasting impact on the team, with
Wembanyama learning different tricks of the trade that can help him gain an advantage. For instance, he could teach
Wemby how to position himself to make it easier for teammates to find him or how to draw fouls.
Additionally, Paul can teach Sochan ways to get into the mind of his opponent and Castle how to run an NBA offense. Each
would be well worth what the Spurs are paying Paul next season and make him the perfect free-agent signing.
