Updated expected starting lineup and squad depth following the signing of Chris Paul

The signing of Chris Paul has raised hopes that the San Antonio Spurs will be competitive this season. His arrival will also dramatically change the team’s rotation, as they will be less likely to lose or give playing time to young players who have not earned playing time.

That leads to questions about what the Spurs’ starting lineup will look like next season with Paul. Will he come off the bench like the Golden State Warriors did to close out last season, or will he start and see limited playing time? What about the other players in the starting lineup? How will his arrival affect coach Gregg Popovich’s rotation decisions? Let’s find out!

Even after Paul was signed, it was still unclear whether he or Tre Jones would be the starter. Now we know Paul will play, but we expect it to be limited playing time. Paul could be the starter and average about 24 minutes per game, giving him the opportunity to play mostly with the starters without overwhelming the 39-year-old point guard.

Jones will still have a big role, as Paul will likely have rest games and he tends to miss a few weeks during the season due to various injuries. That’s his best role and would give the Spurs 48 minutes of competent play. Finally, Blake Wesley will still get playing time with his defense, but will need to make the most of his limited playing time.