NBA Offseason Guide 2022: Are the San Antonio Spurs on the upswing?

Don't let back-to-back play-in appearances deceive you.

The 34-48 record this season is an indicator that the San Antonio Spurs are still in the middle stages of rebuilding and are far from a team that can compete for a top-six playoff spot. The Spurs were 13-35 against teams above .500 and had 11 losing streaks this season. In games decided by five or fewer points, the Spurs ranked 28th in the league with a 15-24 record.

Struggling to learn how to win against playoff teams and the failure to execute in close games are byproducts of the fourth-youngest roster in the NBA, with seven players under the age of 23.

So what should San Antonio do this summer to take the next step in its rebuild?

MORE: Spurs rank 20th in Future Power Rankings

Roster status: Retooling with draft picks and cap flexibility

The Spurs' focus entering the offseason starts with the draft in June. San Antonio has three first-round picks, but already has 12 players under contract for next season (though four of them have either partially guaranteed or non-guaranteed contracts).

Because of the roster crunch, San Antonio will need to consolidate its picks or face tough decisions with players already under contract. The Spurs could package the first-round picks they're getting from the Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors to move up in the draft, or they could trade out for future first-round picks. Last year the Oklahoma City Thunder traded the No. 16 pick to the Houston Rockets for two future first-round picks. The Spurs could look to make a similar move this summer.

Beyond the draft, San Antonio is one of five teams that is projected to have significant money to spend in free agency. As we break down below, how much cap flexibility the Spurs have will be