Lost in the San Antonio Spurs’ strong start is the play of forward Julian Champagnie. After a sizzling preseason in which he went 19 for 30 from behind the arc, he has firmly established himself as one of the best value contracts in the NBA.
His combination of size, at 6-8, and sharpshooting has made him a valuable role player, especially with his play on the defensive end. While he isn’t a lockdown defender, he is far from a liability on that end of the floor. His length and mobility allow him to effectively guard his position, and he is an above-average rebounder for his position, ranking third on the team with 6.4 rebounds per game.
Those player types aren’t easy to find, but the Spurs managed to get him for a song, signing him as a free agent midway through the 2022-23 season and then re-signing him to a 4-year, $12 million deal that summer.
With him in the last guaranteed year of his contract, the Spurs potentially extending him should be a very real possibility.
The San Antonio Spurs must extend Julian Champagnie ASAP
After all, if he were to hit unrestricted free agency, then he could earn at least four times what he is making now, and the Spurs shouldn’t let it get to that point.
Instead, they should look to extend him, offering him a four-year, $40 million extension, which would keep him in San Antonio until the 2029-30 season. For that price, especially with the estimated salary cap for the 2026-27 season set at $157 million, San Antonio shouldn’t think twice about extending him for that number.
The Spurs paying a good rotation player a small fraction of the salary cap is reminiscent of former Spur Danny Green’s contract. He was largely underpaid during his 8-year run with the Spurs, who opted to sign him on the cheap and reap the benefits.
Julian Champagnie is a long-term fit for the Spurs
Champagnie is a similar player type, undervalued by other teams, and scooped up by the Spurs only to thrive. His versatility is also a major plus, with him able to slot in at shooting guard or small forward with enough size to play small ball four.
He also gives San Antonio something they desperately need: shooting. And once Fox returns, Champagnie would still be able to have an impact off of the bench.
Overall, Champagne has more than proven himself to be a three-and-D wing. And with him extension-eligible, San Antonio should look to lock him up on an affordable long-term deal now, rather than later.
