San Antonio Spurs

Here's how Jimmer Fredette can make San Antonio's roster

Published Sep. 15, 2015 7:50 a.m. ET

foxsports

The San Antonio Spurs don't need Jimmer Fredette to win the championship this season, but they still brought him in on a partially-guaranteed contract a couple months ago.

At the time, the thought was Fredette had a very small chance at actually making San Antonio's final roster, but according to SB Nation's Pounding the Rock, he may still have a pretty good chance:

The 26-year-old averaged 3.6 points per game last season with the New Orleans Pelicans. He shot 18.8 percent from behind the three-point line, which is the only attractive skill keeping him on the NBA's radar.

If Fredette can space the floor and knock down open outside shots then he's useful. If not, there's no room for him at this level.

(h/t: Pounding the Rock)

The Spurs guaranteed half of Fredette's million dollar contract so they are on the hook for that money even if they waive him after training camp. Partially guaranteed deals like Jimmer's don't become fully guaranteed until January 10, though, so as long as they release him a couple of days before then that's all they owe him. They can simply decide whether to keep him for the rest of the season or waive him on January 7 (he needs to clear waivers before the deadline), which is coincidentally when other free agents start to become available. They did that with Austin Daye last year, despite his contract being fully guaranteed after camp. In the meantime, they get another body to round off the guard rotation. Tony Parker is competing in Eurobasket and might need to take a few rest days. Manu Ginobili is fragile. The 2013/14 season showed that even durable players like Danny Green can get hurt. The Spurs don't have the proven depth to survive those setbacks anymore. They might need unlikely contributors to step up.