San Antonio Spurs Rumors: 3 Free Agents the Spurs could bring in ahead of the playoffs

Entering the 18/19 season, many expected the San Antonio Spurs to finally miss out on the playoffs. Gregg Popovich's team have not missed the playoffs since 1997, although due to the departure of Kawhi Leonard and immense competition in the Western Conference, the Spurs' postseason prospects of reaching the postseason looked slim.

Nevertheless, Gregg Popovich's team has once again surpassed all expectations, currently sitting 5th in the West with a 42-30 record. The Spurs have also won 9 of their last 10 games, fuelling a late push to secure home-court advantage for next month's playoffs.

The Spurs are also one of the few teams in the NBA that can still bring in another player before the end of the season, as Popovich's team has an open roster spot due to Pau Gasol's departure last month. So as we approach the final weeks of the season, here are three players that could still end up on the Spurs roster.

---

#3 Shabazz Muhammad

Shabazz Muhammad during his spell with the Minnesota Timberwolves

Shabazz Muhammad played one season of college basketball at UCLA before being selected by the Utah Jazz with the 14th overall pick of the 2013 NBA draft. Muhammad quickly joined the Minessotta Timberwolves and went on to spend five years with the team, eventually exiting in 2017.

Muhammad had a subsequent spell with the Milwaukee Bucks, although the 26-year-old was released after making just 11 appearances, leaving Muhammad without an NBA team for the 18/19 season.

He has spent the last six months playing in China, however, with the CBL season now finished, Muhammad can join link up with an NBA team until the end of the season. His energy and hustle would be an interesting addition to Gregg Popovich's well-drilled team, and Muhammad has also shown that he can regularly contribute points from the bench.

#2 Alex Abrines

Alex Abrines spent two and a half seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder before exciting last month

At this point, it is unknown if Alex Abrines will actually return before the end of the season, although the Spanish guard is a player who could come in and make an immediate impact from the Spurs' bench.

The 25-year-old started the season in fine form, and back in November, Abrines dropped 25 points on the Charlotte Hornets. His performances on the offensive end also led to a brief starting berth in the OKC lineup, although Abrines' form plummeted in the new year, and he eventually agreed to terminate his contract with the Thunder.

Admittedly, Abrines is not the best defensive player, although he would undoubtedly provide the Spurs with another sniper from the wing, as during last seasons playoffs, the Spaniard connected with 46% of his attempts from beyond the arc.

#1 Greg Monroe

Greg Monroe last featured for the Toronto Raptors

Over the last two seasons, Greg Monroe has started just sixteen times. This is a remarkable statistic as Monroe has spent time with four different teams during this time. Nevertheless, his spells with the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, and most recently, the Toronto Raptors have not worked out, and Monroe is once again on the lookout for a new home.

During his spell with the Raptors, Monroe averaged 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds in just 11.1 minutes per game, and the former lottery pick could provide backup to Spurs in case of injury. It is also worth highlighting Monroe's recent playoff experience, as he played good minutes during the Celtics' run to the East Finals last season. Ultimately, Monroe is the best player available to the Spurs, although Popovich may feel that he already has enough cover at the center position.