SAN ANTONIO - The whispers started in the weight room. They grew louder in Summer League, and by the time training camp tips off next month, they’ll be a full-throated roar. The San Antonio Spurs have spent two years searching for a competent backup center - a role that has been a black hole on an otherwise ascending roster. That search appears to be over. With the 2026-27 season on the horizon and a fully healthy Victor Wembanyama ready to terrorize the league, the front office has quietly assembled the perfect supporting cast. And the most crucial piece might not be the one everyone expected.
For the first time since Wembanyama’s arrival, the Spurs enter a season without urgent questions about the pivot position. The starting job is locked. The backup spot, however, was a disaster waiting to happen. Not anymore. The answer to that two-season-long prayer is a 7-foot Frenchman with a silky jumper and a basketball IQ that has the coaching staff buzzing. The Spurs may have found their next answer behind Victor Wembanyama, and his name is Maxime Raynaud.
The Stanford Project Comes of Age
The most intriguing internal development is the ascension of Maxime Raynaud. Selected with the 31st overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Stanford product spent his rookie year marinating in the G-League, absorbing the Spurs’ system, and quietly bulking up his 7-foot frame. The college tape was a scout’s dream - a true stretch-five who torched the Pac-12 with an elite blend of size and skill.
But the 2026 Summer League? That was a coming-out party. Raynaud looked like a man among boys, averaging a double-double while shooting a blistering 41% from deep on high volume. He showcased a refined post game, a soft touch around the rim, and the ability to put the ball on the floor against slower defenders, punishing switches with a quick first step. He wasn’t just scoring - he was orchestrating. The offense flowed through him, and the results were devastating.
| Category | Stat Line |
|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 18.7 |
| Rebounds Per Game | 11.2 |
| Three-Point % | 41.0% |
| Assists Per Game | 3.1 |
| Blocks Per Game | 1.4 |
| Minutes Per Game | 29.5 |
📊 18.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game in Summer League - Raynaud dominated the competition, proving his G-League stint was a masterclass in player development.
Defensively, Raynaud isn’t the rim protector Wembanyama is - no one is - but he’s a fundamentally sound positional defender who boxes out, contests without fouling, and, crucially, moves his feet well enough to survive on the perimeter. For a second unit that desperately needed offensive spacing last season, Raynaud’s ability to pick-and-pop with the backup guards transforms the bench from a liability into a scoring threat. The coaching staff is reportedly in love with his basketball IQ, which has accelerated his development curve significantly. They’ve been saying it since Day 1: this kid gets it.
The Perfect Complement: Why the Fit is Flawless
The brilliance of this "answer" isn’t just about finding a talented big - it’s about finding one who fits the specific context of Wembanyama’s needs. The Spurs learned harshly in 2025-26 that pairing Wembanyama with a traditional, slow-footed center clogged the paint and reduced his driving lanes. The offense bogged down. The rhythm died. It was a painful lesson in roster construction.
Raynaud offers the opposite profile. He spaces the floor to the three-point line, which opens up the middle for Wembanyama’s isolations and De’Aaron Fox’s relentless downhill attacks. Defensively, Raynaud is mobile enough to survive on the perimeter, meaning the Spurs don’t have to blow up their switch-heavy scheme when the starter rests. The continuity is seamless. It’s not just a backup plan - it’s a strategic upgrade.
