Predicting San Antonio Spurs' Final 15-Man 2016-17 Roster

For the first time in exactly two decades, Tim Duncan's name won't be found on the San Antonio Spurs' 15-man roster. But there's still a Kawhi Leonard.

The two-time defending NBA Defensive Player of the Year is the centerpiece of 2016-17's squad, which has a five-man battle for the final spot as the regular-season opener approaches.

While the winner of that competition will be a first-year player for San Antonio, several new faces are already secured on the roster. The Spurs addressed a few voids after trading Boris Diaw and watching others such as David West and Boban Marjanovic depart in free agency.

San Antonio wasn't going to find someone to perfectly replace Duncan, but after losing five of the top six power forwards and centers, it needed to retool the frontcourt anyway.

The following slides will examine those new additions, highlight the returning members and predict which player will earn the 15th spot on head coach Gregg Popovich's team.

Point Guard

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Starter	Tony Parker
Top Backups	Patty Mills, Dejounte Murray
In the Mix	Ryan Arcidiacono, Nicolas Laprovittola

Entering his 16th season as the starting point guard, Tony Parker is now the longest-tenured player on the roster. But while he's still a quality player, his age (34) is starting to show.

Parker's main contributions come on the offensive end. According to NBA.com, he posted the sixth-highest pick-and-roll frequency in the entire league. And among players with at least 100 P&R attempts, Parker's 0.93 points per possession ranked 13th. 

However—not for a lack of effort—he's become a defensive liability. San Antonio can often hide him thanks to Leonard and Danny Green, but Parker is exposed in key situations. He allowed a 56.3 shooting mark in the playoffs, per NBA.com.

The Spurs lack an elite on-ball stopper at point guard, but Patty Mills consistently annoys opponents. Only T.J. McConnell averaged a faster speed than Mills, who can get caught out of position defensively but provides a three-point spark off the bench.

Mills is the clear-cut backup, though 2016 first-round pick Dejounte Murray will contribute in a small manner this season. Murray will likely spend more time with the Austin Spurs in the NBA D-League, but he's a lock to make the roster.

That's not the case for Ryan Arcidiacono. The Villanova product has only played in two games this preseason, which isn't a promising sign for the undrafted rookie. Nicolas Laprovittola is a 26-year-old with a decade of international experience. He's one of the leading options to earn the 15th spot, but we're giving the nod to a shooting guard.

Shooting Guard

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Starter	Danny Green
Top Backups	Manu Ginobili, Jonathon Simmons
In the Mix	Bryn Forbes, Patricio Garino

If you believe 2015-16 was simply a major post-contract slump for Danny Green, he remains one of the best three-and-D players in the NBA. While that's likely true, a 33.2 percent clip from long distance resulted in a frustrating campaign.

"Some seasons you have good ones, sometimes bad ones," he said, per Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. "Sometimes it's due to adjusting to chemistry, sometimes to injury. Sometimes you just don't shoot it well. Sometimes it's mental."

But after posting a 50 percent three-point mark and 97 defensive rating in the playoffs (h/t Basketball-Reference.com), a bounce-back season is realistic for Green. San Antonio needs it, too.

Manu Ginobili will again serve as the sixth man, essentially playing point guard for the second unit. The 39-year-old's aggressiveness can result in bad turnovers and poor shot selection, but Ginobili's vision and creativity is a necessity for a thin backcourt bench.

Jonathon Simmons should hold an increased role during his second year with the Spurs. The Houston product had 55 appearances last season but should be an every-night player in 2016-17 because of his playmaking ability, relentless defense and speed.

But neither of the reserves offers shooting range like Bryn Forbes. The rookie out of Michigan State has buried 50 percent so far this preseason, which should give him the edge over Laprovittola, Patricio Garino and two others. Forbes won't play often, but the Spurs would benefit from keeping a marksman at the end of the bench.

Small Forward

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Starter	Kawhi Leonard
Primary Backup	Kyle Anderson
In the Mix	Livio Jean-Charles

In just five years, Leonard has developed from a solid defender with an ugly shot into the league's best three-and-D player.

Last season, he surrendered a measly 0.65 points per possession to opposing ball-handlers, per NBA.com. As if that's not ridiculous enough, Leonard shot 43.3 percent from three-point range. Among qualifying players, that was No. 4 in the NBA. The Spurs aren't a perfect team. But as long as Leonard is healthy, they boast the superstar necessary to chase a ring.

However, we know The Claw is human because he doesn't play 48 minutes. Kyle Anderson is the next man up at small forward, though he will also contribute at other positions.

"He can play 3, he can play 4, he can play the point guard," Popovich said, according to Nick Moyle of the San Antonio Express-News. "He's got enough experience under his belt where he's ready to get his minutes and help our team."

Popovich brought Anderson—the 2014 first-round pick—along slowly, and that should happen with 2013 top selection Livio Jean-Charles.

Barring an unexpected move, he'll be on the roster because of a guaranteed contract (h/t Basketball Insiders). However, Jean-Charles is a project. The 6'9", 217-pounder isn't a perimeter shooting threat but isn't bulky enough to defend in the post, either. Jean-Charles was a promising prospect three years ago, but if the Spurs cannot tap into that potential, his tenure may be short-lived.

Power Forward

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Starter	LaMarcus Aldridge
Primary Backup	David Lee
In the Mix	Davis Bertans

Rumors are starting to swirl about LaMarcus Aldridge's future, but it's highly improbable he's traded in the immediate future.

Now, we don't know Aldridge's internal mindset and if that will affect anything. All we see is basketball—and positive results. Aldridge fits the system, though his defensive ability will be challenged now that Duncan is no longer defending the rim.

Similar to the point guard spot, the Spurs may struggle defensively here. But offseason addition David Lee should give the second unit a spark on the scoring end, particularly as a passer—and for San Antonio's sake, hopefully as a jump-shooter from 16 feet.

While both he and Aldridge have respectable range, neither compares to Davis Bertans, the other piece of the draft-day trade that brought Leonard to San Antonio. Bertans is a skilled shooter and connected on 390 of 944 three-point attempts (41.3 percent) over the last five seasons overseas, according to RealGM.

Bertans must adapt to San Antonio's style of play and the NBA's physicality, but he's already impressed the guy who matters most.

"He's going to play," Ginobili said of the rookie, per Bleacher Report's Mike Monroe. "Pop likes his game."

Center

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Starter	Pau Gasol
Primary Backup	Dewayne Dedmon
In the Mix	Joel Anthony

Nobody can replace Duncan's value to the organization, but the Spurs are relying on Pau Gasol and Dewayne Dedmon to fill the sizable on-court void left behind.

While Gasol is an adequate defender near the basket, the 36-year-old's primary contributions will be on the offensive end. He averaged a career-high 4.6 assists per 36 minutes last season, tallying 16.5 points and 11 rebounds overall.

But what Gasol lacks, Dedmon will have as top assets.

"I think he's going to be great for us on the offensive boards and on defense by blocking shots and just being active," Leonard said, according to McDonald.

Dedmon posted a career-best 102 defensive rating last year, per Basketball-Reference.

Joel Anthony is one of the five competing to make the roster, and frontcourt depth would be thin without him. But Aldridge and Gasol will handle a majority of the minutes, while Lee, Dedmon and Bertans will occupy the rest. Plus, Popovich said Anderson can play the 4, pushing any of the aforementioned bigs to center.

If a serious injury occurs, the Spurs may circle back to Anthony or another big. For now, though, they're probably set.

Stats from NBA.com or Basketball-Reference.com. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted. Follow Bleacher Report NBA writer David Kenyon on Twitter @Kenyon19_BR.