Derrick White unlikely to be ready for season opener

San Antonio Spurs G Derrick White is unlikely to be ready for the season opener, coach Gregg Popovich told reporters on Tuesday at the opening of training camp. White is recovering from toe surgery. Keldon Johnson is expected to be ready for the opener, per Pop. Johnson is recovering a foot injury.

White started 20 games for the Spurs last season and played in all 68 regular-season contests before needing toe surgery in August after the NBA restart. White enters this season expected to start in the backcourt alongside Dejounte Murray. With White sidelined, we could see Patty Mills start at SG or even Johnson. Lonnie Walker IV is also a candidate for more minutes in the back court.

If we’re putting a fantasy spin on this, Murray gets a bit of a boost in a potential breakout season. The Spurs could also opt to run DeMar DeRozan at SG and move Rudy Gay into the starting lineup, which would give the veteran wing a bit more value to start the season in fantasy basketball and DFS. Walker is an interesting sleeper pick. He’s shown flashes of upside but hasn’t put it all together, which could happen in the third year in the League.