Lindy Waters III, NBA free agent guard has signed a one-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs. The sharpshooting veteran has maintained a 37% three-point shooting percentage across his four-year career with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Detroit Pistons.
In his most recent stint with the Detroit Pistons, Waters III appeared in 14 games, averaging 3.4 points per game while shooting an impressive 39.5% from beyond the arc. However, he gained broader recognition during his earlier tenures with the Thunder and Warriors, where he showcased his long-range shooting and versatility.
San Antonio Spurs’ strategy
The San Antonio Spurs are making strategic moves this offseason to address critical roster needs and their acquisition of Lindy Waters III, is a step toward improving their outside shooting. The Spurs entered the summer with two primary goals – adding depth behind center Victor Wembanyama and boosting their 3-point shooting. With the signing of Waters to a one-year contract and a two-way deal for Summer League standout David Jones-Garcia, general manager Brian Wright is tackling the latter need.
Addressing the 3-point shooting gap
In the previous season, the Spurs struggled from beyond the arc, finishing in the bottom third of the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage. To address this, the team has brought in Waters, a 27-year-old journeyman shooting guard with a proven track record from deep. Over his four-year NBA career, Waters has played for Oklahoma City, Golden State, and Detroit, maintaining a respectable 36.6% 3-point shooting average. His standout performance came in the 2023-24 season, when he shot an impressive 43.5% from long range across 38 games.
Waters, who went undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2021, earned his NBA spot through hard work with Oklahoma City’s G League affiliate. His persistence paid off with a two-way contract in February 2023, and he has since proven his value as a reliable shooter.
Building depth
The Spurs also addressed their frontcourt depth earlier this offseason by signing former Boston center Luke Kornet and acquiring Kelly Olynyk via trade with Washington. These moves provide much-needed support for Victor Wembanyama, the franchise cornerstone, ensuring the team has a balanced roster.
David Jones-Garcia’s joining
In addition to Lindy Waters III, the Spurs secured David Jones-Garcia, a Dominican guard who turned heads in the Summer League. Jones-Garcia, who once dropped 51 points in a G League game with the Mexico City Capitanes, averaged 22 points across eight Summer League games, shooting an impressive 53% from 3-point range. His performance earned him a spot on the all-tournament teams at both the California Classic and Las Vegas Summer Leagues.
Jones-Garcia’s two-way contract allows him to split time between the Spurs’ NBA roster and their G League affiliate, with a maximum of 50 NBA games next season. His addition fills one of the team’s three available two-way slots, adding another significant scoring option to the roster.