With the Western Conference playoff race tightening, every roster spot suddenly carries more weight. For the San Antonio Spurs, that urgency has translated into a frontcourt reinforcement – a veteran 7-footer arriving to steady the rotation as the postseason push looms.

That player is Mason Plumlee. The 7-foot free agent has signed a 10-day contract with San Antonio, according to his agent Mark Bartelstein of Priority Sports. The move gives the Spurs experienced depth ahead of key matchups against the Phoenix Suns (Feb. 19), the Sacramento Kings (Feb. 21), and the Detroit Pistons (Feb. 23).

Plumlee slots into a crowded but versatile center group that already features Victor Wembanyama, Kelly Olynyk, Bismack Biyombo, and Luke Kornet. His experience, rebounding, and interior presence provide insurance and flexibility as San Antonio manages workloads down the stretch.

For a team balancing development with playoff ambition, adding a proven veteran on a short-term deal is a low-risk move – one that could quietly pay dividends when depth matters most.

Plumlee last played for the Charlotte Hornets in the first half of this season. He has averaged 1.9 PPG, 2.9 RPG and 1.1 APG in 14 games. He was traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder just before deadline day, in return for Ousmane Dieng and a 2029 second-round pick, but was waived immediately after.

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As fate would have it, it is OKC’s prime contender for the #1 seeding, who brings in the veteran as cover in what tends to be a tricky second half of a season.

The race for the #1 Seed heats up in the West

Victor Wembanyama set the tone at the recently concluded All-Star Game on Sunday. These are not our words but those of eventual All-Star Game MVP Anthony Edwards, who credited the Frenchman for motivating the superstars in Inglewood to put on a show for the fans.

Wemby ended the night with 33 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, but Team World did not make the finals. Spurs fans will hope that something similar does not happen to them in the coming weeks as they push for top spot in the Western Conference.

In his first full season as head coach of San Antonio, Mitch Johnson has been doing a commendable job since taking over from the legendary Gregg Popovich. Spurs (38-16) sit second in the West behind OKC. They return from the All-Star Break, currently on a six-game winning streak and will aim to build on that.

Plumlee’s acquisition will be a short-term plan to offer ‘The Alien’ additional rest between quarters. Not to mention the recent departure of Jeremy Sochan means that the Spurs have additional funds to spend if the situation permits.

A clear parallel is Bismack Biyombo, whom the Spurs signed to a one-year minimum deal in the offseason but effectively used as a depth piece – he played limited minutes early in 2025-26 before being phased out.

More broadly, the Spurs have a track record of bringing in veteran centers on short-term or minimum deals for frontcourt insurance, such as late-career additions or buyout-market types in prior contending windows.

This fits the Spurs’ long-standing strategy under Gregg Popovich of prioritizing veteran savvy and low-cost depth for postseason runs, especially around bigs to complement stars like Tim Duncan historically or Wembanyama now.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder (42-14) currently top the Western Conference after the All-Star break. But since Dec 13, 205, OKC are 1-4 against the Silver and Black. With momentum on their side and Wemby hitting flow-state, all eyes will be on the battle in the West as we approach crunch time.