Tobias Harris Sidelined for Spurs Season Opener with Calf Strain

The NBA season hasn't even tipped off yet, and the San Antonio Spurs are already dealing with the kind of veteran injury news that makes you sigh heavily at your phone.

According to Underdog NBA, Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson has confirmed that Tobias Harris will not be ready for the start of the regular season. The veteran forward is dealing with a left calf strain he picked up during training camp.

"Underdog NBA relayed that Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said Harris won't be ready for the start of the regular season and that the team will not rush him."

A calf strain on a 30-something forward is basically the check-engine light on a high-mileage sedan. You can try to drive through it, but you are absolutely going to end up stranded on the side of the highway if you push it too hard.

Johnson made it clear the team has zero interest in rushing Harris back onto the floor. That means he will officially miss the October 20 season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder, which happens to be a heavy-hitting rematch of last year's Western Conference playoff battle.

Harris put up 13.3 points and five rebounds across 63 games last season. Losing that kind of steady, middle-of-the-road production is not the end of the world, but it immediately tests the Spurs' wing depth against a loaded Thunder roster.

Anyone looking at early-season lines or player props for San Antonio will have to factor in those missing minutes. Someone else is going to have to absorb those shots, and OKC is not exactly a forgiving defense to figure out your rotation against.

For now, expect Harris to be watching from the bench in a very expensive suit on opening night. The Spurs will have to survive the Thunder without him, and we will wait to see just how long this training camp tweak actually lingers.