Why the Spurs Are Likely to Stay Quiet at the Trade Deadline - And Why That’s Just Fine
The San Antonio Spurs have the tools to make a blockbuster move. They’ve got young talent.
They’ve got cap flexibility. And they’ve got draft capital for days.
On paper, they could pick up the phone right now, call the Bucks about Giannis Antetokounmpo or the Warriors about Stephen Curry, and at least make things interesting.
But don’t expect fireworks at this year’s trade deadline.
Yes, the Spurs can swing big. But will they? That’s a different question - and the answer, based on history and current strategy, is probably not.
The Long Game in San Antonio
The Spurs are taking the long view with Victor Wembanyama. And honestly, who can blame them? Wemby is still years away from hitting his prime, and rushing to pair him with a superstar right now might be more about headlines than long-term success.
That’s not how San Antonio operates.
They’ve been linked to some big names on the market, but if you’re expecting a sudden, splashy move, you might be setting yourself up for disappointment. This is a franchise that values development, patience, and timing - and they’re not going to deviate from that just to chase a short-term boost.
Looking to Houston for Clues
If you want a model for what the Spurs might do, look no further than the Houston Rockets last season.
Back in 2024, Houston nearly snuck into the play-in tournament. The following year, they made a leap to the No. 2 seed - only to get bounced in the first round.
Despite being in the thick of the Western Conference race, the Rockets didn’t panic. They didn’t mortgage the future for a midseason rental.
They waited.
And then in the summer, they made their move - acquiring Kevin Durant when the timing (and price) made more sense.
That’s the kind of patience San Antonio is expected to mirror. As Zach Harper noted, the Spurs aren’t known for in-season trades, and this year doesn’t look like the exception.
The front office wants to see how this young core performs when the stakes rise. The playoffs - or at least the stretch run - will offer a valuable test.
Deadline Deals? More Like Deadline Drizzle
Let’s not forget what Houston actually did at the deadline last year. They traded Alpha Kaba to Atlanta for Cody Zeller, and flipped a 2031 second-rounder to Boston for Jaden Springer and two more second-round picks.
Neither Zeller nor Springer stuck around. Neither move made waves.
And that was the point.
Those trades were about flexibility, not transformation. The Rockets were evaluating, not overhauling.
Expect the Spurs to take a similar approach. They’re not in a rush to force a move just because they can. They want to see what this roster looks like with more reps, more experience, and more time alongside Wembanyama.
The Core Is the Priority
Right now, the Spurs are focused on letting their young group grow together. That means more minutes, more touches, and more responsibility for players still finding their NBA footing. There’s no urgency to shake things up when the goal is to build something sustainable - not just exciting.
And make no mistake: when the time is right, San Antonio has the assets to make a serious move. But that time doesn’t have to be now.
So while fans might dream about superstar trades, the Spurs are playing a different game - one that’s about the future, not the deadline buzz. And if their track record tells us anything, it’s that they’re just fine waiting for the right moment to strike.