The San Antonio Spurs are staring down a pivotal decision as the 2026 NBA trade deadline approaches. With Victor Wembanyama continuing to evolve into one of the league’s most unique and dominant forces, and a backcourt rotation that features Stephon Castle, De’Aaron Fox, and rookie standout Dylan Harper, the Spurs are beginning to look like a team ready to make serious postseason noise. But there’s one lingering question that could define the direction of this franchise in the short term: Are Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell the right wings to ride with during a potential title run?
Let’s be clear - Johnson and Vassell haven’t been passengers this season. In fact, they’ve played some of their best basketball in 2025-26.
Johnson is knocking down 41% of his threes, a career-best mark that’s helped stretch defenses and open up driving lanes for the Spurs’ guards. Vassell, meanwhile, is connecting on nearly 38% from deep and continues to show flashes of two-way potential.
Those are real numbers, and they matter - especially on a team where the offensive burden is primarily carried by the trio of Castle, Fox, and Wembanyama.
But when you’re building around a generational talent like Wemby, the margin for error shrinks. The modern NBA demands high-level wing play - not just in terms of shooting, but defensive versatility, decision-making, and the ability to stay locked in over the course of a deep playoff run. That’s where the Spurs’ front office has to take a hard look at the roster and ask: Are Johnson and Vassell good enough to be the wings on a championship-caliber team?
It’s a tough conversation, especially given how both players have been developed in-house. Johnson and Vassell are products of the Spurs’ system, and that loyalty counts for something.
But sentiment can’t outweigh strategy when a title window might be cracking open. The NBA has shown time and again that elite wings - the ones who can defend multiple positions, hit open shots under pressure, and make the right reads - are often the difference between a deep run and an early exit.
That’s why San Antonio has to at least explore the trade market. If there’s a more consistent, battle-tested wing available - someone who can provide lockdown defense on the perimeter or simply bring a steadier presence to the rotation - the Spurs owe it to themselves to listen. That doesn’t mean Johnson or Vassell have to be moved, but standing pat without full confidence in their postseason readiness is a gamble.
The Spurs are in a rare position. They have a generational big in Wembanyama, a dynamic backcourt mix of youth and experience, and a system that’s starting to come together.
But the league doesn’t wait. Opportunities like this don’t come around often, and the teams that capitalize are the ones that make bold, calculated moves when the moment calls for it.
If San Antonio believes Johnson and Vassell can rise to the occasion, then great - let them grow into their roles and ride the continuity. But if there’s even a sliver of doubt, now’s the time to act.
Because in today’s NBA, wing depth isn’t a luxury - it’s a necessity. And the Spurs’ title hopes may hinge on getting that part of the equation exactly right.