The San Antonio Spurs are in a fascinating spot-loaded with young talent, anchored by a generational big man, and already showing flashes of championship potential. But as the NBA trade deadline looms, the question isn’t whether they can make a splash. It’s whether they should.
Despite having the assets to chase a blockbuster-think Giannis-level blockbuster-the Spurs have stayed quiet. And frankly, that restraint tracks.
Pairing Victor Wembanyama with a superstar like Antetokounmpo sounds like a dream scenario, but it also means cashing in a treasure chest of picks and prospects before this current core has even had a chance to fully gel. San Antonio’s front office seems content to play the long game, and with the way this team is trending, that patience might pay off in a big way.
Still, standing pat entirely? That might be a missed opportunity.
There’s a middle ground between all-in and all-out, and it could be the sweet spot for a team that’s just a piece away. One area that stands out: the forward rotation.
The Spurs are loaded at guard with a dynamic trio of De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper, and their frontcourt is anchored by Wembanyama with Luke Kornet providing reliable rim protection off the bench. But at the wing?
That’s where things start to look a little thin.
Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, and Julian Champagnie have all had their moments, but none of them are the kind of two-way difference-maker that can swing a playoff series. That’s why a move for someone like Trey Murphy III has been floated-but the price tag there might be more than San Antonio is willing to pay.
Enter a more realistic, cost-effective option: a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for a veteran forward who checks a lot of boxes. The hypothetical deal would send out Johnson, Kelly Olynyk, rookie forward Devin Bryant (the No. 14 pick in this year’s draft), and a future first-rounder. On paper, that’s a manageable package-especially considering the Spurs’ depth and long-term draft capital.
Johnson has been solid but inconsistent, and his limited three-point volume makes him a tough fit in a modern, spacing-focused offense. Olynyk provides smart, skilled minutes, but with Wembanyama and Kornet holding down the interior, he’s more of a luxury than a necessity.
Bryant has promise, but he’s not ready to contribute in meaningful playoff minutes just yet. And the pick?
With the way this team is trending, it’s likely to fall late in the first round.
In return, the Spurs would get a battle-tested combo forward with playoff experience (35 games and counting), defensive versatility, and the ability to slide into multiple roles depending on the matchup. He’s not an elite on-ball stopper, but he can hold his own against bigger wings and has a knack for creating disruption off the ball. He’s the kind of player who may not grab headlines but absolutely helps you win games in May and June.
Think of him as a lower-cost version of what Murphy could bring-less explosive, sure, but also less expensive in terms of assets. And for a Spurs team that’s trying to thread the needle between contending now and building for the future, that balance matters.
Of course, not every Spurs fan is going to be on board. When a young team is winning and clearly on the rise, it’s tempting to just let things play out.
Why mess with a good thing? But the NBA is all about margins-especially in the playoffs.
And if San Antonio can upgrade a weak spot without mortgaging its future, that’s the kind of calculated risk that can turn a promising season into a special one.
This isn’t about abandoning the rebuild. It’s about accelerating it-smartly, selectively, and with an eye on the bigger picture.
The Spurs don’t need to go all-in. But they might just need to go a little in.
And this type of move could be exactly that.