The San Antonio Spurs were eyeing the New Orleans Pelicans as a potential trade partner ahead of the February 5 deadline, but it looks like that door has officially slammed shut. The Pelicans have reportedly pulled several key names off the trade block, including Trey Murphy III, Herb Jones, and Zion Williamson. That’s a blow not just to the Spurs, but to any team hoping to add high-level talent without giving up the moon.
According to reports, New Orleans was setting a steep price-two first-round picks each for Murphy and Jones. That’s a hefty ask, especially in a league where most contenders have already spent their draft capital or are holding onto it like gold.
For teams like San Antonio, who are still in the early stages of building around Victor Wembanyama, that kind of price tag was probably never in play. Still, it doesn’t mean the Spurs couldn’t have made a compelling offer.
San Antonio had some assets to work with. A package built around Jeremy Sochan, the Atlanta Hawks pick swap (which could land in the lottery), and a first-rounder would’ve been competitive. Add in the three second-round picks the Spurs originally sent to New Orleans in the Devonte’ Graham deal, and you’ve got something worth discussing-especially for a player like Herb Jones, who’s having a bit of a down year but still fits the mold of a defensive-minded wing who could thrive in Gregg Popovich’s system.
But with the Pelicans standing pat, the Spurs are left to pivot. And that likely means looking inward.
One option? Shake up the starting lineup.
Harrison Barnes has been steady for years, but at 34 and with 330 straight games under his belt, the wear and tear is showing. If his struggles continue, Julian Champagnie could be a candidate to slide into the starting five.
Champagnie’s been streaky, sure, but when he’s on, he’s a legitimate offensive spark plug. He stretches the floor, competes on the glass, and brings energy on defense-something the Spurs could use more of at the forward spot.
Reducing Barnes’ minutes wouldn’t just be about performance-it might actually help him. Giving him a lighter load could allow him to reset and be more effective in a bench role, especially against opposing second units where his experience and savvy could really shine.
Another name to watch? Luke Kornet.
The big man has taken on a much larger role than expected this season, and the results have been surprisingly positive. When he shares the floor with Wembanyama, the Spurs have looked sharp.
Kornet’s size and feel for the game complement Wemby’s versatility, and while he’s not a long-term solution, he’s proven he can contribute in meaningful minutes.
And then there’s Jeremy Sochan. It’s been an up-and-down year for the second-year forward, but he’s quietly worked his way back into the rotation.
He’s not logging heavy minutes, but his defensive energy and ability to make hustle plays still have value. If Sochan can give the Spurs 10 solid minutes a night-locking in defensively, crashing the boards, and maybe chipping in a few points-he could be a sneaky contributor down the stretch.
Bottom line: With the Pelicans choosing to ride with their core, the Spurs will likely have to get creative if they want to address their depth at forward. The trade market doesn’t offer many 3-and-D wings, and the ones that are available come with steep asking prices. That makes internal development and rotation tweaks the most realistic path forward.
It may not be the splash Spurs fans were hoping for, but with young talent like Wembanyama leading the way and a few intriguing pieces already in-house, San Antonio still has options. They’ll just have to find solutions from within-and sometimes, that’s where the best answers come from anyway.