If Giannis Antetokounmpo ever hit the trade market, don’t expect the San Antonio Spurs to be first in line. Not because they lack the pieces to make a deal happen-they’ve got plenty of assets-but because they believe they’ve already got something special brewing in-house.
Around the league, there’s a growing sense that San Antonio wouldn’t seriously pursue a Giannis trade, even if the Bucks made the two-time MVP available. And that says a lot about where the Spurs see themselves right now: not as a team desperate for a quick fix, but as an organization fully invested in a long-term plan that’s beginning to take shape.
At the heart of that plan is Victor Wembanyama, the generational big man who’s already showing flashes of superstardom. He’s untouchable, full stop. But the Spurs’ commitment to their young core doesn’t stop with Wemby.
Rookie Dylan Harper, taken with the No. 2 overall pick, has been off-limits since the night they landed him. San Antonio didn’t just draft Harper-they circled him as a foundational piece from the jump. And then there’s Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, who’s quickly become a favorite inside the organization for both his game and his mentality.
“I cannot tell you how much the Spurs loved Castle when they got him,” said ESPN’s Brian Windhorst on The Ryen Russillo Show. “Right out of the gate they were like, ‘Oh my, do we love this guy.’
They love everything about his makeup, how he competes, his willingness to improve. They are convinced he’s the perfect guy to have with Victor.”
That kind of praise isn’t tossed around lightly, especially in a league where “untouchable” is more myth than reality. But Castle might be the exception. Windhorst added, “I would be stunned if they gave Castle away for almost anything.”
The Spurs are playing the long game. They’re not chasing headlines or trying to fast-track a rebuild by swinging for a superstar.
Even if that superstar is Giannis. For San Antonio, it’s about developing their young talent, building chemistry, and letting this core grow together.
They’ve got their eyes on the future-and they’re not looking to shortcut the process.