No name has stirred up more trade chatter this season than Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks superstar - a former Finals MVP and one of the most dominant two-way forces in the league - has become the centerpiece of NBA trade rumors, and one team that keeps popping up in those conversations is the San Antonio Spurs.
On paper, it’s easy to see why. The Spurs are already one of the West’s top-tier squads, and adding Giannis to a young, talented core would instantly shift the balance of power. They’re also one of the few teams with the draft capital and young assets that could realistically get Milwaukee to pick up the phone.
But according to league sources, that dream scenario might not be on the table - at least not this season.
San Antonio’s run to the NBA Cup Final earlier this year gave fans and front offices alike a preview of what this group could look like when fully healthy and clicking. But behind the scenes, there’s growing skepticism that the Spurs will push all their chips in for a blockbuster midseason deal that could compromise their long-term plans.
“They’re not going to sit around being satisfied,” one source said. “But I don’t see them making a move like trading for Giannis.
There are more reasonable options out there. They can be patient and opportunistic.”
That mindset reflects a front office playing the long game - and with good reason. San Antonio has built a roster that’s not just competitive now, but also positioned to grow into something special. Rushing that process for a headline-making trade could disrupt the careful timeline they’ve been building toward.
That doesn’t mean the Spurs are standing pat. A smaller, strategic move is still very much on the table. Think less “blockbuster” and more “surgical strike.”
One example that’s been floated: a deal similar to the one the Orlando Magic pulled off last summer to bring in Desmond Bane. That trade didn’t dominate headlines, but it brought in a high-upside player who fit Orlando’s timeline and identity - and it paid off.
A name that’s emerged as a potential target for San Antonio in that mold? Trey Murphy III of the New Orleans Pelicans. The 6’9” wing brings a versatile skill set - floor spacing, defensive upside, and athleticism - that would mesh well with San Antonio’s current roster.
“They have the assets to make a trade like Orlando did to add Desmond,” a source noted. “It’d have to be someone that fits their timeline. Someone like a Trey Murphy III, for example, could be a strong fit.”
So while the vision of Giannis in a Spurs jersey might be thrilling, the reality is more nuanced. San Antonio’s front office is weighing the present against the future - and for now, it looks like they’re leaning toward calculated moves over splashy ones.
Still, this is a team firmly in the mix out West. And with the trade deadline approaching, don’t be surprised if they make a move - just maybe not that move.