NBA Trades: The Spurs land a Wembanyama co-star in potential Kings trade.
As far as potential trades involving the San Antonio Spurs and Kings, the Spurs could offer Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones, Stephon Castle, the Chicago Bulls' 2025 top-10 protected first, Atlanta's 2027 first, and the rights to Sacramento's own 2031 pick back.
There was sure to be haggling over the particulars of a potential Fox trade, with the Kings wanting to get most of the Spurs' prized trade assets in return for Fox. After all, he is the King's best trade asset, and they can't afford to make a bad deal. This deal would give them two rotation players in Johnson and Jones, who would be a reasonable stopgap starting point guard, as well as Castle, who could be the long-term answer there.
Be that as it may, the Spurs would be acquiring Fox to pair him with their best players, so trading most of their core wouldn't make sense. Still, they would have to give up something of a return for Fox, and moving on from Johnson, who is their longest-tenured player as well as a Rookie of the Year frontrunner in Castle, plus three first-round picks seems like reasonable value.
Trading Castle would be a tough decision, especially since he has shown two-way ability. While he won't likely become a great 3-point shooter, he has shown more than enough playmaking ability to be able to eventually slot in as a starting point guard in San Antonio or perhaps elsewhere.
Castle also has a knack for finishing through contact, and given his size with a 6'5 frame, he could be effective attacking the basket for years to come. If he can develop a reliable midrange jumper a la Spurs legend Tony Parker, he could be a terrific point guard going forward. That being said, it could take years for that to happen, and the Spurs may want to maximize their time with Wembanyama, and that could mean trading him in a deal for Fox.
Historically, the Spurs tend to shy away from making big in-season trades, though, under GM Brian Wright, they have been known to wheel and deal. He's made several trades over the last two seasons, including trading then-all-star Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks.
That was a controversial deal, but it allowed for San Antonio to tank and eventually end up with Wembanyama. It also netted them three first-round picks and a pick swap, all of which they could use in a deal to acquire a Wembanyama costar such as Fox from the Kings. Based on Wright's track record, it's entirely possible the Spurs can make a big trade during the season so long as it makes sense for his team.
With his ability to score at the rim, in the mid-range, and dominate in the clutch, Fox seems like a good fit. Even with Paul playing alongside him. Their projected starting five would likely be Paul, Fox, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Wembanyama.
Ironically, adding Fox to the starting lineup could also help to solve another big Spurs problem, which has been shooting. His arrival would swap out two non-shooters in Jones and Johnson and push Harrison Barnes to the bench.
That new bench would likely include Blake Wesley, Julian Champagnie, Barnes, and Charles Bassey, with Paul or Fox spending time playing with the second unit. With a new core of Wembanyama, Vassell, and Fox, the Spurs could be ready to win now, giving them the incentive to do the deal with the Kings.