The doldrums of the NBA summer have arrived, and news for fans has slowed to a trickle. Yet that doesn't mean teams aren't looking at their rosters and around at the rest of the league and dreaming up potential trade targets and packages; it's part of the job.
One team that is considering their future is the San Antonio Spurs. While they were at the very bottom of the standings this year, they have a true superstar in Victor Wembanyama who is already playing like a Top-15 player in the league. Yet there is no "second star" on the Spurs, no true second option to score in bunches and drive the offense.
On the one hand, the Spurs can't really plan to tank again this season; Wembanyama is too good and too competitive for that to happen. That means going for it this year makes a lot of sense, if they can do so without giving up significant future assets. On the other hand, however, the Spurs are not yet ready to contend, and they want to keep thir powder dry for whatever comes next year.
Can Spurs find Wembanyama a co-star without sacrificing the future?
Threading that needle is a difficult proposition, but one creative idea tried to do just that. In the process, it sought to address not one problem but four, for four different teams. The Chicago Bulls have been stuck in basketball purgatory for years and need to find a take for their All-Star guard. The LA Clippers want more star power, while the Phoenix Suns could do with a little more depth. And the Spurs, of course, want a running-mate for Wembanyama.
One massive four-team deal may have worked out how to address the need of all four teams at once. Let's dig into the details and see whether it's the type of trade the Spurs should be making, or if they should stay far away.