After drafting one of the most hyped prospects in NBA history, many expected the San Antonio Spurs to exceed expectations thanks to Victor Wembanyama. While he has been as good as advertised, the Spurs have been arguably the most disappointing team in the league, and they are on their way to their worst season in franchise history.
With San Antonio struggling, they could look to cash in their considerable assets to try and improve their roster around their new star. While that may worsen their pick in the 2024 NBA draft, it would give them a head start on a pivotal offseason in which they must improve or risk a third straight season at the bottom of the standings.
That normally isn't the worst place to be for a rebuilding team but with a player like Wembanyama, there is a clock that they must be mindful of. After all, most talented young players are signed to four-year rookie-scale contracts, then re-signed for four- or five-year deals.
That means that San Antonio could have Wembanyama under contract for eight or nine seasons before he can hit unrestricted free agency. The Spurs must build around him while they can; as a result, here are 16 trades that they must consider ahead of the February trade deadline.
16) The Spurs trade for a recent lottery pick in potential deal with Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors have struggled all season, and a recent loss saw both of their recent lottery picks express frustration with their roles on the team. That has led to speculation that Jonathan Kuminga and Moses Moody could be moved ahead of the trade deadline, and the Spurs have previously been linked to Moody. If he is indeed available, then the Spurs could be the ideal trade candidate for him, given that they have plenty of assets and a potential role for him.
After failing to develop players like James Wiseman, Kaminga, and Moody, being dissatisfied may lead the Warriors to move on from one of the most prominent members of their youth movement and trade Moody for veteran help. Based on that, the Spurs could offer Cedi Osman as matching salary and Chicago's future first-round pick for Moody.
Osman is having a good season, averaging 7.6 points in just 18.5 minutes per game, and his offensive aggressiveness has been an asset to the Spurs bench. He is also on an expiring contract but if he pans out, then he could be brought back using bird rights. As for the pick, it's the top 10 protected in 2025 and the top 8 protected in 2026 and 2027.
There is a decent chance that pick conveys, though it could be several years before the Warriors receive it. Still, it may be a lottery pick and Golden State could use it either to add talent through the draft or as an asset in a deal for an impact player.
Meanwhile, for the Spurs, they'd be getting a 21-year-old player who has the potential to be a terrific 3-and-D guard but has not been given much of a chance to prove himself. With a 28th-ranked offense and 25th-ranked defense, he could make an impact if given more playing time. Thus, he could be a worthwhile flyer.
15) Spurs acquire former all-star in possible deal with Lakers.
The Los Angeles Lakers are struggling right now, likely much to the glee of Spurs fans, but there may be a deal that makes sense for both the Spurs and Lakers ahead of the trade deadline. D'Angelo Russell might seem like an odd fit in San Antonio but he could actually help. Russell is a terrific 3-point shooter who can even shoot off the dribble, in addition to being a shot-creator.
That combination of shooting and passing would be immediately impactful for the Spurs. After all, they don't have much shooting at point guard and can use another passer, particularly one skilled at running the pick and roll, finding cutters, and throwing lobs.
Despite that, he recently lost his spot in the Lakers' starting five as they searched for answers amid a prolonged slump. In need of a shakeup, they could look to move Russell and exchange for more shooting help to surround LeBron James and Anthony Davis with.
As a result, the Spurs could offer McDermott and Osman, as well as the Lakers 2024 second-round pick back, in exchange for Russell. While Russell would be an unrestricted free agent in the summer, the Spurs would be one of the handful of teams that could offer him at least $15 million. Russell may even find himself enjoying playing for Popovich and with Wembanyama and he may be open to re-signing on a short-term deal and being a stop-gap point guard option.
14) Spurs take a flyer on a former lottery pick is mock deal with Pistons.
Former lottery pick Killian Hayes is set to become a restricted free agent this summer and his time with the Detroit Pistons may be winding down. Hayes is a good defender and passer but isn't a particularly good shooter, limiting his value to the Pistons. Despite that, he could be a possible trade target for the Spurs.
It has been established that they could use more playmaking, and they may take a flyer on Hayes by trading Osman for him straight up. While Osman is on an expiring contract, the Pistons are looking for veteran help and presumably shooting too since they can't shoot, and he would check both boxes.
Additionally, with several guards, such as Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Amen Thompson, they probably wouldn't bring Haynes back next season anyway. The Spurs may take a flyer on Hayes and see how he'd fit in San Antonio without having to give up any assets to do so. That makes this deal a no-risk, medium reward for both teams, with the Pistons and Spurs hoping to play better over the second half of the season after a disastrous first 30+ games.
13) Spurs add a solid point guard in mock deal with Pacers.
Indiana Pacers backup point guard TJ McConnell hasn't played a lot of minutes thus far but has been highly productive. That could make him a trade target for a team such as the Spurs, who could use another steady point guard. While he would be one of the older players on the Spurs, he would provide a spark off their bench as an irritating defender known for hounding opposing guards up the court and jumping passing lanes, leading to plenty of steals.
He can, of course, create for others too, and managed to be an efficient scorer, though he virtually never takes threes. Be that as it may, McConnell isn't a perfect fit on most teams but he'd be fine on a team that needs someone who can set up others and play with energy.
He also probably wouldn't cost more than a second and is under contract through next season. As a result, the Spurs could send the Pacers Osman and the Pelicans 2025 second-round pick. That move would net the Pacers a second-rounder, and a rotation player, and save them $9.3 million next season, thus making it a potential win-win move for both teams.
12) Spurs land a familiar point guard in proposed trade with Wizards.
Washington Wizards starting point guard Tyus Jones is expected to be available ahead of the trade deadline and the Spurs could and should have interest. Jones plays similarly to his younger brother Tre Jones, who is currently the Spurs' starting point guard, but with a notable difference: he can shoot.
That skill makes him a capable starter while limiting his younger brother. With Tyus on an expiring contract, the Wizards are probably seeing what they can get for him, and San Antonio could offer up Devonte Graham (who only has a small partial guarantee for next season) and two second-round picks.
San Antonio has plenty of picks, so trading for a player on an expiring contract would come with very little risk. Actually, it would give them at least 30 games to evaluate how he would fit with Wembanyama. Moreover, both he and the team would have a chance to feel each other out before free agency, where the Spurs could re-sign him.
The Spurs getting to test drive a potential free agent target before committing significant assets would be smart. As for the Wizards, they would be able to receive some assets in return for a player that they aren't likely to re-sign.
11) The Spurs receive a recent No. 2 overall pick from the Rockets.
The Houston Rockets, despite being in-state rivals, may be a dark horse trade partner for the Spurs. Former number two overall pick Jalen Green has had a down season for the Rockets, which could potentially re-ignite trade rumors.
Would a deal centered around Green and Keldon Johnson be a possibility? Perhaps. Green has the higher ceiling between the two players but hasn't played up to his potential thus far this season and is extension-eligible after this season.
The Rockets would probably lowball him as a result, likely ensuring that he hits restricted free agency in the summmer of 2025. Instead of going through that, they may shop for him to see what they can get and Johnson might be an appealing option. Johnson put up comparable numbers to Green last season and is on a terrific contract for the next three seasons. Thus, trading for Johnson would allow Houston to forgo an impending contract dispute with Green.
Meanwhile, the Spurs would get a terrific athlete, a decent shooter, and an improved defender who still has an outside chance of becoming a star. Especially playing next to Wembanyama, which would draw attention away from Green. It might not be something that will ultimately happen but there is a case to be made for a Spurs-Rockets deal involving Green and Johnson.
10) The Spurs re-acquire all-star Dejounte Murray in a proposed deal with the Hawks.
Atlanta Hawks All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray is expected to be moved ahead of the trade deadline and one potential suitor could be his former team, the Spurs. The Spurs traded Murray in the summer of 2021 to the Hawks in exchange for three first-round picks and a pick swap.
While the Hawks asking price for Murray would be high, few teams have those types of assets to offer, meaning that the Hawks will likely receive less in return from Murray than they gave up on to acquire him.
San Antonio could potentially capitalize by offering Keldon Johnson, Julian Champagnie, Atlanta's 2025 first-round pick, and Chicago's 2025 first for Murray and fellow former Spur Patty Mills. The Hawks would get back a starting-caliber wing on a great contract, their own 2025 first-round pick back, and Chicago's top-10 protected 2025 first.
A good starter and two firsts is solid return value for Atlanta and would be hard for another team to beat. As for the Spurs, they'd get back a point guard who knows their system and could consistently get their best player, Wembanyama, the ball.
He'd also be able to both score in the pick-and-roll, create for others, rebound, and defend, though he's slipped on that end. Still, he'd be a good fit long-term, especially after he recently signed a four-year extension.
9) Spurs add point guard of the future in proposed deal with Hawks.
The Hawks have reportedly made Trae Young off-limits in trade talks, but according to a recent report by Matt Moore, Young is open to playing in San Antonio with Wembanyama. While that alone may not sway the Hawks, it should get the Spurs to make a strong offer. Piggy-backing on the proposed Murray offer, the Spurs could offer up Johnson and the Bulls 2025 first while trading back Atlanta's 2025 and 2027 unprotected first and their pick swap in 2026.
Receiving their own picks back for their best player might not seem that appealing to the Hawks. However, not having control of their future firsts for three straight years is why they can't simply do a full teardown since San Antonio would be the beneficiary of their tanking efforts. Getting their picks back would at least get them out of that hole, plus they'd get Johnson and a likely lottery pick from the Bulls.
Even then, Atlanta might still say no and hope that they can quickly retool around Young but that will be hard for them to do without high draft picks, and he may eventually want out. In the meantime, a trade involving Young and the Spurs appears unlikely, though it wouldn't hurt for them to try.
8) Spurs acquire former #1 pick in a mock deal with Nets.
Brooklyn Nets point forward Ben Simmons hasn't played in months and doesn't have a timeline for his return, dampening what was supposed to be a bounce-back season for an all-NBA player. To his credit, he played surprisingly well when healthy this season but with another year on his contract that will pay him $40 million, the Nets would likely prefer to move on from him.
The Spurs could help with that, for a price, with them offering Graham, McDermott, and Osman for Simmons, a Mavericks 2029 unprotected first-round pick, a 2025 second from the Heat, and a 2029 pick swap with the Nets.
For the Spurs, they'd get a skilled playmaker, defender, and rebounder. And while he can't shoot worth a darn, he can play power forward next to Wembanyama and also serve as a second-unit creator.
While they would be giving up all of the cap space to make the deal happen, they'd get a far-out first that could be a lottery pick, a pick swap that could also be a lottery pick, and a potentially decent second-rounder from the Heat.
For Brooklyn, they'd finally get off of Simmons' contract, clearing out $40 million in salary for next season, allowing them to build around star Mikal Bridges, albeit at a steep cost. If offered, the Nets would possibly agree to the deal, and the Spurs might be open to the deal given that they could add a much-needed playmaker while adding three assets that they can use to build around Wembanyama.
7) Spurs trade for future Hall of Famer in bold potential deal with Warriors.
The Warriors continue to struggle 30+ games into the season and are currently looking like they may miss the cutoff for the play-in tournament. If that doesn't improve in the next month, they should take a look at their options, including trading players such as Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, and Chris Paul.
If Paul does become available, the Spurs should definitely be interested in acquiring him, even if just as a rental. San Antonio could offer up the expiring contracts of Osman, McDermott, and Graham for Paul. They could even throw in two second-round picks (via the Bulls and Lakers in 2024 and 2025, respectively) to sweeten the pot.
Moving on from Paul would be a sign that the Warriors are retooling by moving some of their best players. Though McDermott and Osman have both been solid contributors for the Spurs as movement shooters, Graham has been in the Spurs' dog house despite his shooting ability and decent playmaking chops.
Acquiring those three players would lower the Warriors ceiling but make them deeper and give them flexibility going forward. Meanwhile, San Antonio would get an elite pick-and-roll playmaker who could play the second half of the season with Wembanyama and give both him and the team a chance to see how he performs with a real shot-creator.
If everything goes well, he may even be open to returning for a 20th season and serving as a much-needed culture setter for the young Spurs, like he was in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Oklahoma City. Compare that to the cost of two second-round picks and three players that the Spurs weren't planning on re-signing and it would be an incredibly valuable move for a struggling team.
6) Spurs add former EuroLeague MVP in clever deal with Thunder.
Prior to signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Vasilije Micić was touted as one of the best playmakers in Europe but hasn't carved out a role with the Thunder yet. Micić is set to turn 30 this month and has two more seasons worth $15.1 million, though the final year of his contract is a team option that OKC appears unlikely to pick up at the moment.
Instead of not playing him but paying him more than $7 million, they could trade him to the Spurs for Cedi Osman. Osman has played well for the Spurs despite being acquired as a throw-in in a 3-team trade and his shooting and assertiveness on offense have been an asset on a team that doesn't have much of either.
He is also on an expiring contract and a straight-up trade would save the Thunder $7.1 million and give the Spurs a stellar passer with nearly a decade of experience setting up players, who could do the same for Wembanyama. As far as low-cost options, this would certainly be an inspired one that gives San Antonio much-needed playmaking over the rest of the regular season and going forward.
5) Spurs trade for Bulls star in spicy proposed deal.
At the start of trade season, Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine was the hottest name on the market but that has definitely cooled down. So much so that the Bulls don't appear to have gotten any strong offers.
That would complicate their efforts to trade him and while they technically don't have to, keeping him would prevent them from maximizing their lottery odds this season and next season. That is important because they currently owe the Spurs their 2025 first (top-10 protected). However, they could get that pick back if the Spurs made an offer for LaVine.
San Antonio could offer McDermott, Osman, and Graham, as well as Chicago's future first-round pick and Atlanta's 2025 first. Although that might not be what the Bulls were hoping for, that would still be a decent package, all things considered. After all, they would essentially wipe the remaining $138 million of LaVine's contract off their books by acquiring three expiring contracts.
They would also get their future first-round pick back instead of having to worry that it would convey to the Spurs between 2025 and 2027. Add in Atlanta's 2025 first and they may not get a better offer during the season. That, of course, depends on San Antonio's interest in LaVine. LaVine appears to have an interest in playing with Wembanyama but it's unclear how much interest they would have in him.
He'd certainly improve their offense, particularly given his shooting ability and drives to the rim but he is under contract for three more years at ugly numbers and is way older than the Spurs core. LaVine would raise San Antonio's floor, but with two potential top-10 picks, they could just as easily decide to take a more methodical approach.
4) Spurs add to their treasure-trove of picks in possible deal with Clippers.
With PJ Tucker collecting DNPs, it seems likely that he could be traded and the Spurs may be willing to take him off their hands for two second-round picks. Osman would be a nice offensive addition to the Clippers bench and moving on from Tucker would save them $4.3 million plus at least $10 million in luxury tax.
Not to mention his $11.7 million player option for next season, which he is sure to pick up. Based on that, the Clippers have reason to try and move him and may be willing to part with two second-round picks, including a 2030 second that could be like a late-future first if they are bad. San Antonio wouldn't have much use for Tucker on the court, though his $11.7 salary could be useful in a trade to match salary, especially since it's an expiring contract.
With the Spurs set to have up to $20 million in cap space, that would cut into it, but with potentially two top-10 picks, they may not plan to be a big spender and could instead prefer to add more picks while having a tradeable salary in case another deal comes along that they like.
3) Spurs land in-demand point guard in mock deal with Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers guard Malcolm Brogdon is expected to be moved ahead of the deadline and San Antonio should absolutely be interested in acquiring him. While he is only playing for the Blazers until he can be flipped to another team, he has continued his stellar play in Portland. Brogdon is a terrific shooter, making 41.3% of his 5.4 3-point attempts while also mixing in drives and a crafty finish.
Additionally, he is a proven playmaker who often boasts a terrific assist-to-turnover ratio. Better still, Brogdon has another year remaining on his contract, meaning that he won't be just a rental, so they should jump at the chance to trade for him by offering McDermott, Osman, Atlanta's 2025 first-round pick, and the Lakers 2024 second-round pick.
With the Blazers likely looking for a future first in return for Brogdon, Atlanta's first-rounder is shaping up to be a lottery pick, which might be worth two firsts that they could receive from a playoff team, as well as what is looking like a top-40 second-rounder from the Lakers.
If the Blazers agreed to that deal, it would ensure that the Spurs wouldn't have the same lack of playmaking next season that they have this season. That is also doubly important since they may draft a point guard and between that, Brogdon, and Jones, they will have far more options and players who can handle the ball.
2) Spurs cash in assets to add sharpshooting guard in bold potential deal with Blazers.
Blazers guard Anfernee Simons is having quite the season, averaging nearly 25 points while proving that he is one of the best shooters in the NBA. Simons is both an underrated player and an underrated trade target, given the Blazers' roster construction. They drafted Scoot Henderson third overall and while he's been bad thus far, he is definitely their point guard of the future.
While 2022 seventh overall pick, Shaedon Sharpe is their likely future at shooting guard—the same position that Simons plays. The Blazers can and have experimented with playing all three together but that seems untenable long-term so they could be open to selling high on Simmons.
One potential trade package could see the Spurs shipping small forward. Keldon Johnson, Chicago's 2025 first, and Atlanta's 2025 first for Simons. Johnson would give the Blazers a long-term starter at small forward while giving the Spurs a sniper at two guard. San Antonio does, of course, have Devin Vassell, who is quite the shooter himself.
However, they have been experimenting with positionless ball so that might not be as big of an issue with Vassell being able to slide up to the three and having him guard that position. Or, they can have Jeremy Sochan defend the bigger wings with Wembanyama there to help cut off drives.
Offensively, having two high-volume 3-point shooters would be a boon for the Spurs' offense, and if they can get a true playmaker to set Wembanyama up, they could easily craft a top-10 offense around that. It remains to be seen whether Simons will be available ahead of the trade deadline but he'd be a good player for the Spurs to target.
1) Spurs go all-in to land recent #1 pick in bold deal with Pistons.
The odds of the Detroit Pistons trading their best player, Cade Cunningham, are probably low given that they are again the worst team in the NBA but the Spurs should strongly consider making them an offer. Johnson, the Spurs' 2024 first (all but guaranteed to be a top 5 pick), Chicago's top 10 protected 2025 first, and Atlanta's 2027 unprotected first for Cunningham and Marvin Bagley III is at least a strong offer that few teams can match.
Johnson is a starting-caliber small forward on a great deal, while each of those picks could be lottery selections. Were that enough for Detroit, then San Antonio could fast-track their rebuild with Cunningham as their point guard of the future and a terrific partner for Wembanyama.
Of course, that would depend on the Pistons trading Cunningham, and they have given no indication that they would be open to doing so. Still, it would be worth it for the Spurs to make them a strong offer on the off chance that they are open to discussing a potential deal.