The San Antonio Spurs are heading into the sophomore season of generational talent Victor Wembanyama, with winning expectations already being placed on the franchise. They made clear win-now moves this summer by adding veterans Harrison Barnes and Chris Paul, but the strength of the West means that those additions won’t guarantee the Spurs a spot in the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
The team likely needs to make a star acquisition to put alongside Wembanyama to be a Playoff contender for decades to come. The Spurs showed patience with Wembanyama as a rookie, but he’s proven to the world that he might already be a top-20 player in the NBA, if not better. Going from the 14th seed to a Playoff team relying on development is far-fetched, so the team might be active buyers this season.
Instead of letting Wembanyama have a season where he’s scrapping for a Play-In appearance, the Spurs could supercharge his career with a major acquisition. The 20-year-old is already itching to win, so a move to win-now or one to further solidify their status as future contenders is clearly needed to start revitalizing the roster around him.
Let’s take a look at five potential blockbuster trades that the Spurs need to seriously consider before the 2024-25 NBA season tips off.
Jonathan Kuminga
Spurs Receive: Jonathan Kuminga
Warriors Receive: Keldon Johnson, 2027 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2028 First-Round Pick (SAS)
Starting with a simple trade which sees the Spurs give up one of their homegrown prospects alongside two first-round picks to the Golden State Warriors for rising wing Jonathan Kuminga.
Kuminga averaged 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.2 assists last season, proving he could thrive in a featured offensive role if trusted. The Warriors hope to see that potential from him this season, but a trade giving them a more seasoned Keldon Johnson alongside two first-round picks could be a hard deal to turn down.
Johnson averaged 15.7 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last season, with the Warriors having great use for a role-playing forward like him who would do all the right things to accentuate what Stephen Curry already provides to the franchise.
The Spurs, on the other hand, take a developmental bet on Kuminga. His defense already would entice the Spurs to add him to be a potential co-star for Victor Wembanyama. Still, even if he doesn’t develop into a 25-point scorer, he’ll be a highly productive two-way forward for the franchise.
The Warriors can take these assets and continue sticking with their existing core or use the additional assets to entice a team into a blockbuster trade without including Brandin Podziemski. The Spurs add a 21-year-old switchblade who could thrive in their defense-heavy setup alongside former teammate Chris Paul and Wembanyama.
Brandon Ingram
Spurs Receive: Brandon Ingram
Pelicans Receive: Keldon Johnson, Zach Collins, 2027 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2028 First-Round Pick (BOS)
The Spurs could fortify their wing position with a high-scoiring forward who has taken major leaps as a playmaker over the last few seasons. Brandon Ingram looks to be on the outs on the New Orleans Pelicans, with trade rumors rampant around the former Lakers star.
He averaged 20.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 5.7 assists last season, a down year by his standards. The increased opportunity in San Antonio can help him find his groove as an All-Star caliber player once again.
Ingram would be a complementary offensive option to Wembanyama on the Spurs, being able to not only create in the two-man game but also being able to catch-and-shoot effectively. Any periods of dead offense can be revitalized by Ingram’s herky-jerky playstyle while Jeremy Sochan in the frontcourt alongside him can cover for any defensive issues.
The Pelicans can keep Herb Jones in their starting lineup alongside Dejounte Murray and CJ McCollum with wings like Johnson and Trey Murphy III off the bench, which would be a better on-court situation for the franchise after the addition of Murray this offseason.
Zach Collins averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists last season and fills their need for a competent center alongside Zion Williamson in the frontcourt.
Trae Young
Spurs Receive: Trae Young
Hawks Receive: Malaki Branham, Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, 2025 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2027 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2027 First-Round Pick (SAS)
Trae Young being moved to the Spurs has been rumored before but without much substance behind it. But if the Atlanta Hawks‘ superstar point guard is available before the start of the season, the Spurs should be willing to go all-in on acquiring him.
They have multiple Hawks draft picks to offer, including the coveted 2025 First-Round pick, which can allow them to bottom out and tank for one of the many top prospects in next year’s draft.
Young averaged 25.7 points and 10.8 assists last season, proving to be one of the most talented offensive guards in the NBA. His defense is a problem that might never be solved, but the Spurs have a whole host of defenders in his position and around him to absorb that impact.
Outside of just Wembanyama’s rim protection, the Spurs will have Devin Vassell in the backcourt with Young and defensive rookie Stephon Castle as his backup.
Branham is an interesting multi-positional young prospect the Hawks could take an interest in developing alongside the likes of Dyson Daniels for the future. Branham averaged 9.2 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists last year.
Harrison Barnes’ salary is required to make this deal happen, but the Hawks can use him as a tank commander for one season or deal him away. He averaged 12.2 points and 3.0 rebounds last season.
Darius Garland
Spurs Receive: Darius Garland, Isaac Okoro
Cavaliers Receive: Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, Tre Jones, 2025 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2027 First-Round Pick (ATL)
Darius Garland’s future with the Cleveland Cavaliers looks uncertain, as the team’s small backcourt has proven to be problematic even with Donovan Mitchell living up to the All-NBA hype that surrounded him when the Cavs acquired him.
Mitchell is untouchable and signed a 3-year, $150 million extension, making Garland the natural trade piece who can bring back high-level wings and assets to the franchise.
Garland averaged 18.0 points and 6.5 assists last season. He’ll be a great long-term point guard option for the Spurs, fitting well alongside Wembanyama with his pass-heavy game.
He can be the team’s isolation scorer when those situations arise as well, bringing his all-around offensive game to the forefront without being hampered by another ball-heavy guard. Garland made the All-Star game before Mitchell joined the Cavs, with center Jarrett Allen also making it, bolstered by the point guard play of Garland.
Okoro averaged 9.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.9 assists last season, showing potential to be an All-Defense caliber swingman but with terrible offensive production. The Cavs left him in free agency for over two months before extending him, so they won’t mind moving off his contract in this deal.
Tre Jones would be a steal for the Cavs in this deal as a bench guard, averaging 10.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 6.2 assists last season.
Keldon Johnson would likely be a starting wing for the franchise due to his versatility, making the Cavaliers even stronger for a potential run as contenders this season.
Zach LaVine
Spurs Receive: Zach LaVine
Bulls Receive: Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, 2027 First-Round Pick (ATL)
Zach LaVine would be the perfect left-field target for the Spurs, as not many have considered the possibility of LaVine as a trade target.
His value has been mudded over recent seasons, but he’s still capable of being a productive 25-point scorer on a contending franchise, provided he stays healthy and fits into the Spurs system. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.9 assists in an injury-riddled 2023-24 season.
Keldon Johnson is part of every mock package in this for a reason, as he lost his starting spot towards the end of last season and could be on the outs with the franchise. Given he’s a productive 24-year-old forward, most teams would find great utility in acquiring a player like him.
The Chicago Bulls want to compete this season, so winning players like Johnson and Barnes in a position where they lack playable depth would be a win for them.
A first-round pick might be excessive given the lack of a trade market around LaVine, but including it makes this deal far easier to agree to. LaVine definitely carries the cache of a player worthy of a first-round pick.
LaVine’s salary concerns wouldn’t be as impactful for the Spurs, as his contract will expire by the time Wembanyama signs his first rookie extension in 2027, creating a natural way forward after giving him three seasons of a competitive core with a genuine offensive co-star.
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