The Spurs have flashed tantalizing potential this season with a 21-7 start and a run to the NBA Cup championship game, but league sources who spoke to Grant Afseth of Dallas Hoops Journal don’t expect San Antonio to make the sort of significant in-season trade that would compromise the club’s future flexibility.
“They’re not going to sit around being satisfied, but I don’t see them making a move like trading for Giannis (Antetokounmpo),” a source told Afseth. “There are more reasonable options out there. They can be patient and opportunistic.”
According to Afseth, the expectation is that the Spurs will focus on internal growth of their young core this season while preserving their most valuable long-term assets. Still, he says some rival teams have wondered whether San Antonio would be willing to sacrifice some of those assets for another high-level role player who would complement the current group.
“They have the assets to make a trade like Orlando did to add Desmond Bane,” a source said. “It’d have to be someone that fits their timeline. Someone like a Trey Murphy III, for example, could be a strong fit.”
Here are a few more items of interest from Afseth’s latest round-up:
- If Antetokounmpo is made available this season, many of the top suitors for the Bucks star are expected to be Eastern Conference clubs, says Afseth. That group includes the Heat, Knicks, Hawks, and Raptors, though rival executives are skeptical that New York would want to break up its roster during the season and Atlanta isn’t expected to make forward Jalen Johnson available, Afseth notes.
- While both Afseth and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link) say that hanging onto their top-eight protected 2026 first-round pick is a priority for the Jazz, Fischer writes that Utah also wants to “establish a winning environment” sooner rather than later. Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George – along with 2026 restricted free agent Walker Kessler – are viewed as cornerstones for the Jazz, with Kyle Anderson, Jusuf Nurkic, Kevin Love, and Georges Niang considered potential in-season trade candidates, per Afseth. Afseth adds that both management and ownership have confidence that Will Hardy is the right head coach to guide the team out of its rebuilding stage.
- Pelicans forward Saddiq Bey is increasingly piquing the interest of teams in need of help on the wing, according to Afseth, who published a full story on Sunday examining Bey’s return to action this season following a torn ACL. The 26-year-old is averaging 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 29.5 minutes per game through 29 outings (21 starts) for New Orleans.
Happy Holidays, everyone.
You too, and everyone else.
Why would the Spurs even think about giving up young talent for 34 year old in decline? First the math doesn’t work and second he’s not a fit with Wemby.
If they make a move it will be for a 3 and D guy that is an upgrade from Champagnie, but there’s really not many minutes available.
Spurs will be patient – this is not their year but they are learning how to win and could get a couple of rounds of playoff experience
Jazz with George Bailey Lauri and Kessler as their core then must be looking for a SG, abit of a vet and leader plus ideally someone that can play defence.
KCP would be a standout target as he ticks all the boxes for them.
K. Anderson, G. Niang, C. Williams and a second round pick for KCP and GG Jackson
Memphis give up KCP’s 2 year deal for Niang’s expiring and Anderson’s non guaranteed option. On top of that you get Cody Williams and a second round pick for GG Jackson who gets no minutes over there.
Utah has to give up a second round pick but get back their vet leader and swap out Cody Williams for GG Jackson who looks a lot more promising and could make a solid rotational forward among Ace and Lauri
Spurs need to release Champagnie – yet he keeps getting minutes. Keeps the opponent in the game every night
I think you are thinking of his brother tuck