The All-Star Game gave Spurs fans interesting “What if” Trae Young scenario

The NBA All-Star game gives fans a chance to see players join up who otherwise wouldn't share the court together. That gave fans of the San Antonio Spurs a chance to see stars Trae Young and Victor Wembanyama do just that.

Considering the rumors surrounding Young and the Spurs, it provided an interesting what-if with San Antonio having traded for De'Aaron Fox instead of Young ahead of the trade deadline.

Young and Wembanyama appear to have a close relationship and sat next to each other during the game. They also had strong chemistry on the court, and that likely would have translated had they been paired together on the Spurs.

The All-Star Game gave Spurs fans a chance to see Trae Young and Victor Wembanyama together

Young is a better shooter than Fox and also a better passer, though Fox is a better athlete, bigger, and a better defensive player as well. That trade-off has its benefits as well as its drawbacks.

Fox's speed allows him to get to the rim with ease, and his knack for doing so should make it harder to focus solely on Wembanyama. It should also lead to easier shots for Wemby with being able to trail behind Fox's drives for a putback or to finish off a dump-off pass with a dunk.

The Spurs' new point guard is also a decent defender compared to other star point guards, with his size and speed allowing him to be more competitive on that end and rack up steals. That should lead to more fast break opportunities, giving the Spurs a chance for easier buckets.

The Spurs wisely chose De'Aaron Fox over Trae Young

On the other hand, Young is considered to be a bad defender; at just 6'0", his size is a liability. Then again, he has been one of the most consistently productive offensive guards in the NBA since being drafted in 2019, with his shooting, ability to draw fouls, and passing all being plusses.

He is also a year younger and probably a better offensive fit playing alongside Wembanyama. But the Spurs may be better off with Fox. It's easier to craft a great defense with Fox as your worst defender since teams probably aren't going to pick on him, and he can make positive plays on that end.

The Spurs also didn't have to give up any of the Atlanta Hawks' picks in the deal to land Fox. That is something that they likely would have had to do if they traded for Young. Keeping those picks could net the Spurs three lottery selections. Especially if the Hawks are forced to move Young this summer if he is unwilling to sign an extension or re-sign after next season.

Ultimately, Young would have been a worthy star to pair with Wembanyama. Nevertheless, Fox is probably the best overall fit among the two star guards, meaning the Spurs likely made the right choice to prioritize him over Ice Trae.