It only took one game for Spurs to prove they made right Giannis trade decision

After months of seeing his name tossed into potential Giannis Antetokounmpo trade ideas, San Antonio Spurs guard Stephon Castle proved that his team made the right decision: Keep him. Castle put up monster numbers in the Spurs’ win over the Dallas Mavericks, and he looked like an absolute superstar.

The Spurs took down the Mavs, winning 138-125, and Castle was the best player on the floor. He finished the game with 40 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and a block while shooting 15-of-19 from the field and 3-of-5 from behind the three-point line. Castle also shot 7-of-10 from the charity stripe.

By not trading Castle for Antetokounmpo, the Spurs kept their young core in tact, and that already looks like the right decision.

Spurs were right to keep Stephon Castle out of Giannis Antetokounmpo trade talks

The Spurs played on the day of the deadline, but Castle’s triple-double against the Mavericks was the first game he played since that day. It was the first chance he got to prove that the Spurs made the right choice. And he did not waste it.

For what it’s worth, none of the most notable rumors surrounding the Antetokounmpo trade sweepstakes included the Spurs. By the time the deadline came around, there were only four teams being consistently mentioned: The New York Knicks, the Miami Heat, the Golden State Warriors, and the Minnesota Timberwolve.s

Obviously, none of those teams made a deal. Antetokounmpo remained on the Bucks past the deadline, and it seems likely that trade conversations will resume in the summer.

However, despite the Spurs keeping their name out of the running, there were still plenty of mock trades and ideas being thrown around. And most of the potential deals included Castle.

In theory, had the Spurs decided to throw their hat into the ring for Antetokounmpo, they could have put together one of the more compelling packages.

Castle is the exact type of young star the Bucks should have been eager to get their hands on in potential trade talks. However, the Spurs didn’t want to get in on the action.

And now, it makes perfect sense why. In just one game after the deadline, Castle proved that he has superstar potential. He and Victor Wembanyama (and the rest of San Antonio’s core) look primed to be serious contenders in the West for years to come.

Instead of trading for Antetokounmpo, the Spurs bet on their young guys, and it only took one game for them to look like geniuses for that decision.