Pelicans absolutely screwed up Spurs' potentially huge trade deadline plans

After several troubling losses, the San Antonio Spurs should be eyeing the trade market for potential upgrades. Unfortunately, two big potential upgrades were just taken off the trade market. New Orleans Pelicans forwards Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones aren't expected to be traded after teams low-balled them.

This is a potentially significant setback for the Spurs, as they could have benefited from acquiring either player. Murphy III is one of the better high-volume 3-point shooting forwards in the NBA and has defensive versatility that could have made him a perfect fit in San Antonio.

On the other hand, adding Jones to the mix would have provided the Silver and Black a perimeter defender that they can throw onto high-scoring wings.

That would have made the Silver and Black better equipped to guard playoff teams with multiple perimeter stars, i.e., the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers. In fact, he could have made an already top-10 defense even better by helping them shore up their sometimes shaky perimeter defense.

The Pelicans absolutely screwed the Spurs' trade deadline plans

Jones would have been the perfect trade target considering that he is under contract for three more seasons and provided San Antonio with a legit wing defender. A wing defender that they could've put on some of the game's top scorers.

Considering how much the Silver and Black have struggled defending the three, having another talented perimeter defender would hopefully solve their biggest problem defensively.

Unfortunately, that might not happen now with there not being an obvious trade target that fits the bill as a three-and-D wing who can also play the four.

Their isn't a clear backup trade target for the Spurs

Harrison Barnes has shown some serious signs of slippage recently and might be better served coming off the bench and playing fewer minutes. Less is more. Then again, they still need the spacing that he'd provide unless they can find an upgrade on the trade market.

Thanks to the Pelicans, that seems highly unlikely now. Instead, the Spurs will likely have a quiet trade deadline and focus more on internal development to answer their question marks at power forward.

Julian Champagnie seems to be the best internal option at the moment. He has proven that he is a starting-caliber player who can not only shoot but also defend and rebound. With Barnes regressing before our eyes and the Spurs not having an obvious trade target, starting Champagnie over Barnes might be the best they can do.