Grade the Trade: Spurs add Wembanyama co-star in blockbuster 3-team trade idea

Fewer than a dozen games remain in the San Antonio Spurs' season and this summer could be a pivotal one for the franchise. They could have two top-10 picks, $25 million in cap space, and already have a franchise cornerstone in Victor Wembanyama in place, who should get even better this summer. If the Spurs play their cards right, they could get back into playoff contention next season.

That may require a big trade, and Bleacher Report's Eric Pincus has a potential deal that could be huge for not only the Spurs but the Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls. The proposed deal would send Tre Jones, Devonte Graham, and five first-round picks to the Hawks and Sidy Cissoko to the Bulls. In exchange, the Spurs would receive Trae Young, Jevon Carter, and the Kings 2024 first via Atlanta.

Additionally, the Bulls would get De'Andre Hunter and the Hawks would also add Lonzo Ball. That would be a massive deal, and it could potentially benefit each team but it's not without its flaws.

Would the Spurs agree to the proposed blockbuster deal?

Although the deal would net the Spurs Young, there are definitely some downsides to the proposed swap. For starters, San Antonio would have to give up their pick in this year's draft, which is projected to be a top-three selection. However, they would get Sacramento's pick back, which is currently the 19th selection in this year's draft, essentially making it a pick swap.

That wouldn't be the end of the world but if the Spurs don't get the Toronto Raptors' pick, then they wouldn't have a lottery pick after what could be the worst season in franchise history. Also, trading back all of the picks received in the Dejounte Murray deal wouldn't be wise when San Antonio could trade other firsts in their place while potentially keeping better selections.

For instance, the Spurs could trade Charlotte's 2025 lottery-protected pick (which otherwise converts to two seconds) and Toronto's top-6-protected pick first (assuming it doesn't convey.) They could also trade Chicago's future first (top-10 pick protected in 2025 and top-8 pick protected in 2026 and 2027) and Atlanta back their 2026 pick as well as the least favorable of the 2025 and 2027 picks. For their part, the Hawks could also hold onto the Kings' pick.

That would still net the Hawks as many as five first-round picks. As for the Spurs, they would still keep their first-rounder in this year's draft and hold onto the better of the 2025 and 2027 firsts between the Spurs and Hawks selections. San Antonio getting the better player in the deal while still strategically holding onto certain picks would be a better deal for them and would still give the Hawks plenty for Young. Perhaps more than another team can offer.

Meanwhile, the Bulls would get out of having to pay Ball, who hasn't played in 2.5 years and would get a starting wing in return for him without having to give up a pick. That construction of the deal would get an A-, but the deal as-is would get a B. The Hawks and Bulls would probably do that deal in a heartbeat.

The Spurs probably wouldn't without counteroffering to try and get a deal more to their liking, but the ultimate goal would be to land Young, and they have the assets to get a trade done.