Pass or Pursue: 3 High-Profile Spurs Trade Targets from Bleacher Report

The doldrums of the NBA offseason are almost over, but franchises across the league still have time to round out their roster with last-minute signings and trades before training camp starts in October. Despite making subtle moves in the aftermath of selecting Victor Wembanyama with the first overall pick of the 2023 NBA Draft, the San Antonio Spurs have seemed content to run things back with the same group that ran the show last season.

While a segment of the Silver and Black faithful are on board with the front office exercising patience with the young core, others want to see General Manager Brian Wright wheel and deal for All-Stars in an attempt to launch the club into title contention as soon as possible. A recent article from Bleacher Report lines up with the latter train of thought, but are any of their suggested trade targets logical fits for this rebuilding basketball team?

1.) Tyus Jones

Tyus Jones has become one of the best backup point guards in the league, and he pieced together a convincing case to earn an opportunity as a full-time starter with late-season heroics that helped the Grizzlies stay afloat in the Western Conference standings. The diminutive floor general averaged 16.3 points and 8.2 assists on 50.9% shooting while leading Memphis to a 6-3 record as Ja Morant served a suspension for his off-court conduct.

Though Jones lacks All-Star upside, he has almost no holes in his game. The 27-year-old facilitator is an impeccable decision-maker with the ball in his hands who has paced the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio for the last five seasons. He can drain three-pointers off the dribble, feather in floaters inside the paint, and rise for midrange jumpers. His smaller stature makes him a target on the defensive end, but his activity allows him to be a net neutral.

The Spurs re-signed Tre Jones to a two-year contract this summer, but his older brother is enough of an upgrade to make it worth it for the front office to call the Washington Wizards about his availability. San Antonio would have to match salaries to add Tyus to their roster. However, they have a handful of veterans on expiring deals that could make orchestrating a trade a mostly straightforward affair. Toss in some second-rounders, and this makes sense for both sides.

Verdict: Pursue