The San Antonio Spurs should be focused on building around Victor Wembanyama. The 20-year-old prodigy is already doing things no other player can match. He leads the league in blocks per game and is just getting his feet under him. Wemby will be a superstar, but can the Spurs put enough talent around him to contend for a championship?
San Antonio is not making the playoffs in year one. They have won just ten of their first 49 games with Wembanyama and have the worst record in the Western Conference. That should not stop the front office from exploring the trade market in hopes of upgrading their roster. Wemby will be an All-Star in year two and eager to lead the Spurs to playoffs. They need more talent to make that a reality.
Everything should be about fit around the 7’4 big man. His best position is center, but the Spurs desperately need a point guard, shooting, and versatility flanking him. There are a handful of strong fits available, and San Antonio should try to land one of these players.
5. Jaden Ivey
Ivey may not be the perfect fit next to Victor Wembanyama right now, but both have immense potential. The fifth overall pick in 2022 struggled to get consistent minutes to begin the season and his production has fluctuated. As a starter, Ivey is averaging 16.4 points, 4.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds in 29.4 minutes per game. The Pistons have guard depth and could look to move on if they lose faith in Ivey being their point guard of the future.
The 21-year-old struggles on defense and is a career 34.0 percent 3-point shooter. It would be fun watching him grow next to Victor Wembanyama. They may form an unstoppable duo or Ivey could fail to develop into a star. Both need playing time and the freedom to fail to reach their ceilings. If the Pistons are unwilling to give Ivey that, they should trade him.
Jaden Ivey is a target based on his potential. The San Antonio Spurs should be searching for young talent with room to grow. Ivey is not the only guard potentially available before the Feb. 8 trade deadline who should interest the Spurs.