Predicting the Spurs’ perfect starting five if they land their top trade target

With so many injuries to start the season, the San Antonio Spurs have already tried out several starting lineups, hoping to find one that sticks. Thus far there have been two that have stood out.

One was comprised of Chris Paul, Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes, and star Victor Wembanyama; the other was the Spurs preferred starting lineup of Paul, Devin Vassell, Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, and Wembanyama.

Both have been effective, but with the Spurs just one game above .500, San Antonio needs to make a trade to improve their chances of making the playoffs. That would undoubtedly alter their starting lineup yet again but hopefully bring in more talent to surround Wembanyama.

The Spurs can nail the trade deadline and boost their playoff hopes

Post trade deadline, if everything goes the Spurs' way, they would be able to acquire Sacramento Kings guard De'Aaron Fox. That might cost them Keldon Johnson, Castle, Tre Jones, and two or three firsts, but it might be well worth it given the potential upgrade he would provide. The Spurs' projected starting lineup in that scenario would be Paul, Fox, Vassell, Sochan, and Wembanyama.

With Paul surprisingly being the only Spurs player yet to miss a game, giving him less offensive responsibility on offense could help to keep him fresh. Paul is a good shooter, though he hasn't gotten much opportunity to play off-ball this season.

He would do so more playing with Fox, which may improve his efficiency while also allowing the Spurs to pass the torch from Paul to Fox. After all, Fox would be the team's point guard of the future were they to acquire him.

Moving Barnes out of the starting lineup would bench one of the Spurs most consistent rotation players. Barnes is a terrific shooter who has helped the Spurs with his hard-nosed drives to the rim and a surprising amount of offensive rebounds.

Nevertheless, he would perhaps be more useful on the bench, where his shooting would be all the more valuable. Speaking of the bench, with Jones and Johnson moved in the deal, the Spurs would have to reconfigure the second unit, but they have the assets to address it.

The move to Sacramento would give Castle around 25 minutes a game and further aid in both his development and his Rookie of the Year chances.

Champagne would likely see a boost with Johnson gone and the Spurs not having another wing worth playing on the bench. Add in Barnes and Paul and Wembanyama playing with the second unit, and San Antonio would have a strong nine-man rotation if they made one additional move to bring in a reliable backup ball handler.

An improved second unit would be a great byproduct of the trade. However, the Spurs would be getting Fox to be the co-star to Wembanyama with him in desperate need of a second option, and a more consistent number two in the starting lineup could do wonders for their playoff chances.