Ranking 4 crazed Spurs trade proposals from wild to unhinged after landing Fox

The Spurs may make another trade, with several proposed deals being more realistic than others.

Victor Wembanyama
Victor Wembanyama | Ronald Cortes/GettyImages

Unlike in years past, the San Antonio Spurs have already made a big trade at the deadline. After landing De'Aaron Fox and after the shocking Luka Doncic deal, no trade seems impossible.

That adds a fascinating layer to a season quickly going off the rails for the Spurs. They are just 6-12 in the last 18 games, and their chances of even making the play-in tournament are slim at the moment.

As a result, Bill Simmons of the Ringer recently floated several intriguing trade targets for the Spurs and a few trades to go along with them. While some are more far-fetched than others, the Spurs would be smart to consider any player who could help them get back into playoff contention this season. Let's take a look at the four potential trades and see which ones make the most sense for the Spurs.

Trade #4: Spurs get a scoring boost and fill a key role in a mock Wizards deal

This might not be the worst trade ever. Simmons' deal would give the Spurs more scoring and an upgrade at backup center by acquiring Jordan Poole and Jonas Valanciunas from the Washington Wizards for Tre Jones, Collins, and a first.

Of course, the Spurs just traded Jones and Collins, so the only way a trade for those players would work is by sending out Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson instead. Poole is having a good season and would potentially thrive as a sixth man with the Spurs, giving them scoring punch in the second unit.

Meanwhile, Valanciunas would allow Wembanyama to play fewer minutes and give San Antonio a far more reliable backup big man. It would cost the Spurs two key rotation players, so it's probably a lateral move at best.

Trade #3: Spurs land offensive upgrade from Pelicans in potential swap.

Simmons suggested that the Spurs should take a look at acquiring veteran shooting guard CJ McCollum from the New Orleans Pelicans. While he didn't float a specific trade package, there is one deal that would technically work.

McCollum might make sense as a microwave scorer off the bench, but the Spurs would have to offset his ugly contract by shipping out Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes and also receiving Jordan Hawkins. Moving Barnes, as well as Johnson, for a player nearly 10 years older than him doesn't make sense. As a result, this doesn't make a lot of sense for the Spurs.

Trade #2: The Spurs gamble on a Pelican superstar in mock trade.

Zion Williamson, on the other hand, would be a more worthwhile gamble with the Spurs potentially trading the aforementioned players as well as a first and another protected first for him. It's not every day that an All-NBA caliber player could be had for that relatively cheap price, and his missing more than half of his career games has a lot to do with that.

If the Spurs feel that he would be worth taking a flyer on, then they have enough matching salary and picks needed to justify taking a chance on him. If he were to somehow manage to stay relatively healthy on a new team, then he would be a bargain. He paired with Wembanyama would be a living nightmare for opposing teams.

Trade #1: Spurs land two stars in ludicrous mock Sixers deal

In perhaps Simmons' most ludicrous proposed trade, he suggests that the Spurs ship out Harrison Barnes, Collins, Tre Jones, Johnson, Chris Paul, and six—count 'em—six firsts to the Philadelphia 76ers. In exchange, the Spurs would receive the haul of Paul George, Tyrese Maxey, and Kyle Lowry. However, after the Fox trade, Devin Vassell would have to be subbed in for Collins and Tre Jones.

Never mind that that deal would never happen because Maxey is just 24 years old and the future of the Sixers, but George's contract is looking ugly with him having 4 years and $180 million remaining and him being 35 years old.

The Spurs wouldn't touch that contract for the privilege of giving up six firsts. If it were Maxey for salary filler and four firsts, then sure, but this deal is nonsense.

Of the four potential deals, the Wizards and trade might have been the most realistic before the Fox trade, even though Poole doesn't seem like a Spurs kind of player. McCollum would make sense as a bench scorer, but his contract is prohibitive, and while Zion would be tempting, I don't see the Spurs gambling on him. These deals would never happen, but it will be interesting to see what other deals the Spurs will make at the deadline.

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