Spurs can finally fill gaping hole next to Victor Wembanyama with shocking trade

The San Antonio Spurs have leaped into serious contention thanks to Victor Wembanyama, but are one wing short of knocking off the best teams in the Western Conference. They would love to replace the Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagnie minutes with another elite shooter that makes them impossible to guard, like the rumored to be available Trey Murphy III. The Spurs aren’t parting with Dylan Harper, but San Antonio could still make a blockbuster move.

Fans know Stephon Castle is absolutely untouchable, so they must use their mountain of draft capital to swing a deal. San Antonio has several first-round picks and swaps from other teams, so they could get in on any trade.

The Pelicans have a high asking price for Murphy III (subscription required), but that is always true of a proven 20-point per game scorer that can change a team’s trajectory. San Antonio can’t be scared. Trade season officially opened on Dec. 15, and now is the time to strike.

Spurs can fill the gaping hole with this Trey Murphy III trade

San Antonio knocked off the Thunder in the NBA Cup semifinals, but that game underscored their need for one more piece. Head coach Mitch Johnson only played nine players, and Keldon Johnson was relegated to 14 minutes off the bench and was a minus-18 when on the floor.

The Spurs should trade for a starter next to Devin Vassell on the wing and move Harrison Barnes to the bench. That gives them arguably the best top seven in the league plus a strong backup big man in Luke Kornet. The Spurs would still have Julian Champagnie to offer depth as a ninth man if Johnson wanted to go in another direction.

They would have to trade Keldon and Jeremy Sochan to make this deal work. The Pelicans get two talented wings that just don’t quite fit around Wembanyama. The superstar big man needs another floor spacer and shot-maker like Murphy III to round out their roster. Here is a look at the full trade San Antonio should be looking to make.

The Pels walk away with five draft picks and two young rotation players, who could be flipped for more value. It is only two first round picks, but New Orleans is not getting better value for Murphy III anywhere else.

The Spurs get a 6’8 wing averaging 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.8 steals in 35.5 minutes per game this season. Murphy III would get fewer shot attempts, but more open looks in the Alamo. He would solve any spacing questions Spurs fans have and gives them one of the longest and most athletic lineups in the NBA.

Trade season is officially here, and it will be a sprint to the Feb. 5 deadline. The Western Conference is loaded with talent, and the Spurs feel like they are one move away from serious title contention. This could be the trade that pushes them over the top. It is the front office's responsibility to make the move.

San Antonio Spurs fans know the organization loves to preach patience and is not known for midseason blockbusters, but that could be changing. They landed De’Aaron Fox at the 2025 deadline and could make another seismic move. The Spurs should certainly be gauging the temperature because this team is special. All fans can do is stay tuned to see how it all plays out.