As soon as the San Antonio Spurs drafted Victor Wembanyama in 2023, they set their franchise on the perfect course toward success. While they may not have gotten there in his rookie season, they are already showing rapid signs of growth mid-way through his sophomore campaign.
In fact, the Spurs have looked so promising this year that it could be feasible for them to trade for a star to help Wembanyama right now. It’s a tricky line they will have to ride, though. If they want to compete right now, they need to ensure that they don’t make a move that would jeopardize the future.
With that in mind, here are three trade ideas for Wembanyama co-stars that make perfect sense.
1. Jimmy Butler
As the Phoenix Suns gear up to win the Jimmy Butler sweepstakes, the Spurs should insert themselves atop the list of potential suitors. Butler is the type of player who could help the Spurs make a playoff push right away.
His playoff resume makes him the perfect guy to lift the Spurs into postseason contention and even make them a frustrating team to play in a seven-game series.
Obviously, Butler is looking to extend with a team, and since he’s eyeing a max, the Spurs probably wouldn’t want to give him one.
However, if they can get a trade done without losing multiple firsts, they would get a season of Butler and Wembanyama in the playoffs and clear up a ton of cap space this summer (and could set themselves up to have cap space the following summer).
It’s not perfect, but a Butler-Wembanyama pairing is certainly intriguing, even if it would just be for one year.
2. Trae Young
An oldie but a goodie. For months this past summer, Trae Young was brought up in potential Spurs trade rumors. However, the Atlanta Hawks have been better than most people expected this summer.
But with the Detroit Pistons surge, the Philadelphia 76ers still looking to compete, and Cooper Flagg in this year’s draft, perhaps the Hawks would be interested in a small tank.
Letting Young go to focus on developing Dyson Daniels, Jalen Johnson, Zaccharie Risacher, and a defensive-minded approach could help the Hawks moving forward. Meanwhile, the Spurs would get an elite offensive engine.
Maybe Atlanta isn’t ready to give up on Young as their superstar, but it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.
3. Stephen Curry
Speaking of the realm of possibilities…
This is by far the least likely trade of the bunch, but with the way the Golden State Warriors have looked this season, maybe it’s not impossible. People have begun calling for the Warriors to sell, and if they do, the Spurs should at least take a peek.
Putting Stephen Curry next to Wembanyama could create one of the most lethal duos in the NBA today and perhaps one of the most lethal in recent memory.
With Curry’s age, the Spurs probably wouldn’t want to sacrifice too much of their future, but placing him next to Wembanyama for even the next two or three years would be incredible.