Spurs already have a crystal-clear trade deadline plan

With one-third of the NBA season in the books, we have a much better idea of how the San Antonio Spurs look, and the results have been impressive. They currently have the second-best record in the brutal West and have already beaten several of the conference's best teams.

That includes the Oklahoma City Thunder twice, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Houston Rockets, and the Denver Nuggets.

That early success, especially with the Silver and Black dealing with early injuries, has minimized the need for a big trade. At one point, it seemed likely that the Spurs would enter the fray for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo or Utah Jazz sharpshooter Lauri Markkanen.

However, the Spurs don't have any reason now to gut their roster for either star, even though they have the young players, tradeable salaries, and draft picks to land them. Instead, the team should focus on making smaller trades that could still have a significant impact.

Who should the Spurs target ahead of the trade deadline?

There are several intriguing trade targets that could be on the team's radar that wouldn't cost San Antonio young players such as Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper. One being Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr.

He is on an expiring $3.6 million contract, and with the Bucks possibly being forced to rebuild, they could look to trade him to the highest bidder. The Spurs have plenty of seconds, quality ones even, and could throw a couple of seconds via the New Orleans Pelicans Milwaukee's way for Trent Jr.

He ranks as one of the best shooters in the NBA, having drilled 39.9% from deep on 6.1 3-point attempts per game over this year and the last two seasons. He is also a decent enough defender to carve out a consistent bench role on this team.

The Spurs have plenty of possible trade deadline targets

Other options include New York Knicks center Guerschon Yabusele, who, despite having a strong season last year, hasn't cracked their rotation. The Spurs were expected to have interest in him in free agency, but he opted to go with the Knicks.

The Spurs could circle back around and see if they can buy low on Yabusele, with him making around $5.5 million this season and next season. He can play both the four and five, is a good 3-point shooter, and has experience playing alongside Victor Wembanyama. The Knicks might even be willing to attach a second-round pick to get off his contract.

That might raise some red flags, especially with him looking out of shape, but San Antonio has a history of taking chubby French forwards and turning them into great rotation players (*coughs* Boris Diaw). Other trade targets include Pelicans forwards Herb Jones and Trey Murphy III.

Either player could cost the Spurs two firsts, with a potential trade seeing them ship out Jeremy Sochan, Kelly Olynyk, the Atlanta Hawks' 2027 first (which may be a lottery pick), and a 2029 first. San Antonio also owns three future Pelicans second-rounders, each projecting to be in the high thirties, which could sweeten a potential deal for Jones or Murphy III.

The Spurs could bolster an already impressive roster with a trade

Jones would give the team a true three-and-D wing who can more than effectively guard bigger perimeter players, i.e., Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, etc. He is also a near-career 40% corner 3-point shooter and is big enough to play the four, which could allow Barnes to shift to the bench, effectively replacing Sochan as the backup power forward.

Murphy III is the better offensive player of the two, with him having developed into a solid high-volume 3-point shooter. Over this season and last year, he's averaged 21.0 points, shot 36.3% from three on 7.8 3-point attempts, and proven to be a versatile defender capable of defending guards, wings, and even some fours.

Of those four, Jones or Murphy III would be at the top of the list, while Trent Jr. would be a cheaper option that could still make an impact. With just six weeks between now and the trade deadline, we'll have to wait and see who the Spurs decide to pursue. Just don't expect them to chase a star.