Spurs' potentially epic trade deadline plans may have changed after sizzling start

With every win, it seemingly becomes less and less likely that the San Antonio Spurs will be active at the trade deadline. After all, they are already among the deepest teams in the NBA and have managed to keep rolling, even though key players have already missed time.

Once they get to full strength, they could have what it takes to contend this season if everything clicks. That decreases the chances that they would look to make a massive move at the trade deadline.

It wasn't that long ago that the Spurs seemed trade averse, rarely making in-season deals. But after spending years rebuilding, Brian Wright has been one of the more aggressive general managers in the NBA at making trades. As a result, he can take the foot off the gas this season.

The San Antonio Spurs should sit this trade deadline out

20 games into the regular season, and San Antonio has yet to have their full roster. Fortunately, they have the fourth-best record in the Western Conference and could very well be a top-four seed by the end of the regular season.

With the Spurs expecting to be that good by the end of the regular season, they should take themselves out of the running for Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Utah Jazz marksman Lauri Markkanen.

After all, trading for a star in-season would likely cost them at least three rotation players, namely Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Jeremy Sochan. Moving all three during the season would be too disruptive to the teams' chemistry, and the Spurs should instead play out the year and evaluate what they have.

The Spurs don't have any glaring flaws that a trade would fix

It's possible that changes will be needed next summer, but we don't yet know that, with this team having never played together at full strength. For all we know, this team has what it takes to go to both the NBA Cup Finals and the Western Conference Finals this season.

The Spurs may soon get back Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, hopefully giving coach Mitch Johnson an extended period with his full rotation available. With any luck, that will happen before Christmas, and especially before the Spurs' match with the Los Angeles Lakers on December 10th, in the NBA Cup quarterfinals.

With the Spurs still rolling, even as they work to get healthy, the need for a big trade just isn't there. Instead, San Antonio should hold off on any big moves until the summer to see how this team looks and how they play over the rest of the season.