Spurs' trade deadline plans are already painfully obvious

Despite having a strong offseason, the San Antonio Spurs are still a work in progress. ESPN's Tim Bontemps recently mentioned as much, with him believing the Spurs are a year and a couple of moves away from being serious contenders.

It is hard to gauge whether that is actually true since we haven't even seen this team play just yet, but he may have a point. Even if superstar Victor Wembanyama emerges as a top-five player and star De'Aaron Fox is back to his peak, as the Ringer's Zach Lowe expects, that may not be enough.

That might be good enough for them to be a top-five team in the Western Conference, which would be a huge jump compared to last season. Still, it would mean that they are indeed a year away unless they were to make a move or two at the trade deadline.

The Spurs must scour the trade market next season

The Spurs will likely struggle shooting the ball next season, with five non-shooters in their rotation. The problem is that two of those players, Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle, are a big part of the team's plans.

The hope is that both players will be able to develop into shooters, while Luke Kornet can shoot threes but probably won't. That leaves Jeremy Sochan and Keldon Johnson. If neither makes strides as shooters, then they could find themselves on the trade block.

Barring dream trade target Giannis Antetokounmpo demanding to be moved during the season, the next best option would be Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. Although his contract might seem cost prohibitive, it may not be if the Spurs were to part with Johnson, Devin Vassell, and Sochan plus a first or two.

The Spurs are capable of making one more big trade

That would more than offset his contract, free up playing time for Harper and Carter Bryant, and also solve their shooting issues. Markkanen is an elite shooter whose shot-making ability was on full display at EuroBasket, where he drilled 14 threes in his first three games.

Pairing him with multiple slashers who can collapse defenses and Wembanyama, who will draw plenty of attention, Markkanen could feast on open threes.

A projected lineup of Fox, Harper, Castle, Markkanen, and Wembanyama should have enough shooting. Markkanen and Wembanyama alone could combine to launch at least 16 threes per game and shoot above the league average.

Ultimately, a major trade is a possibility, but the Spurs could either look to make smaller ones to tweak their roster or opt to stand pat. That assumes their roster is gelling and the Spurs are well on their way to making the playoffs. Let's hope for that option.