Expect the San Antonio Spurs to be busy at the trade deadline, regardless of how the 2024–25 season
plays out. They were mentioned in almost every rumor as trade season heated up the previous season, but they mostly stayed put at the deadline in the hopes of finding out exactly what Victor Wembanyama had to give.
The Spurs will probably go in one of two ways this season. In order to add more players focused on the future, the Spurs may trade away senior players if they have a bad start and it appears like Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, and Jeremy Sochan need more time to grow. Expect the Spurs to add a player who complements the skill already on the roster if their young core performs above expectations.
In any case, it shouldn’t be as silent this season as it was last year. Here are the Spurs’ top five assets at the moment, with plenty of cash available for trade. 5. Johnson Keldo
Although Keldon Johnson has a team-friendly deal and is a good young player, he appears to be the odd man out. Johnson appeared to be among the league’s top young players in 2021–22 after averaging 17 points on 39.8 percent shooting from outside the arc. However, over the previous two seasons, he has deteriorated, scoring 18.7 points on a pitiful 33.7 percent shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
While Johnson is not a bad defender, he does not provide the same lockdown protection as players like Sochan, Wembanyama, and Castle. Although he is a reliable volume scorer who most clubs would start or use off the bench, the Spurs appear to be moving away from him. Johnson may be traded for a player that better suits the Spurs’ needs while still being under team control for the next three seasons.
Although this pick is protected if it falls in the top ten, it is likely that it will convey in the 10-15 area given the presence of players on the Chicago Bulls, including Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Coby White, and Nikola Vucevic. Owning a pick in the upcoming draft, the Spurs are hesitant to deal with it, especially if there is no protection. A selection in the middle of the first round will be quite valuable because the 2018 draft class, which will have Cooper Flagg at the top, is one of the deepest and most skilled in recent memory.
In exchange for a reliable player from a team that is rebuilding, such as Cameron Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets, San Antonio may trade this pick and additional assets. Rebuilding teams should be prepared to ask the Spurs for some picks in exchange for a move if the Bulls appear to have a chance to make the playoffs and this pick comes through. 3. Harrison Barnes Expect the Spurs to deal Harrison Barnes to a contending team if they are eliminated from the Play-In race by the trade deadline or if Harrison Ingram or Julian Champagnie emerge as reliable starters.
The NBA champion, who has two seasons left on his contract, will be a desirable trade target for clubs looking to add some shooting before making a run for the playoffs. Throughout the last four seasons, Barnes, a model of consistency, has averaged a respectable 14.8 points on 38.6 percent shooting and has stayed relatively healthy throughout his career.
In order to make room for DeMar DeRozan, the Sacramento Kings sent Barnes to the Spurs for nearly nothing, so it’s not like they lost money on the acquisition if they trade him for a young player or a future choice. Barnes is a player that the Spurs can trade him to a team that might use him since he is very much a win-now player.
This offseason, Chris Paul inked a one-year contract with the Spurs, whereupon he is anticipated to start at point guard while Stephon Castle gains experience. There is little incentive to keep him around if that occurs sooner than anticipated or if the Spurs finish last in their conference. Paul, who is undoubtedly past his peak, was once the best point guard in the league and among the greatest to have ever played, but his reputation is at an all-time low after playing just reserve for the Golden State Warriors the previous season. With the Spurs, in a starting capacity, he could
raise his value by improving his stat line. One of the greatest passers in NBA history should anticipate offers from teams like the Los Angeles Lakers if they see an opportunity to go deep into the playoffs. Expect Paul to pursue a championship one final time when his contract expires this summer, giving the Spurs the opportunity to trade the future Hall of Famer for Paul and receive at least a minimal return.
