The San Antonio Spurs were heavily involved in trade rumors throughout the offseason but ultimately did not make a blockbuster move. Instead, they signed veteran point guard Chris Paul and traded for forward Harrison Barnes in a smaller deal, opting not to use their significant stockpile of draft picks for a major trade.
One of the most notable players linked to the Spurs was Trae Young, given that San Antonio owns three of the Atlanta Hawks’ future first-round picks. However, the Spurs decided against making a move for Young, a decision that seems to align with a broader trend across the NBA.
According to ESPN’s Tim MacMahon, the league as a whole may not view Young as a top trade target. On a recent episode of Brian Windhorst and the Hoops Collective, MacMahon pointed out that if there were strong interest in Young, he likely would have been traded by now. Despite his impressive stats — including 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game last season — Young’s lack of efficiency from deep (35.5% career three-point shooting) and defensive struggles have likely hurt his trade value.
MacMahon emphasized that the Spurs could have easily acquired Young if they wanted, especially with their significant draft assets. But they opted to keep their draft capital, particularly with the 2025 draft expected to be loaded. San Antonio is also betting on Stephon Castle, believing in his potential to run the offense and play solid defense, a key focus for the Spurs’ future direction.
Ultimately, while Young would have paired nicely with Victor Wembanyamaoffensively, the Spurs appear content to develop their current roster and maintain flexibility with their draft assets, rather than investing heavily in a trade for Young.
