Before the summer began, the San Antonio Spurs were expected to have a busy and impactful offseason, largely due to the availability of star guards on the trade market. Fans anticipated that the Spurs would make significant moves, but as September arrives, the focus has shifted to how the newly acquired players—Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes, and Stephon Castle—will integrate with the Spurs’ young core. Despite some speculation, it appears the Spurs could have pursued even more star power during the offseason.
According to Tim MacMahon on ESPN’s The Hoop Collective Podcast, the Spurs had the opportunity to acquire Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young but chose not to. Young, who had been a rumored target for the Spurs since last season’s trade deadline, was available for trade this summer. However, the Hawks struggled to find suitors due to Young’s diminished trade value, making it challenging for them to execute a deal.
Trae Young, a 25-year-old All-Star, had a strong statistical season last year, averaging 25.7 points and 10.8 assists per game. Despite his offensive prowess, he faced issues with defense and turnovers, averaging 4.4 giveaways per game.
The Hawks, having underperformed and won the NBA Draft Lottery, selected Zaccharie Risacher as the top pick. With previous trades suggesting a potential rebuild, the Spurs seemed like a natural trade partner given their unprotected first-round picks for 2025 and 2027.
Despite the rumors, the Spurs decided against pursuing Young, possibly due to their valuation of the draft picks or confidence in their current roster. The Spurs opted instead to add veteran players and retain their future draft assets. Their decision indicates a belief in the potential of their young core and a strategy to build around it, rather than focusing on acquiring Young.
Even without Young, the Spurs have a promising lineup at the lead guard position. Chris Paul, though older, remains a basketball icon. Tre Jones showed improvement towards the end of the last season and is expected to excel in a bench role, while rookie Stephon Castle is anticipated to make a significant defensive impact. Although the Spurs didn’t make a high-profile superstar acquisition this offseason, their adjustments should still lead to noticeable improvements in the upcoming season.
