Despite the swirling NBA trade rumors linking the San Antonio Spurs to Lauri Markkanen, Kevin Durant, and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Spurs are expected to stay the course and develop their core of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox, and presumed second overall pick Dylan Harper.
If the Spurs can land any of those stars, namely Durant, without giving up a core player, then they are fully expected to make a trade as soon as this summer, perhaps even before the 2025 NBA Draft.
However, many outlets and many different writers have suggested that the Spurs trade Castle now. The reasoning makes sense: his value might never be higher, and there's really no need to start three point guards after selecting Harper.
That said, don't expect the Spurs to trade Fox, Harper, or Castle until the trio has played substantial minutes together. The organization seems convinced that all three can share the court and the ball, with Wembanyama, and until they are proven wrong, they will stay the course.
Let's pretend, for a second, that Fox remains a solid floor general, Castle's defensive ascent continues and he becomes an average 3-point shooter. If Harper can make 38 percent of his catch-and-shoot 3s, which is realistic based on his college clip, it stands to reason that they can, in fact, coexist.
If Castle, Fox, and Harper are all solid defenders and facilitators without being shooting threats, then the grouping won't work, and the Spurs should be expected to trade one of those players. By then, Durant will have already been traded, although Giannis and Markkanen could still be on the trade block, as well as some previously unnamed talents.
The Spurs are blessed by the ability to be patient, and with reason to believe that their three-guard approach around Wembanyama will work, fans will have to see it play out over several months.
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