Victor Wembanyama, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Spurs
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Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs makes a move against Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks.
The San Antonio Spurs are uniquely positioned near the front of the league-wide pursuit should the Milwaukee Bucks move toward a blockbuster trade involving Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As the NBA’s trade deadline chatter intensifies, the Spurs possess what Milwaukee has made clear it wants most: elite blue-chip young talent paired with deep draft flexibility — the type of foundation capable of jump-starting a full organizational reset.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, the Bucks have grown more open to discussing Antetokounmpo trades, but only at a price befitting a franchise cornerstone.
“Multiple teams have received a sense that the Bucks are more open than ever to Antetokounmpo offers between now and the deadline,” Charania reported Wednesday. “However, Milwaukee has indicated to interested teams that the organization is not in a rush to complete a move and is willing to navigate Antetokounmpo’s future in the offseason if its believed price point of a blue-chip young talent and/or a surplus of draft picks isn’t met.”
That framework aligns cleanly with San Antonio’s asset base.
Spurs’ Young Core Fits Bucks’ Blueprint
Dylan Harper
GettyRookie guard Dylan Harper of the San Antonio Spurs goes up for a layup.
San Antonio can headline any Antetokounmpo proposal with either Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in the most recent draft, or reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle — two of the league’s most coveted young guards.
Beyond that, the Spurs control up to four future first-round picks, along with multiple pick swaps involving both their own selections and those acquired from other teams. That level of draft control gives San Antonio leverage few franchises can match.
To make salaries work, the Spurs could aggregate veteran contracts from a pool of Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Kelly Olynyk without compromising future flexibility.
San Antonio’s Reluctance to Break Up Core
GettyStephon Castle of the San Antonio Spurs handles the ball against Santi Aldama of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Despite their theoretical advantage, the Spurs’ willingness to engage remains uncertain.
In December, NBA insider Jake Fischer reported that San Antonio was resistant to including either Harper or Castle in trade discussions — even for Antetokounmpo.
“The Spurs, though, might not be the automatic Giannis destination they are routinely painted to be,” Fischer wrote in The Stein Line. on Dec. 4.
Fischer added that the organization was “unwilling to surrender the No. 2 overall pick that became Dylan Harper” during offseason inquiries and was “equally against parting with Stephon Castle — even for Giannis.”
According to Fischer, the Spurs have given little indication since then that their stance has shifted.
Spurs’ Success Complicates Decision
San Antonio’s recent surge up the Western Conference standings only adds complexity.
Entering Wednesday’s rivalry matchup against the Houston Rockets, the Spurs sat at 31–15, second in the West and six games behind the top-seeded and defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. That success has reinforced internal confidence in the current roster build.
Castle has emerged as a key contributor, averaging 16.6 points, 7.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, though his perimeter shooting remains inconsistent at 27.8% from three-point range.
Harper has been productive in a reserve role, averaging 10.2 points, 3.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 21.2 minutes per game. Like Castle, his outside shot remains a work in progress, connecting on 24.2% from deep.
Giannis–Wembanyama Fit Raises Stakes
The theoretical upside is undeniable.
Pairing Antetokounmpo with Victor Wembanyama to form a two-headed defensive monster — alongside De’Aaron Fox and one of San Antonio’s young guards — could immediately narrow the gap between the Spurs and the Thunder while preventing Western rivals such as the Rockets and Golden State Warriors from consolidating power through a Giannis deal.
That reality places the Spurs in a rare position: possessing the assets to land one of the league’s most dominant players while simultaneously holding a roster already capable of contending.
Spurs Face Franchise-Defining Choice
Milwaukee remains patient, with no urgency to trade its franchise star. But the price has been set, and the Spurs can meet it.
The decision now rests on philosophy rather than feasibility — whether San Antonio believes its long-term vision is best served by patience around Wembanyama or by accelerating the timeline with a generational addition.
Either way, the Spurs are no longer on the outside of the Giannis Antetokounmpo conversation. They are firmly positioned near the front of it.