Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs are one of the few NBA teams heading into their post-deadline run without the need to implement any changes.
The second-seeded Spurs are 35-16 on the year, and were in a prime position to make a buyer's move before the deadline went into place Thursday. Based on the rumors flying, the Spurs were quiet and willingly standing pat.
Sometimes, a hungry star might feel like his front office didn't do enough to strengthen the roster before a playoff run. In Wembanyama's case, he takes it as a positive sign.
"If there's any message to be taken from it, it's that we trust who we are," Wembanyama told the San Antonio Express News. "What I love is that the front office trusts these guys just like I do. We're on the same page."
Wembanyama is still very early in his career, but the big man has shown throughout his early days that he's trusting of his front office in San Antonio. Understanding his role as a face of the franchise, Wembanyama focuses on what he needs to do on the court, leaving the roster decisions up to those in the position of running the front office.
Will the Spurs' decision to stand pat pay off? Only time can tell. The Spurs are having a successful regular season, but the playoffs are a different beast. The Houston Rockets found that out firsthand last season, when the young squad entered the playoffs as a high seed just to get bounced in the first round.
From a core standpoint, San Antonio is strong. Wembanyama, De'Aaron Fox, and Stehon Castle are taking another step in the right direction this season, and it shows in the standings. In a perfect world, maybe the Spurs land a seasoned veteran to take on a key role player role for when the playoffs come around, but the Spurs clearly didn't see a player out there worth making moves on.
As long as the captain of the ship is satisfied, then all should be well for thriving Spurs. Following their post-deadline win over the Dallas Mavericks, the Spurs are set to revisit the battle with their rival on Saturday night. The Spurs and the Mavs will tip off at 6 PM ET.
Newsweek