The San Antonio Spurs have made it clear that they don't plan on making any trades before the NBA season starts, but once their campaign is underway, all bets are off. Three possible trade targets stand out.
The San Antonio Spurs made one thing clear after losing the 2026 NBA Finals: they will not be rash.
After De'Aaron Fox's lackluster Finals performance, fans and experts both got on their soapboxes, urging the Spurs to move on from the veteran and give Dylan Harper the starting nod. The Spurs instead opted to stay the course, doubling down on Fox...at least for now.
Owed $222 million over the next four seasons, the Spurs simply can't afford to pay Fox's salary and extend both Harper and Stephon Castle.
With the clock ticking for Fox and Luke Kornet--who also disappeared in the Finals--three players stand out should the Spurs change their tune and try to strike a deal before the 2027 trade deadline.
Michael Porter Jr.
The Spurs added an oversized wing this summer in Tobias Harris, but in the modern NBA, there's really no such thing as too much shooting.
Michael Porter Jr. is one of the best shooters in the NBA and would fit perfectly in San Antonio. Owed $40.6 million next season, the Spurs could flip Fox to the Brooklyn Nets and improve their already-solid wing rotation.
Porter Jr. isn't exactly known for staying healthy, but with Harris, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and Julian Champagnie all capable players, his durability wouldn't be a major concern.
The sharpshooter is looking for his next contract, and if he can boost the Spurs' title chances and knock down big shots, there's no reason why the Spurs can't pony up for him. With extensions for Harper and Castle looming, they might not want to commit to him long-term, but if they can get Fox off the books, re-signing him to a short-term, expensive contract suddenly makes sense.
Devin Booker
Spoiler alert: Devin Booker is the best player on this list.
Last season, Booker averaged 26.1 points, six assists, and 3.9 rebounds for the Phoenix Suns. He's one of the best scorers--if not players--in the entire NBA, and the Spurs would move mountains to add him.
Unlike adding Porter, the Spurs would certainly have to give up both Fox and draft picks to land Booker, but the improvement would be astronomical.
In Phoenix, Booker has been tasked with running the offense. In San Antonio, he could do what he does best: play off the ball and get easy buckets.
Of course, Booker is under contract for the next four seasons and is owed $251.3 million. If everything holds, he will soon be the highest-paid player in the NBA. The Spurs would have to pick between Castle, Harper, and Booker, although for four seasons of having all of those guys alongside Wembanyama, it might be worth a tough choice down the road.
Isaiah Stewart
Right now, the Spurs don't really have an enforcer on the roster. By adding Isaiah Stewart, they'd suddenly have the best one in the NBA.
This summer, in a six-team trade, the Detroit Pistons sent him to the Memphis Grizzlies. Between Cameron Boozer, Zach Edey, Taylor Hendricks, and GG Jackson, Memphis has younger and more promising big men in their rotation. Flipping Stewart should be an easy call.
If the Spurs have really soured on Kornet, then adding some proven center depth makes sense. Sure, they drafted Jayden Quaintance and Tarris Reed, but neither of those guys is a proven NBA contributor.
Last season, Stewart posted ten points and five rebounds. He can space the floor a bit and is the most underrated rim protector in the NBA. That alone makes him worth a look for the Spurs.
Plus, having him in the building (not even on the floor!) would ensure that no one would get too physical with Victor Wembanyama. With the Spurs' success hinging entirely on Wemby, having someone with a track record of going to war is incredibly valuable.
