The San Antonio Spurs have the assets to target a superstar before the NBA trade deadline, although recent reports suggest the team could set its sights lower, with its eye on Stephon Castle's chief NBA rival.
The San Antonio Spurs are one of the hottest names in NBA trade rumors this season, and for good reason. With Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have opened a title window that is expected to last for the better part of two decades, but they still have assets to wheel and deal with.
While Dylan Harper and Stephon Castle might be untouchable, the Spurs still have first-round draft picks that could be moved, as well as the salaries of Kelly Olynyk, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Harrison Barnes.
If the Spurs want to make a splash for Lauri Markkanen, Trey Murphy III, or Giannis Antetokounmpo, they certainly can. However, the Spurs seem to have their sights set on smaller names who better fit their needs and timeline.
Trade Rumors Link Spurs to Jaylen Wells
As the Memphis Grizzlies stare down a possible rebuild, Jaylen Wells could find himself as the face of the franchise. After all, he came in third place in the 2024 Rookie of the Year race, falling to Stephon Castle and Zaccharie Risacher. However, for much of the season, he and Castle were frontrunners.
Why would the Grizzlies want to trade him? For starters, he is averaging an inefficient 12.4 points per game this season, showing very little improvement from last year. On top of that, the Spurs are in a position to overpay for him, making Memphis an offer they can't refuse.
"The Spurs have assets to make major trades, but general manager Brian Wright and the rest of the front office are mindful of this young team's growing chemistry and just how easily it can be disrupted," wrote ESPN's Kevin Pelton. "If anything, San Antonio will be looking to add depth. Memphis Grizzlies forward Jaylen Wells would fit as a young perimeter defender who adds solid shooting."
Wells is a better defender than Barnes and is a versatile weapon on defense, giving the Spurs a long-term wing rotation of Johnson, Vassell, Wells, Carter Bryant, and Julian Champagnie. In his rookie season, he shot 35.2% from deep, which is solid for a first-year player, although he has regressed this season.
Part of that could be the defensive attention he receives after Desmond Bane was traded, so a change of scenery could do him well. He and Castle went to war over the ROTY award last season, but could be quick to bury the hatchet.
"I pretty much got it locked up," said Castle of the award last season after an injury derailed Wells' campaign.
"I feel like if I'm playing winning basketball, it should fall right into my hands," Wells said, making his case. "So that's kinda how my mindset is.”
Both Wells and Castle have a competitive mindset, and if the Spurs can get him for a fair price, he would be a good, young addition to the core.