The San Antonio Spurs aren't expected to make a major trade this offseason, but these are the three players most likely to be shipped out before the February trade deadline.
After signing Tobias Harris in free agency, the San Antonio Spurs have successfully solved their biggest area of need. The Spurs were short a power forward who could defend and shoot the ball, and Harris perfectly fits the bill.
Of course, there's a long way to go before the season starts, and summer blockbusters are just heating up. On top of that, the Spurs can make trades up until February of 2027, when trade season is officially over.
While we don't expect the Spurs to make any move in the coming days, these are the three players whose days in San Antonio might be numbered.
3 San Antonio Spurs On the Trade Block
De'Aaron Fox
After a putrid Finals performance, fans are still calling for Fox to be traded. At the NBA Draft, Brian Wright made it clear that there are no talks in the works about moving on from Fox.
"We have the ultimate faith in De'Aaron and who he is as a player, what he's been for us and what he means to this team," he said. "And there's no wavering in that at all."
Even with Wright's promise, Fox's time in San Antonio is probably limited. Sure, he's an All-Star and one of the better guards in the league, but it's only a matter of time before Dylan Harper cements himself as the better player. Some fans would argue that he already has.
While Fox's market isn't as lucrative as it once was, if the Spurs can shed his salary, get a decent return, and open up minutes for Harper to take over, most fans would be thrilled to see the team make a deal.
Luke Kornet
Luke Kornet, much like Fox, had a disappointing playoff. After averaging 6.5 points and 6.1 rebounds in the regular season, Kornet seemed like a long-term backup to Victor Wembanyama. Then, in the postseason, he disappeared, posting just 3.7 points per game and playing himself out of the lineup.
The Spurs sent a very clear message when they traded up for Tarris Reed Jr. in the first round of the NBA Draft: we don't trust our current frontcourt, and we want to shore it up.
Of course, Kornet, like Fox, can't have one excellent season washed away after a couple of bad playoff series, but the addition of Reed clearly makes him expendable. If the Spurs think Reed can bring some physicality right away, then Kornet and his moveable contract could have one foot out the door.
Keldon Johnson
Keldon Johnson combines the tradeability of both Fox and Kornet. Like Fox, he had a solid regular season, even winning Sixth Man of the Year. Like both Kornet and Fox, he was not himself when the Spurs needed him most, being a negative in the Finals.
And like Kornet, his contract is easy to trade. Owed just $17.5 million next season before he hits unrestricted free agency, Johnson would be easy to trade to pretty much any team in the league. If a win-now team wants a rebounder who can get to the rim, Johnson is their guy. If a tanking team wants to open up some cap space next summer, Johnson fits the bill as a trade target.
For years, Johnson has found himself in trade rumors, and for good reason. His play is often frustrating, and his contract is movable. While he did get on fans' good side this past season, if the Spurs make a move and don't want to part with Fox just quite yet, Johnson is as good as gone.
