The San Antonio Spurs didn't make a move before the NBA trade deadline, instead opting to see just how far their current core can go. However, that doesn't mean they won't gear up for a blockbuster in the offseason.
The San Antonio Spurs opted to stand pat at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, joining the Houston Rockets and Miami Heat as the only two teams that did not make a move.
It makes sense. Miami was gunning for a superstar, although talks for Giannis Antetokounmpo stalled. The Spurs and Rockets, meanwhile, both have elite cores and simply want to see just how far their youngsters can go while being led by veterans De'Aaron Fox and Kevin Durant.
Plus, with the Spurs building around Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, there's little rush to cash in on a championship move now, considering just how long the runway is. However, the Spurs have the assets to make a major move, and some experts think it's only a matter of time before they swing for the fences.
Spurs Urged to Reunite With Kawhi Leonard
There's no escape.
Ever since it became clear that the Los Angeles Clippers would not win a title with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, folks have fired up the trade machine, insisting that a reunion between Leonard and the Spurs would be mutually beneficial.
With only one full season left on his contract, the summer would be the most sensible time for the Spurs to pull the trigger.
"San Antonio is a franchise that seldom makes big, bold moves and investments in outside players in their 30s," prefaced Sportsnaut's Jason Burgos. "However, Leonard would be an interesting option in the offseason."
Has the hatchet been buried? Gregg Popovich commandeering the Frost Bank Center's public address system, urging fans not to boo Leonard, might be a sign that the Spurs would be open to it.
"Time heals all wounds," Burgos argued. "Leonard, if healthy, would be a huge upgrade at forward over Devin Vassell or Julian Champagnie. He comes with a championship pedigree in two cities and would cost far less than Antetokounmpo in a trade. But more than anything, he has just one year left on his deal. So if it doesn’t work, both sides can move on in the summer of 2027."
The Spurs will likely shed the salaries of Harrison Barnes, Kelly Olynyk, and Jeremy Sochan in the summer, leaving room on the books for a big move. Leonard fits the bill, and if the price is right, the Spurs could swing a low-risk move for a single season with Leonard.
A healthy starting five of Fox, Castle, Leonard, Vassell, and Wembanyama would be impossible to beat. The only question remaining: who would the Spurs give up?