Could OG Anunoby and Victor Wembanyama form a lockdown defensive pairing? This proposed offseason move could redefine the Spurs' future.
The San Antonio Spurs are currently in second place in the Western Conference just two and a half games back from the Oklahoma City Thunder, which puts them in a solid place to contend this season.
But that does not mean that they could not potentially make a big move this offseason to possibly make them the definitive team to beat in the West.
In a recent article by Bleacher Report's Dan Favale, he outlines three possible offseason trade targets for each NBA team. For the Spurs, he thinks that they could make a huge splash and trade for New York Knicks superstar defender OG Anunoby.
"Furnishing the New York Knicks with first-round equity to fortify their Giannis pursuit in exchange for OG Anunoby would add the perfect amount of shooting, defense and physicality to the primary frontcourt slot alongside Victor Wembanyama," Favale writes.
The 6-7 wing has built a reputation as one of the league’s most versatile defenders while also providing reliable scoring and perimeter shooting.
This season he is averaging 16.5 points and five rebounds per game, and he is doing so on some very solid shooting percentages. And none of those stats are even factoring in the fact that he guards the best player on the opposing team in the overwhelming majority of the Knicks' games.
For the Spurs, that kind of two-way presence could be incredibly valuable. San Antonio already has an interior defensive anchor in Wembanyama, and pairing him with a physical perimeter defender like Anunoby could create one of the most disruptive defensive combinations in the league.
Offensively, Anunoby’s ability to hit open three-pointers and attack closeouts would mesh well with San Antonio’s playmaking guards and downhill attackers. The Spurs have several young players who thrive driving to the rim, and adding a reliable perimeter shooter would make those drives even more dangerous by forcing defenses to stay honest.
Of course, any trade for a player of Anunoby’s caliber would likely come at a cost.
Still, San Antonio is one of the few teams positioned to explore such opportunities while maintaining its long-term flexibility. The franchise has built a deep collection of young talent and draft assets, giving the front office the ability to pursue upgrades without completely disrupting its future plans.
If the Spurs decide it’s time to accelerate their timeline, targeting a player like Anunoby could be a logical next step. His combination of defense, shooting and versatility makes him the type of player who can thrive alongside a generational talent like Wemby.