The San Antonio Spurs have been hovering around the .500 mark all season as they look to take a jump in terms of contention. With second-year sensation Victor Wembanyama coming into his own within the NBA, San Antonio isn’t too far off from getting back to the postseason.
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They currently sit just outside the playoff picture but came into this season looking to improve. Signing veteran guard Chris Paul over the offseason gave them a true point guard to run the offense and now the Spurs may look to keep improving.
Ahead of the NBA trade deadline, San Antonio will be determining how far they want to go in terms of roster upgrades. But with Wembanyama ascending, the Spurs may be better off not waiting around.
In this new proposed trade scenario, the Spurs decide to go all-in and land an All-Star forward from the New Orleans Pelicans. San Antonio has a lot of resources to work with and could make a deal enticing for New Orleans.
Here is what the deal could look like:
Spurs receive: Forward Brandon Ingram
Pelicans receive: Forward Keldon Johnson, guard Tre Jones, forward Jeremy Sochan, a 2026 first-round draft pick, and a 2028 first-round draft pick swap (Celtics)
Why San Antonio Does This Trade
Landing Ingram would put the Spurs into relevancy within the Western Conference. Pairing him alongside Wembanyama could create a lengthy, talented duo for years to come.
While Ingram can be a free agent at the end of the season, the Spurs don’t do this type of deal without the desire to retain him. Signing the former All-Star long-term ensures that San Antonio can continue growing as a franchise.
For the remainder of this season, Ingram can work his way into the Spurs system, while allowing San Antonio to make a playoff push. The trio of Wembanyama, Ingram, and Paul could be fun on the court and would make any team at least a little fearful if they could get into the postseason.
Why New Orleans Does This Trade
The Pelicans have been looking for a trade suitor for Ingram for a while now as the team has shown no interest in giving him a long-term deal. Landing a few first-round picks from the Spurs in exchange for Ingram could be a steal for New Orleans.
Additionally, Johnson is an emerging forward who could take the spot of Ingram in the rotation. Johnson has had an up-and-down season so far but is only two seasons shy from averaging 22.0 points per game.
New Orleans has to do something with Ingram to avoid him walking for nothing in free agency. This type of deal could be exactly what the Pelicans need.
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