Trade Official 2025-2026 Trade Deadline Thread

[RC_Drunkford]

I like that Ayo pickup for MIN (which means I hate it from our POV). He's not a true PG, but he has some ball handling chops, is a good defender and can shoot the 3.

I'm mostly tuned in for the Ja fire sale at this point... the Zubac auction will also be interesting.

Seems like the Spurs have decided we're good. I just don't understand it from an asset management perspective. Making good use of expiring deals is one of those sharp at-the-margins strategies that teams operating over the cap need to find a way to maximize, similar with how you utilize SRPs and two ways. Notably, these are all things the Spurs are not yet good at.

Wolves basically found their NAW replacement with Ayo.

Agree, the main reason I want the Spurs to make a move is that we got non-rotation players on expirings, which we won't have in the offseason.

 

[Kick-Stand]

remembering how half the fanbase wanted Dillingham... embarrassing

Even after the combine measurements? I really wanted Dilly until I saw he was a Trae Young 164 lbs shrimp at the combine. At that point I didn't think he was an NBA level player any more and wanted nothing to do with him, but back when he was a listed at 176 lbs I thought there was a good chance he could become a real player. Huge difference between those two measurements, as Tony Parker was like 178 lbs IIRC as a 19 year-old.

 

[LeBowen]

It's hillarious how fans of 25+ other franchises would kill to have Spurs front office, but a lot of Spurs fans constantly hate on it.
Wright is far from perfect, but he's done great since that 2022 draft fiasco.

Let me put it this way. If every team's roster was frozen for 3 years, Spurs would easily be in the best position.
Our roster is basically set, it's just about if young guys live up to their potential.

Fox, Castle, Harper, Vassell, Keldon, Champ, Wemby, Kornet.
That's 8 players that don't deserve any of their minutes to be reduced or taken away. It's just Barnes that's an issue, but we don't need a 9 man rotation in the playoffs.
How many teams in the league have better 7th/8th man than Champ and Kornet?

It's a meme, but this is truly the year of we like what we have.
High end PFs to replace Barnes weren't available, everything else is irrelevant.
The only thing I hope is that we can find a third string big in the waivers market as an insurance policy.

 

[bozhemoi]

I like that Ayo pickup for MIN (which means I hate it from our POV). He's not a true PG, but he has some ball handling chops, is a good defender and can shoot the 3.

I'm mostly tuned in for the Ja fire sale at this point... the Zubac auction will also be interesting.

Seems like the Spurs have decided we're good. I just don't understand it from an asset management perspective. Making good use of expiring deals is one of those sharp at-the-margins strategies that teams operating over the cap need to find a way to maximize, similar with how you utilize SRPs and two ways. Notably, these are all things the Spurs are not yet good at.

They don't want to take on onerous contracts, and that includes even fairly small ones. The team is still being built and there's no reason to overpay or get stuck with a decision they make right now just because.

 

[Kick-Stand]

They don't want to take on onerous contracts, and that includes even fairly small ones. The team is still being built and there's no reason to overpay or get stuck with a decision they make right now just because.

I'm pretty disappointed they're not trying to get Klay, who would cost them nothing and is only under contract for this year and next. These are the kind of moves they can make right now before Victor's and especially Steph's extensions kick in but won't be able to after.

 

[Mal]

I would be just fine staying put, but this season`s record umpt my expectations

 

[024]

It is kind of funny the Nuggets, Rockets, Pacers, Heat, and Spurs are the only teams not involved in a trade so far. Has every other team made some kind of trade?

 

[NotoriousHOP]

Dang. Not even a Sochan for a Top 55 protected second round pick.

 

[Bones]

Even after the combine measurements? I really wanted Dilly until I saw he was a Trae Young 164 lbs shrimp at the combine. At that point I didn't think he was an NBA level player any more and wanted nothing to do with him, but back when he was a listed at 176 lbs I thought there was a good chance he could become a real player. Huge difference between those two measurements, as Tony Parker was like 178 lbs IIRC as a 19 year-old.

I'll preface this by saying TP is good enough to find success in any era, but closing out the OKC series in '14 with Manu at PG was the beginning of me souring on small PGs in this modern era. I shouldn't act like a know-it-all though. I remember thinking James White and Jackie Butler would help us back in the day

 

[scott]

Wolves basically found their NAW replacement with Ayo.

Agree, the main reason I want the Spurs to make a move is that we got non-rotation players on expirings, which we won't have in the offseason.

Yep...

And for the other readers here, what RC and I are talking about here is this...

The Spurs have roughly $40MM of expiring salary on the books right now. Letting salary expire is very helpful if it results in cap space for you (or gets you under the tax/apron in the following year but not relevant for the Spurs), but if it doesn't... it is doesn't do anything for you.

By my estimation, by letting these guys just roll off the books, we'll have roughly $13MM of cap space and the Room MLE. That's all we'll have to work with in the offseason. We'll be to sign some guys using that $13MM of cap space, then resign Barnes using his Bird rights, and then decline-and-extend Champ using his Bird rights, and then have the MLE to sign another FA. I'm not sure if we used the BAE last year or will have it at our disposal... someone can check me on that (and this whole thing).

That means to improve beyond this, even if the Spurs want to use draft capital, they'll have send out someone who is currently part of the main rotation to match salary(since that's who will still be under contract): Wemby, Fox, Vassell, Harper, Castle, Keldon, Harper, Kornet, Bryant or Champ (if option is picked up).

So, it would be helpful to trade out the expiring salaries for salaries on the books next year. You will lose that $13MM of cap space to start the summer with, but you'll be able to potentially make trades without sending out one of your core rotation guys.

This is why I personally think this is poor asset management by the Spurs to simply let the expiring contracts roll off.

Edit: Spurs 2026-27 Roster may end up looking like this

Wemby
Fox
Castle
Harper
Vassell
Johnson
Champ
Kornet
Bryant
Barnes
Room MLE Signing
Sub MLE-level signing ($13MM of cap space)
2026 FRP
Min Vet (2026 SRP?)
Min Vet

They could break up the MLE or the cap space and improve those two Min Vet slots to more mid-level vets.

So the Spurs may effectively run it back next season and rely on internal growth (not a bad bed with our youth), or decide if there is a glaring hole discovered in the playoffs that they'll send out that player as matching salary.

Edit 2: corrected to state the Spurs would have the Room MLE, not the Non-Tax MLE if they entered the offseason with cap space.

 

[spurraider21]

Ayo is a great add for Minnesota tbh. 4 second round picks isnt nothing though in today's trade economy

 

[LeBowen]

I'll preface this by saying TP is good enough to find success in any era, but closing out the OKC series in '14 with Manu at PG was the beginning of me souring on small PGs in this modern era. I shouldn't act like a know-it-all though. I remember thinking James White and Jackie Butler would helps us back in the day

The small guard era ended when wings started developing their handles and off the dribble game.
It was easy enough to hide small guards on forwards that couldn't shoot or put the ball on the floor, but what are they supposed to do these days?
Everyone in our current rotation easily takes care of mismatches, except maybe Champ, but he just shoots over them.
Keldon, Devin and Barnes can all put it on the floor and easily get to the rim with no resistance.

If opposing small guard can't match up with Fox, it's over.

 

[Degoat]

There just isn’t any playing time available for a trade imo

Guards are good with Fox/Castle/Harper.
Bigs are good with Wemby/Kornet
Forwards could use an upgrade but nobody we get would have a bigger impact than what Keldon/Julian/Barnes/Carter provide

 

[RC_Drunkford]

by the way our whole 2022 draft is on the line right now and we have nothing to show for it. 9th pick Jeremy Sochan and Kelly Olynyk who we got in a trade for Malaki Branham #20 and Blake Wesley #25

 

[Neuromancer]

by the way our whole 2022 draft is on the line right now and we have nothing to show for it. 9th pick Jeremy Sochan and Kelly Olynyk who we got in a trade for Malaki Branham #20 and Blake Wesley #25

What an absolute disaster of a draft. We could have had Jalen Williams, Christian Braun, and Andrew Nembhard (or Kessler, Jovic, etc). 2021 and 2022 drafts are huge black marks on Wrights resume

 

[LeBowen]

What an absolute disaster of a draft. We could have had Jalen Williams, Christian Braun, and Andrew Nembhard (or Kessler, Jovic, etc). 2021 and 2022 drafts are huge black marks on Wrights resume

Still hurts, tbh.

 

[Bones]

are we still trying to bring Scola over? Or should I give up on that

 

[The_Second_Coming_of_VY65]

You know, it's possible to say that the front office has been good as of late - and - that if they fail to trade KO/Sochan/etc..., that they're not properly uttilizing assets in a way that will aid them down the line. It's not an all or nothing deal.

 

[goprimogo]

still some cheap bigs out there available

 

[Rafa]

Yep...

And for the other readers here, what RC and I are talking about here is this...

The Spurs have roughly $40MM of expiring salary on the books right now. Letting salary expire is very helpful if it results in cap space for you (or gets you under the tax/apron in the following year but not relevant for the Spurs), but if it doesn't... it is doesn't do anything for you.

By my estimation, by letting these guys just roll off the books, we'll have roughly $13MM of cap space and the non-taxpayer MLE. That's all we'll have to work with in the offseason. We'll be to sign some guys using that $13MM of cap space, then resign Barnes using his Bird rights, and then decline-and-extend Champ using his Bird rights, and then have the MLE to sign another FA. I'm not sure if we used the BAE last year or will have it at our disposal... someone can check me on that (and this whole thing).

That means to improve beyond this, even if the Spurs want to use draft capital, they'll have send out someone who is currently part of the main rotation to match salary(since that's who will still be under contract): Wemby, Fox, Vassell, Harper, Castle, Keldon, Harper, Kornet, Bryant or Champ (if option is picked up).

So, it would be helpful to trade out the expiring salaries for salaries on the books next year. You will lose that $13MM of cap space to start the summer with, but you'll be able to potentially make trades without sending out one of your core rotation guys.

This is why I personally think this is poor asset management by the Spurs to simply let the expiring contracts roll off.

I’m on this boat as well and disappointed we weren’t able to find a move to upgrade the PF position. Also agree with ppl saying any other move prob isn’t worth it unless it’s a steal, but I would’ve been ok with a slightly lob sided trade against us if it got that done rather than just seeing out these contracts for nothing.

You could make the guess nobody good was available, but I was hoping with 3 expiring salaries of mostly players that don’t matter (except Barnes but ideally would matter a lot less if we got a replacement PF) and a shit load of late FR/SR picks, Brian could’ve “Art of the deal”-ed his way into something.

 

[scott]

You know, it's possible to say that the front office has been good as of late - and - that if they fail to trade KO/Sochan/etc..., that they're not properly uttilizing assets in a way that will aid them down the line. It's not an all or nothing deal.

The ability to hold multiple thoughts simultaneously has not historically been a strong suit of our community

 

[Guru of Nothing]

Yep...

And for the other readers here, what RC and I are talking about here is this...

The Spurs have roughly $40MM of expiring salary on the books right now. Letting salary expire is very helpful if it results in cap space for you (or gets you under the tax/apron in the following year but not relevant for the Spurs), but if it doesn't... it is doesn't do anything for you.

By my estimation, by letting these guys just roll off the books, we'll have roughly $13MM of cap space and the non-taxpayer MLE. That's all we'll have to work with in the offseason. We'll be to sign some guys using that $13MM of cap space, then resign Barnes using his Bird rights, and then decline-and-extend Champ using his Bird rights, and then have the MLE to sign another FA. I'm not sure if we used the BAE last year or will have it at our disposal... someone can check me on that (and this whole thing).

That means to improve beyond this, even if the Spurs want to use draft capital, they'll have send out someone who is currently part of the main rotation to match salary(since that's who will still be under contract): Wemby, Fox, Vassell, Harper, Castle, Keldon, Harper, Kornet, Bryant or Champ (if option is picked up).

So, it would be helpful to trade out the expiring salaries on the books next year. You will lose that $13MM of capspace to start the summer with, but you'll be able to potentially make trades without sending out one of your core rotation guys.

This is why I personally think this is poor asset management by the Spurs to simply let the expiring contracts roll off.

I'm with you if there's no downside to any theoretical deals, but I'm getting a sense that only shit deals are obtainable right now - and frankly, if I'm a bottom-20 FO, I'd be like, "Fuck those Spurs, lucky assholes."

 

[LeBowen]

I can't see Ja not getting moved, maybe we're waiting for that to see how Aldama situation plays out.
We probably made a lowball offer and are waiting until the last moment to improve it.

 

[scott]

If the sticking point on moving Sochan has been that we don't want to have to attach draft capital... then I sure hope Brian Wright has a plan to actually utilize that draft capital. Being unwilling to use SRPs because you plan on selling them later is the least satisfying option for anyone other than the Spurs' accountants.

 

[Correct Crusader]

by the way our whole 2022 draft is on the line right now and we have nothing to show for it. 9th pick Jeremy Sochan and Kelly Olynyk who we got in a trade for Malaki Branham #20 and Blake Wesley #25

Malaki Branham was traded for Luka Doncic soooooo