Trade Spurs Trade Ideas

[DTW]

Trading for Walker means that Spurs won't be able to use their full MLE ($15M) on a player next summer. Before doing a Sochan for Walker trade, Spurs will have to analyze the 2026 free agency market.

That'd be fine, since Walker would slot in as the de factor MLE signing as the 10th man.

If the Pacers would do Sochan for Walker, unless there's something personality or lifestyle wise to suggest otherwise, it'd be a no brainer.

He has another season before a decision has to be made, more impressive measurables and while a sub par shooter, he's at least got a functional shot to work with.

 

[spursfanfromafar]

I would still choose Hauser over Walker if the former is available and there is a chance considering the Celtics need to get below the luxury tax.

 

[Bruno]

This is what I came up with 1) Jarace Walker included, assuming 2) Champ is decline and extended (used AJ Green's contract as reference, a bit below because he's getting a 7M pay raise in year 1), 3) Harrison Barnes re-signs at 9M, 4) Spurs sign pick #14, 5) use their entire MLE on a single player, and 6) sign 2 vets with 5 years of experience

I've little less cap space than you:
- Draft picks are almost always paid 120% of the rookie scale which would put #14 at a $5,243,400.
- I've also Champagnie and Barnes 26-27 salaries a little higher because giving them a contract with a descending structure would be better for Spurs.

My point is that there are more to this trade than just comparing Walker and Sochan. Spurs also had to look if there is a 2026 free agent worth the full MLE.

 

[DTW]

Some of these names, like Hunter, Bey and Hauser, only make sense as Barnes replacements (although any as a starting PF is a stretch) or unless it'd be in conjunction with another trade in mind to free up a rotation spot.

 

[spurraider21]

The only trade the Spurs will do is one where it benefits the player more than it benefits them. Mark my words, tbh. They’re going to find Sochan a landing spot where he will have more chances, even if they get a 2050 second rd pick.

I mean this goes hand in hand. A team not intending to play Sochan is not going to be the team to offer a pick

 

[spurraider21]

Jarace would be like adding another year to sochans rookie deal. You are still just hoping the guy pans out. I don’t care for it personally

 

[Paramore]

Could we sign Chris Paul as playing assistant coach??

 

[Seventyniner]

Jarace would be like adding another year to sochans rookie deal. You are still just hoping the guy pans out. I don’t care for it personally

It's trading a player who has no future with the team for one who might. I don't think it's total a slam dunk no brainer, Walker's salary might be a problem if he doesn't pan out and the Spurs end up pushing up against the tax next year, but it could make sense for both teams.

 

[Vienna]

What would Sixers ask for Trendon Watford?
I understand the Sixers like him and he is best friend with Maxey, but they might listen if picks are involved. (they don't have a pick 2026)
Give them Sochan, add Jazz and/or Blazers pick and take some dead meat of their books for the numbers.
I think he would fit pretty nice. Great passer. Good IQ.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

while Brian Wright is not the best at drafting outside of the top 5, I totally trust him to fleece teams and make a good trade.

 

[ginobilized]

Nick Richards might be gettable for center depth. I don't see us solving our PF troubles this trade deadline. Adding Hauser and/or Richards would give us a better playoff team. Yabusele for Sochan is another idea, but, Jeremy is not giving the Knicks many reasons to do that. I bet our Polish misfit would dig being in NY.

 

[CGD]

What concerns me about Walker is that he’s coming from a serious program with a serious coach, and still hasn’t been able to crack the rotation too. He’s had ample chances. It’s not like he’s buried on the Bulls bench or some such team.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

What concerns me about Walker is that he’s coming from a serious program with a serious coach, and still hasn’t been able to crack the rotation too. He’s had ample chances. It’s not like he’s buried on the Bulls bench or some such team.

He played in all 27 games, startet in 12 of them and averages 25 min per game. How is that not cracking the rotation?

 

[JJSPUR]

Here's a trade thats a little bit offbeat that I would like to see but not all that much because of the other team involved.
Sochan and a top 50 protected 2nd round pick for jake LaRavia of the lakers. It would help us because he shoots better than Sochan an can run the break fairly well, and it would help the lakers because they need rebounding. That's where this trade ends, I despise the lakers. It would be a decent trade if it were any other team - so its a no.

 

[Guru of Nothing]

I would still choose Hauser over Walker if the former is available and there is a chance considering the Celtics need to get below the luxury tax.

I like Hauser too (41.3% from 3 for entire career), but I think Boston is highly incentivized to cut salary to relieve apron pressure. They'd probably insist on Champ in a deal ($7-8M in reduction). Maybe it could happen in a multi-team deal.

We have a 2028(?) top-1 protected swap with Boston that I would not touch, but it's there as a negotiating chip.

 

[scott]

I mean, if that were the case, that if you want a player, he’s on your roster eventually, we’d already have Tingus on board. We don’t though, although there has been rumored interest for many years to the point of hostility with the Knicks organization.

It’s not just wanting a player. The timing has to be right, and the price has to be right. When we were trading DJ to Atlanta to strip the roster, getting a 20/10 PF would have been the wrong move to tank.

When he was traded to Utah (you can debate this) we were still in tank mode heading into Wemby’s rookie season.

I mean Jollins was literally available for Free for like a season and a half

 

[Ice009]

DJG is unlucky that we're stacked at guard, I'm sure he would've already earned a Champ-like deal in any of the previous seasons.
I'm hoping he can make it and be the 4th guard / 10th man on a Champ-like deal next season.

If I was the GM, I'd just keep recycling end of the bench guys until I hit gold. A lot of teams can't develop players and there always hidden gems to be found.

Yes, the Spurs need to seriously start doing this and trying to find hidden gems. One thing I really like now is the team the Spurs have, practicing against the awesome young guys the Spurs have, that would be tough for any new player and a good place to prove themselves to the Spurs FO. They'd be going against Victor, Steph, Dylan, De'Aaron and a bunch of other really good players, so if anyone the Spurs take a look at does well in practice against the Spurs' young guys, then you may have found someone. I am sure DJG probably started proving himself to be a legit player at practice against these guys.

Are we mostly in agreement that we realistically have $25M in salary with which to shop for trade upgrades? Not sure if potential extensions to Champ and DJG influence decisions (probably not, but it's not my money). I suppose we get some additional salary back if Barnes is resigned at something less than $19.M

In theory, I think roster construction would benefit more from bringing in 2 MLE level players vs one $25M player - we're plenty top-heavy, y'all. No matter what, I hope deals are approached with caution and we avoid any what the hell half-measures.

Somebody help me with Spurs salary cap arithmetic. Say we bring in Collins and his expiring $26M, and he fits and we bring him back at an MLE-ish $10-15M. Is the leftover $10M available for FA signings next summer, or does that get soaked up by existing salary volume? Followup question, do we have to be mindful of a Wemby extension buiding out the roster next season, or will Wemby extension come at the tail-end of roster building moves?


$13.4M - Olynyk
$7.0M - Sochan
$2.3M - Lindy Waters III
$2.3M - JMAC

I suppose we could includes Bismack salary too, but I think Victor likes him; perhap small sample size, but I notice they sit next to each other on the bench often. Maybe a shared Congolese connection.

So pretty much those combined salaries are what the Spurs have to work with for trades? I'm guessing they're not going to trade anyone else except maybe Biyombo? If the Spurs were to include JMac in a trade, do you think they'd try and get Chris Paul to fill his spot? JMac played quite well in garbage time the other day, though, so I wonder if the Spurs would actually consider trading him. He looks like a decent player, but with the Spurs' depth at guard, doesn't really get a chance to play as there is no minutes for him. He's great for an end of the bench guy though as I assume he works really hard and doesn't complain.

Nick Richards might be gettable for center depth. I don't see us solving our PF troubles this trade deadline. Adding Hauser and/or Richards would give us a better playoff team. Yabusele for Sochan is another idea, but, Jeremy is not giving the Knicks many reasons to do that. I bet our Polish misfit would dig being in NY.

Guru of Nothing had a good observation of Bismack and Victor usually sitting next to each other on the bench. I never really thought about it until he brought it up, but Vic may actually like the guy on a personal level. That's a factor I never thought about.

I mean Jollins was literally available for Free for like a season and a half

Yeah, this is what makes me think they're just not interested. It could be a timing thing, but most likely, they don't think he'd fit. If he could play decent defense out on the perimeter, I'd like to give him a chance, but from what guys here have said, he's not too good guarding on the perimeter.

I wonder if they've tried to get Bey the past few years. I don't know how he'd fit, but I think he's a really good player.

 

[CGD]

He played in all 27 games, startet in 12 of them and averages 25 min per game. How is that not cracking the rotation?

Fair. Clearly then the implication is that, notwithstanding all these amazing opportunities he’s getting to prove himself, they’re still not happy that he hasn’t been able to carve out a consistent role. Seems like a flag coming from that program, but maybe I’m overthinking it.

 

[CGD]

Yes, the Spurs need to seriously start doing this and trying to find hidden gems. One thing I really like now is the team the Spurs have, practicing against the awesome young guys the Spurs have, that would be tough for any new player and a good place to prove themselves to the Spurs FO. They'd be going against Victor, Steph, Dylan, De'Aaron and a bunch of other really good players, so if anyone the Spurs take a look at does well in practice against the Spurs' young guys, then you may have found someone. I am sure DJG probably started proving himself to be a legit player at practice against these guys.



So pretty much those combined salaries are what the Spurs have to work with for trades? I'm guessing they're not going to trade anyone else except maybe Biyombo? If the Spurs were to include JMac in a trade, do you think they'd try and get Chris Paul to fill his spot? JMac played quite well in garbage time the other day, though, so I wonder if the Spurs would actually consider trading him. He looks like a decent player, but with the Spurs' depth at guard, doesn't really get a chance to play as there is no minutes for him. He's great for an end of the bench guy though as I assume he works really hard and doesn't complain.



Guru of Nothing had a good observation of Bismack and Victor usually sitting next to each other on the bench. I never really thought about it until he brought it up, but Vic may actually like the guy on a personal level. That's a factor I never thought about.


Yeah, this is what makes me think they're just not interested. It could be a timing thing, but most likely, they don't think he'd fit. If he could play decent defense out on the perimeter, I'd like to give him a chance, but from what guys said, he's not too good guarding out of the perimeter.

I wonder if they've tried to get Bey the past few years. I don't know how he'd fit, but I think he's a really good player.

Make sense. Fellow French speaker, Congolese heritage, etc.

 

[Ariel]

I've little less cap space than you:
- Draft picks are almost always paid 120% of the rookie scale which would put #14 at a $5,243,400.

Sure, but I also used a relatively high pick, it'll probably be lower and thus the number is unlikely to go much beyond that even if you use 20%. But let's use that 120% of #14 to make things simpler, that would put it at 5.24M

- I've also Champagnie and Barnes 26-27 salaries a little higher because giving them a contract with a descending structure would be better for Spurs.

Champagnie should be paid something along the likes of AJ Green, Hauser, that probably starts at 10M or 11M with 8% increases, but if we assume it's front loaded AAV should be a bit lower. Also. by declining their option Champagnie would pocket an extra 8-9 million next season, which over 4 years would make up for 2M to 2.5M annually (subtract from fair market value). All in all, I think a decline and extend at about 10M to 11M starting salary (front loaded) is about on par with his performance, but I will admit it's not beyond reason to think his price tab could skyrocket if he has a very successful playoffs run (like NAW that was signed for MLE money).

My point is that there are more to this trade than just comparing Walker and Sochan. Spurs also had to look if there is a 2026 free agent worth the full MLE.

I think my bottom like is that, even though money definitely does matter, Spurs have enough flexibility that they could still accommodate Walker by simply using 90% of the MLE or going for a less experienced 15th man, that isn't what keeps you away from going after a player you like. If the Spurs don't go for Walker, I doubt it will be because of money.

 

[spurraider21]

I mean Jollins was literally available for Free for like a season and a half

He cost Norman Powell for the clippers

 

[Exstatic]

He cost Norman Powell for the clippers

That’s the marker of a poverty franchise.

 

[scott]

He cost Norman Powell for the clippers

That’s because it was mostly a Norman Powell trade, Utah just facilitated.

Utah got Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and an SRP. Just matching salary and a single SRP for John Collins… so again… practically free.

 

[RC_Drunkford]

That’s because it was mostly a Norman Powell trade, Utah just facilitated.

Utah got Kevin Love, Kyle Anderson and an SRP. Just matching salary and a single SRP for John Collins… so again… practically free.

yeah I never understood why the Spurs weren't in the hunt there. Then again, they didn't really have the salary to match if they wanted to keep Barnes and Keldon around.

 

[scott]

yeah I never understood why the Spurs weren't in the hunt there. Then again, they didn't really have the salary to match if they wanted to keep Barnes and Keldon around.

I think the Spurs just likely have already scouted him and reached the conclusion that they weren't interested (probably in 2021, when we signed Zollins).

We had a chance to sign him then. A chance to get him in the Dejounte deal. A chance to get him from Utah... passed each time. I think it's fair to say the Spurs probably aren't interested.

The teams who have traded away Collins have gotten

1. washed, injured and effectively retired Rudy Gay (Rudy never played another game after being traded from Utah) and two SRPs, and
2. AARP Ambassador Kevin Love, Guy Who Fights His Teammates In Game Kyle Anderson, and a single SRP

Maybe the Spurs change their minds on Jollins and give him a chance... but I can't see it.

I'm liking the Seddiq Bey idea alot.