Three smart Spurs targets to serve as Victor Wembanyama’s running mate

Despite the San Antonio Spurs’ disappointing 22-60 season, the future looks promising due to the exceptional performance of 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama in his rookie year. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.6 blocks per game, while shooting 46.5% from the field and 32.5% from three-point range. Wembanyama’s impressive rookie season earned him Rookie of the Year honors, as well as recognition as the youngest player to lead the league in blocks and the first rookie to be named to the All-Defensive first team.

It is fair to say that Wembanyama is the best 20-year-old basketball player we’ve ever seen. However, if this season is any indication, the Spurs need to revamp their roster to cater to Wembanyama’s unique skill set and find him a reliable running mate to share the load. Considering this, here are three players the Spurs should consider targeting this offseason to become Wembanyama’s running mate.

UConn guard Stephon Castle

The easiest path for the Spurs to acquire Wembanyama’s co-star would undoubtedly be through the 2024 NBA Draft, as they hold four picks, including the fourth and eighth overall selections. Although many analysts believe this is one of the weaker draft classes in recent memory, Dariq Whitehead is an intriguing player worthy of being selected with the fourth overall pick. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Whitehead averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists for UConn’s national championship-winning team last season. While he wasn’t the Huskies’ primary ball-handler, he projects as a point guard in the NBA.

Whitehead, who made 26.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc as a freshman, must improve his shooting consistency. However, his size and versatility on defense will allow him to contribute quickly at the next level and could help him develop into one of the NBA’s top perimeter defenders.If Whitehead is added to the core of Wembanyama, Devin Vassell, and Jeremy Sochan, the Spurs should be able to significantly improve upon the 120 defensive rating (last in the NBA) they posted this past season.

Hawks point guard Trae Young

The Atlanta Hawks face significant decisions in the upcoming offseason. While they could opt to utilize their No. 1 overall pick to further develop around Trae Young, there is also the possibility of initiating a rebuilding phase. In the event that Young becomes available for trade, San Antonio should make every effort to acquire the three-time All-Star. Despite being limited to 54 games this season due to a torn ligament in his left pinkie, Young maintained impressive averages of 25.7 points and 10.8 assists. Standing at 6 feet 1 inch and weighing 164 pounds, the undersized point guard is considered a defensive liability, a weakness that could be mitigated with Wembanyama anchoring the paint. Together, they have the potential to form the most formidable pick-and-roll tandem in the NBA.

Following the 2022 trade that involved Dejounte Murray moving to Atlanta, the Spurs now possess three of the Hawks’ future first-round draft picks. If the Hawks continue to struggle and face additional injuries in the upcoming seasons, these picks could increase in value significantly. This scenario might prompt GM Landry Fields to consider a complete rebuild and entertain the idea of trading Young to the Spurs. With Young under contract until at least 2026, the Hawks could potentially regain their lost picks in exchange for Young, along with one of San Antonio’s 2024 first-round selections and players to match his salary.

Warriors point guard Chris Paul

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the San Antonio Spurs are considered one of the “potential suitors” for veteran point guard Chris Paul, who could be traded or released by the Golden State Warriors this offseason. Paul, 39, has one season remaining on his contract and averaged a career-low 9.2 points, along with 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game last season. While Paul is in the declining stage of his career and may not be a long-term fit to grow alongside Wembanyama, he could be a valuable addition for the Spurs if they do not address the point guard position through the draft or trade market.

The 12-time All-Star has proven in the latter stages of his career that he can help elevate young teams to new heights. During the 2019-2020 season, Paul played a pivotal role in guiding the Oklahoma City Thunder to a fifth-seed finish in the Western Conference, despite ESPN’s Basketball Power Index giving them a mere 0.2% chance to make the playoffs in the preseason. The following season, Paul led the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, ending the franchise’s decade-long playoff drought. Even though the Spurs may not experience the same level of team success as Oklahoma City and Phoenix did with Paul’s addition, his presence would be invaluable for the development of the Spurs’ young players.