NBA Rumors: Examining three possible trade deadline moves the San Antonio Spurs can make to establish themselves as a dangerous team in the Western Conference.

Victor Wembanyama played the part of a superstar on Christmas Day as he had quite the coming out party against the New York Knicks. Wemby finished the game with 42 points, 18 rebounds, four assists and four blocks. But as the game clock ticked down to zero, it was the Knicks who prevailed in a pretty exciting game and opened the NBA’s Christmas list. Even though Wemby was out and looked like the best player on the field, it was pretty clear that the San Antonio Spurs are still a big step away from being a real threat in the West.

If Spurs want to make a splash in the West this season, Wemby needs that real star to take the team forward. While it’s not likely to happen before the NBA trade deadline, there may be a way to get there. In this article, we examine three potential blockbuster trade candidates that could help Spurs find the supporting star alongside Wemby to take Spurs to a completely different level as a dark threat in the West.

3 blockbuster trade deadline targets to help the San Antonio Spurs move the needle

Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

There were already some rumors linking Trae Young to the San Antonio Spurs during the offseason. Ultimately, the Atlanta Hawks didn’t give up their superstar guard and kept him on the roster. But while the Hawks have shown some positive signs this season, their future is far from certain. And Young remains at the center of all questions surrounding the team’s future.

If the Hawks are at least somewhat open to trading Young, the Spurs should be interested. At the very least, they should be willing to make a call to test the trade waters. Young could help revolutionize the attack around Wemby and would certainly make life a lot easier for him on that side of the floor. If the Spurs are looking for a major upgrade to their backcourt, Young should be on the team’s shortlist.

De’Aaron Fox

There have already been some rumors that the Spurs could be looking at potentially pursuing De’Aaron Fox through a trade. Whether or not these rumors turn out to be true remains to be seen, but at least on paper, there are plenty of reasons why Fox would fit right in with what San Antonio could theoretically be looking for as they scour the trade market.

Fox fits Wemby’s schedule because he is ready to win. Even though he still has room to develop, he is already playing at a superstar level. Adding Fox into the equation gives the team an established star at the point guard position that they don’t currently have on their roster. Fox would also help legitimize this team as a deep threat in the Western Conference.

Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Can you imagine what a motivated Jimmy Butler might look like on a new team? Not even just a new team, but perhaps one with Gregg Popovich (assuming he can return to the bench) and one with Victor Wembanyama. You can bet that wherever Jimmy is traded, he will be playing with a significant chip on his shoulder. This is exactly the type of player San Antonio could be looking for to take a big step forward in the Western Conference.

However, when you take his age and contract situation into account, that doesn’t make much sense. As much as Spurs may seem suitable for a reborn Jimmy, there could be a natural hesitation given his uncertain future. But if Spurs are willing to take a risk, Jimmy is a player who should definitely be on their radar.