The San Antonio Spurs remain firmly focused on the long game as the 2025-26 NBA season approaches Christmas, but that doesn’t mean they should sit on their hands. With Victor Wembanyama already playing at an All-NBA level and the Western Conference possibly beginning to open up with the recent skid by the Thunder, the Spurs are approaching the point where adding high-end complementary talent makes sense.
NBA: Spurs Should Trade For Trey Murphy III Before Deadline
One name that continues to stand out is New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III.
Here’s why the Spurs should look into acquiring the 5th-year pro ahead of the trade deadline:
1. A Long-Term Answer At The Wing
The Spurs’ need for long-term wing depth will show its face this coming offseason. Harrison Barnes has provided professionalism and experience, but his contract is set to expire, and he’s not part of San Antonio’s long-term core. Once Barnes is off the books, the Spurs could use a two-way wing who can consistently defend, shoot, and thrive off Wembanyama’s gravity.
Murphy fits that profile almost perfectly. He’s a rangy wing who can space the floor and defend multiple positions, skills that translate seamlessly next to Wembanyama. Adding Murphy would allow San Antonio to lock in a starter-level wing through his prime, rather than scrambling for replacements in future free-agent markets.
2. The Spurs Have The Capital
Few teams in the league are better positioned to make a trade without gutting their future than San Antonio. The Spurs still control a massive collection of draft picks from previous deals, along with a group of young players who can be moved without disrupting the Wembanyama timeline.
That flexibility matters. The Spurs can make a competitive offer for Murphy while still preserving their most valuable assets. Whether it’s future first-round picks, pick swaps, or young rotation players, San Antonio has multiple pathways to structure a deal that appeals to New Orleans without jeopardizing their long-term vision.
3. New Orleans Should Be In Sell Mode
The Pelicans’ season has gone off the rails, as it typically does before the calendar year shifts. An 8–23 start has effectively ended any realistic hopes, and New Orleans is staring down difficult questions about the direction of the franchise. When teams fall this far behind early, the focus often shifts from salvaging the season to maximizing future assets, and they have a handful of players that other NBA teams could be interested in.
Timing matters in the NBA, and this feels like a rare alignment of need, opportunity, and leverage for the Spurs.
