Spurs Poised to Stay the Course as Rivals Gauge Giannis, Jazz, and Bey Situations
spurs-giannis-jazz-bey-trade-rumors-2025
The San Antonio Spurs have opened the season 21-7 and reached the NBA Cup championship game, yet front-office insiders told Grant Afseth of the Dallas Hoops Journal they do not expect the club to pursue a blockbuster deal that would jeopardize long-term roster flexibility.
“They will not just stand pat, but a swing for someone like Giannis Antetokounmpo is unlikely,” one league source said. “More practical targets are out there, and San Antonio can afford to be patient.”
Afseth reports that the Spurs’ priority is the continued development of their young core while safeguarding premium future assets. Even so, some executives wonder if the team might use part of its draft capital to land a complementary high-level contributor—comparable to the Magic’s recent move for Desmond Bane. One example mentioned was New Orleans forward Trey Murphy III, whose age and skill set align with San Antonio’s timeline.
Potential Bidders for Antetokounmpo
Should Milwaukee explore Antetokounmpo trades this season, Afseth notes that most early suitors would come from the Eastern Conference. The Heat, Knicks, Hawks, and Raptors are viewed as the primary teams to watch. Rival executives, however, remain doubtful that New York would disrupt its current roster mid-season, and Atlanta is not expected to make forward Jalen Johnson available.
Jazz Balancing Picks and Progress
Both Afseth and Jake Fischer of The Stein Line report that the Jazz intend to keep their top-eight-protected 2026 first-round pick. At the same time, Utah wants to cultivate a winning environment in the near term. Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, and restricted-free-agent-to-be Walker Kessler are considered foundational pieces. Veterans Kyle Anderson, Jusuf Nurkic, Kevin Love, and Georges Niang are listed as potential in-season trade candidates. Both team management and ownership continue to express confidence in head coach Will Hardy to steer the club out of its rebuild.
Saddiq Bey Drawing Wing-Market Attention
Saddiq Bey has become a popular name among teams searching for wing help, Afseth writes in a separate feature. Back from last season’s torn ACL, the 26-year-old Pelicans forward is averaging 15.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 29.5 minutes over 29 games, including 21 starts.
Afseth’s roundup underscores that several franchises are monitoring the trade landscape, but meaningful movement may hinge on whether marquee names actually reach the market.
Source: Hoops Rumors
