Spurs could have acquired Trae Young this summer

ESPN suggests San Antonio could have gotten the all-star guard this offseason.

Before summer began, there was an expectation that the San Antonio Spurs would have a splashy offseason. With star guards available on the trade market, many thought the Spurs would be major suitors. Fast forward to September, and fans are getting ready to see how the newly acquired Chris Paul, Harrison Barnes and Stephon Castle fit in with the rest of San Antonio’s young core. According to ESPN, the Spurs could have acquired even more star power this offseason.

On ESPN’s The Hoop Collective Podcast, Tim MacMahon said the Spurs could have “easily gone and gotten” Atlanta Hawks guard, Trae Young.

Young has been a rumored trade target of the Spurs dating back to the trade deadline last season. The all-star guard was on the trade block this summer, but Atlanta could find no suitors. According to MacMahon, his trade value is at its lowest, making it hard for the Hawks to trade him.

At 25-years-old, Young made his third All-Star team last season. He averaged 25.7 and 10.8 assists while shooting 37.3% from three. He struggled defensively and with turnovers, averaging 4.4 giveaways per game. The Hawks struggled this season and ended up surprisingly winning the NBA Draft Lottery, and selected Zaccharie Risacher with the first overall pick. After trading former Spur, Dejounte Murray, it looked like they may tear the roster down and rebuild.

This made the Spurs a likely trade partner, as they own the Hawks 2025 and 2027 unprotected first-round picks. Any deal for Young was likely to include at least one of those picks. It sounds like, according to MacMahon, that San Antonio wasn’t interested in making that deal. Whether that’s because they don’t value Young as a player, or like the ‘25 and ‘27 draft assets more is unknown. Regardless, the Spurs felt good enough about the young core to add veterans to it and see what they can do with the extra assets in future moves.

I wouldn’t consider the Young to San Antonio rumors squashed just yet. If the Silver and Black get off to a hot start and see a fast track to contention ahead of them, Young is a player that could help them get there. An in-season trade is always a possibility, especially with the assets the Spurs hold. If a deal isn’t done in-season, it’s hard to see Atlanta agreeing to a deal that doesn’t include their own 2025 pick in a stacked draft. San Antonio would head into that draft with three potential first-round picks.

Without Young, the Spurs still have plenty of talent at the lead guard spot. CP3 is older, but still a basketball legend. Tre Jones played his best basketball at the end of the season and should thrive in a bench role. Castle oozes potential and should make a real impact defensively in his rookie season. The Spurs didn’t make the splashy superstar acquisition this summer, but they should still see a major improvement at the position next season.