This is a prediction.
The San Antonio Spurs have kicked off the 2025-26 season by taking the leap that many expected to see. They’ve jumped out to a 15-7 record and hold the fifth spot in the West. Victor Wembanyama is driving that surge with 26.2 points and 12.9 rebounds per game, although he’s been banged up lately.
But even with that push, a few problems keep showing up. They’re hitting only 36.1 percent from deep, which leaves them in the middle of the pack. You can see the impact in the half court, where the spacing tightens, drives get clogged, and the offense slows down.
Their backcourt logjam adds to it. De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, and rookie Dylan Harper all operate best with the ball, and their strengths overlap. None of them stretches the floor consistently, and that makes it harder to fully unlock Wembanyama’s advantages.
If the Spurs want to make a real title push this year, they need someone who fits their offense more cleanly.
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Austin Reaves to the Spurs: Potential Trade IdeaÂ
Spurs Receive: Austin Reaves
Lakers Receive: Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, 2027 first-round pick (via Atlanta)
This move gives the Spurs a polished, high-level guard who can score from all three levels and ease the offensive crunch that they’re facing.
Why Austin Reaves Fits the Spurs
Austin Reaves has pushed his way into star status in Los Angeles. He’s putting up 29.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 6.8 assists on more than 51 percent shooting, and the outbursts back it up. He already has a 51-point game, several nights over 40, and has shown a grip on crunch-time possessions.Â
He creates shots off the dribble, lives comfortably in the mid-range, sets up teammates, and shifts between roles without missing a beat. His true-shooting mark sits at 61.6 percent, which puts him among the league’s best offensive engines.
He competes on the other end too, using positioning and anticipation to stay in plays, even if elite speed can catch him. Drop him into a Spurs roster that badly needs spacing and a more organized half-court presence, and he immediately sharpens the entire structure around Wembanyama.
What the Lakers Gain in Return
The Lakers would be making a bet on upside and depth.
Stephon Castle
Castle has emerged as one of the league’s sharpest young guards in his second season. He’s producing 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists with strong efficiency, and he hasn’t lost any defensive edge after taking on a bigger role.
He regularly checks stars like Luka Doncic and Devin Booker and still finds ways to impact the game on both ends.
In Los Angeles, he would give them size in the backcourt and the strength to drive and create. With Doncic steering the offense, Castle’s ability to guard bigger matchups and take on secondary playmaking becomes even more valuable.
Julian Champagnie
Champagnie has grown into a reliable rotation wing. His catch-and-shoot ability, corner spacing, and improved defense make him an easy fit in any system built on movement and off-ball discipline.
2027 First-Round Pick
This adds future flexibility and helps Los Angeles keep one eye on post-LeBron roster construction.
How the Deal Shapes Each Team’s Future
Reaves fixes San Antonio’s biggest problem and can help lift their offense the moment he arrives. The cost stings, though. Moving Castle, Champagnie, and a first-rounder is a heavy swing. Castle already looks like a long-term pillar beside Wembanyama.
The move speeds up their timeline, but some may argue that it’s maybe faster than they’re ready for.
Los Angeles would add a young two-way guard, a steady rotation wing, and a future pick without losing ground in the playoff chase. Reaves is the best player in the deal, but the package they get back gives them balance and a clearer long view.