What do you get from a team that seemingly has everything? The San Antonio Spurs approach Christmas with that question, with the NBA trade season unofficially beginning.
The Spurs could use more shooting and perimeter defense, and during a recent episode of Zach Lowe’s podcast, guest Michael Pina suggested a trade that would address both. The proposed trade would be to acquire Milwaukee Bucks guard Gary Trent Jr.
Trent Jr. would be an intriguing trade target for several reasons. First and foremost is that he is a talented shooter. He’s drilled 39.9% of his 6.1 3-point attempts per game over the last three seasons.
He is also a capable defender, albeit not a lockdown one. If he were, he’d probably be making a lot more than $3.6 million. Speaking of his salary, that makes him easier to trade for, with contenders easily being able to match dollars in a potential trade.
Gary Trent Jr. is an intriguing trade target for the Spurs
The Spurs could technically trade Jordan McLaughlin and two good second-rounders and possibly convince the Bucks to move on from Trent Jr. They may soon be in rebuild mode and likely will look to trade every player of value, including Trent Jr.
With him on a one-year deal, they aren’t getting a first-rounder for him, but multiple seconds seems like a reasonable ask. San Antonio has plenty of quality second-round picks, which could allow them to potentially outbid other contenders.
As far as fit, Trent Jr. would add a sharp shooter off the bench, ensuring that they’d have enough spacing around star Victor Wembanyama. He might not have a big role with the Spurs this season given how deep this team is at guard, but San Antonio can never have enough shooting.
Gary Trent Jr. is a buy-low trade target for the Spurs
This is especially with them often playing four perimeter players and one big. Having Trent Jr. as a reliable weapon on both ends would make this team that much deeper and, therefore, that much harder to beat come playoff time.
The cost is also low enough that it would not disrupt San Antonio’s rotation or deplete its cache of draft picks. It’s a reasonable move that could help the Spurs become a little deeper and a little harder to beat.
This is the exact low-cost trade target the Spurs should have on their radar if they are still open to making a move at the deadline and if the Bucks are willing to part with him.