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The trade deadline came and went, and the Spurs were one of three teams that did nothing. San Antonio’s roster remains the same. Jeremy Sochan, who was the most likely player to be moved, is still around. There were no small moves around the edges, either.
The quiet deadline will likely disappoint some, but it can’t come as a major surprise. The Spurs, for better or for worse, have looked comfortable waiting on their young core to develop while winning at an unexpected rate. They refused to engage in talks for Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo aggressively in the past, and only made Sochan available because his representation asked for permission to find a new home, per reports.
While it would have been great to see them either take a big swing to improve their chances of a deep playoff run or an opportunistic trade that got them even a minor upgrade, the Spurs have made not skipping steps one of their mantras. The surprisingly good record suggests they are one of the best teams in the league, but it’s understandable for the front office to have doubts about whether this iteration is truly ahead of schedule and to want to see how this group performs in the postseason before making changes. When your superstar is 22, you have his veteran running mate locked up for the future, and you have two potential stars with years left on their rookie deals, you can afford to be patient.
Normally, it would be hard to avoid comparisons to teams in similar situations that did improve, but it wasn’t the most active of deadlines for the good Western Conference teams in general. The Rockets were one of the other teams that didn’t make any moves. The Thunder traded for Jared McCain, an intriguing addition that seems to be more about the future than the present, as the second-year guard has not been the same since the injury that truncated his rookie season. The Nuggets salary-dumped Hunter Tyson to avoid the tax. The Timberwolves improved their guard rotation by acquiring Ayo Dosunmu from the Bulls, but lost the leadership of Mike Conley and the promise of Rob Dillingham in the process. The balance of power in the West has largely stayed the same.
The season should continue without many surprises but internally, the Spurs do have a significant question to answer: What happens to Jeremy Sochan? The former lottery pick is not in the rotation and is still out with injury. There was reportedly no market for him unless a pick was attached, which, understandably, the front office refused to do. The league seems to see Sochan’s value similarly to how he’s perceived by Mitch Johnson. He’s slated to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season, and it feels unlikely he’ll get much playing time going forward. Should buying him out so he can find minutes elsewhere be an option? It would certainly cement San Antonio’s reputation as a player-friendly franchise, and it would open up a roster spot. It would also represent a sad and drastic end to the relationship, but it might be the best for all involved.
Beyond the Sochan question, the deadline has brought clarity. The Spurs don’t think they are a move away from true contention, and they are probably right in that assessment. They have one of the most promising young cores in the league, and they believe they have the right veterans around them to guide them into their first playoff run. They chose to keep their books unclogged and their powder dry for the offseason, a time in which they will have a better understanding of what’s needed to take the next step. The lack of shooting will remain an issue, and the depth at center won’t be ideal, but if there were no great opportunities to solve either problem, it made sense to be patient. They’ll rely on internal development for now before hopefully finding their Aaron Gordon/Alex Caruso trade down the line.
Change is exciting and often necessary for growth. Indecision and complacency can masquerade as patience. It’s understandable to look at the Spurs’ current state and see it as stagnation, but only if the focus is placed on the last few days. The bigger picture, however, shows a franchise that has made strides since lucking into Victor Wembanyama by not rushing into anything and being opportunistic.
Eventually, the Spurs will need to make some bold decisions. They simply believe they are not at that point yet, as their actions since the last offseason have signaled. Whether you agree or disagree with their assessment, it’s good to see the front office remain consistent with its plan even amid the chaos that the deadline represents.