Home Basketball NBA Victor Wembanyama Spurs Season Boost: France Teammate Guerschon Yabusele Sparks Trade Rumors

Victor Wembanyama Spurs Season Boost: France Teammate Guerschon Yabusele Sparks Trade Rumors

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Victor Wembanyama Spurs Season Boost: France Teammate Guerschon Yabusele Sparks Trade Rumors
Victor Wembanyama bulks up, poised to elevate the San Antonio Spurs in the upcoming season with renewed health and strength.

The San Antonio Spurs are poised for a breakthrough in the upcoming season, with Victor Wembanyama expected to return fully healthy, De’Aaron Fox settled into the lineup, and top draft pick Dylan Harper ready to contribute. With these assets and an exciting young core, the Spurs remain well-positioned to pursue significant trades or attract top free agents as they rebuild.

Among the intriguing stories this offseason is the Spurs’ reported interest in French forward Guerschon Yabusele, who recently became an unrestricted free agent. Yabusele made a strong return to the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2024-25 season and gained added attention following his role alongside Wembanyama on the French national team, which earned the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Michael Scotto, in his latest free agency update for HoopsHype, highlighted the Spurs as a key team tracking Yabusele’s free agent status.

“After proving himself as a consistent NBA player, Yabusele is set to cash in this summer as an unrestricted free agent,” Scotto wrote.

“The San Antonio Spurs are among several teams expected to have interest in Yabusele during free agency, league sources told HoopsHype.”

Last season, Yabusele earned career-best numbers while on a minimum contract with the 76ers, averaging 11.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists over 27.1 minutes per game. He shot an efficient 50.1% from the field and connected on 38.0% of his three-point attempts, showcasing the versatility that makes him attractive to multiple teams.

Victor Wembanyama
Image of: Victor Wembanyama

While the Spurs have expressed interest, Yabusele’s market is expected to be competitive, with the 76ers among the teams looking to retain the forward’s services. Yabusele’s NBA journey began with the Boston Celtics before he moved overseas, where his performance—including his standout moment against LeBron James in the Olympic gold medal game—helped solidify his growing reputation.

Victor Wembanyama Increases Strength Ahead of Next Season

Victor Wembanyama has been a dominant defensive presence despite his slender frame, and his sophomore season saw him leading Defensive Player of the Year discussions until a shoulder blood clot sidelined him after the All-Star break. This offseason, he has focused on adding muscle to better withstand the rigors of the NBA.

On Kevin Hart’s Cold as Balls podcast, Wembanyama revealed that he entered the league weighing between 215 and 220 pounds, but he now weighs around 245 pounds. When asked about balancing increased strength with the need to maintain agility, he explained the careful approach he’s taking.

“I’m in strength training of course, but the main thing for me is I could in theory, put on a lot of weight, but I would lose some of my mobility, some of my athleticism,” Wembanyama replied.

Beyond basketball, Wembanyama’s offseason has included unique experiences such as training at Shaolin temples, reflecting a holistic approach to his development on and off the court.

The Spurs’ future looks promising if Wembanyama returns healthy and teammates like Yabusele join forces with their growing young group. With De’Aaron Fox blending seamlessly and Dylan Harper set to contribute after being the second overall draft pick, San Antonio is well-equipped to push for significant progress next season. The potential acquisition of Yabusele would add valuable depth and experience, especially given his recent Olympic success and NBA improvement, making the Spurs a team to watch closely in the coming months.

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