Victor Wembanyama’s rapid rise as a top NBA talent has heightened expectations for the San Antonio Spurs to assemble a team capable of contending in the playoffs. Despite Wembanyama’s presence over the past two seasons, the Spurs have not managed to even reach the Play-In Tournament, signaling a need to strengthen their roster around him.

San Antonio has made significant efforts to build a strong young core. Their recent drafts have added promising talent like Stephon Castle, who earned NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 2024 as a skilled guard to support Wembanyama’s frontcourt dominance. Furthermore, the Spurs secured the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting Dylan Harper, a guard regarded as one of the most impressive prospects in recent years.

Strategic Veteran Addition to Support Young Talent

To complement their youthful core of Wembanyama, Castle, and Harper, the Spurs pursued a veteran presence with playoff experience, acquiring star guard De’Aaron Fox via trade. Although Fox’s time on the court alongside Wembanyama has been brief, observers are optimistic about the duo’s potential, particularly if Fox can rediscover the form he displayed during his tenure with the Sacramento Kings.

Wemby on if the Spurs should’ve gone all-in to acquire a star this offseason: “Breaking up a young core for a single player rarely works… I want the Spurs to be a balanced team, they’ve been masters of that in that past.” —Victor Wembanyama, via @MaximeAubin1

This emphasis on balance underlines a conservative approach to team-building, focusing on a sustainable core rather than quick fixes. However, with the Western Conference loaded with strong contenders, this assemblage of young players and one veteran still faces steep competition to earn a playoff berth.

Evaluating High-Risk, High-Reward Trade Possibilities

Given that the Spurs have not qualified for the playoffs since the 2018-2019 season, some analysts suggest that an aggressive, high-risk move could be necessary to elevate the team’s standing significantly. One prominent trade proposal has revolved around acquiring Joel Embiid, a former MVP center from the Philadelphia 76ers, to form an imposing frontcourt alongside Wembanyama.

A hypothetical trade package proposed by ClutchPoints’ Jedd Pagaduan involves the Spurs receiving Embiid while sending Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, Jeremy Sochan, plus three future first-round picks to the 76ers. This reflects a substantial commitment of valuable assets from San Antonio in exchange for an established star.

Make no mistake about it, there is no way the San Antonio Spurs will agree to this trade. There is no universe where the Spurs will decide to give up all of those assets for someone like Embiid, especially not when we live in a universe where they refused to be aggressive in acquiring Kevin Durant — someone who could have fit perfectly for what they’re building around Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox. —Jedd Pagaduan, ClutchPoints

The skepticism surrounding the potential trade centers on the Spurs’ philosophy and the considerable resources required to land a player of Embiid’s caliber. Additionally, concerns about Embiid’s injury status persist. Reports indicate that Embiid’s knee condition is “bad,” raising questions about his durability going forward, especially with the 76ers dealing with other injury uncertainties, including Paul George’s expected absence at the start of training camp.

Word around the league is that the status of Joel Embiid’s knee is “bad” and Paul George expected to miss the start of 76ers training camp. —APHoops

Despite injury worries, Embiid’s dominant performances when healthy cannot be overlooked. His ability to produce exceptional numbers, including a 50-point effort in the 2024 NBA playoffs while injured, illustrates the type of game-changing presence he represents. This potential upside tempts the Spurs to consider whether risking multiple high-value assets for Embiid’s talent could accelerate their rise to playoff contention.

But if somehow, Embiid’s best self is still in there, then this could be a risk any team — including the Spurs — could talk themselves into. The last time Embiid was healthy, he was dominant; even when he was limping during the 2024 NBA playoffs, he dropped 50 and left it all out on the court. —Jedd Pagaduan, ClutchPoints

What the Future Might Hold for the Spurs and Wembanyama

Keeping Wembanyama’s development in mind, San Antonio faces a critical moment in deciding whether to continue nurturing their promising young core or to pursue a transformative trade featuring a marquee player like Joel Embiid. The organization’s past moves, including prudently acquiring De’Aaron Fox and fostering talents such as Castle and Harper, align with a patient, balanced strategy emphasizing team cohesion.

However, if the Spurs remain outside the playoff picture in the near term, pressure will increase to take bolder action. Adding Embiid could reshape the western conference landscape, presenting a unique opportunity to pair two dominant big men for the first time in modern Spurs history. The gamble involves risking valuable draft assets and young contributors, but the potential rewards, including playoff success and championship contention, are significant.

Ultimately, San Antonio’s approach to assembling around Victor Wembanyama will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, as it may either reinforce their long-term building philosophy or signal an embrace of high stakes in pursuit of immediate playoff breakthroughs.