NBA Rumors: 5 ideal stars Spurs can realistically pair with Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs are 7-32, dead last in the Western Conference. And yet, all eyes are on the meteoric development of No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama. Despite a minutes restriction, the 7-foot-4 wunderkind is averaging 21.2 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.7 blocks on .520/.319/.843 splits over his last 10 games. Wembanyama has achieved those numbers in 23.9 minutes per contest.

San Antonio isn't good yet, but it won't be long until Wembanyama is the foundation of a perennial contender. He faces abnormally strong competition in the Rookie of the Year race, courtesy of OKC's Chet Holmgren, but few rookies have performed at Wembanyama's current level in recent memory. He is already one of the best rim protectors in the league and a bonafide awards candidate who leads the NBA in stocks.

Extrapolate Wembanyama's recent numbers to per 36 minutes, and your eyes are liable to pop out of your skull.

The Spurs don't need to wait around patiently for the core to develop. Wembanyama can lead a winner right now. That doesn't mean the Spurs should rush, but at the same time, the clock is ticking on Gregg Popovich's historic career. San Antonio has a hearty collection of draft assets and enough young talent to orchestrate a star trade around Wembanyama.

Recent NBA rumors connect San Antonio to Atlanta Hawks All-Star Dejounte Murray. The Spurs need a point guard, but the specific interest in Murray suggests a desire to climb the competitive ladder quickly. If not this season, perhaps next season San Antonio will set its sights on the playoffs.

The Spurs need to exercise the necessary caution, but the following NBA stars would pair beautifully with Wembanyama in theory. And, better yet, each one has a fairly realistic path to one day landing in the Lone Star state.

5. Spurs can pair Victor Wembanyama and Mikal Bridges

Mikal Bridges is plainly miscast as the No. 1 option for the Brooklyn Nets. After thriving in unexpected ways after the 2023 trade deadline, Bridges' efficiency has come back to earth in the new season. He's still averaging 21.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists on .450/.343/.847 splits, but Brooklyn's reliance on Bridges as a mid-range maestro and self-creator is not sustainable. Especially not in the playoffs.

Brooklyn has no reason to tank, having traded all its picks away for James Harden. But, the Nets can still read the room. Bridges is 27 years old and under contract through 2025-26. The Nets could trade for another star to pair with Bridges, but it's difficult to chart Brooklyn's path to actual contention before Bridges hits the open market. There's no rush to move Bridges, but there's a world in which the Nets stockpile assets in a trade, develop their young talent, and wait for the right No. 1 star to eye NYC.

If Bridges ever hits the market, the Spurs would be wise to come knocking. The Spurs need a true point guard to run the offense and generate easy looks for Wembanyama. Bridges doesn't address that particular need. Even so, his fit as the league's 3-and-D poster child — an elite spot-up shooter and straight-line driver with DPOY upside — is hard to deny.

The Nets would pair Wembanyama's paint protection with Bridges' ability to suffocate ball-handlers and eliminate passing lanes. Bridges finished second in DPOY voting back in 2022, receiving 22 first-place votes. The Spurs would have arguably the strongest defensive foundation in the NBA, to go along with an elite volume shooter and off-ball scorer in Bridges. He isn't a proper No. 1 option, but Bridges can still attack closeouts, flow effortlessly into mid-range pull-ups, and deploy his length to finish around the basket.

4. Spurs can pair Victor Wembanyama and Lauri Markkanen

The Utah Jazz will reportedly listen to Lauri Markkanen offers. It will take a lot to pry the 'Finnisher' away from Salt Lake City, as 7-foot sharpshooters with Markkanen's defensive versatility and immense affordability are difficult to come by. Markkanen is under contract through next season at roughly $18 million annually. For the season, he is averaging 24.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists on .497/.397/.875 splits in 32.4 minutes.

Markkanen is on track for another All-Star berth. The Jazz have won six straight to break above .500 and move into the postseason picture. Will Hardy is a rising star at head coach and Markkanen is the driving force behind an explosive, oftentimes unconventional offense. The Jazz were in a similar position last season before Danny Ainge traded half the team at the deadline to encourage a tank.

That could happen once again in 2024. If it does, the Spurs should put in a considerable offer for Markkanen. He doesn't solve the playmaking need, but San Antonio would roster two of the most dynamic offensive bigs in the NBA. Markkanen can defend wings and operate all over the floor on offense. He doesn't create much for others, but Markkanen is a versatile 3-point sniper, a polished mid-range operator, and a deadly straight-line driver due to his unique blend of size, skill, and body control. San Antonio would be able to run Wembanyama-Markkanen DHOs. Five-four pick-and-rolls. You name it. The offensive possibilities are extensive, and Markkanen's persistent 3-point gravity would naturally improve Wembanyama's workspace on the interior.

More than ever, the best NBA teams are investing in the intersection between size and skill. The Spurs would still need to look for guard help elsewhere, but Wembanyama and Markkanen is a legitimate championship-level core sooner than later.

3. Spurs can pair Victor Wembanyama and Donovan Mitchell

The uncertainty around Donovan Mitchell's future with the Cleveland Cavaliers is palpable. Whether the Cavs want to move on or not, there's a strong chance Mitchell is available via trade or free agency in the next couple of years. While it's fair to question the competitive ceiling of a diminutive scoring guard of Mitchell's ilk, he can absolutely compete for a title in the right setting. It's hard to fathom a better situation than San Antonio.

Mitchell is one of the NBA's preeminent slashers, putting constant pressure on the rim and scoring with both force and finesse around the basket. He's also a prolific pull-up shooter, with 45 of 92 made 3s this season being unassisted. Mitchell can get to his spots at will, blessed with an explosive first step and unreal gear-shift ability. Few better three-level scorers exist. For the season, Mitchell is averaging 28.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists on .459/.351/.879 splits in 35.9 minutes.

While Mitchell has improved drastically as a creator for others in recent years (5.8 assists to 2.8 turnovers), he can struggle with bouts of tunnel vision. The primary knock on Mitchell is his difficult shot diet, combined with the defensive limitations inherent to 6-foot-3 guards. Mitchell is a tier-one athlete, with the strength and burst to guard up a couple positions, but he generally doesn't provide sustained resistance on that end of the floor.

Wembanyama is the perfect Mitchell co-star on paper. His offensive skill set is completely scalabe. Wemby is a bonafide self-creator, but he's also comfortable as a screener who can finish above the rim, pop out to the 3-point line, and operate in various ways off the catch.

On defense, Wembanyama is already the NBA's greatest paper towel. He's 10-ply, man. There isn't a mess he can't clean up. Whatever lapses Mitchell is responsible for, Wembanyama is the ideal mitigator. Mitchell can create out of pick-and-rolls and give the Spurs a reliable source of paint touches. Wembanyama can plug the holes around him. It's fair to doubt Mitchell's desire to stick around San Antonio long-term, but the Wembanyama fit has to be compelling.

2. Spurs can pair Victor Wembanyama and LaMelo Ball

The Spurs would benefit most of all from a truly elite playmaker. A point guard. The Charlotte Hornets remain committed to LaMelo Ball for the moment, as they should. But, at some point, the unbreakable mediocrity in Charlotte is bound to get to Ball. He's too good to waste away on a perennial loser. The Hornets probably want him to put together a fully healthy season first, but there's a reasonable chance the 22-year-old is on the move within the next few years. Sometimes, it's simply time to hit the reset button.

San Antonio should highlight Ball as one of the ideal potential teammates for Wembanyama. In addition to their timelines aligning on the age front, Ball's skill set would meaningfully ease the burden on the latest No. 1 pick. Ball would take over as San Antonio's primary creator, immediately increasing the Spurs' offensive tempo while bringing peerless playmaking creativity in the halfcourt.

Ball isn't the most traditional point guard. He doesn't use endless dribbling forays to set up the defense and generate playmaking angles. He works at a break-neck pace, processing the game at light speed and manifesting angles out of thin air. Ball gets a bad rap for the Hornets' erratic play style and general lack of stability, but it is undeserved. He's a naturally selfless passing wizard who would fit seamlessly in Gregg Popovich's movement-oriented system.

He needs to get more comfortable working off the ball, but LaMelo is 6-foot-7 with deep 3-point range and feather-soft touch. He's not the best finisher at the rim, but it's not difficult to imagine him as a useful spacer, cutter, and connective passer on possessions where Wembanyama takes the offensive reins. He's simply too smart not to find ways to impact winning.

Ball can fall prey to shaky shot selection and the dire circumstances of Charlotte's offense, but the structure of Popovich's system and the immense star-power of Wembanyama could inspire the best basketball of Ball's career.

1. Spurs can pair Victor Wembanyama and Trae Young

Sources close to Trae Young believe he is open to playing with Wembanyama in San Antonio, per Matt Moore of The Action Network. The Hawks are currently seven games below .500 with no discernible direction as a franchise. There's a good chance the roster around Young is gutted at the trade deadline. Eventually, both Young and Atlanta will have to take stock of the situation and consider change.

Young is probably the ideal Wembanyama co-star that can realistically hit the market. Their skill sets blend perfectly. Young is the league's most prolific halfcourt creator, manipulating defenses with flavorful handles, bursty speed, and mesmeric passing chops. He currently is second in assists per game (10.9) while averaging 27.5 points on .422/.363/.855 splits in 36.5 minutes.

Young would supply the Spurs with a source of paint pressure, 3-point volume, and true offensive ingenuity. Plug Young's bubbly shot creation in two-man actions with a 7-foot-4 Swiss Army Knife, and defenses won't have many answers.

Wembanyama is dying for easier shot attempts in San Antonio. The Spurs' most productive basketball occurs when Tre Jones shares the court with their new alpha. Young would feed Wemby on lobs and set up plenty of easy finishes out of the pick-and-roll.

On the flip side, Wembanyama's ability to face up and drive the lane would allow Young to expand his repertoire off the ball. Wemby's passing has been a treat to watch lately. San Antonio would have the luxury of engineering DHOs and inverted pick-and-rolls to maximize the scoring gravity of their two stars. Wembanyama picking up steam downhill while Young screens and sprints to the 3-point line is quite the thought.

On defense, Young has competed well this season. He's getting stops at the point of attack and putting in the effort. Still, there are natural limitations for skinny 6-foot-2 guards. Thankfully, Wembanyama can clean up messes and wall off the paint. As far as hypothetical two-man pairings go, few top this.