The Spurs’ biggest mistake at the 2026 NBA trade deadline after 0 deals

Twenty seven teams made a trade at the NBA trade deadline. The San Antonio Spurs were not one of them. This was a big change of pace as the team has been active in improving their roster in recent years. Their core is loaded with high-profile recruits such as Victor Wembanyama, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle and Devin Vassell.

They also made a huge trade at last year’s trade deadline when they deal for De’Aaron Fox. The Spurs are now one of the best teams in the Western Conference, but was their inactivity at the trade deadline a mistake?

Not moving up at the trade deadline was a mistake for the Spurs

The Spurs are in second place in the Western Conference. They took a step forward this year and should contend for years to come. The team is 36-16 seventh in both points (117.6) and points against (112.2). Vembanjama is 7-foot-4, a perennial MVP candidate and an offensive unicorn.

However, he is only one of eight players on the team to average double figures. Fox has incredible speed, Harper was one of the best players in his first year, and Castle is the reigning Rookie of the Year. Furthermore, Vasell, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson and Julian Champagne took on the necessary 3-and-D roles.

It often takes time for teams to become legitimate contenders in the postseason, but there’s no doubt that the Spurs are one of the best teams in the NBA. Adding at the trade deadline could have helped them make a real run at the NBA Finals this season. The Spurs have a young core and still didn’t want to mortgage the future for an all-in trade.

However, they have resources to spare, and could make a trade without sacrificing anyone from their core. The Spurs still have seven future first-round picks. In one of the busiest trade deadlines ever, both stars and role players were on the trading block.

Trade for Giannis Antetokounmpo, for example, he was shut down pretty quickly by the Spurs organization. However, the two-time MVP made too much sense as a trade target for San Antonio. The The Milwaukee Bucks did not trade Antetokounmpo despite his desire to find a new home, illustrating that Spurs could probably outbid anyone for his services as the offers were seemingly overwhelming.

Even if the Spurs weren’t going to make a blockbuster, they could have made a lower-stakes trade that didn’t change their outlook too much going forward, but could have brought veteran experience and leadership into the playoffs. Players such as Jose Alvarado, Nick Richards, Luke Kennard, Ayo Dosunmu and Jared McCain were acquired to various teams within the deadline for relatively cheap.

Any of these players could be available and helpful to the Spurs. All of these players have plenty of experience, are on cheap contracts and have a skill set that would benefit the Spurs. Instead, San Antonio was passive, and they stood on the sidelines while the rest of the league tried to do better.

Championship windows don’t last forever in the NBA. While this is seen as just the beginning of what could be a special run for the Spurs, the potential for the team not to contend for as long as expected cannot be ruled out. Vembanyama’s injury history only fuels this sentiment, and the team could end up pinching themselves for not being aggressive at the 2026 NBA trade deadline.