The San Antonio Spurs are widely projected to take another leap in the 2025-26 NBA campaign as they seek to make the playoffs for the first time since 2019. However, Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor believes they are a big-name trade away from unlocking their Victor Wembanyama-led core’s full potential.
Despite its injury woes, San Antonio experienced a 12-win improvement last season, finishing 34-48. It did so despite Wembanyama (shoulder) and the Spurs’ marquee trade deadline acquisition, De’Aaron Fox (finger), appearing in just five games together.
With Wembanyama fully recovered from his season-ending blood clot scare and San Antonio having rounded out its depth this offseason, anticipation is growing for a possible breakout year.
Kevin O’Connor Encourages Spurs To Pursue Lauri Markkanen Trade
On Wednesday’s episode of “The Kevin O’Connor Show,” O’Connor previewed San Antonio’s upcoming campaign, noting that it had a “busy offseason.” The organization added crafty guard Dylan Harper and two-way forward Carter Bryant at No. 2 and No. 14 in this year’s draft. It then acquired a pair of proven big men, Luke Kornet and Kelly Olynyk, via free agency and trade.
Still, O’Connor sees another move on the horizon for the Spurs, identifying Utah Jazz star forward Lauri Markkanen as an ideal trade target who could address a lingering weakness.
“Lauri Markkanen is one of the types of guys that if I’m the Spurs, I’m like, ‘Yes, sign me up. Bring me Lauri Markkanen,’ because of the shooting ability and everything he does on-ball, off-ball, motion, movement, passing,” O’Connor said. “Lauri Markkanen fits anywhere, and he brings exactly what the Spurs need with his shooting ability in the frontcourt.”
According to the analyst, Markkanen’s outside shooting prowess and all-around versatility would open up the floor for Wembanyama and Fox, allowing the dynamic duo to reach its ceiling.
“I think they need to trade, in part because of the lack of shooting, and Victor and De’Aaron Fox aren’t going to be as potent as they should be able to be on paper with Fox’s speed and downhill attacking, and Victor being the alien that he is,” O’Connor reasoned.
“Those guys should be one of the best combinations in the league. I don’t think the roster around them is quite exactly what it needs to be for them to reach their potential. That’s where a trade’s gonna have to come in at some point this year or next summer.”
Markkanen has been heavily featured in trade rumors amid Utah’s rebuild. The franchise is coming off a league-worst 17-win season, with “The Finnisher” limited to 47 outings due to knee and back injuries.
However, the one-time All-Star thrived at EuroBasket 2025, averaging a team-best 23.1 points per game as he nearly guided Finland to its first podium finish at the tournament. As such, now may be an optimal time for the Jazz to sell high on their top player and further restock for the future.
Markkanen, 28, is entering Year 1 of his four-year, $195,868,144 contract extension, making him a potential long-term tertiary scoring option for the Spurs’ young core.
