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After some down years, the San Antonio Spurs appear to be cracking open a championship window thanks to a rising young core led by Victor Wembanyama.
The next challenge for the Spurs will be whether to make an "all-in" move this season, or kick the can down the road for another year as Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, De'Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper continue to gel.
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While the Spurs (27-12) are unlikely to get in the mix for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Lauri Markkanen before the NBA's Feb. 5 trade deadline, Bleacher Report's Andy Bailey predicts that the West's #2 seed still will be active in trade talks by pursuing New Orleans Pelicans forward Trey Murphy III.
"The closer we get to the deadline, the harder it is to imagine San Antonio parting with either of Harper or Castle (or even De'Aaron Fox)," Bailey wrote. "And the easier it is to imagine the Spurs taking some portion of a Giannis or Markkanen offer and still landing a potential difference-maker like Trey Murphy III."
Though the Pelicans reportedly took Murphy and others off the trade block last week, a big offer from the Spurs could alter New Orleans' stance in the coming days.
If San Antonio can prize Murphy out of New Orleans, they would be getting a forward in the first year of a four-year, $112 million that is quickly looking like outrageous value.
Murphy this season is averaging 21.6 points on 49.8 percent shooting from the field, 38.6 percent shooting from 3-point range and 90.4 percent accuracy from the free-throw line.
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