Three smart Spurs targets to serve as Victor Wembanyama's running mate

Despite finishing 22-60 this season, the future is bright for the San Antonio Spurs because 2023 No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama lived up to his generational billing as a rookie.

The 7-foot-4 Frenchman averaged 21.4 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 blocks per game and shot 46.5% from the floor and 32.5% from three-point range. In addition to earning Rookie of the Year honors, Wembanyama became the youngest player to lead the Association in blocks and the first rookie to be named to the All-Defensive first team.

It's fair to say that Wembanyama is the best 20-year-old basketball player we've ever seen. Still, if this season was any indication, the Spurs must revamp their roster to cater to Wembanyama's unique skill set and, most importantly, get him a viable running mate to help him carry the load.

With that in mind, here are three players San Antonio should consider targeting this offseason to become Wembanyama's running mate. 

UConn guard Stephon Castle 

The easiest route to acquiring Wembanyama's co-star would undoubtedly be through the 2024 NBA Draft, as the Spurs hold four picks, including the fourth and eighth overall selections. Although many analysts believe this is one of the weaker draft classes in some time, Castle is an intriguing player worthy of being selected as the fourth overall pick.

The 6-foot-6, 210-pounder averaged 11.1 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists for UConn's national championship-winning team last season and while he wasn't the Huskies' primary ball-handler, he'll be a point guard in the NBA.

Castle, who made 26.7% of his attempts from beyond the arc as a freshman, must improve as a shooter. However, his size and versatility on defense will allow him to quickly contribute at the next level and could help him develop into one of the NBA's top perimeter defenders.

If Castle is added to the core of Wembanyama, Devin Vassell and Jeremy Sochan, San Antonio should be able to significantly improve on the 120 defensive rating (last in the NBA) it posted this season.

Hawks point guard Trae Young 

The Atlanta Hawks have massive decisions to make this offseason, and while they could use their No. 1 overall pick to continue building around Young, the team could also simply decide to start rebuilding. If that's the case and Young becomes available via trade, San Antonio should do everything in its power to land the three-time All-Star.

Due to a torn ligament in his left pinkie, Young played just 54 games this season, though he still managed to average 25.7 points and 10.8 assists. The undersized point guard (6-foot-1, 164 pounds) is a liability as a defender, but it might not matter as much with Wembanyama patrolling the paint. These two could become the best pick-and-roll duo in the NBA from the moment they play together.

Thanks to the 2022 trade that sent guard Dejounte Murray to Atlanta, the Spurs own three of the Hawks' future first-round picks. The Hawks are already stuck in mediocrity and if they experience additional injuries next season and beyond, those selections will only become more valuable.

Perhaps that's enough of a reason for GM Landry Fields to pull the trigger on a full-scale rebuild and send Young to the Spurs. Considering the 25-year-old is under contract through at least 2026, the Hawks might be able to get their picks back for Young, as well as one of San Antonio's 2024 first-rounders and players to match his salary. 

Warriors point guard Chris Paul 

According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Spurs are considered one of the "potential suitors" for Paul, who could be traded or released by the Golden State Warriors this offseason. Paul, 39, has one season remaining on his contract and averaged a career-low 9.2 points last season, along with 3.9 rebounds and 6.8 assists per game.

While he's declining and won't be around long term to grow with Wembanyama, Paul would be a perfect addition for San Antonio if it doesn't address point guard in the draft or through the trade market.

The 12-time All-Star has proven in the later stages of his storied career that he can help take young teams to another level. During the 2019-2020 season, Paul helped the Oklahoma City Thunder finish as the fifth seed in the Western Conference despite ESPN's Basketball Power Index giving them a 0.2% chance to make the playoffs during the preseason. Then, the following season, Paul guided the Phoenix Suns to the 2021 NBA Finals, snapping the franchise's decade-long playoff drought in the process.

Even though the Spurs probably wouldn't experience as much team success as Oklahoma City and Phoenix did by adding Paul, his presence would be invaluable for their young players' development.