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Athlon Sports
San Antonio Spurs Trade Target Would Re-Establish Dominant Duo
By Jonah Kubicek,
2 days ago
The San Antonio Spurs had a busy offseason, but that is expected to just be the beginning. After smartly drafting Stephon Castle fourth overall, the Spurs signed free agent Chris Paul and traded for Harrison Barnes with the hopes of adding wins.
However, the Spurs' main priority remains adding young talent that compliments Victor Wembanyama. So far, their core of Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Castle will do an excellent job, but they could still add a defensive-minded forward to the fold.
Jan 20, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1) drives to the basket as Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) defends in the second half at Capital One Arena.
Enter Bilal Coulibaly. According to Bleacher Report, Coulibaly joins Anfernee Simons and Darius Garland as the Spurs' ideal trade targets. Simons and Garland are both guards who would get Wembanyama the ball on offense, and we have covered both of their fits before on Inside the Spurs, although Coulibaly presents an interesting third option.
Coulibaly, like Wembanyama, is 20 years old. In his rookie season with the Washington Wizards, he averaged 8.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.7 assists while shooting 34.6 percent from deep. Drafted seventh overall, he was seen as a long-term project who would eventually become one of the best defenders in the NBA, although he will take time to adjust.
He has also played with Victor Wembanyama, twice.
When Wembanyama was winning the French League MVP, Coulibaly was right there next to him on Metropolitans 92. He also suited up for the French National Team, winning silver in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While Coulibaly did not excel on either stage as Wembanyama did, the Spurs could still add a friendly face to their roster. It might cost more than most players of his caliber, given his sky-high potential, but it would make their superstar happy, which alone might be worth giving up two first-round picks.
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