Spurs Rumors Circling Block on Pacers Guard

Try as the media might, the San Antonio Spurs seldom make trades during the season. However, a report from the offseason indicated the Spurs have a slight interest in breaking the mold. In a recent Duncan and Hollinger NBA podcast episode, Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard became a topic.

Nate Duncan essentially said that Nembhard's three-year, $58 million contract extension is Indiana's roundabout way of accumulating an asset. In Duncan's assessment, betting on Nembhard to play for the Pacers long-term is as efficient as burning money.

“I’d be shocked if he (Nembhard) finished his contract with the Pacers," Duncan said.

According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, Nembhard was a focus of the Spurs front office.

"The Spurs will be one team to monitor for Nembhard moving forward, sources said, after San Antonio registered trade interest in Nembhard this offseason." Fischer's report reads. "San Antonio called various teams around the league exploring veteran guards who have still yet to enter their primes."

If the Pacers' front office opts not to pay the luxury tax next season, they will benefit from obtaining future assets in a trade involving Nembhard. Coincidentally, the Spurs have enough assets to trade for multiple superstars. However, if they want a guard to complement the pass-first attack of 19-year veteran Chris Paul, Nembhard has the tools and experience to make such a trade worth shedding an asset or two.

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Nembhard averaged 21 points in the 2024 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics. Although he's in his third NBA season, Nembhard would possibly become the third-best player on the Spurs in the case of a trade. If the Spurs want to compete in the cruel Western Conference, the methodical franchise might have to go against their conservative philosophy regarding making midseason trades.