Rich Paul Once Pushed to Pair Victor Wembanyama with $215 Million All-Star
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama was nearly paired with a different All-Star point guard in a move that could have reshaped the team’s future. 
Since winning the top pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Spurs have made it clear that Wembanyama, the 7-foot-3 phenom, is the cornerstone of their franchise. In his second season, Wembanyama posted impressive stats, averaging 24.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and a league-high 3.8 blocks per game. He was also a frontrunner for the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award before his season was cut short by deep vein thrombosis.
Despite Wembanyama’s ability to lead the Spurs into contention right now, the team has shown no rush in their approach. They have a long-term vision and plan to build a championship-contending team around him for the next decade, avoiding any short-term moves that would jeopardize that future.
Spurs Want to Compete, But Not at the Expense of Their Future
Though hesitant to part with valuable assets for a trade like superstar Kevin Durant this offseason, the Spurs were still aggressive at the February trade deadline. They acquired All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox to form a dynamic duo with Wembanyama, building a core around their young players like Stephon Castle, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Dylan Harper, and Carter Bryant. Fox, 27, is the oldest of that group but is signed to a new supermax contract extension, further solidifying the team’s future.
However, there was a scenario where the Spurs could have paired Wembanyama with a different star point guard—Trae Young.
Trae Young Was a Potential Spur
While Fox’s addition may prove to be a great fit, the Spurs did explore other options. According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, when Trae Young was represented by agent Rich Paul, his camp was pushing for a move to San Antonio, believing Young could be an ideal playmaking partner for Wembanyama. At the time, Paul was focused on placing one of his All-Star clients—Young, Fox, or Darius Garland—alongside the French phenom.
Young, 26, is a four-time NBA All-Star and arguably a more established star than Fox, but ultimately, the Spurs opted for Fox. One key factor in the decision was that Fox’s contract started a year earlier than Young’s, as a 2017 draft pick, which created more urgency in resolving his future. Combined with Fox’s strong connection to Texas, these factors helped the Spurs finalize the deal.
While Wembanyama’s season-ending condition prevented the Spurs from getting a full look at how he and Fox would mesh on the court, the franchise is likely content with its decision to go with Fox over Young, as they build their future around their new star.
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