The San Antonio Spurs have had a busy offseason, but this is likely just the beginning of their efforts to build a strong team. After wisely selecting Stephon Castle with the fourth overall pick in the draft, the Spurs signed free agent Chris Paul and traded for Harrison Barnes in hopes of boosting their win record. However, their primary focus remains on acquiring young talent that complements Victor Wembanyama. While their current core of Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Castle shows promise, they could benefit from adding a defensive-minded forward to the mix.
One potential target is Bilal Coulibaly. According to Bleacher Report, Coulibaly, along with Anfernee Simons and Darius Garland, is among the Spurs’ top trade targets. Both Simons and Garland are guards who could facilitate Wembanyama’s offensive game, and Inside the Spurs has previously analyzed their potential fit with the team. Coulibaly, however, offers an intriguing third option.
At 20 years old, Coulibaly, like Wembanyama, is a young talent. 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 three-point range. Drafted seventh overall, he is considered a long-term project with the potential to become one of the NBA’s top defenders, though he will need time to develop. Notably, Coulibaly has played alongside Wembanyama twice—first when Wembanyama won the French League MVP with Metropolitans 92, and again on the French National Team, which secured silver in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Although Coulibaly hasn’t yet matched Wembanyama’s success on these stages, adding a familiar face to the Spurs’ roster could be beneficial. Acquiring him might come at a high price, possibly requiring the team to give up two first-round picks, but it could be worth it to make their star player happy.
