Shocking Trade News from San Antonio. In a move that stunned both the NBA and France, the Spurs announced today that they have traded Victor Wembanyama for the New Orleans Pelicans—meaning they’re acquiring the entire Pelicans roster in exchange for one player.
As part of the deal, the Pelicans revealed plans to split their home games between New Orleans and Paris, effectively making them the first bi-continental team in sports. When playing in France, the team will retain the name “Pelicans” because, conveniently, that’s also the French word for pelican.
Wembanyama reportedly had input on the trade and expressed gratitude to the Spurs organization for their support. He’s also eager to recruit teammates from the French National Team, fresh off their silver-medal finish at last summer’s Olympics in France.
The NBA has already greenlit the trade and is allowing salary cap flexibility, recognizing the league’s broader goal of expanding into Europe. This move aligns with Commissioner Adam Silver’s recent statements about potential European expansion.
Sources say the trade talks began when the Pelicans inquired about swapping Zion Williamson for Wembanyama. The Spurs jokingly replied, “You mean Zion AND the rest of the team?” To their surprise, the Pelicans agreed. Clearly, New Orleans sees Wembanyama as the kind of generational talent worth rebuilding from the ground up.
For the Spurs, this deal provides a massive influx of talent, instantly transforming their roster. With new additions like Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy, San Antonio could make a surprise push for the Play-In Tournament. Even if not, they now hold valuable trade assets for the offseason, positioning themselves for long-term success.
The timing of this announcement coincides with the anniversary of Wembanyama’s previous statement about returning to France—a detail that longtime readers of Pounding the Rock may find familiar. After all, major breaking news like this tends to happen around this time every year…
