The San Antonio Spurs may have a fascinating decision to make if they eventually conclude that De’Aaron Fox is not the ideal long-term running mate for Victor Wembanyama.

A bold new trade proposal has imagined exactly that scenario — and the potential return would completely reshape the Spurs around their generational superstar.

The hypothetical deal would send Fox to the New Orleans Pelicans while bringing Trey Murphy III and former Spurs All-Star Dejounte Murray back to San Antonio.

It is the kind of blockbuster that would immediately dominate NBA discussion, because the Spurs would not simply be moving one star for another. They would be changing the structure of their roster and placing even greater faith in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper as Wembanyama’s long-term backcourt partners.

According to the proposal from Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes, San Antonio would receive Murphy and Murray, while New Orleans would land Fox, Luke Kornet and a substantial collection of future draft assets.

The proposed package would include the Atlanta Hawks’ 2027 first-round pick, a 2028 Boston Celtics first-round pick swap, San Antonio’s 2030 first-rounder, a 2031 Sacramento Kings first-round pick swap, a 2027 Spurs second-round pick and New Orleans’ own 2028 and 2029 second-round selections.

On paper, it would be a massive gamble for both franchises.

Why the Spurs might actually consider it

San Antonio has publicly backed Fox, but the arrival and development of Castle and Harper creates an intriguing long-term question.

Fox averaged 18.6 points, 6.2 assists and 3.8 rebounds last season while shooting 48.6 percent from the field. However, his new contract is scheduled to pay him approximately $49.4 million next season.

That is a significant financial commitment for a guard who needs the ball in his hands.

The Spurs now have two young guards in Castle and Harper who could potentially grow into major offensive roles alongside Wembanyama. If San Antonio believes those two can eventually become its primary backcourt combination, moving Fox could open the door for a different type of roster construction.

And that is where Murphy becomes particularly interesting.

The 26-year-old forward averaged 21.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists last season while shooting 47 percent overall and 37 percent from three-point range.

His skill set would address several things San Antonio needs around Wembanyama.

Murphy brings size, perimeter shooting and the ability to score without constantly demanding possession. Those qualities could make him an extremely natural offensive complement to Wembanyama, Castle and Harper.

His contract is also considerably more manageable, with salaries of approximately $27 million, $28 million and $31 million over the next three seasons.

That combination of production, shooting and positional size explains why New Orleans would require an enormous haul to even consider moving him.

Dejounte Murray would add another fascinating layer

The proposal also brings Murray back to the franchise that drafted him.

Murray averaged 16.7 points, 6.4 assists and 5.4 rebounds last season while shooting 48.4 percent from the field.

His value has changed since leaving San Antonio and suffering a serious Achilles injury, but the Spurs would not necessarily need him to recreate his old role.

Instead, Murray could operate as a secondary creator alongside Castle and Harper.

His ability to handle the ball, rebound from the guard position and defend would give San Antonio another experienced option while allowing its younger players to develop without being forced to carry the entire offense immediately.

For Wembanyama, that could be the biggest attraction of the entire idea.

Rather than surrounding him with multiple players who require high usage, San Antonio could build a more balanced supporting cast featuring shooting, size, defense and secondary playmaking.

New Orleans would receive a franchise-level gamble

From the Pelicans’ perspective, the motivation would be straightforward.

Fox would give New Orleans a proven lead guard capable of creating his own offense and generating opportunities for teammates.

The Pelicans would also receive Kornet and, more importantly, a huge collection of future draft assets.

Fox’s contract would obviously represent a major financial commitment, but if New Orleans wants to compete rather than enter another lengthy rebuild, acquiring an established offensive engine could be worth the risk.

The draft compensation would provide another layer of security.

Still, convincing the Pelicans to surrender Murphy would likely be the hardest part of the proposal. His age, production, shooting and fit make him one of New Orleans’ most valuable pieces.

That is why the proposed package contains so much draft capital.

Could this change the Spurs’ entire direction?

That is what makes this hypothetical trade so intriguing.

San Antonio would effectively be choosing Wembanyama, Castle and Harper as the foundation of its next era while replacing Fox with a bigger, more versatile wing in Murphy.

It would also reunite the franchise with Murray and give the Spurs another experienced ball-handler.

For a team trying to build around one of the NBA’s most unique young superstars, the logic is easy to understand.

The Spurs would gain shooting.

They would gain size.

They would gain another versatile creator.

And they could potentially create a cleaner long-term hierarchy around Wembanyama.

Of course, none of this means San Antonio is actively shopping Fox or that such a trade is imminent. This remains a hypothetical proposal rather than a confirmed transaction.

But it raises a fascinating question for the Spurs: is De’Aaron Fox the player who best complements Wembanyama for the next five years, or could his value be greater if converted into multiple pieces that fit the franchise’s emerging timeline?

If San Antonio ever decides the latter, a blockbuster involving Fox could suddenly become one of the NBA’s biggest stories.