West Notes: Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, Lakers, Austin Reaves, Grizzlies

Spurs

No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama has played in 40 games to date — and is averaging 20.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 3.1 blocks, shooting 46.5 percent from the field and 30.5 percent on 3-pointers.

So it’s safe to say the rookie center is on his way to great things. But boy, have the Spurs done a lousy job of surrounding him with NBA-level starting talent.

They’re hoping to change all that before the Feb. 8 trade deadline, sources said, and are serious about trying to make a run at Hawks guard Dejounte Murray — who they traded to Atlanta two years ago.

Murray may prove to be too costly, though, and the Spurs have a few others on their radar. They are willing to part with at least forward Doug McDermott and guard/forward Cedi Osman. They could also move small forward Keldon Johnson, though would expect something pretty good in return, of course.

For the most part, other than Wembanyama, the Spurs are open for business.

Lakers

The Lakers aren’t actively looking to trade guard Austin Reaves, it seems, but they very well might do it for the right guy. That comes from Jovan Buha of The Athletic.

“There are players the Lakers would include him in deals to acquire,” Buha wrote. “If they could add a bona fide third star to complement (LeBron James) and (Anthony Davis) — Utah All-Star Lauri Markkanen, for example — or multiple high-level starters in a bigger trade, they would consider moving Reaves.”

While Reaves is a fine player, he’s highly unlikely to garner an All-Star in return. It would take D’Angelo Russell and perhaps Rui Hachimura, too. At least.

• Many of the trade rumors around the Lakers are losing steam. As we relayed here, they haven’t spoken to the Hawks about standout guard Dejounte Murray lately.

Grizzlies

Without a doubt, the Grizzlies have played better lately, riding a three-game winning streak before putting up a fight against the Pacers, eventually falling on the road. 

That’s from a team that had eight players on the injury report entering Sunday’s game at Indiana. Eight, man.

“Jaren Jackson Jr. led the Grizzlies (18-28) with 25 points. Vince Williams Jr. scored 20 points, but he’ll be thinking about a couple of his misses around the rim in the fourth quarter,” wrote Damichael Cole of the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

• Coach Taylor Jenkins on the Grizzlies’ first loss in a week: “It was a battle to the end, and they came up with the win.”
• Jackson added that all of the losing — both games and players to injury — lit a fire under the Grizzlies recently, per Drew Hill of the Daily Memphian.