With Victor Wembanyama in China for almost two weeks studying extra about himself, in accordance with a supply, the San Antonio Spurs hope the Frenchman returns to a tweaked roster poised to finish a six-year postseason drought.
Rife with property — two lottery picks (No. 2 and No. 14) and an extra three future tradeable first-round picks, to not point out controllable contracts — San Antonio may strike a deal to land an All-Star-level participant. However whether or not the group needs to deviate from its long-term plan for constructing sustainability remains to be being determined with every week earlier than the 2025 NBA draft begins (June 25-26, 8 p.m. ET on ABC and ESPN).
The Spurs pushed their long-term plan into movement again in 2020 to land Wembanyama.
“We need to construct one thing that is sustainable. You have to construct it brick by brick,” normal supervisor Brian Wright mentioned final June after drafting eventual NBA Rookie of the Yr Stephon Fortress with the No. 4 choose, then Rob Dillingham at No. 8, earlier than buying and selling him to Minnesota for a 2031 first-rounder and a 2030 choose swap. “All the choices that we have made so far have sort of been below that premise.”
However will it proceed because the Spurs are coming off the league’s eighth-worst file (34-48), stocked with draft capital?
It is more likely to, regardless of San Antonio fielding inquiries from groups trying to commerce as much as No. 2, whereas two future Corridor of Famers — Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant — may develop into accessible in potential trades. The Spurs have not held any substantive discussions concerning the previous, in accordance with sources, and Phoenix’s asking value is perhaps too steep for a franchise trying to stay cautious in the course of the early years of Wembanyama’s profession.
Nonetheless, Durant presents a chance, probably at a decrease value (possible the No. 14 choose and Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson and Harrison Barnes) for San Antonio so as to add an skilled sharpshooting wing with championship pedigree. Wembanyama has lengthy admired Durant’s recreation, and mentioned he’d wish to be taught extra from the two-time champion. In an interview with M6 Data, Wembanyama mentioned he spoke with Durant after the gold medal recreation on the Paris Olympics in 2024 between the U.S. and France, and informed the previous MVP that “I wished to be taught from him and maybe steal one or two of his secret strategies.” The Spurs’ younger squad may benefit from Durant’s tutelage and follow acumen. These sorts of Insights aren’t misplaced on former coach Gregg Popovich, now San Antonio’s president of basketball operations who labored with the 18-year NBA veteran throughout their time collectively on Workforce USA and desires to offer new coach Mitch Johnson loads of expertise, together with one who may help develop camaraderie.
“He is not particular as a result of he is so proficient,” Popovich mentioned of Durant in 2021. “The way in which he works on his recreation is extra spectacular. The enjoyment he has in taking part in, it is like osmosis.”
San Antonio could have loads of competitors for Durant’s providers however do not rely on a bidding conflict. The Spurs aren’t more likely to relinquish the No. 2 choose for Durant as a result of, in accordance with sources, it is anticipated they will draft Dylan Harper so as to add to a proficient younger core that includes Wembanyama and Fortress.
With the French phenom coming into his third season, and Fortress in Yr 2, San Antonio finds itself on stable footing financially to take an enormous swing on Durant or in free company, even with De’Aaron Fox’s contract extension due quickly. Because it stands now, San Antonio is $33 million beneath the tax and $37 million beneath the primary apron.
Along with surrounding Wembanyama with higher shooters, San Antonio must discover a backup level guard within the draft or free company, along with an enormous man to again him up. Depth at heart was just about nonexistent final season after San Antonio traded Zach Collins within the Fox deal, leaving Charles Bassey, who was restricted to 36 video games due to accidents.
Because the Spurs assess their choices, all whereas conserving their long-term targets on the forefront of their decision-making, myself, Jeremy Woo, Kevin Pelton and Bobby Marks dig into how the franchise ought to strategy the draft. We are going to go deeper into three commerce choices — and provide a verdict. — Michael C. Wright
Extra on Spurs’ lottery picks
Though there was loads of dialogue since lottery night time round what the Spurs ought to do at No. 2, San Antonio is nicely conscious of its success after its choose jumped six spots and has not rushed into commerce discussions.
The group seems snug with deciding on Harper, who most groups take into account the draft’s second-best prospect behind Duke’s Cooper Flagg. The query of match with Fox and Fortress is one thing the Spurs appear snug determining on the fly, however the prospect of including one other high expertise in Harper on a rookie contract offers flexibility as they proceed to encompass Wembanyama with gamers who will assist elevate his recreation. Most groups across the NBA count on San Antonio to draft the 6-foot-6 Rutgers guard.
However the No. 14 choose is the place the Spurs will discover their choices, whether or not that is drafting one other younger participant who enhances their core roster, or buying and selling it so as to add veteran expertise or extract another type of worth. Carter Bryant, Noa Essengue and Joan Beringer are among the many gamers who must be thought-about by the Spurs with their second lottery choose. — Jeremy Woo
Commerce provide No. 1: Giannis for a bevy of gamers, future picks
Milwaukee Bucks get: Forwards Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson and Jeremy Sochan, the No. 2 choose, 2026 first-round choose (higher of Atlanta and San Antonio), 2028 first-round choose (higher of Boston and San Antonio), 2030 first-round choose (higher of Dallas, Minnesota and San Antonio), 2031 swap (Milwaukee’s for higher of Sacramento’s and San Antonio’s)
Spurs get: Giannis Antetokounmpo
San Antonio is well-positioned to construct an Antetokounmpo provide round picks primarily based on the mix of shifting as much as No. 2 and having future swaps. As a substitute of counting on the Spurs’ personal picks, more likely to come on the finish of the spherical, the Bucks would have the ability to guess in opposition to quite a lot of groups bottoming out.
Specifically, the 2030 first-rounder appears particularly precious as a result of it is the most effective of three groups — albeit with top-one safety on the swap with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Milwaukee additionally will get a current lottery choose in Sochan and gamers who may maintain the group aggressive with no draft incentive for the Bucks to tank.
By giving up three rotation gamers plus the No. 2 choose, San Antonio would compromise its depth. However the Spurs would have time to proceed reshaping the roster round a fearsome frontcourt duo of Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama with Fortress and Fox within the backcourt. — Kevin Pelton
Commerce provide No. 2: Spurs transfer gamers, 2025 No. 14 choose for Durant
Phoenix Suns get: Guards Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, forwards Harrison Barnes and Keldon Johnson, 2025 No. 14 choose, 2027 first-round choose (through Hawks)
Spurs get: Durant
Given Antetokounmpo hasn’t requested a commerce, Durant is a extra practical goal for San Antonio. The Spurs should weigh whether or not including an getting older star who might be 36 by 2025-26 opening night time to a group led by the 21-year-old Wembanyama is smart, and whether or not it will be price taking themselves out of the combo for Antetokounmpo down the street.
On the flip aspect, Durant’s age and looming free company (he has one yr left on his contract) imply San Antonio would not essentially must dip as closely into the group’s stockpile of future picks so as to add him. Wright not too long ago proposed a commerce constructed round Vassell, however I’d prioritize conserving his taking pictures even when it prices extra draft picks.
This provide provides up the No. 14 choose on this yr’s draft and the opposite unprotected choose the Spurs have coming from the Atlanta Hawks through the Dejounte Murray commerce. By splitting up Durant’s wage, it saves Phoenix about $12 million in 2025-26 wage, with the potential of extra financial savings by shifting a few of these gamers to different groups. — Pelton
Commerce provide No. 3: Spurs get choose No. 27, gamers for Cam Johnson
Brooklyn Nets get: Guard Malaki Branham, ahead Keldon Johnson, 2025 No. 14 choose, 2029 first-round choose (top-four protected, converts to 2 second-round picks if not conveyed)
Spurs get: Cam Johnson, 2025 No. 27 choose
Alternatively, San Antonio may look to deal for a non-star who would possibly higher complement the group’s present expertise. Johnson appears like a great match. He averaged a career-high 18.8 factors final season and has been a constant 39% 3-point shooter who would area the ground as a stretch 4 alongside Wembanyama.
Swapping Keldon Johnson for Cam Johnson would have little influence on the Spurs’ cap sheet and, crucially, would not have an effect on the group’s capability to commerce for Antetokounmpo down the street. If wanted, Keldon Johnson may both be included in that deal or despatched elsewhere for worth, given his cap-friendly contract and talent set that works for nearly any group.
This proposal provides the Nets a swap up from No. 27 to No. 14 on this yr’s draft — a distinction equal to getting a late first-rounder in accordance with my choose worth chart — together with a evenly protected 2029 choose. San Antonio would retain its highest-value picks and swaps coming from different groups throughout Wembanyama’s prime years. — Pelton
Amongst these commerce provides, this one matches the most effective
ESPN’s Bobby Marks picks essentially the most practical of the trades and explains why or why not this may very well be possible:
The Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder’s transfer to accumulate Alex Caruso final June taught us {that a} commerce can have a major influence even when an All-Star will not be coming again. And although Durant and Antetokounmpo sound attractive, particularly when contemplating the Spurs’ roster nonetheless has Wembanyama, Fox and Fortress, buying and selling for Cam Johnson matches the best timeline for basketball causes and opportunistic value.
As a result of Johnson’s wage subsequent season is half of what’s owed to Durant and Antetokounmpo, the Spurs don’t have to intestine their roster, buying and selling solely two gamers, Branham and Keldon Johnson.
If Durant and even Antetokounmpo are nonetheless accessible, San Antonio would nonetheless have sufficient tradeable contracts and draft property even after touchdown Cam Johnson. The Spurs not solely retain the No. 2 choose on this draft, but in addition choose up a late first-round choose from the Nets. They might additionally retain essentially the most precious draft asset of their assortment, a 2027 unprotected first from Atlanta.
