The San Antonio Spurs are poised to be one of the NBA’s deadliest teams for the foreseeable future. Victor Wembanyama made his first All-Star appearance this season and is a lock to win Defensive Player of the Year and make the All-NBA Team. They recruited De’Aaron Fox as the future point guard in the offseason, and the squad is primed to fight for years.
This season, the club is 23-29 and currently ranks as the 12th seed in the West. While they could make a playoff push, it appears they will struggle to maintain the consistency required to thrive in a competitive West. The current fit issue between Chris Paul and Fox may not be resolved by midseason. If the team fails to make the playoffs, they may consider making a big move this summer.
If the Phoenix Suns are projected to trade Kevin Durant, the Spurs would make an excellent destination.
Trade Details:
San Antonio Spurs get Kevin Durant.
Phoenix Suns Receive: Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham. First-round picks for 2025 (SAS/ATL), 2027 (ATL), and 2029 (SAS)
This agreement provides the Suns with three rotational players as well as three first-round picks, one of which is a lottery pick in the stacked 2025 Draft. While it does not refill the assets they sent out to acquire him, it does return two high-quality picks and one potentially important Spurs pick in 2029, possibly after Durant retires.
Spurs Begin A Championship Era.
The Spurs are already looking good for next season, with Fox and Wembanyama having an offseason to gel. If they want to make significant additions to their core, they must do so in the offseason and maintain continuity throughout training camp. Given that Durant is widely projected to be sold in the summer, the Suns might receive a significant return before the 2025 NBA Draft.
Durant has averaged 27.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists this season. He remains a great scorer while aging well defensively. He’s likely to make an All-NBA team even if the Suns miss the playoffs, given how well he’s performed this season. Surprisingly, Phoenix wants to move on from him, thus the Spurs’ return of three players and three choices is reasonable given the kind of players they are acquiring.
The Spurs can field a dynamic starting lineup of Fox, Stephon Castle, Kevin Durant, Jeremy Sochan, and Victor Wembanyama. While Fox and Durant have contract extensions set for 2026, Castle and Sochan will be cost-controlled until then, providing the Spurs a chance to compete at their peak before Durant begins to regress due to age.
The Suns acquire the necessary assets to rebuild trading. Durant’s signing of the former MVP, spearheaded by new owner Mat Ishbia, acknowledges the failure of their current period. But Durant may be the only option to obtain significant assets in exchange, especially if Devin Booker is likely to remain a one-team player. This transaction gets them back three strong rotational players who will immediately slot into their playing rotation and help them compete.
This season, Devin Vassell has averaged 15.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists. He’s a great 3-and-D forward who is effective both on and off the ball. His shooting ability would make him an excellent companion for Booker. Keldon Johnson, who averages 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game, would be an excellent multi-positional forward for the Suns, adding hustle and defence.
Malaki Branham is averaging 4.4 points per game and will most likely play as the Suns’ third guard next season. Their roster is expected to change in the summer, so it’s difficult to see how these players might fit in the long run.
The actual prize is the projected lottery picks in the 2025 Draft, particularly the favourable pick between the Spurs and Hawks, both of whom are expected to be late lottery clubs. If Phoenix receives a top-10 pick, they may be able to retool around Booker by adding a potentially cost-controlled star who can survive past Bradley Beal’s deal.
A deal that Phoenix cannot refuse.
There is a clear dilemma Phoenix will face if they try to shop Durant on the free market. The Luka Doncic transfer has created an unfavourable expectation of what a top player is worth, especially since they are a year away from free agency. Durant has already caused public turmoil with the Suns due to recent trade rumours, so teams will be reluctant to pay a premium price for him.
Getting three picks, one of which is in the 2025 Draft lottery, represents a big return for the Suns. They’re also receiving some outstanding players, including one future star in Vassell. It prepares the Suns for a new chapter in their franchise, which most teams may not be able to deliver.
Wembanyama, Fox, and Durant might form an invincible trio. Durant’s age limits how quickly they can achieve, but a peak Wemby and Fox might push them over the top with Durant’s silky scoring abilities.
San Antonio Spurs’ New Starting Five With De’Aaron Fox Could Be Dangerous.
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