The San Antonio Spurs’ 2024-25 season came to an early conclusion from a competitive standpoint. Victor Wembanyama’s season-ending injury and midseason addition De’Aaron Fox ensured that the organization would take a long-term approach to rebuilding and make a postseason push the following season. The franchise has numerous options in front of them, since their asset pool allows them to sign any star they choose.
While they may wait and see how Fox and Wembanyama perform as a team throughout the offseason, the franchise might possibly take a more proactive approach. Instead of falling behind other growing Western contenders such as the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, the Spurs can make a big statement and ultimately convince the Utah Jazz to part with Lauri Markkanen.
The Utah Jazz have received Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and Malaki Branham. First-Round Picks for 2025 (ATL) and 2028 (SAS)
In this agreement, the Jazz acquire a smaller draft selection package than they could have gotten last season. However, Markkanen was on a $17 million contract at the time and had just completed back-to-back All-Star seasons.
He had a disappointing season with the Jazz this year, and his new supermax contract will reduce his value to one decent player, one possible young star, an expiring contract, and important draft picks.
Lauri Markkanen brings another offensive dimension to San Antonio.
The Spurs are assembling a formidable two-way club that will almost always finish games with Fox or Wembanyama as the primary offensive options. However, both face distinct obstacles in certain scenarios. Fox is a below-average shooter, and Wembanyama is still expanding his attacking repertoire to avoid being limited by teams that exploit his lack of strength.
This season, Lauri Markkanen averaged 19.0 points and 5.9 rebounds. His year was severely disrupted by the Jazz’s deliberate tanking, which sidelined his winning contributions from the previous season in order to maximize the use and development of younger talents. Doing this in the first year of a supermax contract is intriguing, with Markkanen plainly lacking the competitiveness he seeks.
He would be an ideal forward alongside Wembanyama, able to create extra space on the court with his exceptional outside shooting. He’s a seven-footer who is active on the boards and can withstand some of the punishment Wembanyama has received.
Moving Jeremy Sochan to the three to complement this would provide the Spurs with a tall and scary frontcourt that would be difficult to beat.
Jazz Maximize Their Return And Continue To Rebuild
It’s crucial to remember that the Jazz never expected Markkanen to become the player he is today. Despite the underlying promise, he was essentially a throw-in for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Donovan Mitchell trade. They might now add to that package by selling Markkanen for a variety of assets, the most important of which is Devin Vassell.
This season, Vassell has averaged 16.5 points and 4.0 rebounds. He’s a rising three-and-D forward with a five-year contract, so the Jazz can keep him as they transition from rebuilding to contention. He’ll be able to utilize the abilities of guards like Keyontae George while also serving as a very useful yet low-maintenance star in his job.
Harrison Barnes has had a tremendous season with the Spurs, averaging 12.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game, but with an expiring contract, he’d be an excellent veteran addition to the Jazz bench. Malki Branham averaged 4.5 points this season, but with more time to grow, the rookie guard could have a bright future.
Adding a supposed 2025 lottery pick to the Hawks’ draft pick, as well as their own 2028 pick and three real NBA players, results in a large deal.
A Championship Core Takes Shape.
With this transaction, the Spurs will make aggressive strides up the NBA’s pecking order. Markkanen changed their style of play by adding a high-level forward to join Wembanyama and Fox. His ability to flourish off the ball while also impacting the game with his shooting and rebounding will make him an excellent addition to the team, and he is likely to be their greatest scorer from outside the perimeter.
The Spurs have other good players and have a plethora of draft assets that they could use to strengthen their core. This would be the first step toward contention, assuring that the Spurs remain among the best teams in the West for the foreseeable future, with Fox and Markkanen leading the way alongside Wembanyama.
The Jazz are poised to land a new star talent in the 2025 NBA Draft, with Cooper Flagg being the dream. They were unlikely to commit to Markkanen’s contract for the entire time without modifying their core, and this transaction gives them another piece to include into their plans and draft picks, which might yield excellent results.
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