Two Key Reasons Help Spurs Emerge as Frontrunners for Giannis Antetokounmpo

The San Antonio Spurs are expected to have one of the busiest offseasons in the NBA this summer. Between their two draft picks, plenty of trade assets, and enough cap space to, in theory, sign a solid free agent, the roster in San Antonio could look vastly different this season.

Giannis Antetokounmpo will be the biggest name on the trade market by far if the Milwaukee Bucks decide to trade him, and 29 teams will be expected to make an offer, although two key reasons make the Spurs and Houston Rockets the frontrunners.

The Bucks do not own their own draft picks for the next five years, so simply tanking is no a viable solution. On top of that, win-now teams like the Spurs may have plenty of draft capital, but those selections will likely be in the late 20s, making them less valuable.

Luckily, the Spurs have incoming picks in future years from the Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings, all in the first round.

“You’re going to look at teams that have players to trade and other teams’ draft assets that they can trade besides theirs, outlined ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. “San Antonio and Houston. San Antonio and Houston. San Antonio and Houston.”

Winhorst points out that the Spurs would have to part ways with their draft picks owed to them from other teams, and the Bucks, who are not in control of their own future, would want a win-now player (or several) in a deal for an MVP finalist.

If the Spurs really don’t want to trade Stephon Castle, then Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, and even Julian Champagnie, who is on one of the best contracts in the NBA, would have to be considered as trade assets to build a superteam.

It would easily be the most massive trade in the history of the franchise.

Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles.

Two Key Reasons Help Spurs Emerge as Frontrunners for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Tags: