The Spurs moved up in the draft and now own the second overall pick along with the 14th pick. They could use both selections to continue to add great young talent after getting back-to-back Rookies of the Year and carry on their march back to contention patiently.
There is, of course, another option. San Antonio had some assets left after trading for De’Aaron Fox, but none as enticing as the second overall pick in a draft that experts say could yield several stars. And there’s one superstar that could realistically be on the move in the offseason. So the question is, should the Spurs go after Giannis Antetokounmpo if he does ask out now that they have something that could win them the bidding war?
It’s a more complex answer than it might seem on the surface for a variety of factors, but Antetokounmpo’s fit is not one of them. The Greek Freak is 30 years old, and while it’s possible he doesn’t age gracefully as his athleticism wanes, we have seen no signs that this will happen anytime soon. He’s also developed a mid-range jumper that gives him an extra weapon to use to avoid the wear-and-tear from his otherwise physical game, and by playing next to De’Aaron Fox and Victor Wembanyama, he wouldn’t have to exert himself as much during the regular season. On offense, he could work the pick-and-roll with Wemby as both the ball handler and dive man, and Vic has a three-pointer that would allow him to space the floor so Giannis can cook. Defensively, the Wemby-Giannis duo is almost too terrifying to imagine. The Spurs would turn into an immediate contender if they got him.
The problem is the price. It’s the conundrum that comes with making a huge move for a superstar. For a trade to make sense for the team sending out one of the best players in the league, the haul has to be huge. But if the franchise receiving the superstar sends out several quality players and assets, they limit their depth and flexibility. Would the front office be willing to part ways with, say, Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, the two picks from this draft, plus extra assets? Because the Bucks could ask for a lot if they focus solely on prioritizing the return instead of making sure Giannis lands in a good situation as a thank you for the championship, and other teams could put together great packages for him. There would be a bidding war that San Antonio could win, but it would likely get pricey.
Antetokounmpo is the rare superstar who would improve whoever lands him so much in the near future that the negative tradeoffs would be acceptable in most situations. Even if San Antonio sends out most of its young talent, they would still be left with a presumptive starting lineup of Fox, Julian Champagnie, Harrison Barnes, Giannis and Wemby, with Keldon Johnson coming off the bench along with a veteran signed using the mid-level exception. That’s, at worst, a 50-win team. In a scenario like that one, the Spurs would still have enough extra assets to avoid completely mortgaging their future like the Suns and, more famously, the Nets did in the past, but they would need to be savvy about managing their resources going forward or risk becoming too top-heavy as two of their key pieces start to age out.
There are caveats, but it’s not hard to make a case for pursuing a trade if Giannis does ask out. The problem is that it just doesn’t seem like a move the Spurs would make. The franchise tends to only swing big when it feels it’s absolutely necessary or the circumstances are favorable. The biggest win-now trades we’ve seen in the last decades came at times when it looked like an upgrade was essential to remain in contention. Otherwise, the front office has opted for patience, continuity, and opportunism. If Giannis says he wants to land in San Antonio, like Fox did, the decision-makers would surely use that leverage to try to make it happen. It’s just hard to imagine the Spurs aggressively pursuing him otherwise, considering the price, the risk, and the team’s shot callers’ history of caution in these matters.
The good news is that the alternative path is almost as exciting as potentially adding a top-5 player. The Spurs can simply use the second overall pick in the draft to add another high-upside prospect. They have Fox in place to be their main perimeter option for now, Wembanyama as their centerpiece, and enough depth, assets, and flexibility to make tweaks on the margins. If things go reasonably well, San Antonio should be a playoff team immediately with the ammo to make a move in-season or next summer. There is no rush.
Giannis would look great in Silver and Black, and the idea of pairing him with Wembanyama is tantalizing. It’s also unlikely to happen, at least going by the information we have now. Fortunately, the Spurs should still make steady progress in their return to contention if they stay on their current path, even if it takes longer.