Spurs Likely to Make The Next Blockbuster Trade

The Spurs made it clear they didn’t want to waste Wemby’s early years of his career still rebuilding, so this past season, they traded for De’Aaron Fox. The duo only managed to play five games together before Wemby was ruled out for the season. A month later, Fox was ruled out as well.

When acquiring Fox, the Spurs retained many of the key pieces of their young core. Those include Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and more. If the Spurs want to go all in this summer and make a trade to turn their duo into a trio, they absolutely could.

Here are some potential blockbuster trade targets for the Spurs this summer.

Kevin Durant

Durant had issues with the Suns organization since the trade deadline, as Phoenix tried to include him in trades. No trade was agreed upon, and Durant remained with the team. He became increasingly upset and is expected to be traded this offseason.

The Spurs are one team favored to trade for Durant. Durant is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history. Adding an all-time great can help the Spurs succeed more in the ever-competitive Western Conference.

They already have an All-Star point guard and center. By adding a superstar forward like Durant, the Spurs will create more balance in star power. The trio of Wemby, Fox, and Durant would cause issues for opposing defenses with their elite scoring.

With Durant being 37 years old next season, his championship window is shorter than that of many other players on the Spurs. This can lead the organization to look at much-younger stars.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis has spent his entire 12-season career with the Milwaukee Bucks.

The two-time MVP and the 2019 DPOY won his only championship and Finals MVP in 2021. Since then, the Bucks have only made it past the first round once and failed to return to the Eastern Conference Finals.

After falling short to the Pacers once again, there has been some speculation that Giannis could have played his last game as a Buck.

While trading for Giannis may be difficult financially, the Spurs have many players they can look to trade, including this season’s Rookie of the Year, Stephon Castle. They also have plenty of draft capital that can help the Bucks, who don’t control their own first-round pick until 2031.

Wemby vs. Giannis has been one of the most entertaining matchups since the Spurs selected Wemby number one overall in 2023. If the two paired up, they would be a force to be reckoned with, making the Spurs frontcourt one of the most dominant in the league. Their shot-blocking ability would make it immensely tough to score on.

Offensively, this would work because Wemby’s ability to play outside gives Giannis room to drive to the basket. Giannis is also a proven facilitator who can help Fox get other players involved.

The trio of Wemby, Giannis, and Fox would for sure cause fear for the rest of the league.

Zion Williamson

There may be a new Lob City if Zion gets traded to San Antonio.

Zion was the number one pick in the 2019 draft, and things haven’t panned out for the Pelicans. Throughout his five years in the league Zion has struggled to stay healthy and many people have been concerned about his weight.

A healthy Zion would be an incredible trade target. He is a dominant force, averaging an impressive 24.7 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game throughout his career. This would create an exciting frontcourt of Zion and Wemby in an offense run by Fox.

Wemby and Zion would complement each other very well. Zion’s dominance inside the paint and Wemby’s perimeter play, and shooting would give them a high potential for success.

This would also give Zion a new environment, and the Spurs coaching staff could be what he needs to reach his peak performance.

Lauri Markkanen

The Utah Jazz had the worst record in the league this past season.

Markkanen spent his last three seasons on the Jazz, where he was an All-Star in 2023, averaging 25.6 points and 8.6 rebounds that season. With the Jazz likely selecting one of this year’s top talents in the draft, they may look to reset, and Markkanen may find himself playing elsewhere next season.

Both Wemby and Markkanen can score in the paint and beyond the perimeter, creating more flexibility for each player. It would also create more driving opportunities for Fox if they’re both on the perimeter. Wemby’s presence would also make Markkanen a better defender.

Adding Markkanen to the Spurs would add three-point shooting to a team that can improve from beyond the arc. There are many different approaches the Spurs can make when looking at potential trade targets.

Devin Booker

The Suns made the NBA Finals in 2021. However, they have struggled to make a deep playoff run in recent years and will likely lose Durant this offseason. Now would be a good time to trade Booker and begin to rebuild for the future.

By pairing Booker with Fox and Wemby, the Spurs would have one of the best backcourts in the league. This would force teams to play out more on the perimeter, giving Wemby more room to work inside.

Booker is known for his elite scoring and has become a better playmaker since playing alongside Chris Paul. He would help Fox distribute the ball on offense and be another go-to scoring option when the team needs a bucket.

His versatility would allow the Spurs to try different lineups and see what works best. Throughout his career, Booker has become more experienced and would be a leader for the young Spurs team. He is committed to team success, as seen during Team USA’s gold medal run this past summer.

Jonathan Kuminga

While this may not be considered a blockbuster, it’s still big enough to be mentioned.

Kuminga has struggled to find a role with the Warriors since being drafted seventh overall in 2021. With their recent addition of Jimmy Butler, Kuminga has also struggled to find playing time, which can result in him being considered a trade option.

Being a lottery pick raises Kuminga’s ceiling. At only 22 years old, a trade to the Spurs would make sense, as he would fit in with their young core. He has the size, speed, and athleticism to match Fox’s speed and Wemby’s length, allowing him to impact the team immediately at a young age.

Kuminga can play both small forward and power forward, which allows the Spurs to have lineup flexibility. Defensively, the Spurs would get even better with Kuminga’s ability to lock down defenders paired with Wemby’s rim protection.

Expect the Spurs to strike first this offseason.