The San Antonio Spurs are going to be swept up in NBA trade rumors this offseason, but that doesn't mean they should bite at the flashy names on the market.
Between the salaries of Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell, their ample draft capital, and the fact that Harrison Barnes and Kelly Olynyk will be off the books this summer, the San Antonio Spurs could make one of the biggest trades of the offseason.
The Spurs, in past months, were linked to the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant, but opted to hold pat, instead seeing just how far their young core could go.
As it turns out, they made the Western Conference Finals and could even punch their way to the NBA Finals, all with a mostly young, inexperienced roster.
That hasn't stopped the rumor mill from churning, and in the event that the Spurs lose the Conference Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder, it'll be easy to point to certain missing pieces. Perhaps they need a traditional power forward to bang down low, or a jumbo wing to space the floor.
Perhaops the last thing on their list is a ball-dominant playoff choker.
Mock Trade Sends Donovan Mitchell to Spurs
After the Cleveland Cavaliers got swept by the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals, it's clear that the franchise is due for a shake-up. However, they have already made it clear that they will not be firing head coach Kenny Atkinson.
Trading James Harden would be a good place to start, although his value around the league is almost as low as it was when he forced his way out of Philadelphia. If the Cavs want to extract maximum value, they would have to part ways with either Evan Mobley or Donovan Mitchell.
The Spurs don't need either player, however talented they might be. However, a recent mock trade by Bleacher Report's Greg Swartz sees the Spurs re-route Dylan Harper and Vassell to Cleveland in exchange for Mitchell.
Granted, Mitchell is a top 12 player in the NBA, and he averaged 27.9 points this season. A trio of him, De'Aaron Fox, and Victor Wembanyama would be one of the best in the NBA, and the Spurs could round out their lineup with the likes of Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and whoever they pick 20th overall.
However, most fans wouldn't trade Mitchell for Harper straight up, let alone with Vassell attached as salary filler.
For now, Mitchell is a better player than Harper. It's very realistic that he will always be a better player than Harper, although the rookie does have the potential to pass him. Mitchell is approaching 30 years old, which is up there for an explosive guard, and between Harper, Castle, and Fox, the Spurs don't really need to revamp their backcourt.
The long-term plan in San Antonio is clear: have Wemby, Castle, and Harper lead the way, supplementing the lineup with wings and forwards along the way. Blowing up a crucial part of that for Mitchell, who has never proven himself as a winning player, goes against everything the Spurs as a franchise stand for.
Maybe they'll make a swing for a two-way forward. Jaden McDaniels, perhaps? But moving Harper for Mitchell is wholly off the table.
