The San Antonio Spurs need to add shooting if they want to secure their spot as Finals contenders, and a mock trade for a former top pick does exaclty that.
After a multi-year rebuild, the San Antonio Spurs have emerged as one of the best teams in the NBA, and are easily the biggest threat in the Western Conference to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, as Devin Vassell battles injury and Harrison Barnes continues his decline into a borderline unplayable forward, the Spurs need to add shooting. They have been linked to trade candidates like Trey Murphy III, Lauri Markkanen, and Moses Moody, although any wing who can knock down shots and defend would be a welcome addition.
As the Miami Heat struggle to keep their head above water, the Spurs could make a deal for their All-Star and NBA champion.
Mock Trade Lands Spurs Andrew Wiggins#
The Heat are eighth in the Western Conference and have been linked to stars of their own on the trade market to pair with Bam Adebayo and Tyler Herro. However, as long as Terry Rozier is on the books, the Heat's flexibility leaves a lot to be desired.
The Spurs, meanwhile, can offer them two expiring contracts plus a small amount of draft capital for one of their better players.
San Antonio could flip Barnes, Jermey Sochan, and a 2029 first-round pick to Miami for Andrew Wigggins.
This season, Wiggins is averaging 15.9 points on 39.8% shooting from deep. His defense would also be a welcome addition, and while he is a bit undersized for a power forward, so is Barnes, and Victor Wembanyama's size would be more than enough to make up for any of Wiggins' shortcomings.
Has Wiggins publicaly been made avkilaible in a trade? Nope, but the Spurs have the means to overpay, especially if it means upgrading a position of need before a playoff push. Wiggins is a proven playoff performer, evidenced by his time with the Golden State Warriors, and would upgrade the Spurs on both sides of the ball. The only question? Would Barnes and Sochan be enough to make a deal with the Heat?
The deal offers Miami some cap flexibility next summer, and Sochan is exactly the kind of player Erik Spoelstra has gotten the most out of in the past. Deensiovly gifted while limited offensively, Sochan's toughness should earn him a spot under "Heat Culture," and the Spurs land a proven veteran who they would definitely have minutes for.