The San Antonio Spurs have three players on the roster who they could realistically trade, and one recent mock deal would thrill both Victor Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie.
Between De'Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson, and Luke Kornet, the San Antonio Spurs have plenty of trade fodder this offseason. All three players disappeared in the NBA Finals, but Johnson, who is about to enter the last year of his contract, seems the most likely to be traded.
On one hand, Johnson seems poised to be a Spur for life. On the other hand, the Spurs could have extended him, but opted instead to let him hit unrestricted free agency next summer.
Johnson is coming off a Sixth Man of the Year award and is one of the better rebounding wings in the NBA. He's a solid shooter and great downhill player, although his ball-handling is questionable and his defense is inconsistent. His value around the league seems to be mixed, but a team looking to raise their floor should be interested.
Looking at the Eastern Conference, one team stands out.
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Mock Trade Sees Spurs Deal With Wizards
With Trae Young and Anthony Davis both healthy, plus with first overall pick AJ Dybantsa in town, the Washington Wizards could make the leap from bottom-feeders to playoff contenders as soon as this season.
They have a young, promising supporting cast, and adding another proven veteran off the bench alongside Khris Middleton would go a long way. Plus, the Wizards have assets the Spurs want.
Fadeaway World's Fran Leiva built a deal where the Spurs would send Johnson to the capital in exchange for Bilal Coulibaly and Justin Champagnie.
This trade immediately boosts the Wizards' chances of competing in the Eastern Conference. For the Spurs, Victor Wembanyama and Julian Champagnie should be over the moon, and they add some youth on cheaper contracts.
After being picked seventh overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, Coulibaly showed promise as a two-way wing. In the three seasons since then, he's struggled to stay healthy or improve his game much. Justin, meanwhile, has a similar playstyle to his twin. He's a solid rebounder and decent shooter, and would likely see his efficiency improve on a better team.
Pairing up the twins would appease the Champagnie family, and Coulibaly plays alongside Wembanyama on the French National Team. Wemby has advocated for both Evan Fournier and Guerschon Yabusele in the NBA, so it stands to reason he would want to add Coulibaly.
As the Spurs get closer and closer to extending Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper, having cheap players under team control goes a long way. Coulibaly is yet to sign his rookie extension, although if he doesn't take a huge step forward, he should be cheaper in the long run than Johnson.
Of course, as a locker room leader, Johnson's value to the Spurs is tough to measure. Should Washington want to make a big push forward, though, adding a player like him should be a top priority.
