The San Antonio Spurs have been linked to Brooklyn's Michael Porter Jr., and one mock trade brings him to Texas, but for the wrong price.
Victor Wembanyama is hands-down every San Antonio Spurs fan's favorite player. He's one of the most dominant players in the NBA and has dragged the Spurs from the basement of the league to the NBA Finals in just three years.
However, Dylan Harper, Stephon Castle, and Devin Vassell are also top picks. In the same way fans would tell you thy prefered Tony Parker or Manu Ginobili back in the 2000s, their real "favorite" was Tim Duncan. It's the obvious choice.
In large part thanks to fans' adoration, Harper, Castle, and Vassell are considered "untouchable." If the Spurs were to pull off a trade, De'Aaron Fox, Keldon Johnson, or Luke Kornet seem like more likely candidates to be shipped out.
One recent mock trade sees the Spurs part with Vassell for a clear-cut upgrade, but San Antonio could make a deal for the same return at a much better price.
Mock Trade Lands Spurs Michael Porter Jr.
In the modern NBA, there's no such thing as too much shooting, and Michael Porter Jr. is one of the best. Over his career, he's averaged an impressive 17.3 points per game on 39.8 percent shooting from deep. He's proven that he can be a third or fourth option on a title team and is exactly the type of player the Spurs could use.
Heavy's Sai Mohan smartly called that out, suggesting that the Spurs send Vassell, Johnson, and Atlanta's 2027 first-round pick to the Brooklyn Nets for Porter Jr. and Danny Wolf.
Porter Jr. is a better player than both Vassell and Johnson, as much as it would pain fans to admit that. However, he's not exactly durable. Losing two key wings would hurt the Spurs a lot, especially if Carter Bryant doesn't take a leap.
Still, the Spurs should seriously consider adding Porter Jr. He will be a free agent after the season. Trading for him would give the Spurs an elite shooting threat for one season, and then the financial flexibility to extend both Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper once he hits free agency next summer.
However, the Spurs can offer a better trade package. Instead of losing two key players and a draft pick, there's a path for them to trade away Fox for Porter, straight up. If they pulled off that deal, they could re-sign Porter for a season or two, giving them a longer runway before they have to commit long-term to Harper.
Such a deal would require Vassell to move to the bench, although the starting lineup would be upgraded. It might ruffle some feathers, but in the pursuit of a title, it would be well worth it.
