The San Antonio Spurs have been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo in NBA trade rumors, although they could win any possible deal without landing the best player.
The San Antonio Spurs have long been linked to Giannis Antetokounmpo in NBA trade rumors. They have the assets to land the two-time MVP, and his talents would immediately boost the Spurs from playoff hopefuls to title frontrunners.
However, the Spurs have the second-most savvy front office in the entire NBA. It's safe to say that Sam Presti and the Oklahoma City Thunder have passed them up, although Brian Wright is one of the best executives in the NBA.
No matter how much interest the Spurs have in Antetokounmpo, other teams, namely the New York Knicks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Miami Heat, and Phoenix Suns, will show interest. The Spurs have just as much draft capital, if not more, than those teams, and certainly have more young talent.
If the Spurs don't want to mortgage their future and part with Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper, or both, they could still get involved in a trade for the Greek Freak.
Say the Knicks or Suns want to make a bid. Adding Giannis' massive salary is no easy feat. Could the Spurs re-route some draft capital for a player like Mikal Bridges, OG Anunoby, or Dillon Brooks? Would the Hawks be willing to give up Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Asa Newell, or Luke Kennard?
A three-team trade is where the Spurs are at their best. Remember, the Sacramento Kings begged them to take on Harrison Barnes and attached a first-round draft pick to his contract. He's been the Spurs' most steady player over the last two seasons. The Kings, meanwhile, are in a tailspin.
Antetokounmpo is a generational player. In order to help him land on a rival team, the Spurs would have to emerge as winners of the deal. A wing defender like Alexander-Walker, Anunoby, Brooks, or Bridges would fit in perfectly with the lineup the Spurs are building, and at the cost of two or three draft picks would be well worth it.
In order to keep their current core intact, a lot of fans would prefer for the Spurs to get involved as a background player. After all, staying the course should be just as productive as pulling off a blockbuster deal.
It doesn't have to be all or nothing. The Spurs have one of the more promising teams in the NBA, and if Harper OR Castle live up to the hype, moving them for a limited title window built around a superstar who doesn't quite fit their system might be remembered as a foolish move down the road.