The San Antonio Spurs stirred the pot on draft night by snagging an additional first-round pick to bring Tarris Reed Jr. into the fold. On the surface, it seems like a straightforward play-San Antonio had the assets and saw a player they liked. But peel back the layers, and there might be more strategy at play here.
One potential motive behind the Spurs drafting two players in the first round could be setting the stage for a blockbuster trade. Rumors are swirling about former Spurs star Kawhi Leonard being on the trade block, with whispers of him being open to an extension if he returns to San Antonio. This aligns with the notion that the Spurs are stockpiling assets for a major move.
The idea of bringing Kawhi back to the Alamo City might feel like a long shot, but credible sources like ESPN's Bobby Marks and Yahoo Sports' Jake Fisher have named San Antonio as a potential landing spot. If the Spurs were to make a play for Kawhi, they have a couple of trade scenarios on the table.
One involves sending De'Aaron Fox and three first-round picks to the Clippers. The other option could see Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, and a future first-round pick from the Hawks being shipped out.
Neither trade scenario is likely to be a hit with Spurs fans, but if it comes down to it, parting with Fox might be the more palatable option if it means bringing Kawhi back.
But Kawhi isn't the only avenue for the Spurs to explore. They could be eyeing other deals to bolster their roster without revisiting the past.
While it's unlikely they'll move Fox in another trade, having a cache of first-round picks gives them flexibility. Smaller moves could be on the horizon, such as utilizing the mid-level exception to nab a power forward or using their bi-annual exception to shore up the center position.
Drafting both Jaden Quinntance and Reed Jr. is certainly intriguing. It could simply be a move to strengthen their frontcourt for the future.
Or, it might be a precursor to leveraging those future first-round picks to land a game-changing player in a trade. Whatever the case, the Spurs are clearly positioning themselves for something big.
In Other News...
Spurs Linked To Veteran Frontcourt Move That Would Change Everything Around Wemby
The Spurs are still looking for ways to strengthen the roster around Victor Wembanyama, and one name that keeps surfacing in league chatter is John Collins. San Antonios cap flexibility gives it room to explore a move like that, and the idea is obvious enough on paper: add another frontcourt piece who can ease some of the burden on Wembanyama while the franchise keeps building toward a more complete lineup.
Chicago is also regularly mentioned as a team in the mix, which only adds to the sense that this could become one of the more watched veteran frontcourt situations of the offseason. The fit question is the real sticking point for San Antonio, though, because Collins shooting has been inconsistent and his rim protection has not always matched the demands of pairing with a big like Wembanyama. [Read more 🡒]
Keldon Johnson Suddenly Finds Himself At The Center Of A Spurs Decision
Keldon Johnsons place in San Antonio has become one of the more interesting personnel questions of the summer. After winning Sixth Man of the Year, he is still heading into the final year of his contract, and the Spurs now have to decide whether they want to commit to him long term once the moratorium ends on July 6. For a player who has been part of the teams core through a transitional stretch, the timing makes this more than a routine extension talk.
The issue is not just about reward, either. Johnsons game has been uneven enough that the Spurs have real reason to weigh their options, and his future says a lot about where they think the roster is headed. If the front office decides to move cautiously, it would fit with a team trying to balance development, lineup fit, and a few new pieces that could change how much room Johnson has in the frontcourt rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Kawhi Leonard Rumor Just Pulled The Spurs Back Into Focus
A Kawhi Leonard ripple can still pull the Spurs back into the conversation, even years after he left. Leonards name is once again tied to San Antonio in a way that matters, because any hint about where he would be willing to go next inevitably reopens old questions about what the Spurs mean in the leagues larger star map. For a franchise that has spent the past several seasons building forward, that kind of unexpected relevance is hard to ignore.
The bigger picture is what makes this feel worth watching. Toronto and the Clippers have been in real discussions about a possible Leonard move, and the deal mechanics are messy enough to shape the rest of the market around it, from the salary being sent out to the picks and young players both sides might have to weigh. Add in the Clippers youth movement and the cloud hanging over their cap situation, and the Spurs suddenly find themselves adjacent to a storyline that could still take another turn before it settles. [Read more 🡒]