Could the Spurs really pry OG Anunoby away from the Knicks? On the surface, it sounds like the kind of idea that lives only in the wildest corners of the NBA rumor mill, especially with San Antonio and New York just meeting in the NBA Finals. But Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes still floated the newly crowned Knicks champion as a possible trade target for the Silver and Black, and the logic starts with one simple thing: money.
The whole scenario hinges on New York wanting to trim payroll. James Dolan reportedly has no interest in paying the penalties that come with crossing into the second apron, a stance that already seems likely to push Mitchell Robinson out the door. If he wanted to go even further and shed more salary, moving Anunoby’s contract would be one way to do it.
That’s where San Antonio comes in.
If Dolan opened the door, the Spurs would have every reason to make the call. Luke Kornet and Keldon Johnson could be sent to New York along with a couple of picks to help the Knicks cut costs.
From there, New York could choose to re-sign Robinson and keep Kornet as extra frontcourt depth, or let Robinson walk and lean on a bigger, cheaper setup. Either way, the Knicks could still field a front line of Karl-Anthony Towns, Mohamed Diawara, and Kornet.
Johnson would give New York another scorer and could slide into the starting lineup. He flashed that kind of ceiling in 2022, when he averaged 20 points a night as the lead option.
The defense would take a hit, but that’s the tradeoff when a team is trying to open up space. The upside is more financial flexibility and room to add depth.
New York would also eventually need to get younger as part of the same effort to save money, and that’s where draft picks matter - especially ones like San Antonio’s 2030 swap with the Timberwolves.
For the Spurs, the appeal is much cleaner. Anunoby fits the exact mold they need: one of the league’s best three-and-D wings.
Put him next to Stephon Castle and Victor Wembanyama, and opposing offenses would have a real problem. His shotmaking would also give San Antonio a more reliable answer in tight, late-game situations.
There’s also the bigger picture. Wembanyama’s extension is coming, and that will force the Spurs into harder cap decisions down the line.
Cheap contributors like Carter Bryant, Tarris Reed Jr., and Jayden Quaintance would matter a lot in that future. Most fans would probably be fine with that if it meant keeping the core strong.
It’s still a long shot, and the most likely outcome is that New York keeps Anunoby after he played such a big role in the title run. But if the Knicks decide his contract is the price of creating more room, Brian Wright ought to be the first person they call.
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 🡒]