As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, all eyes will be on the San Antonio Spurs. They have been linked to the Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo and Phoenix star Kevin Durant. With two lottery picks, they have the assets needed to get a blockbuster trade done.
Of course, with the second overall pick, they could end up drafting a future star by picking Rutgers guard Dylan Harper. With Harper, Rookie of the Year Stephon, and All-Star de Aaron Fox, the Spurs would have an embarrassment of riches in the backcourt.
However, they will have to address a major roster flaw. The Spurs have only four shooters projected to be in their rotation for next season. Adding Harper to the mix would further exacerbate that flaw. As a result, they should look to make a big draft trade to land Durant.
Since the Spurs are unlikely to trade the second overall pick, they should instead look to move the 14th pick to make a big splash. Durant is the obvious candidate given his availability and the Suns reportedly dropping the price for him, according to the Athletics' Kelly Iko.
The Spurs must trade for Kevin Durant at the NBA Draft
A blockbuster deal to land Durant would potentially include the Spurs trading Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Malaki Branham, and the 14th and 38th picks to the Suns. That move would give the Spurs one of the best shooters and overall scorers in the NBA. That would be an upgrade, though they would have to part with Johnson, who is a fan favorite and their longest-tenured player with six seasons under his belt.
For the Suns, they would get a 24-year-old starter in Vassell, a sixth man in Johnson, an expiring salary in Branham, a lottery pick, and a high second-rounder. All things considered, that might be enough for them to part with Durant.
San Antonio would pair Wembanyama with his idol, Durant, and form an elite front-court pairing. Durant, even at 36 years old, was still one of the best shooters in the NBA this season.
He drilled 38% of his 6.0 3-point attempts and 53.1% of his 4.6 mid-range jumpers per game. Both skills would be massive for the Spurs, who don't have near enough spacing to surround Wembanyama with. Defensively, Durant is still incredibly valuable and would be far from a weak link in what could be a stacked starting lineup that features three all-stars.
All in all, the NBA Draft gives the Spurs the perfect opportunity to trade for Durant. It would mean parting with Johnson, but it's hard to argue that they wouldn't be better with KD.