Now that the draft and the first week of free agency are in the rearview mirror, we're getting a better idea of what the San Antonio Spurs roster will look like. As is, they have plenty of young talent but are still flawed.
They have only a handful of shooters on their roster and have several players blocking their two recent lottery picks, Dylan Harper and Carter Bryant, from getting minutes. Even so, they should be far better than last season and a borderline playoff team.
Be that as it may, Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report recently proposed a spicy trade that would finally send Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Spurs. Despite Giannis being one of the three best players in the NBA, the general consensus among Spurs fans appears to be that he doesn't fit the team's timeline and that he would be too cost-prohibitive to trade for.
Giannis is 30 years old, but it seems reasonable to expect him to play at a high level for at least the next three seasons, possibly longer considering that he doesn't have a major injury history and most stars nowadays play well into their mid-thirties.
If San Antonio were to trade for Giannis, he wouldn't dramatically alter their overall timeline, with them quickly emerging as a contender and being in the mix for three or four years. Then, Wembanyama and Harper would be primed to lead the Spurs after that run.
Spurs have a crystal-clear path to blockbuster Giannis trade
The proposed trade would send Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and Stephon Castle plus two firsts and a pick swap for Giannis. Despite the initial sticker shock, that is actually a perfectly reasonable trade for both sides.
The Spurs would get off of two questionable contracts, and while they would also have to give up Castle, they would likely save from having to give up two additional first-round picks.
Giving up the 2027 first from the Atlanta Hawks wouldn't be a big loss, though it would leave them without a first that year, while the Spurs' 2029 first shouldn't be a high pick either. They would have to give up the Kings 2031 pick swap that they own and a 2032 pick swap as well as three seconds as well.
From San Antonio's perspective, it's hard to find an issue with the deal. They'd keep all but two of their future first-round picks, consolidate their roster, and still get a top-3 player in the NBA.
Would the Bucks trade Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Spurs?
The Bucks have completely blundered their attempt to build around Giannis after waiving Damian Lillard and signing Myles Turner. That will essentially result in the Bucks paying Lillard and Turner a combined $50 million for each of the next four years.
Combine that with them being out of most of their picks, and the Bucks' long-term outlook is pretty bleak. This trade would give them the reigning Rookie of the Year and multiple firsts, plus a starter in Vassell and a rotation player in Johnson.
That might seem a little low for Giannis, but teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder probably won't trade for him. Nor may the Houston Rockets, who just traded for Kevin Durant. Even the Toronto Raptors lost their biggest selling point, GM Masai Ujiri.
Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets burned through five first-round picks in the 2025 NBA Draft instead of trading up or for future firsts. That could put the Spurs in the driver's seat in terms of potential landing spots for Giannis.
This Giannis trade make sense for the Spurs and Bucks
Vassell and Johnson are two "eye of the beholder" players that, while they may not fit the Spurs long term, the Bucks might like. Then there's Castle. He is clearly the centerpiece of the Spurs' hypothetical offer and could thrive on a Bucks team that is in the process of rebuilding.
That might be the best offer from a team that could be on Giannis' list of destinations. The Spurs' projected rotation would consist of De'Aaron Fox, Harper, Harrison Barnes, Giannis, and Wembanyama as the starting five. Blake Wesley, Julian Champagnie, Bryant, Jeremy Sochan, and Luke Kornet would make up the bench.
With three stars, the Spurs would be able to have at least one of Fox, Giannis, or Wembanyama on the floor at all times. That could instantly propel them into title contention.
All told, Bleacher Report's hypothetical Giannis trade would make plenty of sense for the Spurs. Whether Giannis wants out and whether the Spurs are willing to part with these assets remain to be seen, however.