The Spurs in San Antonio are being wiped out by trade rumours, but organically the construction may be a better course.
San Antonio Spurs maintains their future more than most other teams in the NBA. They are united with Victor Wenbagnama, a terrifying two-way force that is poised to rival Michael Jordan and LeBron James by the end of his career.
The Spurs’ sole mission for the near future is to maximize Wenbanyama’s prime, surround themselves with outstanding players and build long-term winners.
San Antonio has the assets needed to do a hugely successful trade with the Milwaukee Bucks for Giannis Antetocompo. If the Spurs can pair Wenbanyama, Anteto Commapo and Dearon Fox while keeping one or two states, they will soon emerge as title favourites next season. But that may not be the best move.
If the Spurs add Antetokounmpo through this season’s deal, the deal will focus on the second overall pick, and the Spurs will need to match their $54.4 million salary by significantly reducing the depth. That said, it will make the Spurs title next season’s frontrunner, even at a loaded Western Conference.
De’aaron Fox is now accepting contract extensions this summer, allowing both Wembanyama and Antetokounmpo to be extended after next season. We believe the Spurs can give all three players the maximum or at least close, with 90% of their pay cap being committed to the three players.
With so little cap space to close the roster, the Spurs have to rely heavily on three stars. It’s hard to imagine a better Big 3, but the modern NBA isn’t built on top of superstars teaming up, but it’s built on depth and maximizes one star.
Adding Fox is supposed to cut down the decades of vision the Spurs have for the extremely narrow windows, taking Wenbanyama to the next level, while keeping the rest of the core pretty much unharmed and dealing with AntetoCompo with the title hopes he brings.
Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker are very different players than Wemby, Fox and Antetokounmpo, but the outcome may be similar. Booker and Beer play a similar game, with Durant in need of the ball in his hand. Antetokounmpo and Wembanyama bring more to the defensive side, but they both play rather similar roles, with Fox being the best due to their high usage.
Like the Phoenix Suns, the Spurs have no means of adding talent to support.
The lineup of Antetokounmpo, Fox, Wembanyama, Julian Champagnie and perhaps Stephon Castle is solid, but with no shooting and little depth behind them.
Wenbanyama, Dylan Harper, Fox, Devin Vassel, Castle, Harrison Burns, Champanee, Keldon Johnson and those who chose on the 14th pick are deep, balanced and built for both sides of the ball.