Max Kellerman says exactly how the Spurs snatch the throne from the Thunder

The breaking news regarding Giannis Antetokounmpo had incredible timing because I was already gearing up to write about him and why San Antonio shouldn't go after the 9x all-star. Max Kellerman thinks that the Spurs would have enough to knock the Thunder off their perch if they could add him to their roster, and I actually agree with him. But that doesn't mean it's the smart thing to do.

Kellerman recently joined Bill Simmons on his show, the Bill Simmons Podcast, where they compared OKC to the unstoppable 2017 Warriors when Max just threw it out there. "If the Spurs get Giannis," he said to Bill. Things are going off the rails in Milwaukee, and rumors of a trade for the Greek Freak are starting to ramp up again.

This episode was published more than 15 hours before yesterday's report from Shams. The fan fiction that he gets traded to the 210 is only going to get worse now that there's real news that he's re-evaluating his place in Milwaukee. Understandably so. The Spurs have the assets to go after the soon-to-be 31-year-old superstar. That doesn't mean I have to like it. I really like those assets.

Spurs can't rush because of OKC

I don't think I would be telling them something they don't already know by saying that they need to focus on their timeline and not someone else's. There's no extra award for stopping the Thunder from having a years-long run of dominance. Not when there's a strong possibility that you can develop a long-running dynasty of your own by holding onto the guys you already have.

The key to that is Victor Wembanyama. He's the one who will tip the scale in whatever iteration the Spurs put forth to challenge for the title when it's time. The guys around him have already stepped their game up, so we shouldn't be so quick to seek trades.

When everyone was yelling for Brian Wright to trade Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, and whoever else they could think of who wasn't named Victor Wembanyama because they weren't good enough, he held firm. Wright and the rest of the front office believe in this roster, and they've proved that at every turn.

Experts have droned on and on about how many assets the Spurs have. They've endlessly opined that a trade could be pulled off almost at any time they wanted to if they wanted a new face in Alamo City. They haven't done it. If that isn't a sign of commitment, I don't know what is. We should all be thankful for their patience.

There's no telling whether the hypothetical new piece would have fit with the others. This team has great camaraderie, and their togetherness seeps into how much they sacrifice for each other on the court. Giannis doesn't have that with this group, either. They'd be talented, but you may have to send away players who have been key to establishing the culture. That can be a risky proposition.

What's crazy about Kellerman's stance is that he later basically makes the same argument for another team that I'm making for the Spurs now. "If you have a nucleus you believe in, let it bake a little bit. Give it time to grow," he said about the Boston Celtics, questioning people who suggested the 2024 NBA champs blow it up before they went on their title run.

It's the right way to approach this if you believe Castle and Harper are going to be perennial all-stars. I believe that's in them both. If you don't, then I can see why you'd be clamoring for a Giannis trade. Either way, the Spurs could see monumental success. I'd just rather it last longer than four or five years.