4 Trade deadline moves that would boost Spurs, 2 they must avoid

Avoid: Giving up picks for a questionable player

One of the shining successes of the Spurs organization's efforts in the last several years is General Manager Brian Wright's savvy in orchestrating deals that net San Antonio draft compensation. When the time was right, San Antonio's management put together trades for players like Derrick White, Dejounte Murray and Jakob Poeltl that netted the Spurs first-round picks in return.

The result is what has become an absolute treasure trove of draft picks from now until the end of the decade. San Antonio owns a stunning 15 first round picks between 2024 and 2030. This represents a massive success by the front office to compile assets that give the team significant leverage for future dealings.

The next step, of course, is to make sure those picks are used wisely. Yes, 15 first rounders in a span of seven seasons is enough to make anyone's jaw hit the floor, but they mean nothing if they are not utilized correctly to ultimately build a winning team in San Antonio.

The Spurs should be wary of biting on a deal simply because it is there, and not because they believe it will legitimately help them in the long term. A good rule of thumb is that a first-rounder should not be sacrificed for anything less than an All-Star caliber player.