5 spicy summer trades that would make the Spurs surefire contenders

Spurs add their point guard of the future in Darius Garland

Assuming that he is available, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Darius Garland should be near the top of the Spurs' list of trade targets. Garland is the youngest of the potentially available all-star guards at just 23 years old and he also has three years remaining on his contract at an affordable price. With Wembanyama being just 20 and Vassell only 23, the Spurs would have the league's best core under the age of 25.

It would cost them, though, with Johnson, Branham, the eighth pick in this year's draft or Chicago's top-10 protected 2025 first and another future first for Garland. But that may well be worth it, with San Antonio being able to hold onto their top-4 pick, upgrade their weakest position, and put them into contention without mortgaging their future.

Garland's skill as a passer would be huge in helping Wembanyama and others get easy shots, while Garland has quietly been one of the most efficient high-volume 3-point shooters in the NBA, hitting 38.4% of his 5.8 3-point attempts per game over his career. Both of those skills should be a must for any point guard to play alongside Wembanyama in the long term. Garland checks off those boxes and fits the Spurs timeline perfectly.