3 Trades that make Spurs instant contenders after drafting Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs got lucky again as they won the draft lottery for the third time when a superstar big man was going to be the top pick. Victor Wembanyama was destined to be Spur, and he appears excited to follow in the footsteps of Tim Duncan and David Robinson.

The teenage French sensation made it clear that he wants to contend right away, and his goal is winning the Spurs their sixth championship. Can San Antonio go from 22 wins to the playoffs? They have the league’s best coach and a superstar talent joining their roster. The Spurs need additional upgrades, but that is a strong start.

Wemby cannot do it alone, but the Spurs are in a prime position to upgrade their roster. They can create max cap space and have plenty of open roster spots. There is no need to go all-in, but San Antonio should be looking to improve next season. The only question is how?

Trades that make San Antonio Spurs contenders after drafting Victor Wembanyama

3. Spurs get LaVine

Even if Wembanyama becomes a superstar, he is going to need help. Finding an elite scorer that can space the floor and make plays should be high on the Spurs' priority list. Zach LaVine is under contract for three more years and could become available after the Bulls missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six years.

Guys that average over 24 points, four rebounds, and four assists on efficient scoring are few and far between, so the Spurs are going to have to pay to acquire him. Losing Devin Vassell hurts, but San Antonio would be trading him for a two-time All-Star in the middle of his prime.

If the Bulls trade LaVine, they would be headed toward a rebuild. That means they would have little use for Derrick Jones Jr., but Gregg Popovich could get the best out of the 6’5 forward who defends hard and continues to improve his jumper.

The San Antonio Spurs have stockpiled more draft picks than they can make, so trading a few for one of the league’s best scorers seems like a no-brainer. Would this be enough to get them back to playoffs during Victor Wembanyama’s rookie season? Maybe not, but partnering with LaVine would certainly be a joy to watch.

2. Spurs go star hunting to land Dame

Damian Lillard wants to be a Blazer for life, but it could be time for the seven-time All-Star to move on and chase a ring after Portland missed the playoffs two straight years. If Dame becomes available, the Spurs should go all-in to acquire one of the league’s best point guards.

Yes, Vassell is 22 years old and coming off a year where he averaged 18.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.1 steals. He is an outstanding player with room to grow, but he is never going to be a superstar. With Vassell and Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs hope to reach the Play-In Tournament. They will be far from contenders, but adding Lillard could push San Antonio into the West's top six in Wemby’s rookie campaign.

Vassell was limited to just 38 games last season because of knee issues, which are just one more reason to make this deal. Spurs fans are likely having flashbacks to Kawhi’s early knee injuries, and they continue to wreak havoc on his career. Yes, four first-round picks and a young two-way wing is a massive price, but San Antonio will have to beat the other offers on the table, and they certainly have the draft capital to pull this off.

Damian Lillard may not become available this summer, but the San Antonio Spurs could certainly add an All-Star point guard that will.

1. Spurs assist Raptors in FVV sign-and-trade

Fred VanVleet is an unrestricted free agent this summer, and the Spurs desperately need a starting point guard to pair with Victor Wembanyama. San Antonio has the cap space to sign him, so why would they trade for him? The Raptors may want to pick up a trade exception for FVV’s salary to give them more flexibility to make future moves, and they may be willing to give the Spurs a second-rounder to make it happen.

Assuming they sign VanVleet for $25 to 30 million per season, that could be a significant trade exception for the Raptors. It would allow him to acquire more salary than they are giving up in trades and just make more moves possible going forward. It would be an option to explore to ensure they got something for the 29-year-old All-Star.

The Fred VanVleet and Victor Wembanyama pick and roll would certainly be exciting. The 6’1 guard would also space the floor and give the rookie an outlet whenever things are breaking down.

Can the Spurs convince VanVleet to come to San Antonio this summer? It would be a long shot, but overpaying for a former All-Star could be massive if Victor Wembanyama can quickly transform into a superstar.

The San Antonio Spurs are about to draft a generational talent, but how quickly will they become contenders? That depends on what moves the front office makes. Fans won’t want to miss it, so please stay tuned.