3 Trades to put Spurs one step from contention after adding Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs won the draft lottery and for the third time in 36 years will select a generationally talented big man. Victor Wembanyama could be the best of the bunch. Yes, that sounds like hyperbole, but he is one of the most hyped prospects the NBA has ever seen. The 7’4 big man can space the floor, handle the ball, protect the rim, and just flat-out get buckets.

Wembanyama alone cannot lift the Spurs out of their rebuild. He is a fantastic start and foundational piece, but San Antonio needs to get him some help They have cap space and roster flexibility this summer. How hard will the Spurs push to be a playoff contender in Wemby’s first season? The teenage prodigy wants to win now, but fans should expect the Spurs to take their time.

San Antonio may not be able to jump fully into contention, but they could make a splash that gets them on the doorstep by using their cap space and draft capital to pull off a trade.

Trades that put Spurs one step from contention after adding Victor Wembanyama

3. Spurs add two role players to give Victor Wembanyama a chance

The Spurs could jump at the chance to add two key role players on reasonable contracts as the Nets tear down their roster and look to rebuild. Brooklyn needs a superstar to become true contenders, so they add some necessary draft capital for two players they acquired midseason.

Dinwiddie immediately slots in as the Spurs starting point guard just one year after he averaged 17.3 points, 6.5 assists, 3.4 rebounds, and 0.8 steals in 34.5 minutes. He and Finney-Smith both played key roles in the Mavericks reaching the conference finals in 2022. Doe-Doe would give San Antonio a versatile 3-and-D wing to use next to Wembanyama.

The Spurs have acquired seven future first-round picks from other teams, and they cannot select all of those players. Why not deal two picks and the swap rights to another to get two key role players? This also sets the Spurs up to make a blockbuster deal as they will have five players on their roster making between $12 and $20 million per season.

If the Brooklyn Nets are not sold on a rebuild, the Celtics could be looking to shred some salary and trade a disgruntled point guard away this summer.