7 Wild moves Spurs could make to put veterans around Victor Wembanyama

The San Antonio Spurs won a franchise-altering draft lottery and will select Victor Wembanyama with the number one overall pick on June 22. The 7’4 prodigy is the most hyped prospect since LeBron James. Wemby has superstar written all over him, but can the Spurs build a contender around him?

Rafael Barlowe of NBA Big Board shared the latest on the team’s plans after drafting Wembanyama (subscription required). The Spurs are hoping to add another first-round pick and to acquire veterans to improve their roster around the 19-year-old top selection.

Who will San Antonio target? They have missed the playoffs for four straight years, so can the franchise quickly jump back into contention? The Spurs have some young talent, but they need more pieces to get over the hump. What can they do this offseason?

Wild moves San Antonio Spurs could make to put veterans around Victor Wembanyama

7. Trade for Malcolm Brogdon

Brogdon is the reigning Sixth Man of the Year that averaged 14.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 26.0 minutes per game as he helped the Celtics reach the conference finals. The 30-year-old guard is a smart player that can space the floor, handle the ball, and make plays on both ends of the court.

Brogdon would fit fantastically in San Antonio, but why would the Celtics trade him with two years left on his contract? Boston is approaching the new second tax apron that limits spending, and they could look to create room to keep Grant Williams. Doing so would mean dumping Jaylen Brown, Derrick White, or Brogdon. There is no ideal scenario, but the Celtics will have to make a difficult choice.

The San Antonio Spurs have cap space and would be eager to add Malcolm Brogdon to provide veteran leadership for their young group. This may seem a bit wild, but it certainly could happen this summer.

6. Trade for Spencer Dinwiddie and Dorian Finney-Smith

The Spurs need a starting point guard, and the franchise is eager to improve their roster.

The Brooklyn Nets are facing an uncertain future. They went all-in by acquiring Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden, but their “Big 3” never panned out. Harden last just one year before being traded to Philadelphia, and the other two are now out. The Nets do not have their picks, but they could look to retool around Mikal Bridges.

The Nets have more wings than minutes to hand out, so someone will likely be on the move this summer. Finney-Smith is a strong 3-and-D wing that does not need the ball and has the size to guard the elite wings in the Western Conference. He helped the Mavericks reach the conference finals in 2022 and is known as a fantastic locker-room presence.

Dinwiddie was also part of the Mavs squad in 2022 and would be a veteran playmaker to lead the Spurs. He fills a need and could be available for the right price. If San Antonio offers two first-round picks, the Nets would have to strongly consider their offer.

This is a wild move for a team that won just 22 games last season, but the addition of Victor Wembanyama could quickly change the Spurs' trajectory.

5. Sign Harrison Barnes

Barnes is one of the most active NBA players in his community (subscription required), and he is known for a lot more than just his on-court talents. Take nothing away from the 6’8 forward that averaged 15.0 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as he helped the Kings snap the longest playoff drought in basketball. Barnes can ball, but he is committed to being so much more.

The Black Falcon would fit right in with “Spurs Culture”, and he has experience playing under Gregg Popovich from the 2019 FIBA World Cup. Pop talked about his level of trust in Barnes, and that should tell all Spurs fans need to know about how he would fair in San Antonio.

Barnes is an unselfish player that can do anything on the floor. Need him to get a bucket or switch onto the point guard? He can do it. Ask him to be a floor spacer, and he will spot-up and knock down an open look. Barnes is going to play team basketball and would thrive under coach Pop.

Nobody expects Harrison Barnes to sign in San Antonio, but if the Spurs offer a significant contract, they might be able to convince him to play with Victor Wembanyama.

4. Sign Kyle Lowry off the buyout market

Lowry is under contract for next season, so how are the Spurs going to sign him? His $29.6 million expiring salary makes him the perfect matcher in a trade, and the Heat are expected to be hunting a third star this summer. Could Lowry be shipped to a rebuilding team?

If he is, the 37-year-old is unlikely to be interested in playing out the season. Lowry only has a few more chances to win his second championship and wasting one on a 25-win team is not appealing. That would likely pave the way for a buyout. It may not happen until after the trade deadline, but Lowry would not be the first player bought out in the offseason. A buyout allows the veteran to become an unrestricted free agent and sign with the team of his choosing.

Lowry was interested in joining the Spurs during his free agency in 2017, but the interest was not mutual at that time. Could the six-foot guard get his wish six years later? The Spurs want veterans and need point guard help. Lowry is no longer an All-Star, but he is a productive veteran that could help lead the locker room.

Put this one at a seven on the wild meter as a lot of things would have to happen to get Kyle Lowry on the San Antonio Spurs, but do not rule it out entirely.

3. Re-sign Jakob Poeltl

The Spurs traded Poeltl to Toronto in February, but the Raptors are facing an uncertain future. Fred VanVleet, Gary Trent Jr., and Poeltl are all expected to become free agents this summer. Can the Raptors bring them all back? Do they want to? Could Toronto be facing a rebuild? Fans hear the Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby rumors, but will the Raptors sell?

It may not matter. The Spurs have cap space and could re-sign Poeltl outright. Toronto gave up Khem Birch and three draft picks to acquire the 7’1 big man, so they will likely try to bring him back. Can they do it? Poeltl may decide to move on and a return to San Antonio cannot be ruled out.

Gregg Popovich was not shy about heaping praise on Poeltl, and the coach would welcome a reunion with the big man. Furthermore, the Spurs could be searching for a center to take some of the pounding off Victor Wembanyama. Poeltl’s diverse skill set would mesh well with Wemby’s unicorn game.

Would the San Antonio Spurs be willing to outbid the market for Jakob Poeltl? That is unclear, but it would be a wild move to bring him back just five months after trading him to Toronto.

2. Trade for Chris Paul

Fans heard the news of CP3 being waived by the Suns, but what if they can find a trade before his June 28 guarantee date? The Spurs have the room to take on his $30 million contract, and they would love to add a veteran point guard to their roster that can enhance Victor Wembanyama.

San Antonio needs someone that can create some easy shots for the rookie and will allow him to blossom quickly. CP3 is still one of the best shot-creators in the league, and he could form a devastating pick-and-roll partnership with the French prodigy. Paul was part of the NBA 75 and would make an instant impact both on and off the floor in San Antonio. 

Would Paul want to join the Spurs? Gregg Popovich would love to have his leadership in San Antonio. They are still a young team, so CP3’s basketball IQ and mentorship could help them tremendously.

Chris Paul is 38 years old and cannot be expected to play every game next season. He would be a fantastic leader and floor general for the San Antonio Spurs, but they could just look to sign an All-Star point guard in free agency if he is willing to apologize to coach Pop.

1. Sign Fred VanVleet

VanVleet is one of the best free-agent point guards on the market this summer. He averaged 19.3 points, 7.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals in 36.7 minutes per game last season for the Raptors. If Toronto decides to rebuild, FVV could be looking for a new home this offseason, and he won’t have to search far for suitors.

The Spurs would love to add a star point guard, but VanVleet may have to apologize to coach Pop first. The 29-year-old guard helped the Raptors win the title in 2019, but he may have cursed out Popovich at the victory parade. Spurs fans certainly have not forgotten.

Would the All-Star guard be interested in San Antonio? They have money to offer and a need at point guard. FVV could lead the new-look Spurs under Victor Wembanyama and help them quickly get back to the playoffs. The 29-year-old is in his prime and eager to contend for a championship.

The San Antonio Spurs should not be in a position to land one of the best free agents on the market, but Wembanyama changes things. The hype is real, and he could quickly take the NBA by storm. That alone could interest Fred VanVleet and others.

Will the Spurs pull off a wild move this summer? Expect them to add veterans and talent as they look to build a competitive roster around Victor Wembanyama. Can they do it? Stay tuned to find out.