The problem with a center who can shoot is that you are overly tempted to surroudn him with players at other positions who cannot shoot.
It's an easy enough trap to fall into. Having a stretch-5 -- the San Antonio Spurs of course have the premium version of that in Victor Wembanyama -- means you can survive having a player at another position who is not a plus shooter.
A shining example would be Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year. While he does so many things well, his complete lack of an outside shot would kill his team's offense on most teams. On the Spurs that problem is mitigated because there is no center clogging up the paint; Wemby is lurking on the perimeter.
Yet what that approach is doing, for the Spurs or any other team with a shooting big, is limiting the ceiling. That's the secret that the Boston Celtics unlocked. Instead of a stretch big allowing you to get away with a non-shooter, what if you weaponized that gift and built a 5-out team? That's the cheat code that will truly break opposing defenses.
The Spurs should add shooters
That's why the Spurs should be going after premium shooters, so unlock the Spurs' offensive ceiling and allow Wembanyama to thrive inside as a roll man and finisher as well. Put Castle and De'Aaron Fox and Jeremy Sochan on the court and there is no reason for Wembanyama to roll into the paint because he is going to be swarmed. Surround him with shooters, and he can continue to unlock another part of his game.
As rumors swirl about players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson, then, the Spurs should be looking at players like Lauri Markkanen on the Utah Jazz. He is a smooth-shooting seven-footer who would give the Spurs incredible size and length in the frontcourt while also breaking defenses open with elite spacing.
The Spurs could put together a trade package with their collection of assets that should whet Utah's whistle, but what they will truly covet is the No. 2 pick. The Jazz were counting on their abysmal season resulting in a top pick, but instead, a plethora of teams jumped them and they fell to fifth. As tossed out by John Hollinger and others, is there a trade-up to be made?
If the Jazz had the No. 2 pick, they could draft their point guard of the future in Dylan Harper, a two-way versatile lead guard with size who has the talent level to be a franchise cornerstone. Utah keeps finding good support players, but they haven't found that No. 1 player. Harper would be a real shot at finding that star.
Historically, trading up in the Top 5 requires a premium asset to be involved, although it has rarely happened with another star involved, so the historical comparisons get hazy. The Boston Celtics went from No. 1 down to No. 3 in the 2017 NBA Draft and picked up an expected lottery pick in the process. Similarly, the Dallas Mavericks paid an expected lottery pick to go from No. 5 to No. 3 to draft Luka Doncic.
The Spurs and Jazz can build a trade
Turning that lottery pick into much of the value for Lauri Markkanen starts to put something together for the two teams. The Jazz can move their best veteran player and lean into their rebuild for another season, clearing their financial books beyond next season in the process. They get to draft Dylan Harper, and in one version of the deal, also get another young player in Jeremy Sochan to take a look at.
The Spurs will get Lauri Markkanen back and still get to pick in the Top 5. Here is what such a trade could look like:


The Spurs would maintain their preferred starting lineup while slotting Lauri Markkanen in for Harrison Barnes. De'Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle would man the backcourt, Devin Vassell would start at the 3, and Markkanen and Victor Wembanyama would flex their muscles in the frontcourt.
Passing on the chance to draft Dylan Harper is painful, but he is not a great fit with the backcourt they have already built in San Antonio. Additionally, the Spurs still get the No. 5 pick -- even with all of the draft consensus on Harper, it's possible that the player they choose fifth turns out to be a better player -- and certainly a better fit.
Whether that is Kon Knueppel, VJ Edgecombe or Tre Johnson, there is talent waiting with the 5th pick to ensure the Spurs aren't entirely punting on their future with win-now moves. Trading Dylan Harper for Markkanen is one thing; trading him for Markkanen plus someone like Edgecombe is an entirely different bet.
This is not a slam dunk move, but it's undoubtedly an intriguing one. If the Jazz are desperate enough to try and trade up, history suggests that the Spurs can exact a pretty penny. And if that return includes an All-Star sharpshooter and a Top 5 pick, it may be hard for Gregg Popovich and company to say no.