Spurs can't get hopelessly caught in Giannis trap closing in on hated rival

Giannis Antetokounmpo will almost certainly (and at long last) be traded this offseason, as ESPN NBA insider Shams Charania reported on Tuesday. The Bucks would love it if the San Antonio Spurs joined the mix, but regardless of what happens in the playoffs, they should stay far, far away.

An organization that could change its pre-deadline stance on Giannis with an early postseason exit is Houston. Sam Amick included the Rockets among his team-to-watch picks (subscription required) in his latest for The Athletic.

"And what about the Houston Rockets, who signaled a disinterest in pairing Antetokounmpo with Kevin Durant in February but might change their stance if they get eliminated early?"

Amick added: "Ditto for the San Antonio Spurs."

No, thank you. Not with what the Spurs have built.

San Antonio isn't on the championship-or-bust timeline like Houston put itself on by trading for now 37-year-old Kevin Durant, so there is absolutely no pressure to push for an Antetokounmpo trade.

An early playoff exit shouldn't change Spurs' stance on Giannis

Milwaukee will want a mix of young talent and draft assets, both of which San Antonio has, but what the team has built is too special to mess with. This season is proof of that. You don't luck into finishing second in the superior of the two conferences, and what's wild to think about is that the best is still yet to come for the Spurs.

And that doesn't involve Giannis, who turned 31 in December and played only 36 games this season due to various injuries. Keep in mind, he also missed time in the playoffs over the past few years, including not playing at all in 2024 with a calf strain.

Stephon Castle or Dylan Harper would be en route to Milwaukee if a trade happened, but that wouldn't be all. Devin Vassell could be on his way out, too, as well as at least two first-round picks. The Bucks would probably try to push even more, knowing what the Spurs have in their draft chest.

No one is trying to downplay who Giannis Antetokounmpo is, but that's not a price that San Antonio should be willing to pay, especially when you consider that there is a chance that his best playing days are behind him. Here I am talking about his injuries again, but they're a real concern. Recurring calf issues are scary, okay?

Spurs have too much to look forward to in the future

As a Spurs fan, you're buzzing with excitement over what the next few weeks could hold as they make their return to the playoffs, not about landing Giannis. They don't need him to win a championship. His arrival could speed up the process, but it could also be what derails it, too.

Look at the Rockets. They were a surprise last season, finishing second in the West, but they lacked a go-to scorer, which led them to KD. He was supposed to vault them into championship territory, but in reality, they're the weak link in the top six. Yes, they've been without Fred VanVleet all season long and lost Steven Adams for the rest of the year in January, but still.

Let Houston be the one to make a desperation move for Antetokounmpo, gutting the rest of its assets in the process. It might make the team a contender on paper (what could go wrong with a group of oft-injured veterans?), but "winning the offseason" doesn't equate to being the last team standing in June.

You know what? The Spurs can get there without Giannis Antetokounmpo.