Spurs' dream Giannis-Wembanyama pairing crashes after latest report

It appears that the much-rumored Giannis Antetokounmpo trade to the San Antonio Spurs is all but dead. This is according to NBA insider Brian Windhorst, who stated that Giannis hasn't demanded a trade and the Milwaukee Bucks aren't planning on trading him.

Fortunately, for San Antonio, they already have a backup plan with their rumored pursuit of Kevin Durant. Durant will likely cost much less than Giannis, and according to Phoenix Suns insider John Gambadoro, Durant believes that he will end up with the Spurs.

The Spurs should consider the rumored trade package of Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, and the 14th pick to be a significant bargain. Compare that to the Spurs potentially having to give up the second overall pick to acquire Giannis, and perhaps it's for the best.

The Spurs have the perfect Giannis Antetokounmpo alternative

While the idea of pairing Giannis and Victor Wembanyama together was tempting, so too is pairing Wembanyama with Durant. Durant's sharpshooting would significantly enhance a roster that desperately needs more spacing. And despite him being 37 years old by the start of next season, he could be just what San Antonio needs.

Durant will likely replace Barnes in the rotation, and given how successful Barnes was in the role of stretch four, Durant could be a game changer. He ranked as one of the more efficient high-volume 3-point shooters in the NBA and was terrific from mid-range as well.

He's proven that he is among the league's best shooters. He will also force opposing teams to put their best perimeter defender on him, which could make life easier on De'Aaron Fox and keep teams from swarming Wembanyama in the paint.

Kevin Durant could be a great fit for the Spurs

Even if he required a massive contract extension that could exceed $100 million, that would still be a worthwhile gamble for San Antonio. After all, it's been made much harder by the recent Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) to put three stars together on the same team.

The Spurs would have that chance with Fox, Durant, and Wembanyama, plus two potential future stars in Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper. They can't afford to pass on that opportunity. Especially with how wide open the NBA seems to be, with a new champion in each of the last seven seasons.

Ultimately, the Spurs' hopes for Giannis appear to have faded. Luckily, the Spurs already appear to have a big backup plan that wouldn't cost them the second pick and still dramatically improve their roster.