Spurs will maximize contention window by repeating history in the 2025 NBA Draft

Having two lottery picks heading into what many predict will be a deep 2025 NBA Draft class should be considered both exciting and enticing. But now that the San Antonio Spurs know they're going to have the 14th overall pick, conveyed by the Atlanta Hawks, on top of their 8th pick, the argument could be made that the team should look at a previous NBA Draft tactic to put themselves in an even better position to build around Victor Wembanyama in the future.

Would it be great if the Spurs emerged from the 2025 NBA Draft with two potential rotation pieces to add next to De'Aaron Fox and Wemby? Absolutely. However, at the same time, it would be even wiser for the Spurs to think of their next big move, one that would pay off much more than getting a potential two-way contributor or 3-point specialist late in the lottery.

One way the Spurs can accomplish that is by mimicking a strategy they utilized last season, when they traded the 8th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 top-one protected pick swap. It's not a move that paid off last season, but one that will have the potential to do so in a big way in the future.

What the Spurs can do by trading one of their first-round picks

If the Spurs were to trade one of their first-round picks this season for future assets, the team would only put itself in a better position to seize an opportunity in the future. The NBA is a star-driven league, and even though San Antonio made a great move by adding Fox this past season, the Spurs should already be exploring the market for an even bigger upgrade.

San Antonio is expected to be a playoff contender next season in the Western Conference with Fox and Wemby, but if they want to reach championship heights, they may need to add another star complement next to their dynamic duo. And the easiest way to accomplish that in the modern NBA is via trade. Adding more future assets, while giving up a pick that would be viewed as a luxury at this point, could be an intriguing option for San Antonio this offseason.

At this point, the Spurs should be doing their best to help improve the supporting cast around Wemby. Overall, San Antonio has done a pretty solid job of that over the last couple of seasons. Making a small sacrifice at the 2025 NBA Draft in favor of future possibilities could be the difference in the Spurs landing a disgruntled star in the future or finishing as an interested party.

San Antonio is currently well-positioned to make another big move for a star player via trade. However, adding another first-round pick or two in the future could truly help this team put itself in rare company. In today's NBA, assets are the currency of preference. And the Spurs could make a major move at the NBA Draft to put the wheels in motion for an even bigger acquisition down the road.