Spurs' missed Giannis Antetokounmpo opportunity could've created deadly pairing

While the Spurs have had their fair share of wins in the free-agent and trade markets over the years, they've also had some missed opportunities or things that just never made it past the rumor mill. Their biggest what-if in recent memory was the potential acquisition of Giannis Antetokounmpo, who could've been a perfect fit alongside Victor Wembanyama.

Those rumors ran rampant for about a year and a half, leading NBA fans to fantasize about a video-game-like combination of Giannis and Wemby. It would've been one of the most intriguing duos in league history, with two skilled seven-footers doing whatever they wanted to on both ends of the floor.

Obviously, it just remained a fantasy, but the Spurs turned out just fine. They're entering next season with championship expectations and a core that has sky-high upside. But still, it's fun to ponder the idea of those two demigods working in tandem.

Giannis and Wemby would've made life easier for each other

As we saw in this year's Finals series, there was only so much Victor Wembanyama could do on both ends of the floor. He was asked to defend and rebound at a high level while being San Antonio's go-to guy offensively. That took a toll on him as he was gassed late in games.

Giannis would have been a perfect solution to that problem. His ability to rebound and cover ground defensively would've taken a heavy burden off Wemby's shoulders, allowing him to close out fourth quarters more effectively.

Then, there's the offensive fit. Giannis's knack for creating gravity by driving downhill would've complemented Wemby's willingness to space the floor and shoot threes. The Greek Freak was always at his best when sharing the floor with another seven-footer who could clear the paint and punish defenses from beyond the arc.

Mitch Johnson also showed a willingness to run double-big pick-and-rolls with Victor and Luke Kornet last season, so you can only imagine how dangerous it would've been if Giannis got involved in that action. He could've acted as the orchestrator while Wemby set screens and slipped to the basket or popped out to the three-point line. That's a setup opponents would've had no answer for.

Things still worked out just fine for the Spurs

While it would've been an NBA fan's dream to see both of those seven-footers share the court, it's probably for the best that it didn't happen. As we saw this summer, Milwaukee's asking price was high, demanding a handful of young players and draft compensation for Giannis.

So the Spurs would have undoubtedly lost a lot of their youth to get Antetokounmpo. Sure, there would have been major benefits, but we've also seen that formula hurt several teams in the past. It's not always the best idea to ship off your young talent to bring in a superstar veteran. The Los Angeles Clippers had to learn that the hard way.

San Antonio should feel vindicated for their decision not to trade for Giannis. While they did move some pieces to get De'Aaron Fox, they still trusted in the development of their young core, and it paid off. They made the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014 and are one of the favorites to win the championship next season.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow