Spurs must make shocking trade deadline move fans won’t see coming

Giannis Antetokounmpo trade fever has overtaken the NBA in recent days, with him almost guaranteed to be traded before the February 5th deadline. However, don't expect the Spurs to get in on the Giannis sweepstakes.

Instead, they could look to make smaller moves, i.e., trading Jeremy Sochan. Even so, there might be a way for the Spurs to get in on an inevitable Giannis blockbuster trade without having to give up an arm and a leg.

A tantalizing proposed trade has been making the rounds online that would see Giannis dealt to the New York Knicks in exchange for Karl-Anthony Towns and pick swaps. What's different about the proposed deal is that the Silver and Black would be the third team involved and would end up with defensive ace OG Anunoby, but it'll cost them.

The Spurs could land OG Anunoby in a shocking proposed trade

So what's the catch? I mean, it would likely cost the Spurs plenty to land a big upgrade, right? Yes and no. The deal would send out three players but only one rotation player: Harrison Barnes, as well as Sochan and Kelly Olynyk.

They would also be sending the Milwaukee Bucks a 2026 first-round pick courtesy of the Atlanta Hawks. I don't know about y'all, but that's a heck of a deal for San Antonio.

We're talking about turning a struggling starter and two players who seldom play, plus a first, into one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.

OG Anunoby would be the perfect fit on the Spurs

The Oklahoma City Thunder would be shook if that were to happen. After all, it would give the Spurs a lockdown perimeter defender to throw at the likes ofJalen Williams, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic.

Anunoby is also a perfectly capable offensive player, averaging 16.0 points while shooting 35.2% from three this season. Slot him in at starting power forward, and watch the Silver and Black get better on both sides of the ball, no doubt about it.

The only potential downside is that he is under contract for three more years and will make an average of $45.4 million in that span. San Antonio would have to shed salary to keep from becoming a second-apron team sooner than expected.

In the short term, however, Anunoby could be a big difference-maker and help San Antonio bolster an already top-3 defense. That could dramatically improve their championship odds. They'd just have to weigh the long-term cost, even if he would be a no-brainer trade deadline addition.