Unpopular Spurs trade would instantly send fan favorite to Bucks

By now, San Antonio Spurs fans have come to accept that former ninth overall pick Jeremy Sochan may never live up to his full potential with the Silver and Black. It's too bad. He's not a bad player, but he simply doesn't fit this roster.

That would seemingly place him on the trade block ahead of the February trade deadline, and Bleacher Report has just the move to send him to a new team. While Bleacher Report can be hit or miss in terms of proposed trades, this one piqued my interest.

The deal would send Sochan to the Milwaukee Bucks. In exchange, San Antonio would add Gary Harris, Amir Coffey, and a 2031 first-round pick swap.

Harris and Coffey aren't anything to write home about at this point in their careers, with them serving as salary filler in this possible trade, something that Bleacher Report readily admits. However, that 2031 pick swap is quite intriguing.

Bleacher Report's mock trade may net the Spurs a lottery pick

San Antonio has shown an affinity for pick swaps under the Brian Wright era, with them owning one from the Boston Celtics, Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Sacramento Kings. What's one more?

Considering the Bucks probably won't have Giannis Antetokoumpo no matter what in 2031, this would be a nice pick to have since it could very well be a lottery pick. I would think the Bucks would be hesitant to give up a pick swap or distant future picks when Giannis' future with the team is in limbo.

Even so, they will probably try to make some moves to convince him to stay. Actually, Sochan might make more sense in Milwaukee than he does in San Antonio.

The Bucks have Myles Turner and Bobby Portis Jr. in the front court, and both are able to space the floor. That would possibly allow for Sochan to play alongside either or even Giannis, where he can do what he does best: defend.

Frankly, I would even be willing to part with a second or two in this deal if I were the Spurs if it meant that they'd get their hands on that pick swap. It would mean they could swap picks with either the Bucks or Kings in 2031.

The Spurs must consider trading Jeremy Sochan to the Bucks

That would provide them not one but two potential chances at a lottery pick as their young core of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper enter their primes. The cost would be Sochan, a player who they don't have much use for at the moment.

Turning Sochan into a potential positive asset wouldn't cost this team much in the short term but could pay off in the long term. After all, it wasn't that long ago that many Spurs fans expected him to be extended for at least $15 million annually.

With him seemingly not having a future in San Antonio, they can spend that money elsewhere, i.e., a possible Julian Champagnie extension. Ultimately, it comes down to what the Bucks want to do.

If they want to make a series of moves to improve their roster in hopes of convincing Giannis to stay, then taking a big swing on a former top-10 pick with plenty of defensive versatility might be something they consider. However, if Giannis demands a trade, this proposed deal would be unlikely to happen. Spurs fans should be hoping for the first option.