There is Markannen to Spurs Buzz

[LeBowen]

Comparatively we have just witnessed OKC basically use their draft capital as a 3 year roster tryout. There was just no rush at all and they took a hard look at all their picks. There’s something to be said about doing that and preserving their cap space. Which they just used to plug a gap without having to come off of any draft capital.

The problem is that Wemby is too good to have any more tryout seasons.
I have no doubt he'll be on SGA level next season.
As long as Wemby is healthy, barring some more low-percentage luck, we're not getting any more high lottery picks.

SGA became a legit all-NBA, all-defense guard, with both of their 2022 picks hitting the ground running. Immediate impact.
We'll need Castle to have Williams-level impact if we're to actually win games without making bigger trades. With Devin and Jeremy also improving.

If they don't develop right away, we'll be on Dallas trajectory with Luka being too good, too soon.
Luckily we have way more assets than they did, but our own picks won't be worth as much. We'll have to hope Hawks picks are good.

We can't blow the load too early, but we can't prevent Wemby from being on GOAT trajectory.
It's not just about picking the right players, it's about most players, even future all-stars, taking some years to develop.
Wemby surely won't be happy if he has to wait for 5 more years before legit contention.

The leaguewide belief is that the Jazz would only consider moving Markkanen for a sizable trade package similar to what the Knicks gave up to acquire Mikal Bridges-The Warriors, Kings, Spurs, Timberwolves, and Pelicans are among the teams who’ve expressed interest in trading for Markkanen

That doesn't sound so bad.
Knicks gave up a bad contract and four picks that aren't going to be in the lottery barring a major catastrophe, with another swap and Bucks FRP.
If Spurs could get Markkanen for '25 CHI, '25 ATL, '27 SAS and two Minnesota picks while offloading Collins, it would be worth it.
('25 ATL because Trae is still going to be there and '27 SAS because we should be good by then.)

[Chinook]

In case it got buried, my spit-balling leads me to believe the Spurs could offer an $82M/2 extension to Mark if they were to trade for him now (which means he'd be renegotiated now and ectended in August or that the sides would be in complete standstill until August) , with about $15 Million accelerating to this season as part of a renegotiation. That's less than a max even accounting for it being a two-year deal, but it's not THAT far off and lets Mark pursue free agency again when he's 30. The downside is length for the Spurs. The upside is lower cap amount in 2026 to align with Vassell's and Keldon's cheapest seasons and Collins and Sochan coming off the books.

If this were the plan, how much would folks be willing to give up to get the deal done now?

[RC_Drunkford]

don't know why people are talking about trading Vassell. There's no way I'd trade him for Markkanen and neither would the Spurs. He costs half the money for the next 5 years.

[scott]

We're less than a handful of Mr. Body posts away from him telling us that if we wanted Markannen we should have just kept Furphy.

[Guru of Nothing]

Y'all can roast me for this suggestion, I don't care, but what about the Spurs sending out their 2025 1st unprotected and the same with the ATL 2025 pick - and that's it (besides salary to match). Oh what the heck, I'll throw in CHA and CHI picks too so that the media can hype 4 FIRST ROUND PICKS ZOMG! Would love to see Ainge with is hand caught in the beehive as the Spurs and Hawks make the playoffs, which I put at north of 50/50 odds. Yes, we're risking losing a generational talent (hate myself for using this overused expression), but if Lauri is getting 20, 8, and 40% 3s on volume AND the offense and defense are flowing on the floor, the Spurs will be fine AND they will still have one of the three or four best draft warchests in the league. There's risk in any deal, but Spurs could come out of this smelling like a rose. Also, I think the 26 swap and the 27 ATL pick will end up being two best picks out the three. Those don't leave the Spurs possession at all.

If Wemby does Wemby does Wemby things and Markkanen does Markannen things, then Vassell, Castle, and Sochan could soar. Heck, we might even see a revival for the word synergy. How glorious would that be?

[scott]

Re: Devin.

First off, my interested in Lauri (which should be obvious, is quite strong) is largely based on still having Devin. Wemby-Lauri-Devin with a prospect in Castle and our picks next year is what I'd call a real core to build around. As perfect a fit Lauri is to this team, I think Devin is just a perfect fit to a Wemby-Lauri 1-2 punch.

With that said, if the offer were Lauri for Devin straight up, I'd take Lauri. Lauri is a better player, and a lot more difficult to find player. Finding a Devin Vassell replacement is a LOT easier than finding a Lauri Markannen.

With THAT said, I absolutely would not do Vassell + picks for Lauri. Despite what I just said about it being easier to replace Devin, if I NEED to replace Devin, I want all those picks available to me to do so.

So, in conclusion... yeah, I would do Devin for Lauri straight up - but I do not think that option is even on the table and Utah would still ask for Devin + picks, in which case I'm out. It sucks, because Lauri is such a perfect fit (in my opinion), but giving up Devin and the warchest is one step forward, two steps back.

[Obstructed_View]

If the Spurs send out firsts, they need to send their own.

[Pauleta14]

Do you want to trade a lot of assets and pay $45 million a year for a guy who is getting you 14 ppg and 5 rpg? I don't.

No, you trade for a matchup nightmare for the rest of the league

[Pauleta14]

don't know why people are talking about trading Vassell. There's no way I'd trade him for Markkanen and neither would the Spurs. He costs half the money for the next 5 years.

Only way Vassell is involved is to save all ATL's and Spurs 1RPs imo

Something like players swap + filers

(I think it'd be a bad idea)

[Chinook]

I wouldn't trade Vassell for Mark at all. Total deal-breaker.

[baseline bum]

Y'all can roast me for this suggestion, I don't care, but what about the Spurs sending out their 2025 1st unprotected and the same with the ATL 2025 pick - and that's it (besides salary to match). Oh what the heck, I'll throw in CHA and CHI picks too so that the media can hype 4 FIRST ROUND PICKS ZOMG! Would love to see Ainge with is hand caught in the beehive as the Spurs and Hawks make the playoffs, which I put at north of 50/50 odds. Yes, we're risking losing a generational talent (hate myself for using this overused expression), but if Lauri is getting 20, 8, and 40% 3s on volume AND the offense and defense are flowing on the floor, the Spurs will be fine AND they will still have one of the three or four best draft warchests in the league. There's risk in any deal, but Spurs could come out of this smelling like a rose. Also, I think the 26 swap and the 27 ATL pick will end up being two best picks out the three. Those don't leave the Spurs possession at all.

If Wemby does Wemby does Wemby things and Markkanen does Markannen things, then Vassell, Castle, and Sochan could soar. Heck, we might even see a revival for the word synergy. How glorious would that be?

I don't really buy Atlanta making the playoffs unless you believe Miami is going to move Butler and tear it all down.

[LittleCriminal]

Why not just go after KD instead?

[Guru of Nothing]

I don't really buy Atlanta making the playoffs unless you believe Miami is going to move Butler and tear it all down.

Teams (especially in the east) will be heavily incentivized to tank, but the Hawks will not be one of those teams. It's going to look like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Game, with everyone frantically racing around to discover treasure buring under a huge 'L'. I could easily be wrong, but I think it's a solid gamble.

[CGD]

In case it got buried, my spit-balling leads me to believe the Spurs could offer an $82M/2 extension to Mark if they were to trade for him now (which means he'd be renegotiated now and ectended in August or that the sides would be in complete standstill until August) , with about $15 Million accelerating to this season as part of a renegotiation. That's less than a max even accounting for it being a two-year deal, but it's not THAT far off and lets Mark pursue free agency again when he's 30. The downside is length for the Spurs. The upside is lower cap amount in 2026 to align with Vassell's and Keldon's cheapest seasons and Collins and Sochan coming off the books.

If this were the plan, how much would folks be willing to give up to get the deal done now?

I'd want to know who the Spurs are competing against first. All the teams rumored to be interested have hurdles to landing Markenen. KAT and Ingram packages seem interesting on paper, but Utah already saying they want an "Bridges-type" offer (read: ton of picks, not players). GSW has a young player that might first Utah's timeline, in Kuminga, but they just made clear they wouldn't move him for Paul George.

So start from the position of what's the best offers Warriors, Kings, Timberwolves, and Pelicans can muster? We can go from there.

[LeBowen]

I don't really buy Atlanta making the playoffs unless you believe Miami is going to move Butler and tear it all down.

Someone has to make the playoffs.

Celtics, Knicks, Bucks, Sixers, Pacers, Magic, Cavs should be in.
Hawks and Heat are TBD.
Wizards, Nets, Bulls, Pistons, Raptors and Hornets will be bad.
Maybe Hornets finally put something together and get that 10th seed, but others are blatantly tanking.

East regular season will be awful.

[scott]

Even if the 2025 picks end up #12 (ATL) and #20 (SA) in a Post-Lauri scenario, I think I still want those. Could we package those to and move up to say, #8? Get me one more solid 2025 prospect to add to the Wemby-Lauri-Devin-Castle core, and then all the picks thereafter are for role players and/or other trades.

[KobesAchilles]

Trading Vassell makes zero sense in trading for Lauri. We trade away our only 3 point shooter to get a better 3 point shooter. But lo and behold we would still have only one 3 point shooter in our starting line up. It’s KJ who should be in the package along with 4 FRPs. I would do that deal. We have shooting in 2 positions. We have defense in 3 positions and it simplifies the draft a bit going forward.

[Pauleta14]

How do you defend Lauri & Vic at the same time??

Just thinking about that makes me want to pay a stupid price tbh...

[Pauleta14]

Why not just go after KD instead?

As much as I'd love him for plenty of reasons, he's going to be 36 in Sept... (and won't cost 11M for a season)

[z0sa]

How do you defend Lauri & Vic at the same time??

Just thinking about that makes me want to pay a stupid price tbh...

It’d be like playing keepaway from kids with our two literal giants who can score from anywhere on the floor. The Lauri entry pass to Wemby from either side of the floor would be deadly enough (can’t double off Lauri at all), but then combine it with the Lauri/Wemby 4/5 screen actions? It’d be insanity. Our space and pace guys (basically CP3 and Vassell shooting with the rest of our roster cutters for the moment) would also have a lot more opportunities, too, obviously

[ambchang]

Y'all can roast me for this suggestion, I don't care, but what about the Spurs sending out their 2025 1st unprotected and the same with the ATL 2025 pick - and that's it (besides salary to match). Oh what the heck, I'll throw in CHA and CHI picks too so that the media can hype 4 FIRST ROUND PICKS ZOMG! Would love to see Ainge with is hand caught in the beehive as the Spurs and Hawks make the playoffs, which I put at north of 50/50 odds. Yes, we're risking losing a generational talent (hate myself for using this overused expression), but if Lauri is getting 20, 8, and 40% 3s on volume AND the offense and defense are flowing on the floor, the Spurs will be fine AND they will still have one of the three or four best draft warchests in the league. There's risk in any deal, but Spurs could come out of this smelling like a rose. Also, I think the 26 swap and the 27 ATL pick will end up being two best picks out the three. Those don't leave the Spurs possession at all.

If Wemby does Wemby does Wemby things and Markkanen does Markannen things, then Vassell, Castle, and Sochan could soar. Heck, we might even see a revival for the word synergy. How glorious would that be?

So we should trade two potential lottery picks in a supposedly loaded draft for a one year rental for LM, then a chance to sign him for $40M a year? Granted we can end up with Lebron and wade, or milocic and Mike sweetney, but this is a steep price to pay.

[Joseph Kony]

I wouldn't trade Vassell for Mark at all. Total deal-breaker.

Yep. Wemby goes without saying, but Vassell and Castle should be non-starters for any potential Markkanen deal imo

[kobyz]

There isn't a reason to offer more than two non lottery picks +Keldon or Collins

[Kevin]

There isn't a reason to offer more than two non lottery picks +Keldon or Collins

I can only assume this is a troll.

Warriors will offer at least one ancient or retired Steph Curry unprotected first I would imagine. A super valuable pick and fairly comparable to an ATL pick.

[TD 21]

I wouldn't trade Vassell for Mark at all. Total deal-breaker.

Yeah, it'd defeat the purpose. The problem is, the Spurs lack an expendable "good, young player" for these star trades.

It's not impossible to pull off without it obviously, but it means even more draft capital.

Insofar as he ever had it, the sheen has worn off Johnson and it never was on Sochan.

I'd want to know who the Spurs are competing against first. All the teams rumored to be interested have hurdles to landing Markenen. KAT and Ingram packages seem interesting on paper, but Utah already saying they want an "Bridges-type" offer (read: ton of picks, not players). GSW has a young player that might first Utah's timeline, in Kuminga, but they just made clear they wouldn't move him for Paul George.

So start from the position of what's the best offers Warriors, Kings, Timberwolves, and Pelicans can muster? We can go from there.

George is 34, Markkanen is 27. With their mediocre draft capital, if those arrogant pricks won't put him on the table, then there isn't anything to discuss.