Spurs trade ideas

[mo7888]

This extension wouldn't be legal because it violates the max 8% raise/decline rule. Technically there could be ways to kinda sorta do it but it's pointless to entertain it as Durant wouldn't accept it.

I'm still on the Durant train, because he'd be so ideal for this team, but getting pick 2 instead of pick 8 or 9 complicates the situation. A deal around pick 2 would be a hefty price, a deal around 14 would be too low and some team will easily outbid. The only chance would be trading some of the good future picks and I'm not sure whether either Spurs or Suns would be happy to do it. Suns aren't going to tank , they'll want good players in return. A three team trade could possibly do it, but it's complicated as good things would have to come from the Spurs to both Suns and the 3rd team.

Unfortunately it appears Durant to Spurs is unlikely at this point.

On the other hand, for the Spurs, building organically around 3 top 4 picks sounds the most conservative and safe route. Give it a year and see where they are.

You just jave to hope that their owner sees value in Devin, Keldon, or Sochan.

[Chinook]

this might be the worst offseason scenario that I've seen upto now. You are giving up young players and assets for a bunch of players on the wrong side of 30.

Are you really complaining about giving up Branham, Johnson, and Sochan for Durant and O'Neale? Is this reall life?

The Spurs shouldn't be looking for young players outside the draft. They have those already. What you proposed is a bunch of worse players or no improvement at all under the assumption that younger means better. The Spurs don't need to solve problems for the next four years. They need to have their core and continue to put players around them. I'm not going to go into the idea of trading Keldon for a useful player on an expiring contract for just some second feeling like a hard sell.

I think it's pretty clear that the roster you end up with is just worse except potentially salary flexibility. But the whole point in getting guys "on the wrong side of 30" is to allow for long-term flexibility. No, you don't necessarily create a max slot for 2026, but if the team is going to max out Fox, it's not clear that giving a max contract in 2026 is feasible anyway. What you want to try to avoid is having guys signed in four or five years when Wemby, Fox, Castle and Harper could all be on new contracts. So if you're going to have guys for only a couple of years, you want good guys, not just young guys. Is there a price that'd be too high to pay for Durant? Sure. But is Durant better than Washington, Collins or Kornet? Yes. (Also, Kornet is like five months younger than Portis. It doesn't make sense to have him on the list of guys who are on the "wrong side of 30" but not Kornet given that Luke will be 30 when the season starts). That matters, because next year matters. I'm not at all against rebuilding, but I am against half-measures like you're proposing.

[Baam]

I'm all on the KD train. Spurs feel like the best place for Durant to write the end of his NBA story, and he's easily the best target for them to go for considering his age, skill-set and relationship with Wemby. If the Suns don't want Vassell, the Spurs can JUST BARELY match Durant's contract with Johnson, Barnes and Sochan. (They could replace Jeremy with two of Branham, Wesley or Champagnie, but I'm hoping Sochan adds value to the trade. Otherwise, the Spurs can keep Sochan and have a much stronger front court rotation.) Trading three forwards for one is bad, especially if 14 is also going out. The Spurs could also try to add in a Branham-for-O'Neale trade into the mix, which would give the Spurs much-needed forward depth.

So Harper at 2, 14 going out as part of the trade package for Durant, 38 gets packaged with a handful of seconds to get the Spurs into the bottom of the second-round where they can take a center before the run on them starts. I'm just going to pencil in Raynaud at 27. Someone mentioned Bobby Portis, a guy I've been high on for years now. I don't know how well he could hold up as the backup center, but theoretically he allows the Spurs to keep Raynaud (/another young center) on the bench for a couple of years to learn while giving the Spurs a jumbo look with he and Wemby playing together. I think he's likely to opt in unless some team informs his agent they'd be willing to give him a long-term deal that would justify leaving the option behind. Maybe three years at the full MLE with the last year being a team option would be enough to sway him? I honestly don't know if the Spurs NEED to bring in someone to take the final rotation spot (backup wing) given they have Fox, Harper, Castle and Vassell as the primary perimeter guys with Champagnie being good enough to get minutes and O'Neal/Durant also likely to grab minutes there. I'm just going to put Burks in there as a vet-min guy who can play both guard positions. Below is the roster with the two-way guys from last year filling in slots the probably wouldn't hold in the real world with the team going into the season as at worst a dark-horse contender.

Fox, Harper, Wesley
Vassell, Burks, Duke
Castle, Champagnie, Minix
Durant, O'Neal, Ingram
Wembayama, Portis, Raynaud

That's a pretty good team. The biggest swing factor to me on the off-season would be how much did it cost to get Durant while keeping the rest of the core? This is a really good roster for this stage of Wemby's development, but it's not so good that the team should be giving up multiple premium selections to make it happen. They're still reliant on Vassell figuring out how to be a productive role-player and for Castle to learn how to shoot and defend. The talent and potential are there, but it's probably too early for the Spurs' draft outlook to be en bered but a lot of future commitments

Yes it's pretty good, but if they're only meant to be good not great I'd much rather have CP3 mentoring Harper than Fox who will rightfully see him as a rival. I see high dysfunction potential.

Pop for all his faults had that ruthless side to him, not sure current Spurs still have that.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

Are you really complaining about giving up Branham, Johnson, and Sochan for Durant and O'Neale? Is this reall life?

The Spurs shouldn't be looking for young players outside the draft. They have those already. What you proposed is a bunch of worse players or no improvement at all under the assumption that younger means better. The Spurs don't need to solve problems for the next four years. They need to have their core and continue to put players around them. I'm not going to go into the idea of trading Keldon for a useful player on an expiring contract for just some second feeling like a hard sell.

I think it's pretty clear that the roster you end up with is just worse except potentially salary flexibility. But the whole point in getting guys "on the wrong side of 30" is to allow for long-term flexibility. No, you don't necessarily create a max slot for 2026, but if the team is going to max out Fox, it's not clear that giving a max contract in 2026 is feasible anyway. What you want to try to avoid is having guys signed in four or five years when Wemby, Fox, Castle and Harper could all be on new contracts. So if you're going to have guys for only a couple of years, you want good guys, not just young guys. Is there a price that'd be too high to pay for Durant? Sure. But is Durant better than Washington, Collins or Kornet? Yes. (Also, Kornet is like five months younger than Portis. It doesn't make sense to have him on the list of guys who are on the "wrong side of 30" but not Kornet given that Luke will be 30 when the season starts). That matters, because next year matters. I'm not at all against rebuilding, but I am against half-measures like you're proposing.

The problem is you propose to give up #2 and #14 for Durant.

This is beyond crazy!

Look at Curry and Butler, you still want a old guy like Durant at such expense?

[LeBowen]

I like Chinnok's post because he explains all of his ideas in detail, but this one is completely off the mark.

KD wants to leave, will be 37 when the season starts, expiring contract and they failed to trade him at the deadline.

[vy65]

Are you really complaining about giving up Branham, Johnson, and Sochan for Durant and O'Neale? Is this reall life?

The Spurs shouldn't be looking for young players outside the draft. They have those already. What you proposed is a bunch of worse players or no improvement at all under the assumption that younger means better. The Spurs don't need to solve problems for the next four years. They need to have their core and continue to put players around them. I'm not going to go into the idea of trading Keldon for a useful player on an expiring contract for just some second feeling like a hard sell.

I think it's pretty clear that the roster you end up with is just worse except potentially salary flexibility. But the whole point in getting guys "on the wrong side of 30" is to allow for long-term flexibility. No, you don't necessarily create a max slot for 2026, but if the team is going to max out Fox, it's not clear that giving a max contract in 2026 is feasible anyway. What you want to try to avoid is having guys signed in four or five years when Wemby, Fox, Castle and Harper could all be on new contracts. So if you're going to have guys for only a couple of years, you want good guys, not just young guys. Is there a price that'd be too high to pay for Durant? Sure. But is Durant better than Washington, Collins or Kornet? Yes. (Also, Kornet is like five months younger than Portis. It doesn't make sense to have him on the list of guys who are on the "wrong side of 30" but not Kornet given that Luke will be 30 when the season starts). That matters, because next year matters. I'm not at all against rebuilding, but I am against half-measures like you're proposing.

Rarely do I agree with you, but you’re spot on with this one.

[BG_Spurs_Fan]

The problem is you propose to give up #2 and #14 for Durant.

This is beyond crazy!

Look at Curry and Butler, you still want a old guy like Durant at such expense?

He didn’t propose this at all.

[Manu&Duncan fan]

I see. I misread. Chinook only proposed to send #14 plus our scrubs for Durant.

This works perfectly for Spurs.

But Suns can get much much better deal than that from other teams.

[mo7888]

I see. I misread. Chinook only proposed to send #14 plus our scrubs for Durant.

This works perfectly for Spurs.

But Suns can get much much better deal than that from other teams.

Can they? Houston maybe,if they don't pursue Giannis. Who else?

[Ocotillo]

I wonder if, Atlanta would use Trae Young to make a run at Giannis?

[Chinook]

I like Chinnok's post because he explains all of his ideas in detail, but this one is completely off the mark.

KD wants to leave, will be 37 when the season starts, expiring contract and they failed to trade him at the deadline.

How much was 37-year-old Duncan worth? He was easily worth a mid first despite his lack of mobility and need for rest. While Durant isn't Tim, he's aging pretty gracefully too.

The Suns didn't trade Durant because both sides still had hope the season was going to be salvaged before the bottom completely fell out.

[LeBowen]

How much was 37-year-old Duncan worth? He was easily worth a mid first despite his lack of mobility and need for rest. While Durant isn't Tim, he's aging pretty gracefully too.

My issue isn't with his basketball ability, but ego and fit.
Our situation changed drastically with the lottery outcome.
We'll have a proven all-star point and two young guards we hope can get there.
Wemby also won't give up on having the ball in some situations, he'll want some face ups, isolations, you get the point.

We need our PF to be an elite off the ball player, which KD obviously is, but would he be content with giving up the ball settling for OKC Carmelo role? We know how that went.
Make no mistake, even though KD is obviously a tier above as a player, he won't come here to be a supporting piece that will accept a rookie coach telling him to not stop the ball.

There's also the rebounding issue. We need a 8 to 10rpg physical presence, an enforcer. We don't need another weak forward on a roster that currently has just one physical player over 6'7.

KD doesn't look like a player who's ready to take the mentor role at the expense of his own usage. Even CP3 didn't want to come off the bench despite being washed.

[Chinook]

I see. I misread. Chinook only proposed to send #14 plus our scrubs for Durant.

This works perfectly for Spurs.

But Suns can get much much better deal than that from other teams.

Can they? Houston maybe,if they don't pursue Giannis. Who else?

There's a price for Durant, as there is for every player. I know the Spurs can afford it while keeping Wemby, Fox, Harper and Castle. I would be fine if it included Vassell, but if the Suns consider him negative value, then the Spurs could still make the trade work and might even benefit from a Devin who gets to learn from KD. Right now, I see Vassell's value near where Wiggins was when traded to GS: negative but not yet hopeless. It behooves the Spurs try to rehab his value if the alternative is to pay a team to take him or to take on an equally bersome deal for him.

I don't know that just 14 is enough incentive, especially if Sochan does hold a lot of positive value in the Suns' eyes. I'd be willing to add one of the upcoming picks if it also meant the O'Neale/Branham part happens. But that would be my limit.

Durant get a say in where he goes too. I don't think he wants to go to another circus like Memphis. Houston and Minny might work, but Houston might be big-game hunting, and the Wolves don't have much in the way of picks to offer, if they're even still interested

[exstatic]

I don't think he's washed yet (but he is overpaid). Also (and i could be wrong), but Wemby's extension doesn't start until PG comes off. So we wouldn't have over two max contracts at any given time. Maybe my timeliness off on Wemby though.

Wemby’s extension starts in 27, right after year 4. For future reference, Castle’s starts in 28, and Harper’s in 29.

Assuming he picks up his $56M PO in 27-28 because no one in their right mind would pay him that amount for three years at that point, he would overrun into both Wemby and Fox being on their extensions already.

[exstatic]

On the edges deals, I would look at the Mavs with Washington and Gafford. Flagg puts a significant clog in their front court. Vassell for those two is a package I would look at.

They’re going to need Gafford and Lively both, for depth, and to cover Street Clothes inevitable 30 games missed.

[Chinook]

My issue isn't with his basketball ability, but ego and fit.
Our situation changed drastically with the lottery outcome.
We'll have a proven all-star point and two young guards we hope can get there.
Wemby also won't give up on having the ball in some situations, he'll want some face ups, isolations, you get the point.

We need our PF to be an elite off the ball player, which KD obviously is, but would he be content with giving up the ball settling for OKC Carmelo role? We know how that went.
Make no mistake, even though KD is obviously a tier above as a player, he won't come here to be a supporting piece that will accept a rookie coach telling him to not stop the ball.

There's also the rebounding issue. We need a 8 to 10rpg physical presence, an enforcer. We don't need another weak forward on a roster that currently has just one physical player over 6'7.

KD doesn't look like a player who's ready to take the mentor role at the expense of his own usage. Even CP3 didn't want to come off the bench despite being washed.

They'd have to sell Durant to be sure. He can become the sage guiding the next dynasty to really rehab his image, or he can chase a situation that gives him control one last time. I think his experience on the Suns might actually show him it's time to make a chance. Unlike Giannis, Durant and Wemby actually seem to like each other. That goes a long way toward helping everyone fit on the court.

Everyone is going to have to be more physical on the court. That includes Wemby and the guards. Having another legit scorer should mean folks will have more energy and won't play too many minutes. We saw a dedicated Victor could easily average double-digit boards. Get a good backup center to help and enforce gang-rebounding tactics. A lot of the team's problems are coaching issues. That'll have to get fixed regardless of personnel.

[exstatic]

I wonder if, Atlanta would use Trae Young to make a run at Giannis?

Trae won’t go there, because he’s going to want a BIG ASS extension, which a then rebuilding Bucks won’t want to give.

[exstatic]

Can they? Houston maybe,if they don't pursue Giannis. Who else?

I think Houston is going to blow their wad on Freak.

[mo7888]

There's a price for Durant, as there is for every player. I know the Spurs can afford it while keeping Wemby, Fox, Harper and Castle. I would be fine if it included Vassell, but if the Suns consider him negative value, then the Spurs could still make the trade work and might even benefit from a Devin who gets to learn from KD. Right now, I see Vassell's value near where Wiggins was when traded to GS: negative but not yet hopeless. It behooves the Spurs try to rehab his value if the alternative is to pay a team to take him or to take on an equally bersome deal for him.

I don't know that just 14 is enough incentive, especially if Sochan does hold a lot of positive value in the Suns' eyes. I'd be willing to add one of the upcoming picks if it also meant the O'Neale/Branham part happens. But that would be my limit.

Durant get a say in where he goes too. I don't think he wants to go to another circus like Memphis. Houston and Minny might work, but Houston might be big-game hunting, and the Wolves don't have much in the way of picks to offer, if they're even still interested

I'm in favor favor of going after Durant over a guy like Giannis because Giannis would be more expensive asset wise. While there's a price to be paid i don't see too many options for Phoenix. I think some combination of they guys you mentioned + 14 + a few 2nd's will get it done.

[mo7888]

I think Houston is going to blow their wad on Freak.

I think so too. Then they'll have Amen + Giannis with nothing left.

[montgod]

I think Houston is going to blow their wad on Freak.

I think so too. Then they'll have Amen + Giannis with nothing left.

I've read that Giannis wants to stay in the East and singled out Nets and Raptors as possible locations he'd be open to. I can kind of see the Nets since they have a lot of assets to work with and he just bought a house in NY, but Toronto was a surprise. They do have a few good pieces depending on what's left after a trade.

[poopbox]

I'm all on the KD train. Spurs feel like the best place for Durant to write the end of his NBA story, and he's easily the best target for them to go for considering his age, skill-set and relationship with Wemby. If the Suns don't want Vassell, the Spurs can JUST BARELY match Durant's contract with Johnson, Barnes and Sochan. (They could replace Jeremy with two of Branham, Wesley or Champagnie, but I'm hoping Sochan adds value to the trade. Otherwise, the Spurs can keep Sochan and have a much stronger front court rotation.) Trading three forwards for one is bad, especially if 14 is also going out. The Spurs could also try to add in a Branham-for-O'Neale trade into the mix, which would give the Spurs much-needed forward depth.

So Harper at 2, 14 going out as part of the trade package for Durant, 38 gets packaged with a handful of seconds to get the Spurs into the bottom of the second-round where they can take a center before the run on them starts. I'm just going to pencil in Raynaud at 27. Someone mentioned Bobby Portis, a guy I've been high on for years now. I don't know how well he could hold up as the backup center, but theoretically he allows the Spurs to keep Raynaud (/another young center) on the bench for a couple of years to learn while giving the Spurs a jumbo look with he and Wemby playing together. I think he's likely to opt in unless some team informs his agent they'd be willing to give him a long-term deal that would justify leaving the option behind. Maybe three years at the full MLE with the last year being a team option would be enough to sway him? I honestly don't know if the Spurs NEED to bring in someone to take the final rotation spot (backup wing) given they have Fox, Harper, Castle and Vassell as the primary perimeter guys with Champagnie being good enough to get minutes and O'Neal/Durant also likely to grab minutes there. I'm just going to put Burks in there as a vet-min guy who can play both guard positions. Below is the roster with the two-way guys from last year filling in slots the probably wouldn't hold in the real world with the team going into the season as at worst a dark-horse contender.

Fox, Harper, Wesley
Vassell, Burks, Duke
Castle, Champagnie, Minix
Durant, O'Neal, Ingram
Wembayama, Portis, Raynaud

That's a pretty good team. The biggest swing factor to me on the off-season would be how much did it cost to get Durant while keeping the rest of the core? This is a really good roster for this stage of Wemby's development, but it's not so good that the team should be giving up multiple premium selections to make it happen. They're still reliant on Vassell figuring out how to be a productive role-player and for Castle to learn how to shoot and defend. The talent and potential are there, but it's probably too early for the Spurs' draft outlook to be en bered but a lot of future commitments

I feel like 2 for KD is to high. I'd rather give up Castle and keep 2 to draft harper. I also just don't want Devin on the team. I've seen enough to not want to see anymore.

[Guru of Nothing]

PG13 is the worst contract in the league right now. PHI is going to have to attach multiple picks to shed themselves of it if they need to.

Is he eevn the worst contract on his team?

[montgod]

Is he eevn the worst contract on his team?

It's a fair question. Will Embiid ever be the same? Hmm...

[montgod]

I feel like 2 for KD is to high. I'd rather give up Castle and keep 2 to draft harper. I also just don't want Devin on the team. I've seen enough to not want to see anymore.

I am on board with adding Durant but not for #2 or getting into a bidding war. I'd give #14 for him and some kind of swap with Vassell or KJ to help match salary otherwise pass.

And I've seen multiple reports where the owner said he'll never trade Devin so... there is that. I wouldn't want him either.