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The NBA Finals are past halftime, which means the NBA Draft is fast approaching. 12 days to June 23 and the Spurs hold three first-round picks (9th, 20th over the Raptors and 25th over the Celtics) as well as the 38th pick in the second round. There are plenty of rumors about what they might be doing with all of these stocks, so let’s take a look at some of the more credible ones out there.
Don’t expect Spurs to stall in the draft
The first — and perhaps least surprising — rumor comes from NBA Big Board’s Rafael Barlowe (subscription required), who reports that the Spurs are actively trying to move up in the draft and are hoping to “consolidate” some of their picks since they aren’t the case is plan to bring three or four beginners to the training camp. (Note that all three first-round picks would be guaranteed deals unless hidden abroad.)
These two approaches likely go hand-in-hand, as any team willing to trade down in the draft will likely still want at least one pickback in return, if not more. Even though teams like the Rockets and Kings have expressed their openness to trading their top 4 picks, executing such a trade could be difficult for the Spurs as those teams would in turn look for potential franchise switches, and pretty much all the Spurs have to offer in that regard is Dejounte Murray. That would be a costly trade for the Spurs and even then, giving Murray that title (for now) could be difficult.
A more likely scenario would be for the Spurs to pack their two late first-round picks (and/or second-round picks) to move up to the middle of the first round. The Hornets, for example, have 13th and 15th picks in the draft and have expressed interest in some Spurs players in the past, so maybe there’s room for negotiation there. Another potential trade partner could be the Nuggets, who are reportedly looking to shore up their depth chart via the draft and could trade the 21st pick to the Spurs for 20th and 25th. If nothing else, this would achieve the goal of lowering the total number of spurs. There are many options for the Spurs to look at with these two tips. So don’t be surprised if they end up not choosing from either of these two places.
Are Spurs a potential trade target for OG Anunoby?
The draft is (hopefully) one way Spurs plan to shore up their forward positions, but if they’re looking for immediate help, they may have a admirer in Raptors’ OG Anunoby. The 6’7-inch small forward finishes a season averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.5 steals but is reportedly unhappy with his role at his current team, which is on the Deep forward positions include established star Paskal Siakam and 2022 Rookie of the Year Scottie Barnes.
A former NBA executive told the NBA Analysis Network:
“If the role is a concern for OG Anunoby as it sounds, Spurs may be his best bet. They don’t have a superstar to take a lot of shots and they could use a stronger wing to play the four alongside Keldon Johnson.
Anunoby is checking many boxes of the type of player Spurs want to add this summer, and he will enter the second year of a relatively amicable four-year, $72million contract. While I’m not sure if they can’t trade the 20th pick back to the Raptors, the Spurs could find a draft night deal that sends the 25th pick and someone like Josh Richardson and/or Jakob Poeltl to Toronto would, or they could wait for the free hand and maybe do something like a sign-and-trade with Lonnie Walker. Regardless, considering Spurs’ needs this offseason, it’s a notable affair to keep an eye on.
Add Collin Sexton to the list of big names linked with the Spurs in FA
The Spurs are one of the few teams with cap flexibility this summer, and along with future free agents Zach LaVine and Deandre Ayton, Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton has now been listed as a potential target for the Spurs. While most Spurs fans might scoff at the idea of another guard, the 6’1″ dungeon would provide Spurs with the top scorer they are currently lacking. He missed all but 11 games last season with a torn meniscus in his left knee, but before that he averaged a very efficient 24.3 points and 4.4 assists in the 2020-21 season. If he doesn’t have too much money he could be a good choice for a Spurs team that needs his goalscoring skills.
While this particular rumor feels more like it than anything based on actual front office chatter, it’s all worth keeping an eye on, especially for a team with as many options this summer as Spurs.
