For a team that has whiffed on a playoff berth since the 2018-19 season, the San Antonio Spurs have emerged as one of the most interesting clubs in the league heading into the summer.
All-Star and All-Defensive Team center Victor Wembanyama, who has already emerged as one of the most exciting rising talents in the league just two seasons into his NBA career, missed much of the season after suffering a deep vein thrombosis in his right shoulder in February.
In his 46 available games for the 34-48 Spurs, the 21-year-old averaged 24.3 points on .476/.352/.836 shooting splits, 11.0 boards, 3.8 rejections, 3.7 dishes, and 1.1 swipes.
San Antonio has already surrounded Wembanyama with some appetizing talent, trading for All-Star ex-Sacramento Kings point guard De'Aaron Fox midseason and drafting wings Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson, forward Jeremy Sochan, plus 2025 Rookie of the Year guard Stephon Castle.
Now, the Spurs are armed with the Nos. 2 and 14 picks in the first round of this year's draft, plus the No. 38 selection in the second round.
Rutgers combo guard Dylan Harper is expected to be the de facto choice at the No. 2 spot. Harper could have significant overlap with Fox and Castle, which could impede his minutes — and thus, perhaps, his development.
Kevin O'Connor of Yahoo Sports unpacks a variety of routes the Spurs front office could go with San Antonio's draft in a new piece.
One option O'Connor explores is dealing down from the No. 2 pick, while preserving the No. 14 selection.
"Teams like the Jazz, Wizards, Pelicans and Nets all need initiators," O'Connor observes. "Maybe one of them would offer a haul to move up for Harper. Looking at the history of trade downs, usually a team would give up their own first and one future first. But considering Harper’s upside, perhaps the Spurs could haggle for much more."
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Oct 24, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; A view of the San Antonio Spurs logo during the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center.
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Should the Spurs not consider Harper a good future investment, the team could add more depth later on, from what is expected to be a loaded lottery.
"The Nets, holding the No. 8 pick and a mountain of future firsts plus Cam Johnson, are the most interesting trade partner," O'Connor continues. "Harper is a local kid with star potential, and the Nets have a clean slate he could grow with. If the Spurs want to pivot toward shooting, Johnson plus picks is a logical foundation."
San Antonio could use help beyond the center and guard spots, and it appears likely that those kinds of pieces will be available later in the draft. Although few have Harper's upside.
"In that range, Duke wing Kon Knueppel, Arizona forward Carter Bryant and Washington State wing Cedric Coward would all be strong fits. They bring shooting and versatility, which is exactly what the current Spurs core lacks," O'Connor writes. "The question: Are any of them worth passing on Harper’s ceiling for?"