The San Antonio Spurs could target a star who has been largely overlooked in NBA trade rumors.
This offseason, the San Antonio Spurs are expected to be one of the biggest players in the entire NBA. As they build around Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox, the Spurs boast both Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle as well as the second overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
Rutgers’ standout Dylan Harper is easily the second-best player in the draft behind Cooper Flagg, and if the Spurs hold onto the pick, Harper is a lock to go to San Antonio.
However, with Fox and Castle already in town, the Spurs have a crowded backcourt already, and one of those three guards could be expendable.
The Phoenix Suns are expected to trade away Kevin Durant this summer, and while his scoring prowess would fit in well next to Wembanyama, his age doesn’t fit any version of the Spurs’ timeline.
Assuming that the Suns manage to trade Durant to a team like the Houston Rockets, who are in the mix, then they could step back and rebuild. The Rockets would include a combination of Reed Sheppard, Cam Whitmore, or Jalen Green in a deal, and the Suns could be talked into a youth movement.
If the Suns land Jalen Green, pairing him with an elite defender and a solid defender in the backcourt would be a must, and the Spurs can drive a hard bargain.
Full Mock Trade Details:
- Spurs receive: Devin Booker
- Suns receive: Stephon Castle, Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, 2025 first-round pick (no. 14), 2027 first-round pick (via ATL)
If the Spurs make this deal, they are all but guaranteed to keep the draft rights to Harper. A lineup of Fox, Harper, Booker, Jeremy Sochan, and Wembanyama with Julian Champagnie, Devin Vassell, Blake Wesley, and perhaps free agent Chris Paul coming off the bench would be deadly.
Unlike Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, Booker is signed through the next three seasons. He is a high-level scorer who can play off-ball alongside Fox and Wembanyama, and the trade allows the Spurs to build with Harper.
The Suns have not given any indication that they are interested in trading Booker, although for a lottery pick and the best rookie from last season, it’s hard for them to say no. Johnson is only 25 years old and on a tradeable contract, so there’s no long-term commitment there, and Barnes will be a free agent after next season.
Pairing whoever they land when they trade Durant with Castle (and draft capital!) would allow the Suns to have a pretty clean break from their failed Big Three era and build a winning roster organically.
While it will take some patience, in a loaded Western Conference the Suns aren’t really in a position to focus on the immediate future, and might be best biding their time for when the West opens up a little bit, and this trade gives them the flexibility they haven’t had under owner Mat Ishbia.
