Following their failure to acquire Markkanen, the Spurs can pursue a another top trade target.
The San Antonio Spurs have been busy this summer, making two moves in an effort to bolster their squad. Lauri Markkanen, a forward with the Utah Jazz, was mentioned by the Spurs as a possible trade target, but he signed an agreement that will keep him off the market until the summer of 2019.
Markkanen’s six-month deal prevents him from being traded, extending the trade deadline past February 6th and preventing a transfer until the next offseason.
— August 7, 2024, Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn)
Even though it never looked likely that he would be traded, much less to the Spurs, he would have been a good complementary player for Victor Wembanyama. Now that Markkanen’s acquisition is out of the question, the organization may either move on to a another trade target or go with the current roster into training camp.
Are the San Antonio Spurs’ offseason maneuvers complete?
With all 18 spaces on the roster now occupied, it looks as though the Spurs are done adding to their roster, however there could be another trade target available. Anfernee Simons, who the Portland Trail Blazers are selling, would make sense for the Spurs as a long-term point guard option because of his improved passing and precise shooting. Furthermore, a possible trade structure may be Keldon Johnson and the 2025 Bulls first-round selection.
Johnson’s departure would allow the squad to free up logs on the wing, where Harrison Barnes, Stephon Castle, and Julian Champagnie are still available and capable players. With Devin Vassell at shooting guard and Chris Paul and Tre Jones at point guard, there is less of a log jam at guard.
Purchasing Simons would probably force Vassell to move up to the three, where he would be teamed with CP3 in the back court and Jeremy Sochan and Wembanyama in the front court. The Spurs’ second unit would consist of Jones, Malaki Branham, Castle, Barnes, and Collins, providing a more evenly distributed rotation.
The Spurs have adequately enhanced their squad to be better next season, barring a trade for Simons. They might want to wait and see how it plays out before making another deal. They can at least concentrate on their present lineup and other possible trade targets now that Markkanen is not an urgent possibility.
