The San Antonio Spurs struck gold by landing the second overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft. Many expect general manager Brian Wright to select the electric Rutgers point guard Dylan Harper. However, Harper isn’t a seamless fit in the Spurs as they have De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle, so they may look to trade the pick. While he is a surefire bet to succeed in the NBA, the Spurs need to weigh their options and find the right piece to add to their upstart core.
With Harper’s exceptional talent, dozens of teams yearn to bring him in. As the Spurs explore every avenue to maximize their Victor Wembanyama-led window, they must keep tabs on the teams willing to trade up. By trading down, the Spurs can receive a massive haul and bring in a collection of talented players instead of just one. Three teams have reported interest in a trade with the Spurs. Let’s dive into these teams and what a possible trade could look like with the Spurs.
Exploring the Spurs Trade Down Options
The Philadelphia 76ers Move Up a Spot for Harper
Michael Scotto of HoopsHype recently reported that the Philadelphia 76ers have reached out to the Spurs about moving up to the No. 2 pick. This is a highly intriguing possibility for both teams. If you think the Spurs should go after Ace Bailey, then this is the trade for you. The Sixers and Spurs essentially swap Harper for Bailey in this deal, allowing for a smooth rookie fit in San Antonio.
Bailey is certainly the more simplistic fit as he would slide right into the four spot next to Wembanyama. The sharpshooter would provide much-needed shooting in the Alamo City and construct a dominant scoring lineup. By acquiring Bailey’s rights in the swap, the Sixers would likely have to give up a future pick or a role player. It wouldn’t be much, but it would give the Spurs more ammunition to work with in a potential Kevin Durant or another star deal. Overall, moving down one spot could be logical for the Spurs.
The Brooklyn Nets Bring a Star to New York
With a load of cap space and a deep collection of assets, the Brooklyn Nets may be a star away. It’s been well-documented that the Nets are looking to trade up. Why not move up to the No. 2 pick and get a young star to build around? The Spurs could get the No. 8 pick, Cam Johnson, and/or one of Brooklyn’s many remaining picks for the No. 2 pick. Getting a win-now asset in Johnson and being able to select a talented prospect like Derik Queen or Kon Knueppel at eight is exciting for the Spurs. They still have another lottery pick at No. 14 as well. This would further push the Spurs into a contention window and give them a prospect more suited to what they are trying to build.
The Spurs Make an Exciting Swap with the Pelicans
The Pelicans are another team with reported interest in trading up. Like the Nets, the Pelicans may be just a piece away from skyrocketing in the standings. From the Spurs’ standpoint, this could yield them a similar return to what Brooklyn may offer. Holding the No. 7 pick, the Pelicans would move up and select a more sure-thing prospect in Harper. While the Spurs would have some optionality with the No. 7 pick. They would also get more assets, possibly including a win-now player like Herb Jones or simply more draft assets. Ultimately, a trade with the Pelicans could benefit the Spurs immediately and in the future.
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