Spurs Lottery Luck Could Make Them Front-Runner in Giannis Pursuit

While the focus after Monday’s NBA draft lottery was on an unprecedented Mavericks win, the Spurs may be in an even better position after jumping up six slots to receive the No. 2 pick.

San Antonio has the opportunity to add another young talent to its core that features Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle, the last two Rookie of the Year winners. While Cooper Flagg will almost certainly go to Dallas at No. 1, star-level prospects will be available at No. 2, including Rutgers duo Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey and Baylor’s VJ Edgecombe.

However, the Spurs could choose to leverage the No. 2 pick to acquire proven talent to contend next season. The team has already shown its willingness to expedite its timeline around Wembanyama when it traded for former All-Star De’Aaron Fox in February.

Given the complicated apron structure of the NBA’s CBA, it may even be in the team’s best interest to capitalize on the early years of Wembanyama and Castle while they are still on rookie deals.

Coincidentally, hours before the draft, another European giant became a potential trade candidate.

Buck Stops Here?

ESPN reported Monday morning that former MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is “open-minded about exploring whether his best long-term fit is remaining in Milwaukee or playing elsewhere.” 

The report doesn’t rule out the 30-year-old staying in Milwaukee, but the Bucks appear to be gauging the market. The Greek Freak is entering the first year of a three-year, $186 million extension with the Bucks. However, Milwaukee is coming off its third consecutive first-round exit, and his sidekick, Damian Lillard, may be out all of next season after tearing his Achilles in April.

“Yeah, if we don’t win a championship, I might get traded. Yeah, this is the job we live,” Antetokounmpo told The Athletic in October.

European Twin Towers

Wembanyama, the 21-year-old star from France, may be the ideal star teammate if Antetokounmpo wants to win a second title in the back half of his career.

ESPN front office insider Bobby Marks cited San Antonio as one of the top candidates to acquire Antetokounmpo even before they jumped up in the lottery. Aside from the No. 2 pick and their own future draft picks, the Spurs hold the No. 14 pick and the Hawks’ 2027 pick acquired from a 2022 trade that sent Dejounte Murray to Atlanta.

San Antonio could sweeten the deal by adding young assets like Castle and Devin Vassell. The Bucks may even ask for Fox if they want to remain competitive. The Spurs’ slew of options—and contracts to match the Giannis deal—make them an ideal trade partner.

The Rockets may be San Antonio’s stiffest competition. They also have a stockpile of young assets and draft picks to lure the Bucks. However, Houston was the lone Texas team that didn’t receive any lottery luck Monday, falling to the No. 10 pick after having the ninth-best odds at No. 1 (3.8%).