The San Antonio Spurs have a wide-open title window, led by Victor Wembanyama. While the present is bright, the team has remained clear about its long-term goals. They want to be in contention for the next 15 seasons.
While looking ahead is admirable, the fact is the Spurs are well ahead of schedule. In just his third NBA season, Wemby led the Spurs to the Finals. On top of that, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper are both progressing rapidly.
The Spurs aren’t in the business of giving up future-driven assets like draft picks, but they don’t exactly need to stockpile any more than they already have. In an ideal world, the Spurs would trade away De’Aaron Fox, recouping some of the draft capital they gave up for him.
However, his value has never been lower, and selling low, at least, means the Spurs don’t need to commit to him long-term. If they can find a prime trade candidate to add to the roster, pulling the trigger might be the right move.
Michael Porter Jr. Fits In Well With Spurs
In 52 games last season, Michael Porter Jr. averaged 24.2 points and shot a career-low 36.3 percent from deep. The Spurs did add Tobias Harris this summer and already employ Devin Vassell, Keldon Johnson, Carter Bryant, and Julian Champagnie, but there’s really no such thing as too much shooting.
Porter Jr. is heading into the last season of his contract. Owed $40.8 million next season, he’s looking for his next long-term deal. Based on his play, there’s no reason for him to take a pay cut.
Frankly, there’s no reason for the Spurs to offer him one.
The Spurs could trade De’Aaron Fox to the Brooklyn Nets, straight up, for Michael Porter Jr.
Such a deal doesn’t bring in any added draft capital, but it improves the spacing around Wembanyama. Harper, Castle, and Wemby would certainly start every possible game, and then Mitch Johnson can plug in Harris, Vassell, Champagnie, and Porter Jr. as needed on the wings.
In free agency, with Fox off the books and both Castle and Harper still on their rookie contracts, the Spurs could offer Porter Jr. a slight overpay, around $47 million per year, for two seasons. That would keep him under contract through the 2029-30 season, cutting ties with him just in time to extend Harper. Maybe the extra $14 million over two seasons would encourage him to pass up any longer deals offered at market value.
But why would the Nets agree to take Fox? After all, they have some of the most financial flexibility in the NBA, and shouldn’t be chomping at the bit to give that up.
Well, it’s simple: in Brooklyn, Fox would be given first-option reps, inflating his trade value well past what he could ever achieve in San Antonio. With Fox under contract for four years, the Nets could make his current deal look attractive, flipping him midway through his contract.
For the Spurs, this trade opens up some financial freedom once Porter Jr. is off the books, and lands them an elite shooter while he’s in town. For the Nets, it’s all about accumulating as many draft picks as possible, and Fox could be their meal ticket.
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