All offseason long, the San Antonio Spurs have been urged to trade De’Aaron Fox. Not only was he nearly unplayable in the NBA Finals, but his usage has prevented Dylan Harper from stepping into a bigger role.
Owed $222 million over the next four seasons, Fox would have to be flipped for a player on a similar salary. Before he was traded to the Sixers, Jaylen Brown looked like a reasonable target.
Now, with trade interest dwindling for the summer, the Spurs have been linked to Stephen Curry, who would be an upgrade. However, Curry presents the same problem as Fox: Harper and Stephon Castle are ready for starring roles.
Instead of targeting a past-his-prime veteran like Curry, the Spurs are aware that their title window is just beginning to open. Wembanyama’s prime, not anyone else’s, will dictate their moves.
If only there were a proven All-Star under 30 years old who fits with the Spurs’ trio.
NBA Mock Trade Sends Spurs Devin Booker
Last season, his fifth All-Star campaign, Devin Booker averaged 26.1 points, six assists, and 3.9 rebounds for the Phoenix Suns. His scoring efficiency took a dip, falling to 33 percent from deep and 45.6 percent from the floor, but he was a high-usage player.
If Booker joined the Spurs, he wouldn’t have to facilitate much and would be the number two scorer, behind Wembanyama. Given the Suns’ lack of direction, Booker should be pushing for a trade. An Eastern Conference team makes more sense, but the Spurs have the means to go out and get him.
The Spurs could send Fox and first-round picks in 2027 (via ATL), 2029, 2030 (swap via DAL or MIN) and 2031 to the Suns for Booker.
The Spurs immediately get the best starting lineup in the NBA. Harper, Castle, Booker, Wembanyama, and Tobias Harris would be suffocating on defense and deadly on offense. San Antonio gives up basically as many draft picks as possible, but is able to hold onto all of their depth pieces.
The Suns, meanwhile, finally embrace the fact that they are not going to compete for many years, and set their sights forward.
Booker, like Fox, is on a maximum contract. He is owed $251.3 million over the next four seasons, with a player option in 2029-30.
The Spurs, in short, will never be able to afford Wembanyama, Booker, Castle, and Harper. That might not be a problem.
If Booker opts out, the Spurs will be able to extend both Castle and Harper to fair contracts. Keep in mind, the only draft pick the Spurs truly parted with after 2029 is a selection in 2031. The Spurs could use their incoming draft picks in the 2030s to replace Booker with a committee of low-cost youngsters.
If Booker opts in, things get tricky, although with probably no intention to keep him after his current contract, expect the Spurs to pressure him to opt out.
The Spurs will never re-sign Fox, since they have to make room on the books for Harper and Castle. Booker presents the exact same problem, although his on-court fit is much better.
Add to the elite starting lineup a bench unit of Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, Luke Kornet, and Jordan McLaughlin, and the Spurs should be title favorites for the rest of the decade.
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