The San Antonio Spurs are no strangers to NBA trade rumors. In recent offseasons, the Spurs have been linked to the likes of Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero, Trae Young, and other far-fetched targets.
This summer, so far, most of the rumors point to the Spurs finding a reasonable addition. They are in dire need of a playmaking forward whom they can pair in the frontcourt with Victor Wembanyama. Draft targets like Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg fit the bill, as do players like Rui Hachimura, who is on the Spurs’ radar, and Aaron Gordon, who makes sense.
Of course, not every rumor is reasonable. Three other names have already been floated this offseason, and none of them should be new to fans. These are players who experts have long linked to the Spurs, and the rumors aren’t going away.
Spurs Linked to Collins, Thompson, and Leonard
For a variety of reasons, these NBA trade rumors are nonsensical.
For starters, the LA Clippers’ John Collins. He has been linked to the Spurs since his days with the Atlanta Hawks, and for good reason. On offense, he can space the floor and shoot the 3-ball. On defense, he is a decent rim protector and rebounder who would allow Victor Wembanyama to roam.
As an unrestricted free agent, his expected salary next season is in line with what the Spurs could offer. He’s been named as a Spurs’ target since 2022, and this season could finally be the year the Spurs pull the trigger.
As far as sumoprs go, the Collins-to-San Antonio murmurings aren’t unreasonable, even four years later. However, two other reports miss the mark, both in terms of what the Spurs want and in terms of what they need.
Kawhi Leonard and Klay Thompson.
For obvious reasons, fans wouldn’t be excited to bring back Leonard, even though the on-court fit next to De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Victor Wembanyama is apparent. There’s too much history there, and his injury track record doesn’t point to him being ready in the postseason, which the Spurs would need him most.
If only he had listened to team doctors all the way back in 2017!
The other veteran who would have made sense in past seasons, but doesn’t anymore, is Klay Thompson.
He’s still one of the league’s most effective shooters, and seemed fine with a bench role with the Dallas Mavericks last season. He doesn’t fit the Mavs’ timeline and is expected to be shipped out this summer. Heavy’s Sean Deveney listed the Spurs as a possible landing spot, although with Devin Vassell, Julian Champagnie, and perhaps Harrison Barnes on the roster next season, his skill set would be a bit redundant.
Maybe before Barnes and Champagnie established themselves as rotation players, but not now. Back when Thompson was in Golden State, he was pretty untouchable, preventing the Spurs from being linked to him. Now that he’s expendable, the Spurs have moved on.
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