The San Antonio Spurs became one of the most compelling teams in basketball again after drafting Victor Wembanyama, who lived up to being called the best prospect since LeBron James by breaking rookie records. Wembanyama has a clear desire to be winning games and the Spurs are looking to take a step in that direction after a 22-60 record this season.
The Spurs need to acquire a veteran-winning piece this summer. The Brooklyn Nets have iron man forward Mikal Bridges, whose future on the team looks bleak given their need to acquire assets to begin their rebuild. The Spurs can give them that with picks as well as a player.
Trade Details
Brooklyn Nets Receive: Keldon Johnson, Devonte Graham, No. 4 Overall Pick, 2025 First-Round Pick (ATL), 2026 First-Round Pick (SAS)
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Mikal Bridges, Dorian Finney-Smith
Keldon Johnson’s time with the Spurs seems to have elapsed and the team should be looking to move on from him. Getting two veteran wings with a strong work ethic will set a great example while helping the Spurs get solidity in their rotation.
The Brooklyn Nets Can Acquire A New Franchise Piece
The Nets have held firm on Mikal Bridges fetching them multiple first-round picks for two seasons. While they have reportedly turned down even more lavish offers, their leverage has gone down with Bridges proving to not be a No. 1 option and will turn 28 years old in August. He averaged 19.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists this season but is a former Defensive Player of the Year finalist and has yet to miss a game since being drafted in 2018.
The No. 4 overall pick would be a fantastic asset, especially with the No. 3 pick the Nets would have gotten otherwise going to the Rockets for the James Harden trade from 2021. They can target star guards like Rob Dillingham or decide their future center rotation with Donovan Clingan, especially with Nicolas Claxton’s free agency this summer.
The additional picks would further bolster the Nets’ asset capital, which will look to be among the best in the NBA along with the Phoenix Suns picks looking more valuable. With a core of their draft pick and Cam Thomas, the Nets can at least settle on a direction instead of flailing around in the middle of the NBA, trying to be competitive.
Dorian Finney-Smith has been a good veteran piece for the Nets, but the 31-year-old saw his numbers decline and might be of better use in San Antonio as a rotational forward who can also mentor the young roster. He averaged 8.5 points and 4.7 rebounds this season, but numbers are deceiving with him, as DFS is considered a Swiss army Knife on defense.
The San Antonio Spurs Get A Perfect Fit
Mikal Bridges might be the ideal player for a coach like Gregg Popovich, as he’s an ever-dependable forward who never complains about his role. He would thrive in a secondary or tertiary offensive role, something the Spurs can provide with Wembanyama and Devin Vassell on the roster as well. Bridges’ would fit like glue and make the Spurs’ defense even fiercer, manning the perimeter while Wembanyama marshalls the paint.
The Spurs had high hopes for Keldon Johnson a few years ago when the forward was being taken to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but his development has plateaued. He’s still just 24 years old, so a change of scenery could put him back on the right path. The Spurs and him are reportedly looking to part ways, so he would be a natural departure. He averaged 15.7 points and 5.5 rebounds this season.
Devonte Graham can add a body to the threadbare Nets’ guard rotation, though the former Most Improved Players finalist averaged 5.0 points and 2.1 assists this season in a limited role.
Finney-Smith would be a great addition, returning to Texas after he made his name on the rival Dallas Mavericks. DFS has been a highly coveted veteran wing since he got to the Nets, so the Spurs could use him to add a winning touch and grittiness to their young roster or trade him for other assets.
Both Teams Take A Step In The Right Direction On Their Paths To Success
The Nets and Spurs are in different phases of a rebuild right now. The Nets need to start offloading their good players before their value diminishes so that they can use the 2025 Draft Pick to draft a possible franchise-changer in a stacked Draft class. in addition, they can add a top pick from this Draft class by using No. 4 on a talented prospect, building the foundations of a young core on the Nets.
The Spurs have their young core ready, with the team looking to build with Wemby, Vassell, and Sochan. Adding Mikal as a versatile swingman who could float across positions would give them an incredibly well-rounded defensive setup. This won’t transform them into title contenders, as the Spurs will still require a major point guard addition, but Bridges is the perfect piece for them to start rebuilding their defensive identity with.
Bridges is making $48.2 million for two more seasons, presenting great value. Finney-Smith has two years and upwards of $30 million left on contract, with Graham on a $12.6 million expiring deal. Johnson has $54 million over three years remaining on his contract.
The Spurs have plenty of assets left over after this deal to continue building their franchise up, giving up one of their personal future draft picks to maintain flexibility. They’ll also have picks leftover from the Hawks deal, keeping the team asset-rich and with a roster full of young players.
Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support.
