The San Antonio Spurs enter the 2025 NBA offseason with a golden opportunity to accelerate their rebuild.
San Antonio holds the No. 2 overall pick in a talent-rich draft.
With Victor Wembanyama already a cornerstone and De’Aaron Fox also in the fold, the Spurs are poised to take the next step.
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But could San Antonio explore trading back in the draft?
During a new episode of The Kevin O’Connor Show, O'Connor and Yahoo Sports' Tom Haberstroh explored a trade scenario that could see the Spurs and Utah Jazz swap key assets.
Haberstroh kicked off the discussion, musing about Utah’s draft strategy.
“What if Utah moves up and wants Dylan Harper to be their point guard?" Haberstroh asked.
He then speculated that Utah could send Lauri Markkanen and the No. 5 pick to San Antonio in a deal for the No. 2 pick and possibly other assets.
"What if (the Spurs) move down (to No. 5) and (Lauri) Markkanen goes next to Wemby?”
O’Connor responded decisively, outlining a straightforward proposal from the Spurs’ perspective: “If I’m the Spurs, I say, ‘You want number two? Just give us Lauri with (the No. 5 pick). That’s it.’”
Markkanen, a 7-foot sharpshooter with a 2023 All-Star nod and Most Improved Player award, could create a formidable frontcourt with Wembanyama.
Haberstroh added another layer, suggesting that San Antonio could then use the No. 5 pick to select Duke Blue Devils freshman star Kon Knueppel.
“What if you get Knueppel with the No. 5 pick, and you get the shooting?" Haberstroh said. "You got Markkanen, and (you get) Knueppel at five? Think about that.”
O’Connor was enthusiastic, noting, “I would love Knueppel on the Spurs, man."
The Spurs, with nine tradable first-round picks through 2031, would have the assets to sweeten the offer, potentially including players like Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson to balance salaries. Markkanen’s $46.4 million cap hit in 2025-26, part of his recent four-year, $195.8 million extension, complicates the deal but would align with San Antonio’s win-now push.
San Antonio could form an unreal rotation around Wemby, Fox, and Stephon Castle by adding Markkanen’s and Knueppel's shooting.
Meanwhile, the Jazz could rebuild around a high-upside prospect like Harper, who fits a positional need.
Who says no?
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