Category: Spurs Trade Rumors

League analyst sees San Antonio Spurs get Lauri Markkanen trade done with FOUR first round picks

The San Antonio Spurs have one of the deepest collection of tradeable assets in the NBA, which is a good thing for them here.

The San Antonio Spurs have one of the deepest collection of tradeable assets in the NBA, which is a good thing for them should they ever elect to try out an offer the likes of which Bleacher Report NBA analyst Dan Favale has proposed to land star Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen.

In Favale’s defense, the Spurs’ front office would be dealing with Jazz President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge, the legendary dealmaker who likely would simply stand pat for less. The offer Favale has in mind? Malaki Branham and Keldon Johnson would make up the contracts going out, as well as a total of four first round draft picks.

The Atlanta Hawks’ 2025 first, the Charlotte Hornets’ 2025 first (lottery protected and to turn into 2026 and 2027 seconds if not conveyed), Atlanta’s 2027 first, and San Antonio’s 2029 first (top-five protected) make up the draft assets to be included.

A hefty ask indeed, Favale echoes our thinking, saying “Utah almost certainly won’t relinquish Markkanen without a Godfather offer,” and we concur that this offer “feels Godfather-adjacent.”

Is it worth it? “Markkanen and Victor Wembanyama are a divine fit up front,” suggests the B/R analyst — and we are inclined to agree. So long as San Antonio feels confident he would stay with the team, this feels like a no-brainer for all.

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Report: Trae Young, Josh Giddey had interest in joining the San Antonio Spurs via trade

Both of course ended up with other fates in store for them.

Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young and former Oklahoma City wing Josh Giddey had interest in joining the San Antonio Spurs earlier this offseason via trade, according to recent reports. According to a recent article by Yahoo Sports’ Jake Fischer, both Young and Giddey had spent some time thinking about changing their team to a Texas-based one.

Per Fischer, “Trae Young — who had the Spurs on his wishlist of next teams, … if (he) had moved this summer —  (and) Josh Giddey … also held an interest in joining San Antonio,” though the former ultimately ended up staying with the Hawks, who moved former Spur Dejounte Murray instead.

Giddey, too, ended up elsewhere ultimately. He was sent to the Chicago Bulls in a deal that still ended up drawing in the Spurs to pick up veteran forward Harrison Barnes from the Sacramento Kings on the cheap instead in a multi-team deal.

And while Chris Paul may not be the Spurs’ floor general of the future, he will be a great bridge to it — and perhaps that point guard is already on the roster anyway in rookie Stephon Castle.

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San Antonio Spurs reportedly inquired on Cavaliers’ Darius Garland

From the sounds of things, it seems that it is not just the Spurs who were looking to pry Garland free.

The San Antonio Spurs reportedly kicked the tires on what a trade for star Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Darius Garland, according to recent reports. But it seems that the Cavs had little interest in dealing away their starting floor general to the Spurs.

According to Yahoo Sports reporter Jake Fischer, “San Antonio called various teams around the league exploring veteran guards who have still yet to enter their primes,” and the Cleveland guard was among the targets the Spurs had interest in bringing onto the team via trade. “Garland was another talented ball-handler the Spurs called about,” added Fischer, “although Cleveland has rebuffed any inbound trade interest for Garland to date.”

From the sounds of things, it seems that it is not just the Spurs who were looking to pry Garland free.

And truth be told, it is probably wise for the Cavs to see some more (hopefully) healthy pairing with Cleveland shooting guard Donovan Mitchell before making any drastic moves.

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How much would be too much for a San Antonio Spurs trade for Lauri Markkanen?

What if Ainge covets one of the Spurs’ better young players — or several?

The San Antonio Spurs have found themselves to be reportedly in the mix to trade for star Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen. But the potential cost of such a trade is likely to be a high one, given the person calling the shots for the Jazz is renowned NBA dealmaker Danny Ainge, Utah’s current President of Basketball Operations.

Thus, the question must arise as to what too much to include in a deal for The Finnisher (as the native of Finland is sometimes called) on the part of the Spurs. With a surplus of draft capital, San Antonio is likely looking for a picks-based offer, but what if Ainge covets one of the Spurs’ better young players — or several?

To talk it over, the host of the “Locked On Spurs” podcast, Jeff Garcia, linked up with AP Sports Writer Raul Dominguez to discuss the possibilities of a Markkanen trade for San Antonio. Check it out below!

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League analyst floats Utah Jazz sending Lauri Markkanen to San Antonio Spurs to capture the (Cooper) Flagg

If the Jazz want to pass on playing NBA basketball for a season to switch to playing “Capture the (Cooper) Flagg,” we would not blame them.

If the Utah Jazz want to pass on playing NBA basketball for a season in order to switch to playing some “Capture the Flagg,” we would not blame them in the slightest. Especially given that the Maine native we are hinting at (Duke forward Cooper Flagg) could be one of the best stars to be drafted into the league in many years.

And should they move in such a direction, they would need to lower the level of talent on their roster, with Bleacher Report league analyst Andy Bailey having just the trade in mind to make with the San Antonio Spurs.

Bailey would have the Jazz send star forward Lauri Markkanen to the Spurs for Keldon Johnson, a 2025 first round pick, a 2026 first-round pick swap (via the Atlanta Hawks), a 2027 first (again via Atlanta) and a 2031 first round pick swap (via the Sacramento Kings).

Not a bad haul, if you ask us, though who knows if it would be enough for notoriously stingy Jazz team president Danny Ainge. “Markkanen is good and young enough to justify keeping … but Flagg has “best player on a title team” potential, and this trade would give Utah a better shot at landing him next summer,” he writes.

“For the … Spurs, adding Markkanen to a roster that already includes a rising top 10-15 player (Wembanyama, of course), Chris Paul … Devin Vassell and Harrison Barnes could have them back in the playoffs as early as next season.”

“Even if they can’t crack that group in the loaded Western Conference, a frontcourt combo of Markkanen and Wemby would, arguably, be the league’s best and most versatile,” adds Buckley — and we’re inclined to agree.

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What is the latest news on the rumors tying the San Antonio Spurs to Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen?

Earlier last week, news broke of the Spurs being one of the ball clubs looking to pry the Finnish forward away from a rebuilding Jazz.

What is the latest news on the rumors tying the San Antonio Spurs to Utah Jazz star forward Lauri Markkanen? Earlier last week, the news broke of the Spurs front office being one of the ball clubs looking to pry the Finnish forward away from a rebuilding Jazz team.

The Golden State Warriors were rumored to be in heavy pursuit, but they also have little in the way of an offer to pony up without dealing players that would render such a move mostly a lateral one. Could the Spurs find a way to get into the mix for Markkanen’s contract with a pick-heavy offer to the famously shrewd Utah team president Danny Ainge?

To talk it over, the host of the “Locked On Spurs” podcast, Jeff Garcia, sat down with San Antonio Sports Star’s James Pledger on a recent episode of the show. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about the prospect of Lauri in San Antonio this season.

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Is a major trade for the San Antonio Spurs about to go down?

We are hearing rumbles about San Antonio having interest in Lauri Markkanen, or perhaps a reunion with DeMar DeRozan.

Is a major trade for the San Antonio Spurs about to go down? Even before the Spurs had traded away their No. 8 pick in the 2024 NBA draft’s lottery, there had been some speculation that the Spurs’ front office might look to trade for an established player or two in order to jump-start San Antonio’s rebuild for Victor Wembanyama.

Now, we are hearing rumbles about San Antonio having interest in trading for star Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen, or perhaps a sign-and-trade reunion with Chicago Bulls veteran wing DeMar DeRozan. Is there a chance either of these deals actually materializes soon — or one like them?

The folks behind the “TSR Sports” YouTube channel recently took some time to dive into these rumors, assess their plausibility, and shared their thoughts on if they actually want such rumors to be true. Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say.

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Will star Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen be traded to the San Antonio Spurs?

A deal sending the Finisher to San Antonio is potentially on the table.

Will star Utah Jazz big man Lauri Markkanen be traded to the San Antonio Spurs this offseason? With rumbles abounding that the Jazz forward could be on the move if Utah can’t find the right stars to surround him with, a deal sending the Finisher to San Antonio is potentially on the table.

But will Jazz team president Danny Ainge pull the trigger on a deal for what the Spurs have to offer? And it is also rumored that San Antonio might have competition in such a swap from the Golden State Warriors. Do the Spurs have a better offer they can put up — and would it be worth it?

The folks behind the “TSR Sports” YouTube channel recently put together a clip examining the situation from a San Antonio point of view.

Take a look at the clip embedded below to hear what they had to say about bringing Markkanen to the Spurs.

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Are the San Antonio Spurs in pursuit of star Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen?

Whether San Antonio has the offer that would most suit Utah GM Danny Ainge remains to be seen

Ever since the San Antonio Spurs elected to trade away their No. 8 pick in the 2024 NBA draft for future assets, speculation as abounded as to what the Spurs’ front office might be planning to use those draft assets on. And now, with rumbles percolating up that San Antonio may be in pursuit of a Utah Jazz star forward, that move is starting to make more sense.

On a recent episode of ESPN’s “Hoop Collective” podcast, cohost Brian Windhorst revealed that Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen is being pursued by the Golden State Warriors as a potential trade target. He also revealed that the Dubs may not be alone in that pursuit.

“There (are) some other teams that are looking at Markkanen,” said Windhorst. “I think San Antonio is one of them.”

The Finisher’s shooting and defense would make for an intriguing, flexible fit for the Spurs next to star San Antonio forward Victor Wembanyama.

Whether San Antonio has the offer that would most suit Utah GM Danny Ainge remains to be seen. But with a full war chest of draft picks and young player contracts, if Markkanen is available, the Spurs should be in the mix.

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San Antonio Spurs ‘want to be competitive next year,’ may use picks for trade

“Everything I hear is that they want to be competitive next year, they want to be in the playoffs,” said ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

It might not be long now until the San Antonio Spurs are making deep playoff runs again, at least based on what we have been hearing from ESPN NBA draft expert Jonathan Wasserman. The ESPN analyst recently made an appearance on “The Ringer’s NBA Draft Show” to talk about what the Spurs might end up doing with their Nos. 4 and 8 lottery picks in the looming 2024 NBA draft.

“Everything I hear is that they want to be competitive next year, they want to be in the playoffs,” shared Givony via Real GM on what he is hearing about what the Spurs could elect to do with their draft assets.

“They’re not looking to make this a two- to three-year process, where they’re in the lottery again next year.”

“For right now, they want to be competitive next year and that’s why I think they’re going to be aggressive with those picks,” he added. “Every free agent, every veteran guard, they all want to play with Victor Wembanyama.”

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