On the opening day of NBA free agency, The San Antonio Spurs made waves when they signed Chris Paul to a one-year deal. It could be the first move in a busy offseason, as they can still make moves to improve the roster from a disappointing 22-60 record last season. The latest rumors indicate San Antonio could be looking to add a frontcourt star to pair with Victor Wembanyama.
On The Hoop Collective Podcast, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst stated that rival executives believe the Utah Jazz will trade star forward, Lauri Markkanen. He said that the Spurs and Golden State Warriors are among the teams showing interest in the big man. Jazz, general manager, Danny Ainge, has been conversing with teams about dealing Markkanen, and signs indicate he’s serious about making a move.
Markkanen is the only piece standing between the Jazz and a full rebuild. With a loaded 2025 NBA Draft Class coming into the league next year, some teams will be motivated to get a high pick in the upcoming draft. The Jazz hold two first-round picks in the 2025 draft from the Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers. Any deal for the all-star forward would likely include draft capital for 2025 and beyond.
San Antonio has been hoarding draft assets for a few seasons now. They most recently moved the eighth pick in the 2024 NBA Draft for an unprotected 2031 first-rounder and 2030 pick swap from the Wolves. The Spurs hold 15 first-round picks in the next seven drafts, including 4 potential firsts in the 2025 draft. If San Antonio really wants to make a move for Markkanen, they’ll have the assets to outbid nearly any team.
The New York Knicks recently acquired Mikal Bridges for five first-round picks. Markkanen would likely draw a similar price tag. The forward was the NBA’s Most Improved Player in the 2022-23 season and made the all-star team that year. Last season he took a slight step back but was still very productive. Markkanen averaged 23.2 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting 48% from the field, 39.9% from three and 89.9% on free throws. The big man is a versatile player who can play inside and out. He’d provide a scoring pop next to Wembanyama.
Markkanen is entering the final year of his contract in which he will make $18 million. He is set to hit unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2025 if an extension is not met. If the Spurs were to trade its draft capital for Markkanen, it would likely be under the expectation that he would re-sign with San Antonio. Markkanen has been linked to the Spurs going back as far as 2021 when he was nearly a part of the DeMar DeRozan deal.
Rumors indicate that the Spurs are prioritizing the summer of 2025 to make major changes to its roster. According to the San Antonio Express-News beat writer, Jeff McDonald, the front office is looking for 1-year stop-gaps this summer and will take big swings next year. A move for Markkanen would be a sooner-than-expected move toward contention. San Antonio could wait to sign the big man outright next summer, but that puts risk in him signing an extension elsewhere.
Markkanen would be a perfect fit in a Spurs offense focused on ball movement and versatility. Wembanyama could cover up his defensive shortcomings with his rim protection. Markkanen would space the floor and create his own shot, taking some defensive attention off Wembanyama. The basketball fit makes a lot of sense. It will be up to Spurs general manager, Brian Wright and the rest of the front office to judge whether the price is worth it.
