There’s a lot to be said about the future success of the San Antonio Spurs. Having back-to-back drafts with successful picks and now core players in Victor Wembanyama and Stephon Castle suggests the Spurs might be primed for a big move, especially if they decide to flip their pick in this year’s draft.
The Spurs, slated to pick No. 2 in the 2025 NBA Draft, face a conundrum. The likely No. 2 pick, Dylan Harper, could change things for the Spurs in several ways, particularly if they’re not interested in keeping so many guards who could all start.
The logjam at the guard position could lead the Spurs to consider trading the No. 2 pick, unless they pivot to selecting Ace Bailey over Harper.
Could The Spurs Acquire Lauri Markkanen?
The Spurs have flexibility if they choose to use it. While they could keep the No. 2 pick, there’s a chance they find a buyer and acquire a high-impact player in return.
According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, the Spurs might be interested in acquiring Lauri Markkanen from the Utah Jazz.
“The other scenario you wonder about with San Antonio and Philadelphia is trading down, perhaps to acquire a more immediately helpful talent while still staying in the draft,” Hollinger wrote. “Would the Spurs swap No. 2 for No. 5 with the Utah Jazz to get Lauri Markkanen (perhaps with other sweeteners from the San Antonio end), and would the Jazz go for something like that?”
The Jazz, who were obviously disappointed to lose the Cooper Flagg sweepstakes and fall to the No. 5 pick, could look to bring in a dynamic guard like Harper or a forward like Bailey to bolster their roster.
Markkanen, currently under a five-year, $238 million contract, will come at a high cost. But Keldon Johnson, Harrison Barnes, and some salary filler could help the Spurs acquire him along with the No. 2 pick.
How Would Markkanen Fit With The Spurs?
Markkanen is a sharp-shooter with an easy touch around the rim. His scoring output dipped in the 2024–25 season, but the Jazz were tanking. There’s a chance the Spurs could revitalize him alongside Wembanyama, De’Aaron Fox, and Castle going forward.
Lauri Markkanen is our daily reminder that Pros don’t miss 🔥 🔥
(Via @DCBMORE 🎥)
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald)
Building around a youthful “Big Four” of Wembanyama, Markkanen, Fox, and Castle could position the Spurs as one of the best teams in the Western Conference for years to come. A frontcourt featuring Wembanyama and Markkanen would be an offensive nightmare for most opponents, especially small lineups.
Will the Spurs and Jazz make this deal? It remains to be seen if the Jazz would be interested, but the Spurs might be better off with Markkanen and the No. 5 pick than with the No. 2 pick alone. Time will tell if this happens, but for now, it’s just an idea floated by an ex-NBA executive.
No way are the jazz giving you the 5th and lauri just stop