The San Antonio Spurs seemingly have limitless options this offseason. Following a season of development for generational center Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio now stands at a pivotal moment armed with elite draft capital and a roster ripe for elevation. Holding the No. 2 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, along with additional assets and cap flexibility, the Spurs can dictate the tempo of the offseason in a variety of ways.
Among their options: draft highly touted guard Dylan Harper with the second overall pick and continue building a young, dynamic core. Harper, a polished playmaker and capable scorer, could be the perfect backcourt partner for Wembanyama, giving San Antonio a foundational inside-outside tandem. But general manager Brian Wright and head coach Gregg Popovich might have bigger ambitions.
There’s growing speculation that the Spurs could pursue a blockbuster trade for a proven superstar names like Kevin Durant, Lauri Markkanen, and even Giannis Antetokounmpo have been loosely connected to San Antonio in speculative discussions. With a player of Wembanyama’s stature already in place, accelerating the timeline by trading for a star may be an appealing path, especially with no shortage of picks to make an enticing offer.
Alternatively, the Spurs could explore a middle ground: make a smaller, strategic move such as a draft-day trade with the Charlotte Hornets, who hold the No. 4 pick while maintaining their long-term flexibility. If San Antonio feels they can get their target player at No. 4 or sees value in acquiring more picks, a swap with Charlotte could serve both teams. The Hornets may look to move up to secure a specific prospect to pair with LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller, while the Spurs could leverage Charlotte’s desperation into a value-rich deal.
The irony of this year’s draft lottery is that the Spurs, along with the Dallas Mavericks and Philadelphia 76ers, all landed top-three picks despite being relatively competitive and not overtly tanking. Meanwhile, tanking franchises like the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn Nets, and Utah Jazz were left outside the top tier of the draft despite their efforts to bottom out. It’s a harsh reminder that in the NBA, there are no guarantees even in failure.
For the Spurs, that means being rewarded for patient team-building and smart asset management. Whether they swing big or stay the course, San Antonio controls its destiny. With Wembanyama’s presence already shifting the franchise’s trajectory, the Spurs’ front office enters this offseason with rare leverage and the potential to reshape the Western Conference landscape for years to come.
The San Antonio Spurs are sitting in the driver’s seat heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, holding the No. 2 overall pick and a roster anchored by the transcendent Victor Wembanyama. With a war chest of draft capital and several possible pathways to accelerate their rebuild, the Spurs have the luxury of being aggressive or patient. One intriguing possibility lies in a draft-day trade with the Charlotte Hornets, who hold the fourth overall pick and are reportedly eager to move up.
Charlotte, long mired in mediocrity, finally has a legitimate building block in All-Star guard LaMelo Ball. But the Hornets remain thin on elite talent around him. As Sports Illustrated’s Owen O’Connor recently argued, they may need to be bold and jump up the draft board to secure a potential star like Dylan Harper. O’Connor proposed a package that would send the Spurs the No. 4 pick, the 33rd pick, a 2027 first-rounder via Dallas, and a 2028 pick swap in exchange for No. 2 overall.
That’s a steep price, but for Charlotte, it might be worth it to land Harper a high-IQ, shot-creating guard with real star upside. For San Antonio, trading down would still net them a high-end prospect like VJ Edgecombe or Tre Johnson, both elite shooters who could help space the floor for a lineup that already includes Stephon Castle, Jeremy Sochan, Devin Vassell, and of course, Wembanyama. While Harper is viewed as the superior talent, Edgecombe and Johnson might fit better in a system emphasizing floor spacing and ball movement.
There’s also a more blockbuster possibility: trading the No. 2 pick and Harrison Barnes to Charlotte for the No. 4 pick and Brandon Miller. Miller, who finished third in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, is a skilled wing who’s drawn comparisons to Paul George. A deal like that would give San Antonio a starting five of Castle, Vassell, Miller, Sochan, and Wembanyama a tantalizing blend of shooting, defense, and youth. However, Miller’s past off-court controversy stemming from his connection to a fatal shooting (though no charges were filed) might give the Spurs pause, especially given the culture they’ve long prioritized under Gregg Popovich.
For Charlotte, giving up Miller to move up two spots and draft Harper may seem extreme particularly when Harper’s skill set overlaps with Ball’s. But if the Hornets believe Harper is a future superstar and a better long-term fit than Miller, it could be a gamble worth taking.
Ultimately, the Spurs are under no pressure. They can make a splash by adding a young star, trade down and collect assets, or simply draft the best available player and stay the course. That kind of optionality is rare and it puts San Antonio in a position of strength as the draft approaches.
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