San Antonio Spurs Receive: F/C Kristaps Porzingis
Dallas Mavericks Receive: F Thaddeus Young, G Lonnie Walker IV, G/F Kenrich Williams, SAS 2023 1st Round Pick (Top-5 Protected), SAS 2024 2nd Round Pick
Oklahoma City Thunder Receive: F Al-Farouq Aminu, CHI 2025 2nd Round Pick (via SAS)
The Spurs received Thaddeus Young in a sign-and-trade agreement that sent DeMar DeRozan to the Chicago Bulls this offseason and they also received veteran forward Al-Farouq Aminu as well. Both guys likely will not remain on the Spurs roster too long, as San Antonio is interested in trading both of them for future value.
Young definitely should hold a pretty high price on the trade market right now, especially after he had one of his better seasons in the league last year in terms of being an all-around playmaker.
Last season with the Bulls, Thad Young averaged 12.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 steals and he shot 55.9% from the floor, making him a key frontcourt option for any playoff-contending team.
The Dallas Mavericks need extra help around Luka Doncic right now and while Young may not be the best talent they can add to their roster, he is definitely a consistent threat on both ends of the floor that makes them a better team. Lonnie Walker IV and Kenrich Williams are also two other secondary talents who could really expand the Mavs’ depth.
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Walker is going to be entering the final year of his rookie contract this season and is coming off his best season in the league, where he averaged 11.2 points, 2.6 rebounds, and shot 35.5% from deep.
Given his athleticism on the wing and ability to shoot, Lonnie Walker could be a really solid addition behind Tim Hardaway Jr. in the Mavericks’ depth chart. The same goes for Kenrich Williams, who can be a facilitator and shooter on the wing.
The Spurs would have to give up a fair amount of value with Lonnie Walker IV, Thaddeus Young, a protected first-round pick, and some second-round picks in this trade, but at the same time, they need to have a basis to grow for the future. Keldon Johnson, Derrick White, and Dejounte Murray are all above-average, young talents in this league, but they need a proven leader to play alongside.
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While he has had his struggles, Kristaps Porzingis could actually fit in quite nicely in San Antonio because of his ability to not only spread the floor with versatile and athletic guards next to him but because the Spurs can get the most out of him being a 7’3” potential low-post threat.
Porzingis’ biggest weakness that has held him back over the years is the fact that he has not been much of a force in the paint/low-post, but Gregg Popovich would certainly be able to get the most out of him.
As for the Thunder, well they currently sit below the league’s salary cap floor for the 2021-22 season of about $102M. Oklahoma City needs to add more contract weight to their roster during the season and at the expense of Kenrich Williams, they can add a $10.1M contract in Aminu’s, as well as a future second-round pick.
If the Spurs are interested, they should be able to make this trade work, the only two questions that still exist though are a) Are the Spurs actually interested in Porzingis and b) Do the Mavericks need more value for him?
