Why The San Antonio Spurs Do The Deal
Of course, there’s another significant difference between these teams. The Knicks, as constructed, project to be near the middle of the standings in 2022-23. By contrast, the Spurs are likely to be near the bottom.
With that in mind, they’ve surely got no use for a veteran like Richardson. On the other hand, they do have a use for future first-round picks. Some will suggest that this deal is costing them too valuable of an asset.
Fair. On the other hand, they’ve got no asset more valuable than their own 2023 first-round pick. If the ping-pong balls bounce their way, it could be Victor Wembenyama. Meanwhile, the Spurs don’t need a solid veteran like Josh Richardson hanging around and jeopardizing their odds.
Quickley and Reddish may both have more natural talent than Richardson, but neither is as likely to impact winning in 2022-23. With that in mind, securing their lottery odds is arguably the main incentive for the Spurs here.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Immanuel Quickley, New York Knicks & San Antonio Spurs Updates
Still, both Quickley and Reddish are young enough to compliment whoever their next franchise cornerstone is.
Sometimes, you’ve gotta spend draft capital to maximize draft capital.
