Why The San Antonio Spurs Do The Deal 

The Spurs are tied with the Houston Rockets for the worst record in the Western Conference. They don’t need to worry about Wiseman’s readiness. 

In fact, they may be losing by design. Everyone expected the Spurs to tank in 2022-23. So far, they’ve made good on those expectations. 

Why wouldn’t they? The upcoming draft class is stacked.

Even if the Spurs miss out on one of Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson, any one of Cam Whitmore, Brandon Miller, or (in sticking to the theme) the Thompson twins could be a franchise-altering talent. 

LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Seth Curry, Brooklyn Nets & Golden State Warriors Updates

Meanwhile, Wiseman still has potential. His combination of length and vertical leap give him the profile of a strong defensive big. He may benefit from playing in a lower-pressure environment like San Antonio as well. 

By contrast, the Nets have every intention of winning games this season. Does flipping Curry for Richardson make them better?