One NBA writer proposed a hypothetical trade between the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs healed around Victor Wembanyama.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN created a trade where the Thunder got the first overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft in exchange for Chet Holmgren and multiple draft picks.
Wembanyama will be the first player taken in the 2023 draft.
“Surely, if the Thunder called about trading for the No. 1 pick, the Spurs’ ask would include All-NBA guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, All-Rookie first-team pick Jalen Williams and all eight extra first-round picks Oklahoma City has coming over the next four years,” Pelton wrote. “More realistically, building a trade offer around last year’s No. 2 pick would give San Antonio a blue-chip prospect along with extra picks in each of the next four years — one of them already in the lottery and the other three with considerable upside — while allowing the Thunder to plug Wembanyama alongside the perimeter-heavy core that reached the play-in tournament as the NBA’s second-youngest team this season.
“Holmgren and Wembanyama have been tied at least since squaring off in the final of the 2021 FIBA U19 World Cup. Wembanyama had 22 points, 8 rebounds and an eye-popping 8 blocks in his coming-out party at age 17, while Holmgren had 10 points and five assists as the USA held off France in a thrilling 83-81 win. Both young big men stand out for their ability to create shots off the dribble at their size, but Wembanyama’s superior size (he’s 7-foot-5 in shoes to Holmgren’s 7 feet and has an 8-foot wingspan as compared to Holmgren’s 7-6) and higher-usage offensive role portend greater NBA upside.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
“Add in the fact that Holmgren is a year closer to restricted free agency after missing his first NBA season because of a Lisfranc injury, and the Spurs would surely reject this offer, even if the Thunder threw in more draft picks from their stockpile. That’s a testament to how special Wembanyama is as a prospect.”
The Thunder selected Holmgren with the second overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. He missed the entire 2022-23 season after suffering a Lisfranc injury during a pro-am game during the summer of 2022.
NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs & Oklahoma City Thunder Updates
This is certainly an interesting trade idea from Pelton. However, the Spurs are not going to trade the first overall pick.
Wembanyama is too special of a talent to let go, even for a large haul as the one Pelton created from the Thunder’s side in his mock trade.
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