Surrendering the No. 2 pick and Stephon Castle for Kevin Durant is a “non-starter” for the San Antonio Spurs, according to NBA insider Jake Fischer.
But what if there is a trade that can let them keep Castle while moving down just two spots in the upcoming NBA draft and get Durant?
That is the compromise scenario floated by Dan Favale of Bleacher Report in his blockbuster three-team trade proposal.
Here is Favale’s trade proposal:
San Antonio Spurs Receive: Kevin Durant, No. 4 pick (from Charlotte)
Phoenix Suns Receive: Harrison Barnes, Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, Mark Williams, No. 14 pick (from Spurs), San Antonio’s 2026 first-round pick, 2027 first-round pick (second-most favorable of Charlotte, Dallas or Miami, via Charlotte)
Charlotte Hornets Receive: No. 2 pick (from San Antonio), 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of Dallas, Oklahoma City or Philadelphia, via San Antonio), Minnesota’s 2028 second-round pick (via San Antonio)
Spurs Form New Big 3
Getty Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs guards Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns.
“This package is also far from everything. The Spurs are moving the No. 2 pick but still have a top-five selection, and the Dylan Harper fit alongside Fox and Castle is far from clean. If they prefer Harper to Castle, they can construct a framework that ships out the latter,” Favale wrote.
But getting Durant while retaining Castle and Devin Vassell to support what could be their new Big Three is a top-heavy roster that can compete in the stacked Western Conference.
While Durant is expensive, factoring in the two-year, $112 million extension he’s eligible to sign, the Spurs have to take advantage of this window while Wembanyama is already one of the NBA’s best while still on a rookie deal. By the time Wembanyama’s future rookie max extension kicks in, Durant will be gone.
So this potential deal gives them a two-year window to compete with Durant while maintaining a long runway for Wembanyama with “enough first-round picks beyond 2026 to keep making moves.”
This trade idea will also address the potential awkward fit between Harper, De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle. They would still retain a top-four pick to add to their formidable five-man group of Durant, Wembanyama, Fox, Castle and Devin Vassell.
Why Suns and Hornets Do It
For the Suns, this could be a dream outcome for them. They gave up four first-round picks and a pick swap on top of Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges for Durant at the trade deadline in 2023.
“Scooping up a lottery selection to go with a first-rounder in each of the next two drafts is a win unto itself. Phoenix doesn’t control its own first-rounder again until 2032. It needs all the bites at the prospect apple it can get,” Favale wrote.
On top of the picks, the Suns get a center in Williams, whom they can evaluate as he’s a year away from restricted free agency and so is Sochan.
For the Hornets, moving up for Rutgers star Dylan Harper would recalibrate their timeline to build around him and Brandon Miller and incentivize them to deal LaMelo Ball, who is entering the second year of a five-year max rookie extension deal that is worth up to $260 million.
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