San Antonio Spurs Add Former All-Star in Wildy Complex Trade

The San Antonio Spurs are in the ideal spot to rebuild. They have plenty of cap space, a war chest of draft picks, and a young, generational star to build around. It seems like the Spurs are going to take things slow with their rebuild, but the option to put their foot down remains.

In years past, the Spurs have been linked to two-time All-Star Zach LaVine. Now 29 years old, he is under contract for the next two seasons, with a $48.9 player option in 2026-27.

LaVine is a high-level scorer, although his lackluster efforts on defense and ball-dominant nature have made him one of the lower-value stars in the NBA. The Chicago Bulls have been trying to trade him for two seasons now, but his bloated contract makes it hard for anyone to bite.

In a mock trade proposed by Bleacher Report, the Spurs, Bulls, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers would swing a deal that would move nine players and four draft picks. The Spurs would send Zach Collins to the Suns and Keldon Johnson to the Bulls and would receive LaVine and an unprotected 2029 first-round pick back from the Windy City.

While on paper sending out two role players for an unprotected pick and an All-Star is hard to pass up, it does come with a catch: LaVine is not an All-Star anymore. He only played in 25 games last season, partly due to injury, partly because he was benched, and has averaged 23.5 points on 36.9 percent shooting from deep over the last two seasons.

LaVine's ball-dominant nature and inefficient, volume scoring do not lend themselves well to the roster the Spurs are trying to construct. The Spurs have made defense a priority, and seem to be eager to add players who can move the ball, sacrificing the first part of last season to improve Jeremy Sochan's passing.

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While on paper the trade looks very good, it would limit the flexibility that the Spurs have managed to create for themselves and it will close the door on future, better deals and signings.