The Latest: Spurs' Summer League Roster and Lauri Markkanen Rumors
Monday the San Antonio Spurs revealed their Summer League roster, and new rumors popped up linking the Spurs to Lauri Markkanen.
As always during free agency, I want to put a timestamp of when I’m writing this (3:30 PM MT), in case news breaks of one of the players mentioned in this piece.
Spurs’ Summer League Roster
Here is the Spurs’ Summer League roster and coaching staff for the California Classic in Sacramento, California, and the NBA2K25 Summer League in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Spurs will take part in 8 Summer League games between the two sites, beginning as early as July 6, and with the possibility of ending July 22. I went more in-depth on their schedule a few days ago.
As expected, Stephon Castle and Harrison Ingram will be on the team, the Spurs’ two 2024 NBA draft selections. Second year wing Sidy Cissoko is also on the team, as are RaiQuan Gray, Jamaree Bouyea, and David Duke Jr., who were all on two-way contracts last season.
Duke Jr. is currently a restricted free agent, while 2024 draftee Juan Nunez is not on the team, since he’s with the Spanish national team trying to qualify for the Olympics.
Lauri Markkanen Trade Rumor
In the last few days, Markkanen’s name has started to pop up more frequently in trade rumors, and while the Jazz aren’t actively looking to move him, they’ll listen to offers and would only say yes if they were blown away by a trade package.
On the most recent episode of his podcast, the Hoop Collective with Brian Windhorst, Windhorst mentioned the Spurs as one of the teams who could have interest in trading for Markkanen.
Also on the most recent Lowe Post episode, Zach Lowe and Bobby Marks both discussed the Spurs as being one of the teams who could have the trade assets to send Utah an interesting offer for Markkanen.
Lowe pointed out that if negotiations happened, would the Spurs’ stopping point in talks be Devin Vassell, if that’s who the Jazz wanted back?
The Golden State Warriors are also a team reportedly being aggressive in trying to land a trade for Markkanen after Klay Thompson will be signing with Dallas.
Jake Fisher of Yahoo! Sports also mentioned the Spurs, Warriors, and Sacramento Kings as teams with interest in trading for Markkanen.
The Kings’ interest may give a signal of the type of player the Jazz might want back in a deal, with Keegan Murray possibly being the type of player Utah would want as part of a Markkanen to Sacramento deal.
In terms of first round picks, here’s how many first round picks and swaps the Spurs, Warriors, and Kings have in the next 6 years:
Spurs: 1sts without protections (7), 1sts with protections (2), Pick swaps (3)
Warriors: 1sts without protections (5), 1sts with protections (1), Picks swaps (0)
Kings: 1sts without protections (4), 1sts with protections (1), Picks swaps (0)
The Spurs certainly have more draft assets than the Warriors and Kings.
Let’s look at some hypothetical trade scenarios in the event the Jazz and Spurs were to look at a Markkanen to San Antonio trade:
Trading Markkanen into Cap Space
In order for the Spurs to create $18.5 million in cap space to absorb Markkanen’s $18 million salary, San Antonio would have to waive all players on non-guaranteed contracts (Devonte’ Graham, Julian Champagnie, Charles Bassey), and let all free agents walk. Then the Spurs would have to find trades for Malaki Branham and Sidy Cissoko without bringing salary back. Since Branham is still on his rookie scale contract, perhaps a rebuilding team would be willing to trade for him without asking for an attached pick. To move Cissoko, the Spurs would probably need to send a draft asset, so since he’s not on a rookie scale deal, they could look at waiving him and then down the line, re-signing him if another team doesn’t add him.
Since the Jazz wouldn’t be getting a player back in this type of deal, they’re probably looking for a minimum of five first round picks. Considering the Knicks sent 5 first round picks and a pick swap to Brooklyn for Mikal Bridges, the Jazz may be looking at a similar type of deal for Markkanen.
Trading Keldon Johnson and picks for Marrkanen
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