Spurs Draft Trade Rumors: Keldon Johnson, Devin Vassell Untouchable?
The San Antonio Spurs are the cusp of building one of the league's most exciting young cores, and they reportedly have no plans of losing any of those important pieces in a potential draft-night trade gamble.
The Spurs will inevitably select Victor Wembanyama with the No. 1 overall pick on Thursday when the 2023 NBA Draft kick offs at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Rumors have hinted at the possibility of San Antonio trading back up into the first round to capitalize on snagging one of the best prospects in years.
But even if Spurs general manager Brian Wright does end up get greedy for another first-round pick, he won't be trading two of the team's current young studs in order to do so.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Spurs will not be trading Keldon Johnson or Devin Vassell to move back into the first round of the draft.
"Just for the sake of due diligence, asked Brian Wright if there’s any realistic deal out there that would make the Spurs open to dealing Devin Vassell or Keldon Johnson," Mike Finger of the Express-News tweeted. "'No,' he said, before I could finish. Stressed how much the Spurs want to find out what this group can do."
Once Dejounte Murray was traded to the Atlanta Hawks last offseason, Vassell and Johnson were seen as the two centerpieces on a team with an uncertain future. Though both talented in their own right, understandable questions arose about their ability to be No. 1 or No. 2 options at some point down the line.
But with Wembanyama entering the fold, they won't have to worry about shouldering such responsibilities. Johnson can play into the comfort of a No. 3 option on the offense as a solid catch-and-shoot threat with imposing driving ability. Meanwhile, Vassell can aim for a fully-healthy season that will likely see him emerge in the eyes of the rest of the league as an elite off-the-dribble scorer with a smooth stroke and underrated play-making ability.
Johnson (22) and Vassell (18.5) were San Antonio's top-two scorers last season, respectively, though the numbers are a bit skewed in Vassell's favor since he only played in 38 games. With some of the offensive weight set to be off their hands, the numbers will drop, but they can play into a steadier role as starters in a lineup that has fans in the Alamo City excited.
Spurs faithful won't have to worry about this duo getting involved in trade rumors anytime soon.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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