NBA Trade Rumors: Spurs, Rockets Swap Veteran for Top Pick?
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The Houston Rockets could be fielding offers for the No. 4 pick in the NBA Draft.
Among the teams that would be interested in acquiring the pick would be the San Antonio Spurs, who already hold the No. 1 pick and should select Victor Wembanyama. However, the Spurs could look to add a point guard in the lottery to pair with him ... and the Rockets could help them out.
In a trade proposed by The Athletic, the Spurs would send Keldon Johnson to the Rockets for the No. 4 pick in this year's draft and a top-three protected pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.
"Johnson had the ball in his hands quite a bit in San Antonio but he showcased some legit off-ball potential at times and could be the answer at small forward for a Rockets team that frankly hasn’t had one in years," The Athletic writes. "Johnson’s contract is front-loaded, meaning Houston’s cap hit reduces with every year — a valuable tool considering what the 2024 class and the looming TV deal could bring. The only drawback is his wingspan isn’t great for his size and he didn’t show much defensively last season but that might be more of San Antonio’s general nastiness more so than his own ability and potential."
Johnson would be a much more immediate contributor than whoever the Rockets would draft at No. 4, but it's hard to see two rivals like Houston and San Antonio work to get a deal of this magnitude done.
Should the Spurs take this deal, they would likely try and pair Wembanyama with Amen Thompson or Scoot Henderson if he's still on the board ... and that would set up the Rockets' biggest rival for years.
You can follow Jeremy Brener on Twitter @JeremyBrener.
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