Spurs Trade Idea for Damian Lillard: What's Biggest 'Key'?
Even at the height of their powers, the San Antonio Spurs have never been the "sexiest" team in the league. When it comes to attracting the best free agents or making the biggest trades, other teams have a leg up on the five-time champions.
But when Portland Trail Blazers star guard Damian Lillard requested a trade, the Spurs surprisingly became a team included in the conversation. San Antonio being taken seriously as an actual landing spot for the seven-time All-Star is a different story. Still, the fact a team coming off a 22-60 season was floating as a possibility raised some interested eyebrows.
But though the decision isn't necessarily his to make, why would a championship-less, 33-year-old Lillard want to land with a team that could take a few years to become regulars in the playoffs? Is it Gregg Popovich? No. 1 pick Victor Wembanyama? The other young talent already on the roster?
NBA Analysis Network continued this Spurs-Lillard trade talk, listing San Antonio as one of three dark horse trade candidates for the star alongside the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics. The site said that Wemby is the key to making this a somewhat realistic possibility and not Lillard's relationship with Popovich despite the pair's success together on Team USA.
"Apparently, Lillard has great admiration for Gregg Popovich," NBA Analysis wrote. "Who doesn’t? Pop is one of the best head coaches in NBA history. Of course, that might not be enough to entice Lillard to join a rebuilding team."
But as for Wembanyama, the intrigue of one of the most exciting prospects in recent memory could play a factor.
"Could Victor Wembanyama? He’s probably the key to this," the site wrote. "If Lillard believes that the potentially generational prospect could start to hit his stride before he ages out of his prime, he could be interested in this situation."
Spurs fans are better off not getting their hopes up when it comes to a trade for Lillard. Should the Blazers trade their franchise cornerstone, they'll likely want to do right by him after 11 years in Portland and send him to a contender. The Miami Heat have been rumored as his preferred destination.
But in the unlikely scenario that the Spurs make a move for Lillard, there's multiple reasons for him to like San Antonio rather than another rebuilding team.
You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7
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