NBA Trade Rumors: Spurs' Victor Wembanyama for Magic Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero?
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When the San Antonio Spurs were awarded with the No. 1 pick on May 16, they won the rights to French superstar Victor Wembanyama.
And while it's a foregone conclusion that head coach Gregg Popovich will be coaching the 7-5 phenom next season, an intriguing enough package could entice the Spurs front office to answer a phone call.
ESPN recently mocked up hypothetical trade scenarios surrounding San Antonio and the team that held the No. 1 pick last season in the Orlando Magic.
The haul included reigning Rookie of the Year and last year's top selection Paolo Banchero, 2021 No. 5 pick Jalen Suggs along with the No. 6 and No. 11 draft slots this year for this years No. 1 pick and draft rights to Wembanyama.
"Look, we all know how hard it would be to actually get the Spurs to trade this pick away," ESPN writes. "If you have to do it, you have to swing for the fences. In return for Wembenyama, the Magic would send the 2023 Rookie of the Year and 2022 No. 1 pick (Banchero) as well as one of the team's lottery selections from the 2021 draft (Suggs). Throw in this year's two first-rounders and that's four top-11 selections over a three-year span for the French phenom."
In 72 games last season, Banchero posted 20 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3.7 assists - becoming just the sixth first-year player since the NBA-ABA merger to average at least 19 points, six rebounds and three assists - per ESPN.
And despite struggling with injuries over his first two seasons, Suggs has showcased his two-way potential as an NBA guard - posting 10.8 points, 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals over 101 career games.
"Banchero could give San Antonio unique possibilities with larger lineups in Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan and Devin Vassell," ESPN writes. "Throw in Tre Jones, Zach Collins, Malaki Branham and whomever the Spurs pick with the other two lottery picks, and the bones of a nice, young team on the come-up start to take shape. Maybe not the shape of a 7-5 French player with an 8-foot wingspan, but a shape nonetheless."
Despite the unlikely scenario of San Antonio trading the No. 1 selection, receiving a young star such as Banchero could be too good to pass on.
The NBA Draft is held on Thursday, June 22 at 8 p.m. from Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
You can follow Riley Sheppard on Twitter @RileyDSheppard
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