San Antonio Spurs: Orchestrating an NBA Draft night trade for Lauri Markkanen

The San Antonio Spurs need an upgrade at power forward going into the 2021 season and beyond. Chicago PF Lauri Markkanen fits exactly what they need.

The San Antonio Spurs have a plethora of question marks going into the 2021 season and beyond. With no true identity going forward, here’s what we do know about this organization going into this year‘s NBA Draft and the following season:

They’re committed to the young guys — players like the Dejounte Murray, Derrick White, Lonnie Walker IV, and Keldon Johnson. With their two best players in DeMar DeRozan (should he pick up his player option) and LaMarcus Aldridge both on expiring contracts after this season, San Antonio has to commit to a rebuild or one final push to become a playoff contender hopeful for an NBA Finals appearance.

Whichever route they go, two things are for certain. The 2020 NBA Draft doesn’t have superstar potential outside of the top five and lacks a plethora of second-tier prospects that can become solidified second-options on a championship team. With that being considered, that makes their No. 11 pick in the 2020 NBA draft expendable.

If there’s not a prospect that they love at No. 11, looking to trade that pick away along with an asset or two can upgrade this team quicker than developing a prospect that has a 50/50 chance of actually working out. Should they go the route of trading the pick, there’s nobody that fits what this team needs more than Chicago Bulls big man Lauri Markkanen.

The days of the dominance at the power forward position with guys like Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki are gone in this era of the modern NBA. Markkanen fits exactly what you want from a modern forward.

Luckily for the San Antonio Spurs, that position still haunts them to this day, as they have no answer, no filler for that spot. Acquiring Markkanen is a task in itself, but one that will pay huge dividends later down the road. Potentially, trading for the Finland-native can push them over the hump to make the playoffs once again in 2021. This deal gives them a true modern forward to commit to for years down the road.”

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