Spurs predicted to cut ties with ex-Mavericks forward, NBA champion in trade for Domantas Sabonis

The San Antonio Spurs are slowly but surely creeping back into title contention after acquiring All-Star guard De'Aaron Fox from the Sacramento Kings at the trade deadline.

Fox had a rough stretch to end the season in San Antonio, averaging 19.7 points and 6.8 assists on 44.6% shooting in 17 appearances. So why not add a familiar face for Fox to get acclimated quickly?

That's exactly what ClutchPoints predicts the Spurs to do by trading star Keldon Johnson, former Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes, their 2025 first-round pick, the Atlanta Hawks' 2025 first-round pick, a 2030 first-round pick (swap options with Minnesota Timberwolves and Mavericks), and two second-round picks for All-Star big man Domantas Sabonis.

Losing Johnson and Barnes depletes San Antonio's forward depth, but it may still be worth it to add Sabonis to the frontcourt. Johnson is a solid all-around contributor, and Barnes is still a rotational piece despite no longer being the player he was in Dallas, but Sabonis is fresh off another All-Star-caliber campaign.

He averaged 19.1 points, 13.9 rebounds, and 6 assists on 59% shooting and 41.7% shooting from three-point range in 2025.

The Kings' future direction is seriously up in the air, which could encourage Sabonis to request a trade. Considering the Spurs have a clear route to success, it's easy to see why both sides would have a level of interest.

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It's unclear how Barnes would feel about returning to the team he was with from 2019 to 2024, but if he's open to it, this proposed trade has strong logic on both sides.

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