Spurs predicted to trade for $19 million budding star, All-Rookie center from Pistons

The San Antonio Spurs could be one of the more active teams in the trade market despite their surprising 15-13 record and No. 9 seed placement in the Western Conference to begin the 2024-25 season.

San Antonio’s 2023-24 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama is currently averaging 24.7 points, 10.0 rebounds and 3.8 blocks in 23 appearances, leading the team to wins over several titans in the conference like the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors.

Though Wembanyama is certainly already one of the best centers in the entire league in his second season, his sublime shooting ability and ball-handling prowess combined with his 7-foot-3 height listing could push the French prodigy to the power forward position at some point this season.

While moving Wembanyama to power forward could only be a project for this season, it could last if proven to be successful. This could potentially increase the chances of Spurs’ general manager Brian Wright trading for their center of the future.

Recent reports have indicated that San Antonio could have an interest in contacting the Detroit Pistons to accomplish this goal, with the team targeting a 2022-23 All-Rookie Team selection and promising prospect, Jalen Duren.

“As one of the most promising centers in the NBA, Jalen Duren could become a fantastic partner for Victor Wembanyama,” wrote Fadeaway World’s Cholo Martin Magsino on Monday morning. “This opens the door for the Frenchman to embrace the power forward role where he could be more creative on offense while Duren covers the paint.”

The Pistons’ No. 13 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Duren has steadily improved as a reliable rim protector and lob threat. 

The 21-year-old is contributing 9.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks while shooting at a 70% clip from the floor in 26 appearances for Detroit this season.

At 6-foot-10 and possessing an incredibly strong and athletic frame, Duren’s potential to be one of the more physically dominant centers in the league for the next decade is certainly intriguing to San Antonio. 

The addition of Duren could be a seamless fit next to Wembanyama, as it would give the superstar center and improved passing threat a perfect target for an alley-oop or shovel pass to the dunker’s spot. 

The tandem of Wembanyama and Duren would be even more effective on defense, as two of the best young shot-blockers in the entire Association protecting the same painted area would strike fear into the hearts of all prospective opponents for the foreseeable future.

To acquire Duren, San Antonio would likely need to give up draft compensation paired with a valued prospect like Jeremy Sochan, Keldon Johnson, Tre Jones or Malaki Branham, with Devin Vassell and Stephon Castle presumably being off-limits.

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