Spurs News: After Shipping 5-Star Prospect, Coach Popovich Target 7-Foot Backup Plan for Victor Wembanyama

As the second draft has begun, the Spurs are looking for a trade opportunity on the side. The potent name that has appeared from the NBA insiders is Brook Lopez. He will make $23 million next season in the final year of his contract with the Bucks, who he won the 2021 title with. However, it seems that his full responsibility would now be to cover for Victor Wembanyama. The 20-year-old is a young talent and could use some balanced veteran aid to propel the franchise upwards from its 22-60 record.

One of the key elements of Draft Night was also that the Timberwolves acquired Rob Dillingham, the 8th overall pick, from the Spurs. The primary reason why the Spurs coach Gregg Popovich might have gone for such an exchange on the NBA Draft day might be because of the height factor. The young PG is just 6’1″ and could have faced troubles to back up Wembanyama during games. Though the Spurs created a chance for their roster to circle Victor Wembanyana, the Wolves hit a lottery.

They did not want to make any significant changes to their current roster. So, that’s why they gave up the pick, sent a 2031 first-round draft pick, and swapped first-rounders in 2030 with the Spurs. Considering giving up a prospect like Dillingham, with 44.4% shooting from the three-point range, it looks like coach Popovich has something up his sleeve for the next season. However, Action Network’s Mat Moore had confirmed, “Brook Lopez is most consistently the name brought up as involved in discussions, with San Antonio among the interested teams,” and the Bucks are open to “gauging the trade value”. 

That being said, how does the veteran star actually fit in for Wemby’s Spurs side?

What does Coach Pop have in mind for Victor Wembanyama-centered team?

Rookie of The Year, Victor Wembanyama might get a new veteran buddy to assist him for the upcoming season. The first alternative to use Lopez for Spurs was to use him as another center alongside Wembanyama. Since that’s not the case, it appears to NBA fanatics that coach Pop has something big on his mind. The most potential option for such a strategy is to move Wemby to the forward for full-time. In that case, Lopez will not only fill the vacuum left behind by the Frenchman but also help bring stability.

An experienced player like Lopez brings pacification to the locker room, resulting in better outputs. Moreover, the group remains calm under intense conditions like playoffs and semi-final and final games. Even while defending the rim most of the time, Victor Wembanyama managed to shoot 46.5% from the field and 32.5% from the three-pointer line.

How do you think Lopez can add more to Wemby’s play? Comment down below your thoughts.

Before leaving, be sure to check out some insights that Shaquille O’Neal’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, shared about the Lakers legend’s infamous feud with the late Kobe Bryant.