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Moves the San Antonio Spurs could make to stop the losing streak

San Antonio Spurs: San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich with center Victor Wembanyama

For a franchise that’s used to winning and winning a lot, the San Antonio Spurs have had a few years now of dreadful play. The Spurs are on an 18-game losing streak, breaking the record of 17 set last season.

They’ve had four losing seasons in a row and on the way to a fifth. They’ve had only eight other losing seasons in franchise history.

They got Victor Wembanyama first overall in the last draft. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman is averaging 19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. Good numbers. The problem is, the Spurs haven’t been able to get wins with the supporting cast.

So, what to do? What can this franchise do to change its fortunes? Maybe not right away, maybe not this season, but something that could kickstart that trajectory?

Well, they have a ton of draft picks to play with. Just check it out:

San Antonio Spurs picks in upcoming NBA drafts

YearRoundTeam
20241Spurs
20241Raptors
20242Pelicans, Bulls
20242Lakers
20251Spurs
20251Hawks
20251Bulls
20252Spurs
20252Raptors
20252Bulls
20261Spurs
20261Hawks
20262Pelicans, Trail Blazers
20262Spurs
20262Pacers, Heat
20271Hawks
20271Spurs
20272Spurs
20272Thunder, Rockets, Pacers, Heat
20281Spurs
20281Celtics
20282Spurs
20282Heat
20282Pelicans
20282Nuggets
20291Spurs
20292Pelicans
20292Spurs
20301Spurs
20302Spurs
20301Spurs
20302Cavaliers

Here are a couple of ideas.

Trade for Russell Westbrook

nba: los angeles clippers at utah jazz
Credit: Rob Gray-USA TODAY Sports

Yes, this sounds crazy. But think about it like this. Nobody goes all out all of the time on a basketball court, except maybe for Russell Westbrook.

He would be a great example for a team of young players, playing at full speed, even when things aren’t going well. He’s happy with getting assists, and the Spurs want to get the ball into Wemby’s hands. Westbrook would do that.

Westbrook is sitting on the Clippers bench, getting about 18 minutes per game since James Harden came to town. In San Antonio, he would play.

The only downside is his shooting. He doesn’t have that touch he had in the OKC days, when he had to hit that three-pointer he threw up because he shot instead of Kevin Durant.

Bu he’s relatively cheap, $3.8 million this season and $4 million next. And, you can’t trade for him until Jan. 15. But if you hold out a month, he might be a good fit for a stopgap and maybe to help a young team get some confidence.

Trade Keldon Johnson for a shooting guard

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs
Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

Outside of San Antonio, most NBA fans probably know little about Keldon Johnson. But the fifth-year player has seen his shooting, rebounding and assist numbers improve every season.

He has been mentioned as a possible trade candidate, and rightly so. If all the players on the Spurs roster who could potentially be moved, he’s the player who might bring the most useful return.

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