Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns drives against Dillon Brooks #9 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
The San Antonio Spurs remain active in offseason discussions, but league sources tell RG there is increasing doubt the team will ultimately land Kevin Durant via trade — and the present expectation is that the Spurs will use the No. 2 overall pick in the NBA Draft to select Dylan Harper, barring a surprise development.
Sources stress that the situation remains fluid less than two weeks before the NBA Draft, but as of June 12, doubt is increasing that Durant will land in San Antonio and there appears to be no clear traction.
While the Spurs have continued to be one of the teams linked to Durant, league observers question whether there is enough potential alignment between the Spurs and Suns on a possible trade.
Many around the league also believe the Spurs have valued Giannis Antetokounmpo higher than Durant on their trade board, but there has been a lack of momentum surrounding Antetokounmpo’s potential availability. Given Durant’s age not aligning with Wembanyama’s timeline, league observers expect the Spurs to remain cautious about potential trade compensation.
Focus on Dylan Harper
With the No. 2 pick, the Spurs are expected to select Harper, widely viewed as the top guard prospect in the 2025 NBA Draft class behind projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg.
Early in the draft process, some rival teams wondered whether San Antonio might consider trading back, given the presence of De’Aaron Fox, Devin Vassell, and Stephon Castle in its backcourt. However, sources tell RG that the Spurs are comfortable staying at No. 2 and selecting Harper as the best player available.
“The current read right now is that they’re just going to take the best player available and deal with any positional questions after that,” one source said.
Trade Discussions With the Philadelphia 76ers
While reports have emerged that the Philadelphia 76ers have had exploratory talks regarding a possible swap of the No. 2 and No. 3 picks, sources who have spoken with RG believe those discussions are more about intel gathering than serious momentum.
“For now, it’s more due diligence than anything,” one source told RG.
The Spurs’ approach could still shift depending on how the trade market evolves ahead of the draft and into July. But for now, the expectation remains that the franchise will continue building around Wembanyama through a mix of young talent and future flexibility — with Harper currently viewed as the likely addition at No. 2.
“It’s early. Things change fast this time of year,” one source said. “But right now, the expectation is Harper is going to San Antonio.”
Grant Afseth is a Dallas-based basketball writer with over eight years of experience covering the NBA. He’s spent time on the Mavericks beat for Sports Illustrated and now writes for Sportskeeda.com and DallasHoopsJournal.com. Known for his analysis, engaging interviews, and breaking news coverage, Grant provides a fresh angle to the game.
