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Report: Spurs, Warriors tried to trade up to draft Valanciunas in 2011

Soobum Im / USA TODAY Sports

Sometimes it seems like the San Antonio Spurs can spin any piece of straw into gold, so perhaps whatever player they selected in the 2011 draft would've turned out to be the right pick. Still, it's hard not to feel like they lucked out on draft night a half-decade ago, when they failed to trade up to take Jonas Valanciunas at No. 5.

The Golden State Warriors likely feel equally fortunate at having failed to persuade the Toronto Raptors to part with their pick.

Both Western Conference powerhouses made plays for that pick with the intention of drafting Valanciunas, according to The Vertical's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Spurs instead settled for a trade that brought them the No. 15 pick, which they used to select some guy named Kawhi Leonard. The Warriors ultimately used their No. 11 selection on Klay Thompson.

The former is a onetime Finals MVP and the reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year. The latter is a guy who is apparently capable of scoring 60 points in 29 minutes, on the right night.

Valanciunas is a nice player, even a very good one in certain matchups. And maybe in the Spurs' or Warriors' systems he could've developed into something more. But it's safe to say neither team is losing sleep over how that draft shook out.

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