WOJ: Spurs draft Rob Dillingham 8th, then trade him to the TWolves for an unprotected 2031 first

[CIN-C-STAR]

that 2031 pick will likely be top 5 as KAT, Gobert and Edwards will be long gone and they'll revert to being an NBA doormat organization. It also gives them a valuable asset to use in trades. Once again, Spurs playing Chess. Short-term it's excellent for the Wolves as it gives them a dynamic scorer to take the load off Edwards. Spurs have multiple picks in the 2nd round and this is a very deep draft of role players so they'll get contributors.

The thing is, Wemby wants to win now, not in 7 years. I can’t imagine he likes this move. Edwards isn’t the only one who could be done by 2031….

They can still get there. If they did not see anyone as NBA-ready, this is the smarter way to go about it. Not sure on exact cap space, but if those are veterans on cheap contracts, that's the better move for your "win-now" dreams. i think i like it for the Spurs.

Yeah $6 mill in extra cap space plus an extra pick and a swap to make moves will help them win now a lot more than a rookie Dillingham.
People are being prisoners of the moment here. Dillingham is very likely a huge negative this season. He's a 1-and-done, one-way player that weighs 160 pounds.
I think the move makes sense for Minnesota long term too, don't get me wrong, but I don't understand why people think an offense-only guard who is a disaster on defense will make Wemby happy
Pretty sure Wemby AND the Spurs want Wemby to get lots of reps w the ball in his hands, rather than focusing his efforts on defense so some 6' 1" rookie chucker can get up a bunch of shots.
Tbh Dillingham would have only made sense for the Spurs as a long-term project and tank commander. Anyone who thinks he's a win-now player is out of their depth here imo.

[SportsGuru08]

One of the dumbest trades I've ever seen. Minnesota definitely fleeced the Spurs there.

[firedavidkahn]

[firedavidkahn]

This trade makes absolutely no sense.

Except for Minnesota.

It makes perfect sense.

In Tim Connelly we trust

[Karate Diop]

Absolutely wild. A top 10 pick for a lotto ticket in 7 years.

Unbelievable.

It’s a pick in 7 years, there’s a good chance the pick is worse than 8!

Yeah, but even like pick 18 or 20 in a regular draft is comparable to 8 in this one...

[tcheco]

if the extra 8M freed here is used to sign a FA they covet, this makes a lot of sense, if they didn't see anything they valued, this make sense.

[Buckeye-NBAFan]

Tanking for next year I guess

[Effigy]

The thing is, Wemby wants to win now, not in 7 years. I can’t imagine he likes this move. Edwards isn’t the only one who could be done by 2031….

They can still get there. If they did not see anyone as NBA-ready, this is the smarter way to go about it. Not sure on exact cap space, but if those are veterans on cheap contracts, that's the better move for your "win-now" dreams. i think i like it for the Spurs.

Yeah $8 mill in extra cap space plus an extra pick and a swap to make moves will help them win now a lot more than a rookie Dillingham.
People are being prisoners of the moment here. Dillingham is very likely a huge negative this season. He's a 1-and-done, one-way player that weighs 160 pounds.
I think the move makes sense for Minnesota long term too, don't get me wrong, but I don't understand why people think an offense-only guard who is a disaster on defense will make Wemby happy
Pretty sure Wemby AND the Spurs want Wemby to get lots of reps w the ball in his hands, rather than focusing his efforts on defense so some 6' 1" rookie chucker can get up a bunch of shots.
Tbh Dillingham would have only made sense for the Spurs as a long-term project and tank commander. Anyone who thinks he's a win-now player is out of their depth here imo.

First of all, it's not an extra pick, it's the same number of picks, they are just getting it 7 years from now. Secondly, how does a future pick help winning now more than a rookie? What about next year when Dillingham is a second year player? Or the year after? At what point does Dillingham start outperforming a future draft pick in your mind? Cap space.... maybe. They could convert that to something that helps them sooner. Or they could not spend it now and save it for a future off season. Again, how would that unspent salary help winning more than Dillingham? Do you start to see the illogic of your statement?

[blackcosmos]

Why does people make Dillingham some sort of can’t miss prospect?

Perhaps he's going to be an All-Star scorer for the Timberwolves, or perhaps he's the next Bones Hyland.

I feel like the Spurs took advantage of a Timberwolves team desperate to strike before their future draft picks begin to be frozen for living above the second luxury tax apron. For a 8th pick in a suppose weakest draft class in years.

The spurs can use the 31 pick, 30 pick swap and cap space for a trade.

[azcatz11]

It's a common trade you see in a dynasty fantasy basketball or football league. Wemby is 20 years old. Let's not rush things

[Effigy]

It's a common trade you see in a dynasty fantasy basketball or football league. Wemby is 20 years old. Let's not rush things

That's your defense? "Yo guys, this is totally normal in pretend sports GMing, so why wouldn't this be cool for the real thing?" Uh... any number of reasons? If you're a fantasy GM you know you will keep your team as long as you want it. That's not true for GM jobs. There's a fanastic chance that the guy who made the trade today won't be in charge of the Spurs by 2031. Since fantasy is just make believe, the players on your team have no idea you're giving up on the next few seasons so they don't care. In real life, Wemby knows the Spurs aren't helping him right away and will care. In fantasy you don't have to sell tickets or answer to fans. In real life you do.

[RoyceDa59]

I think the Spurs are simply asset managing, and this trade will age well over time value wise for them.

This pick will get packaged with more assets for the right move.

Great pick up for Minny as they need guys who can contribute now for cheap.

[DavidSterned]

Bad draft or not, this will look seriously stupid if the Wolves stay good and that 2031 pick ends up like 25th or something. Then you just traded 8 down for 25 as your 7 year (!) payoff.

And for all we know, the 2031 draft class could be even worse than this one.

[Lalouie]

That's a crazy trade for the Spurs. They're going to wait SEVEN years to get some help for Wemby?!

maybe the spurs are thinkin' quantum realm lottery physics

and you're thinking tictactoe

[Handlez]

Why would Spurs do this?

[JB2]

If you believe this Ant is going to be in Minny in 2031 (and 2030) then this trade feels underwhelming. If you question where Ant is 7 years fro now, or think he'll be gone... this is genius. I assume the Spurs, having #4 and #8, scouted heavily and just didn't like what was left. Once they saw Clingan off the board, they probably said F it.

For Minny, this could come back to bite the if Ant is gone in 7 years but in the short term, (big) IF Dillingham hits, his fit and talent is undeniable.

[azcatz11]

It's a common trade you see in a dynasty fantasy basketball or football league. Wemby is 20 years old. Let's not rush things

That's your defense? "Yo guys, this is totally normal in pretend sports GMing, so why wouldn't this be cool for the real thing?" Uh... any number of reasons? If you're a fantasy GM you know you will keep your team as long as you want it. That's not true for GM jobs. There's a fanastic chance that the guy who made the trade today won't be in charge of the Spurs by 2031. Since fantasy is just make believe, the players on your team have no idea you're giving up on the next few seasons so they don't care. In real life, Wemby knows the Spurs aren't helping him right away and will care. In fantasy you don't have to sell tickets or answer to fans. In real life you do.

It was more of an observation. I’m not defending it but I see the rationale to have more cap space and capital to make moves if you don’t love the player.

I get your side completely though. I would have kept Dill Pickle for what it’s worth

[vxmike]

They can still get there. If they did not see anyone as NBA-ready, this is the smarter way to go about it. Not sure on exact cap space, but if those are veterans on cheap contracts, that's the better move for your "win-now" dreams. i think i like it for the Spurs.

Yeah $8 mill in extra cap space plus an extra pick and a swap to make moves will help them win now a lot more than a rookie Dillingham.
People are being prisoners of the moment here. Dillingham is very likely a huge negative this season. He's a 1-and-done, one-way player that weighs 160 pounds.
I think the move makes sense for Minnesota long term too, don't get me wrong, but I don't understand why people think an offense-only guard who is a disaster on defense will make Wemby happy
Pretty sure Wemby AND the Spurs want Wemby to get lots of reps w the ball in his hands, rather than focusing his efforts on defense so some 6' 1" rookie chucker can get up a bunch of shots.
Tbh Dillingham would have only made sense for the Spurs as a long-term project and tank commander. Anyone who thinks he's a win-now player is out of their depth here imo.

First of all, it's not an extra pick, it's the same number of picks, they are just getting it 7 years from now. Secondly, how does a future pick help winning now more than a rookie? What about next year when Dillingham is a second year player? Or the year after? At what point does Dillingham start outperforming a future draft pick in your mind? Cap space.... maybe. They could convert that to something that helps them sooner. Or they could not spend it now and save it for a future off season. Again, how would that unspent salary help winning more than Dillingham? Do you start to see the illogic of your statement?

The top 1 protected swap could be quite valuable. The Spurs in 2030 will be likely contending in Wemby’s prime. The Wolves could be legitimately awful by then.

[knicksfan974]

Seriously, I'm puzzled. All those players still on the board and none of them seemed interesting for them to develop alongside Wemby? They really plan to waste another year of Wemby's career racking up losses?

[Blame Rasho]

Ppl don’t get my Otis Thorpe reference… god I am old.