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

[ConSarnit]

This is not a regular draft. Everyone is up in arms that they gave up the 8th pick. If this were a normal draft that 8th pick is like having the 14th pick. There have been multiple reports on this.

If the Spurs selected Castle at 10 and then had traded the 14th pick for a 2030 swap and an unprotected 2031 1st there would be far less controversy.

Everyone here agrees that having the 1st overall pick this year sort of sucks yet many posters here are treating the 8th pick like it's a regular 8th pick. It's not.

[Castle Black]

I think it’s a good trade for both teams honestly. Wolves get a sixth man volume-scorer off the bench, something they really lacked in the Playoffs (though I have serious concerns with Dillingham defensively. He’s going to be hunted relentlessly on that end at 6’1 164 lbs — luckily for him he’s going to a great defensive team where they can mask his defensive shortcomings a bit).

Spurs Get future draft capital that will most likely be part of a package deal for a good player at some point. I really don’t see a major issue with this. Is it unconventional? Yes. But this is historically one of the worst draft classes ever, and they clearly weren’t impressed with any of these guys, so I have no issue with it.

It also frees up $8 Million in cap space for the Spurs which is a plus, while simultaneously giving them another opportunity to soft-tank this season for what looks to be a MUCH better 2025 draft class, where they will also have ATL’s unprotected FRP and CHI’s protected FRP.

[Castle Black]

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

You can’t say this until we see what Minny’s Pick + Pick Swap turn into. 6-7 years is a long time. Gobert and KAT will either be washed or not even on the roster anymore. Ant could very well be playing elsewhere by then, especially considering the T-wolves don’t have much draft capital left. They don’t own any of their own FRP’s in the 2025, 2026, or 2029 NBA Drafts… Along with 2030 and 2031 now. We just don’t know.

With that said, I highly doubt Spurs wait to find out what that pick turns into. It is much more likely they use it in a deal to trade for a high caliber player over the next 2-3 years imo.

In a historically awful draft like this one, I honestly don’t mind it, especially if it helps get us a big time player in the near future, which I’m confident it will.

[jkvonny]

Makes sense to me

TWolves were limited on options to improve and liked Dillingham

Spurs didn’t like anyone in this weak draft and gamble on a future unprotected for later

Would’ve been more surprising in any other draft

It is the fact that the pick is in 2031! Could Wemby bolt by then?

You're getting confused with the American players.

[jkvonny]

Makes sense to me

TWolves were limited on options to improve and liked Dillingham

Spurs didn’t like anyone in this weak draft and gamble on a future unprotected for later

Would’ve been more surprising in any other draft

It is the fact that the pick is in 2031! Could Wemby bolt by then?

So far the whole wanting to bolt from a team the second something goes even slightly wrong thing has only been seen from American players. I don't think there's as much of a risk of a European dude doing that.

This

[Effigy]

This is the argument that I really don't understand.

If I'm a San Antonio Spurs fan, why would I be upset that my GM put the TEAM before his own personal job security and made the smart move?

I'm not sure that's what he did exactly. Instead of taking the risk and selecting someone that may not pan out, he punted 7 years down the line. But that's risky too because Wemby might not still be there in 7 years.

Well, that's the only argument I've seen you make, although it's a big thread.

What's the smart move? Adding a 160lb 18yo microwave scorer who couldn't even start on his team in college?

How many young players do you expect a team to be able to develop at the same time? There is only one ball. They just drafted Stephen Castle, who is a much better fit next to Wemby as he doesn't need the ball in his hands to impact a game.

They also still have Tre Jones, Vassel, Keldon, and Sochan, so whose minutes are you taking away to give to an 18yo PG that you expect will make the team better any time soon?

"Punting," the pick down the road as you put it lets them retain the value that the asset had before it turned into Rob Dillingham. The Spurs decided they'd rather have extra ammo to trade for pieces later down the road when Wembenyama is in his prime than get stuck extending a mediocre talent.

The Spurs can't develop 2 rookie lottery picks in one year? Are you serious? This is the time to do that! The best way to develop young players is to play them, and you can do that when you are bad. You can give them a ton of minutes and attention. When you're good, you get a high pick then bury them on your bench because they can't help you win. The Spurs have all those Hawks picks coming up, if they can't develop two lottery picks in one year, give Portland a call, we'll take one off their hands!

[JXL]

Spurs are betting the Wolves will crash and burn in 2029, mostly because they're looking to be extremely expensive. Dillingham is going to be good, but if the Wolves fall from grace, this will look like a steal for the Spurs.

[jkvonny]

A team that won 22 games last year punts on a top-8 pick when players like Cody Williams, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Topic and Devin Carter are sitting there? That doesn't make sense.

Right!

And we have stunk for the past 5 seasons.

How many more future "assets" do we need??

[Bornstellar]

Other than being lucky getting #1 pick when a generational talent like Wemby is available they have been very unimpressive

Have they? In the draft I mean

Botched Primo pick, that one was terrible, but other than that:

2016:
Dejounte Murray picked 29 - great pick

2017:
Derrick White picked 29 - great pick

2018:
Loonie Walker picked 18 - average pick for the position

2019:
Samanic picked 19 - below average pick for the position
Keldon picked 29 - good pick

2020:
Vassel picked 11 - good pick for the position
Tre Jones picked 41 - good pick for the position

2021:
Primo picked 12 - bust

2022:
Sochan picked 9 - good pick
Branham picked 20 - average for the position
Wesley picked 25 - average for the position

2023:
Wemby picked 1 - no merits here.

So in the last 9 years(counting this year), picked in the lottery 5 times, with only 1 miss, while getting a good player in 3 of the 4 years picking outside the lottery.

Hard to find a team that that has done better with the picks they got honestly, unimpressive is a stretch

They have solid picks so they haven't been terrible. But again some of those picks even if the players turned out didn't amount to anything for the team. Lonnie Walker walked as a free agent. Derrick White was traded for Blake Wesley and Bostons late first in 2028. Last seven years or so they have 2 first round exits followed by 3 33 win seasons then 2 22 win seasons. They should have pivoted to a tank earlier.


let's say they get #2 and end up with Miller last year. Is their current collection of young talent that they have left over that great?

I still think they've been a good franchise, just don't think they've been that impressive

If they pivoted to tank sooner they wouldn't have Wemby. So it worked out in the end

[dakomish23]

I love it for MIN. They desperately needed another shot creator / scorer in the backcourt. I wouldn't be surprised if he's ROY as the 6th man avg 15 PPG for MIN

[Catchall]

A team that won 22 games last year punts on a top-8 pick when players like Cody Williams, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Topic and Devin Carter are sitting there? That doesn't make sense.

Right!

And we have stunk for the past 5 seasons.

How many more future "assets" do we need??

Getting a point guard prospect like Nikola Topic on rookie-scale and long-term team control is a good move no matter what stage of development you're at, but especially for the Spurs. An ambiguous future pick 6 or 7 years out isn't as good an asset to put in a trade package either if that's your goal.

[jkvonny]

A team that won 22 games last year punts on a top-8 pick when players like Cody Williams, Matas Buzelis, Nikola Topic and Devin Carter are sitting there? That doesn't make sense.

Right!

And we have stunk for the past 5 seasons.

How many more future "assets" do we need??

Getting a point guard prospect like Nikola Topic on rookie-scale and long-term team control is a good move no matter what stage of development you're at, but especially for the Spurs. An ambiguous future pick 6 or 7 years out isn't as good an asset to put in a trade package either if that's your goal.

Agreed.

And we passed up on Topic ( a big target of ours... we need better guards) for this??

[jkvonny]

I love it for MIN. They desperately needed another shot creator / scorer in the backcourt. I wouldn't be surprised if he's ROY as the 6th man avg 15 PPG for MIN

They got themselves a good scorer. Will help on offense.

[dakomish23]

I love it for MIN. They desperately needed another shot creator / scorer in the backcourt. I wouldn't be surprised if he's ROY as the 6th man avg 15 PPG for MIN

They got themselves a good scorer. Will help on offense.

Usually, the best scorer gets the ROY for whatever reason. I might place a bet on it.

[nikster]

Have they? In the draft I mean

Botched Primo pick, that one was terrible, but other than that:

2016:
Dejounte Murray picked 29 - great pick

2017:
Derrick White picked 29 - great pick

2018:
Loonie Walker picked 18 - average pick for the position

2019:
Samanic picked 19 - below average pick for the position
Keldon picked 29 - good pick

2020:
Vassel picked 11 - good pick for the position
Tre Jones picked 41 - good pick for the position

2021:
Primo picked 12 - bust

2022:
Sochan picked 9 - good pick
Branham picked 20 - average for the position
Wesley picked 25 - average for the position

2023:
Wemby picked 1 - no merits here.

So in the last 9 years(counting this year), picked in the lottery 5 times, with only 1 miss, while getting a good player in 3 of the 4 years picking outside the lottery.

Hard to find a team that that has done better with the picks they got honestly, unimpressive is a stretch

They have solid picks so they haven't been terrible. But again some of those picks even if the players turned out didn't amount to anything for the team. Lonnie Walker walked as a free agent. Derrick White was traded for Blake Wesley and Bostons late first in 2028. Last seven years or so they have 2 first round exits followed by 3 33 win seasons then 2 22 win seasons. They should have pivoted to a tank earlier.


let's say they get #2 and end up with Miller last year. Is their current collection of young talent that they have left over that great?

I still think they've been a good franchise, just don't think they've been that impressive

If they pivoted to tank sooner they wouldn't have Wemby. So it worked out in the end

Which is why I said if they didn't get lucky with Wemby (in terms of both timing and draft odds) we wouldn't be looking at them as favorably

[tcheco]

They have solid picks so they haven't been terrible. But again some of those picks even if the players turned out didn't amount to anything for the team. Lonnie Walker walked as a free agent. Derrick White was traded for Blake Wesley and Bostons late first in 2028. Last seven years or so they have 2 first round exits followed by 3 33 win seasons then 2 22 win seasons. They should have pivoted to a tank earlier.


let's say they get #2 and end up with Miller last year. Is their current collection of young talent that they have left over that great?

I still think they've been a good franchise, just don't think they've been that impressive

If they pivoted to tank sooner they wouldn't have Wemby. So it worked out in the end

Which is why I said if they didn't get lucky with Wemby (in terms of both timing and draft odds) we wouldn't be looking at them as favorably

Sure, but they would have other prospects along with let's say Miller so they would be 1 extra year into their rebuild too, who knows what would be different.

But can't say the team skeleton would be terrible, they would have tanked in the 2019 draft? who knows if they land Zion, Garland, or culver LOL, hard to look back and try to guess.

Had Spurs drafted Haliburton instead of Vassel, where would they be now? lol

[azcatz11]

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.

This is the argument that I really don't understand.

If I'm a San Antonio Spurs fan, why would I be upset that my GM put the TEAM before his own personal job security and made the smart move?

I'm not sure that's what he did exactly. Instead of taking the risk and selecting someone that may not pan out, he punted 7 years down the line. But that's risky too because Wemby might not still be there in 7 years.

It's also draft capital that can be used for future acquisitions.

But like I said, I see both sides. don't think there is a wrong side here

[tcheco]

Right!

And we have stunk for the past 5 seasons.

How many more future "assets" do we need??

Getting a point guard prospect like Nikola Topic on rookie-scale and long-term team control is a good move no matter what stage of development you're at, but especially for the Spurs. An ambiguous future pick 6 or 7 years out isn't as good an asset to put in a trade package either if that's your goal.

Agreed.

And we passed up on Topic ( a big target of ours... we need better guards) for this??

I mean, a big target of fans, not the spurs apparently. He would be off for a while still after re-injurying his knee after missing 4 months already. Spurs could be just not buying his health. OKC can take that risk, can the Spurs?

Again, we are all just trying to guess, but hard to gauge the whole picture before the end of the offseason. Do the Spurs have plans for the extra capspace? or add that pick and swap into another move?

[SelfishPlayer]

I don't like loser Popovich making trades that turn certain teams to champions.

[bkkrh]

They have solid picks so they haven't been terrible. But again some of those picks even if the players turned out didn't amount to anything for the team. Lonnie Walker walked as a free agent. Derrick White was traded for Blake Wesley and Bostons late first in 2028. Last seven years or so they have 2 first round exits followed by 3 33 win seasons then 2 22 win seasons. They should have pivoted to a tank earlier.


let's say they get #2 and end up with Miller last year. Is their current collection of young talent that they have left over that great?

I still think they've been a good franchise, just don't think they've been that impressive

They have been pedestrial since Leonard left, but that's normal, right? No team can be a dinasty for 30+ years

Boston for example, between 2012-2013 and 2015-2016 had 3 first round exits and missed the playoffs once, and they got "lucky" nets gave them Brown and Tatum to save the franchise.

Lakers had their own terrible run before Lebron and Ad arrived.

Heat sucked for 5 years after Lebron left, before going back to the finals again in the bubble.

Pop and the Spurs are allowed to not be incredible for a few year too, I don't think they made many mistakes too in that period, they held on to LMA one year too many, sure, but other than that, we are complaining on a team that tried not to thank in an era where people complaing that teams tank too much.

Again, not saying Spurs are perfect, but no team has been perfect every year of their existence.

It's also worth mentioning some of the players the Celtics drafted over that time period with all of the extra FRP's they had stockpiled. Guys like RJ Hunter, the French Draymond Green, Romeo Langford, etc etc.

They didn't even have room on the roster to develop those guys. Looking back, they would have been much better off trading those picks for future considerations, but they would also have to have found a willing buyer.

Exactly you kinda see that with OKC and Houston as well. They constantly had so many rookies the last few years that they had to make moves for later picks, reduce the minutes and roles of 2nd and 3rd season players, etc.

It's nice to have constant talent coming in, but it gives more the impression that they are College teams that play in the NBA now. For OKC they had at least young core players with Shai and Dort that initially played on veteran Playoff teams. For Houston you could see what a big leap that team took this year with some proven Vets on the team that actually play major minutes instead of being just the locker room guy.

For San Antonio, Zach Collins and Cedi Osman were the only 2 rotation players on the roster last year that are older than 24. They have 4 players on their roster with Playoff experience, none of them were Starters in at least 1 Playoff game, none of them were more than the 8th of 9th best player on that team. At the same time they have besides Wembi about 6 young/younger players that have already shown the potential to be somewhere between future solid rotation player/possible future All Star. So it definitely makes sense to only bring in Rookies that they see on at least a similar level than those players, or evaluate if it makes more sense to trade that pick based on it's value. If the Spurs felt that there was nobody available at 8 that fits that criteria there is no point in clocking up a roster spot or taking away minutes from other players.