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

[Klomp]

I really liked what I saw.

Yeah. Maybe he's not coming in during game 6 with 5m to go in the finals and scoring a couple of 3's. But he's a young dude who can get buckets, but he showed some really good playmaking.

Realistically he's our 7th/8th this season, but a more dynamic perimeter scorer which we really lacked and can take a bit of the load off Conley as well

I think this is a good synopsis.

One thing I think Minnesota considered (as they've mentioned a few times since the draft) is that they were the second lowest volume of transition possessions per game in the regular season at only 16.2 per game, even though they had the 6th best scoring frequency percentage in the league. They just didn't run enough which makes sense when their point guards were usually 37-year old Mike Conley and Kyle Anderson.

[Scalabrine]

I don’t understand why so many people are down on Dillingham. It seems like he had a solid summer league despite it being summer league. Seems like a no brainer risk for the Wolves. Even if he’s nothing more than a starting calibre PG for the next 8 years you’re in a good position.

I think the Spurs got a little too cute by half with this move. Sure a pick 7 years away might turn into something good but you have something good in Dillingham. A player who’s defensive problems could be covered up by a generational defensive player and would be an awesome backcourt mate with Castle. That also ignores the other players the Spurs could have picked that got drafted after 8.

What if he's worse than a starting point guard for the next 8 years?

Two of Minnesota's biggest needs longterm at the moment are...

1. Franchise point guard
2. Scoring punch/self-creation off the bench

Dillingham filling the first would be incredible. However, even if he doesn't reach that height, there is a strong chance he can fill the second. That is still an enormous win for the franchise to add that kind of player on an asset-strapped team.

Totally agree. Wolves are my second team (Im a Vikings fan in the NFL so thats the crossover) and I think that this was worth the gamble for a player like Dillingham. It's still a big gamble though. He wouldn't be the first highly touted, undersized guard to not reach their potential. Especially a guard that is as small as him.

I'm definitely rooting for him, but I just think the posted I quoted was being a little too non-chalaunt by saying "even if he's nothing more than a starting point guard" . If he's a starting point guard for 8 years, that would be a very very good outcome for the Wolves.

[FarBeyondDriven]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

[Klomp]

What if he's worse than a starting point guard for the next 8 years?

Two of Minnesota's biggest needs longterm at the moment are...

1. Franchise point guard
2. Scoring punch/self-creation off the bench

Dillingham filling the first would be incredible. However, even if he doesn't reach that height, there is a strong chance he can fill the second. That is still an enormous win for the franchise to add that kind of player on an asset-strapped team.

Totally agree. Wolves are my second team (Im a Vikings fan in the NFL so thats the crossover) and I think that this was worth the gamble for a player like Dillingham. It's still a big gamble though. He wouldn't be the first highly touted, undersized guard to not reach their potential. Especially a guard that is as small as him.

I'm definitely rooting for him, but I just think the posted I quoted was being a little too non-chalaunt by saying "even if he's nothing more than a starting point guard" . If he's a starting point guard for 8 years, that would be a very very good outcome for the Wolves.

A few comps I'll throw out...

Low end outcome: Bones Hyland / Sebastian Telfair
Medium outcome: Immanuel Quickley / Nick VanExel
High end outcome: Kyrie Irving / Tony Parker

[Dan Z]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

They weren't gifted two goats, but even if you think that the Spurs were one of the first teams to really take Euro players seriously.

It helped them get Parker and Manu late in their respective drafts.

[One_and_Done]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

Spurs have made way too many great moves over the years for that to be remotely true. This move has a strong chance of being a huge win for the Spurs.

[Klomp]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

Spurs have made way too many great moves over the years for that to be remotely true. This move has a strong chance of being a huge win for the Spurs.

They had a dominant run, but I don't think the hit rate is as high as people might think in recent years outside of drafting Victor.

2022 wasn't great.
2021 was a failure.
2020 was fine.
2019 was decent.
2018 was not great.

[One_and_Done]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

Spurs have made way too many great moves over the years for that to be remotely true. This move has a strong chance of being a huge win for the Spurs.

They had a dominant run, but I don't think the hit rate is as high as people might think in recent years outside of drafting Victor.

2022 wasn't great.
2021 was a failure.
2020 was fine.
2019 was decent.
2018 was not great.

Well the GM changed in 2020. The rest of the league has also caught up alot too. There aren't many bad, old school GMs left. They're still clearly a very competent front office, and this trade will probably be a good example. I'd quibble slightly with 2022 being 'not great' and 2020 being merely 'fine'. Those look like 2 good picks to me, particularly Vassell. It's also kind of tough to blame them for 2021, that's a pretty hard thing to predict happening.

[Scalabrine]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

I'm confused. Which one of The Admiral, Duncan, or Wemby are you considering not a GOAT. I know it's not Duncan.

[KGdaBom]

I think some of you are either forgetting or severely discounting the fact that the #8 pick comes with an $8 million salary.
If they used it they wouldn’t have been able to do both the Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes deals.
People keep saying they need to do more to win now, and at the same time say they should have drafted another project instead of acquiring these veterans AND picking up future assets.

Does Chris Paul really mean much for the Spurs?

The Spurs need to develop all their young players, not just Wemby. And currently, their young players are pretty lackadaisical at times.
So just as a guy who can show the youngins how to set Wemby up, hold them accountable on the court and in practice, and keep their focus and show them how to win — without hogging all the reps for himself because he’s old and isn’t trying to prove himself anymore?
Yeah, I think it could be a pretty helpful signing from that perspective.
Do I think he makes them a legit threat in the playoffs this season? No, not really, but no one at #8 would have either.
It’s also a 1-year deal so they could move him at the deadline for another asset or at a minimum he keeps their cap sheet free going into next season.
I also think there’s a limit to how many young guys you can develop at once. Vassell still needs reps to get better and live up to his contract. Sochan needs reps. Castle needs reps.
If they are done tanking (assuming Wemby has a healthy season) you can’t really try to be competitive AND develop a bunch of young guys at the same time imo.

"We talkin bout practice. Not a game. Not a game. Practice."

[KGdaBom]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

I'm confused. Which one of The Admiral, Duncan, or Wemby are you considering not a GOAT. I know it's not Duncan.

Actually neither Duncan or the Admiral are GOATs, because there is only one GOAT LeBron James. Wemby has potential, but odds are he doesn't play long enough to qualify.

[Scalabrine]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

I'm confused. Which one of The Admiral, Duncan, or Wemby are you considering not a GOAT. I know it's not Duncan.

Actually neither Duncan or the Admiral are GOATs, because there is only one GOAT LeBron James. Wemby has potential, but odds are he doesn't play long enough to qualify.

Literally the truth. Can't argue that.

People use that term in a non-literal sense pretty often and thats what they were doing here.

[JJ_PR]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

They had already drafted a PG that very same draft. I think getting an unprotected first and an unprotected swap for the 8th pick in a weak draft was a smart move.

[ConSarnit]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

They had already drafted a PG that very same draft. I think getting an unprotected first and an unprotected swap for the 8th pick in a weak draft was a smart move.

In a normal draft this is probably a bad trade for the Spurs. But there have been reports that teams considered the #1 this year to be the equivalent of #6 in most years. If the 8th pick this year is actually closer to the 13/14th pick in most years then this trade makes sense. Late lotto pick for a future unprotected pick and a swap. Value seems about right. Too many posters are getting caught up on the “8th pick” and not normalizing it’s value based on a weak draft.

[DelAbbot]

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

Explain that trade. I'm not as old

[Blame Rasho]

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

Explain that trade. I'm not as old

I already did. Go a few posts back

[hippesthippo]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

They had already drafted a PG that very same draft. I think getting an unprotected first and an unprotected swap for the 8th pick in a weak draft was a smart move.

Khan still gets **** on for taking Flynn after Rubio and rightfully so. It just doesn't make any sense to draft two young point guards that both need reps in the lottery... you're setting one of them up to fail which means you wasted a lotto pick.

[Devin 1L]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

They had already drafted a PG that very same draft. I think getting an unprotected first and an unprotected swap for the 8th pick in a weak draft was a smart move.

Khan still gets **** on for taking Flynn after Rubio and rightfully so. It just doesn't make any sense to draft two young point guards that both need reps in the lottery... you're setting one of them up to fail which means you wasted a lotto pick.

I mean, in fairness, that had more to do with the fact that Flynn sucked. Steph Curry went one pick later at #7, you don't think that would have been a good pick?

[Ballerhogger]

Spurs always try to get too cute and think they're the smartest guys in the room instead of the frauds that were gifted two GOATS.

I'm confused. Which one of The Admiral, Duncan, or Wemby are you considering not a GOAT. I know it's not Duncan.

Hmm clearly wemby right now

[Klomp]

They had already drafted a PG that very same draft. I think getting an unprotected first and an unprotected swap for the 8th pick in a weak draft was a smart move.

Khan still gets **** on for taking Flynn after Rubio and rightfully so. It just doesn't make any sense to draft two young point guards that both need reps in the lottery... you're setting one of them up to fail which means you wasted a lotto pick.

I mean, in fairness, that had more to do with the fact that Flynn sucked. Steph Curry went one pick later at #7, you don't think that would have been a good pick?

It also had to do with the fact that Rubio was locked into his European contract for two years, giving Flynn (or anyone else) a two-year runway before Rubio showed up. By that time though, Jonny was already off the team and would only play one more year in the league. His hip injury destroyed his career. Also, everything else with the franchise sucked.