Category: NBA

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When Daryl Morey sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder for a draft pick package at last season’s trade deadline, it was not a widely praised move.

Quite the opposite, actually — amongst fans, media members and McCain’s former teammates alike.

With Morey gone and his replacement Mike Gansey having one of the greatest offseasons in Philadelphia sports history, Sixers fans no longer have to lament every productive performance from McCain for one of the NBA’s best teams.

As a reminder, one of the picks the Sixers received in that deal was a 2026 first-rounder, which the team used to select Alabama guard Labaron Philon, Jr. 22nd overall. If not for the additions of LeBron James and Jaylen Brown, Philon would’ve likely been unfairly compared to McCain all season. Now, Philon is free to be himself and play.

And so far, he’s made a strong impression.

Head coach Nick Nurse has been effusive in his praise for the 20-year-old guard. Earlier in the week, Nurse complimented Philon’s compete level after a couple defensive-heavy and physical practices. Nurse also said the young guard’s vision has stood out.

On Friday, Nurse spoke about Philon’s ability as a natural point guard to get his teammates organized.

“What’s showing more is his ability to kind of run an offense,” Nurse said at the team’s practice facility, “get guys where they need — like really, really takes command of getting people where they need to be, making a decisive play call or whatever it is, and getting it executed.

“And then also he’s got a bit of when things are getting a little haywire, and he’s got a little bit of ability to break away and get some space and get into the paint, and then create the offense that way.”

Philon showed off his two-way prowess at Alabama, but not during the same season.

As a freshman, he was the Crimson Tide’s guard stopper, picking up full court and hounding opposing ball-handlers, while All-American Mark Sears ran the offense. As a sophomore last season, it was Philon’s show as he averaged over 22 points a game and was named an All-American himself.

Now, it’s about Philon finding a way to meld those abilities at the NBA level. At his first pro training camp, he’s learning and earning praise.

“Teammates and coaches just encouraging me to be myself, really,” Philon said. “That’s one of the things Coach Rico [Hines] and the guys been telling me — just be yourself and be able to play great basketball, make plays for your teammates, and cheer on your teammates too, and just like be a great leader, be a great teammate. I feel like everybody’s been doing that so far, and that’s what we’ve been preaching.”

There’s no shortage of veteran teammates to learn from.

He asked Brown about his ability to make tough shots in traffic. He’s picked James’ brain about his longevity.

James also provided a fun “Welcome to the NBA” moment on the first day of camp.

“I would say the first play of training camp, LeBron was coming at me full speed,” Philon said. “I was backpedaling, and that’s when the moment really hit. I was like, ‘Alright, like it’s here now.‘”

A benefit of being surrounded by star teammates is getting to practice against them on a daily basis.

“But I would say just being able to stand my ground, like knowing that I can compete against these guys at high levels,” Philon said. “Jaylen’s been making me work every day, all day. So it’s like going against guys like that. I can build more confidence if I’m guarding my teammates in a great way. But those guys are trying to do their best to go at me, and just as a young guy, that’s what you want because if I can guard these guys, I feel like I’m gonna be able to guard anybody across from us or the next opponent.”

But what did he do when James, a physical specimen at 6-foot-9 and 250 pounds, came barreling towards him?

“I tried to go for the strip,” Philon said. “He passed the ball across [the court].”

Of course there’s probably no better player for Philon to learn from than Tyrese Maxey.

The Sixers drafted Maxey 21st overall and he was also joining a team with stars and championship aspirations. Even under Doc Rivers, who was notorious for not playing young guys, Maxey forced his way into minutes as a 20-year-old. While Nurse doesn’t have the reputation to the level of Rivers, he also doesn’t have the greatest track record with playing young players.

Philon has a great sounding board in Maxey.

“I would just say the one-on-one talks,” Philon said, “like during practice, like when I’m making great plays, he’ll probably pull me to the side and just like tell me the concepts and the reasons that if this is not open or I don’t have a shot, these are the reads we want to make and stuff like that. … He’s been helping me out pretty well. Ever since I got on the floor and stepped into this building, he’s been helping me.”

Philon has also learned a bit from a former Sixers nemesis — Rajon Rondo, who visited Mobile on occasion when Philon was there. Philon said he’s studied the retired point guard’s defense and wants to be to able get in passing lanes and create turnovers like Rondo once did.

In his second season, Rondo was surrounded by future Hall of Famers Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Much like Rondo in helping the Boston Celtics win a championship, Philon’s focus will be on keeping things simple.

“I feel like for me, the best decision is making the easiest play,” Philon said. “Right now, I don’t really need no showtime or kind of flashy plays. The position I’m in right now, it’s like making the right play every time, it’d be great for me.”

With James and Brown here, Sixers fans have largely forgotten about the Jared McCain trade.

Labaron Philon might make people remember it for all the right reasons.

Warriors training camp takeaways: Praise grows for two offseason signings originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

LAIE, Hawaii – Intensity was replaced by intentionality Friday during the Warriors’ fourth practice of training camp on the campus of BYU-Hawaii. 

The day prior was the Warriors’ hardest scrimmage thus far of training camp. Competitive spirit echoes throughout the gym. The blue team wanted to beat the yellow team and vice versa, with those in red jerseys showing they belong too. Hours later, the Warriors continued their team bonding with a luau at their team hotel. 

“The culture that they’ve built here over the last 10-plus years has been amazing,” Warriors forward Georges Niang said. “To be actually a part of it, not on the outside looking in, is really cool.” 

Friday was a day for the film room and jogging through actions, as opposed to the physicality of Thursday’s scrimmage. Warriors coach Steve Kerr said his team “needed a day like this,” and that Saturday will be “short and crisp” as a final tune up for Sunday’s preseason opener. 

Here are three takeaways from the Warriors’ fourth day of training camp, which featured comments from Kerr, Niang and Gui Santos. 

Film Review

After going over the film, Kerr likes what he sees while knowing plenty of room for improvement is there. 

“We’re getting better,” Kerr said. “Our transition offense was way better than it was the first two days, which is a big key for us. Our transition game left so many points on the on the board last year, so we’re working hard on that. 

“Defensively, some good stuff. I think the guys are really taking to Coach [Frank] Vogel’s terminology, to his schemes, and a lot of great discussion amongst the players and staff as far as what we’re trying to accomplish. Slowly but surely, we’re getting there.” 

The Warriors scored the fourth-fewest points per game in transition (19.7) last season. Only the Boston Celtics (19.4), Brooklyn Nets (19.2) and Milwaukee Bucks (19.2) were below them. 

They also ranked 24th in transition possessions per game (18.1), 28th in transition frequency percentage (16.0) and 27th in transition points per possession (1.08). Overall, those stats, plus a handful of others, placed them 10.3 percentile of transition offense throughout the NBA. 

“The theme this year is we have to be better,” Kerr said. “We’ve got to be better, and from my perspective, what I have to do better is get more organized. The whole theme of the offense is to be spaced and organized and in concert. As I told you guys, we can’t play out of chaos anymore, because it’s a different era in the league. We’re in a different spot, talent-wise. Where I failed them last year was not helping them close out these games, the multiple games that we lost – five, six games – and it wasn’t necessarily late-game execution as much as it was giving away too many points during the 48 minutes of the game, where we’re turning it over, we’re not executing well enough. 

“That’s why we worked so hard over the summer to reimagine our our plan, and that’s what we’re implementing.”

The Praise Continues 

Several players shined during Thursday’s scrimmage. Brandin Podziemski’s offensive arsenal was impressive. De’Anthony Melton’s two-way impact was felt, and Niang showed off his shot from long distance. 

But there’s another name people can’t stop talking about: Brandon Williams. 

Blink, and you’ll miss him. His speed is something the Warriors have missed for years. And it’s a trait that reminds Kerr of a former fan favorite. 

“He’s the fastest guy we’ve ever had here,” Kerr said. “[Leandro] Barbosa would come to mind for me. Barbosa was lightning. Brandon’s more on ball. LB was a lot was off-ball transition, running ahead, catching and finishing. Brandon is probably more of a high pick-and-roll speedster, and it changes the calculus. It gives you more options.”

There’s a reason Barbosa famously was called “The Brazilian Blur.” Williams is one of a select few Warriors who doesn’t have a wild nickname on his Basketball Reference page. Niang might have found the perfect one for him. 

“He has a unique ability to just take off when he gets the ball,” Niang said. “He’s kind of like the Road Runner, right? He’s just like, ‘Meep meep,’ and gets to places where he wants to. As a guy like myself that moves from slow to slower, I can appreciate how fast he moves.” 

"As a guy like myself that moves from slow to slower, I can appreciate how fast he moves."

Georges Niang compared Brandon Williams to the Road Runner 💨 🤣 pic.twitter.com/9M9AHnZRV2

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) October 2, 2026

Williams and Santos already are building chemistry with the second unit. When asked about Williams’ speed, Santos smiled and his eyes lit up. 

“That guy’s fast, man,” Santos said while laughing. “I think yesterday you guys could see it, but he’s really, really fast. When he’s in position and he chooses a side and he’s going to go that way, it’s really, really hard to stop him.” 

Adding the speed of Williams, along with his ability to get by his defender and score or make a play, have the Warriors excited about their improvements offensively in transition. 

The Minivan 

Speaking of great nicknames, Niang, or “Minivan” to others, just might have the best on the Warriors. He also has been a welcome addition on the court as a full-circle moment. 

Niang, 33, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, was part of the yellow team in Thursday’s scrimmage. He was surrounded by Williams, Santos, De’Anthony Melton and Gary Payton II. In that group, Niang essentially is a small-ball center. 

Per Basketball Reference’s position estimate tool, Niang spent 8 percent of his time playing center between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Atlanta Hawks in the 2024-25 NBA season. He missed all last season to an injury sustained in training camp. Playing the position in a Warriors jersey this season doesn’t worry Niang one bit. 

For him, after a lost season, it’s all about finding any way to get on the court.

“I think at this point, if you’re on the court, you better feel comfortable,” Niang said. “That’s the biggest thing. You want playing time, you figure out where and how to be comfortable, and you find ways to implement things that you can do that can help your team.” 

The Warriors have used several players who aren’t traditional centers at the position over the years. Kerr isn’t one to put someone in a box. He wants versatile players who can make multiple combinations work, and that’s what he sees in Niang. 

“Georges is just a hell of a basketball player,” Kerr said. “He can play with any combination. If he’s your small-ball five, offensively you’re going to really be lethal. Defensively, you’re not going to have a lot of rim protection or verticality at the rim, lob threat, obviously. He’s capable of playing small-ball five, but you got to put the right group around him – more for your defense than for your offense. 

“And it’s no different than most players. You always have to find the right five-man group to be the best two-way team you can be.” 

Niang played 79 games in the 2024-25 season and averaged a career-high 9.9 points per game, while shooting 40.6 percent from the 3-point line on a career-high 5.2 attempts per game.

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Anne Hathaway made it clear that her Knicks fandom doesn’t waver.

During an appearance on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on Wednesday, Hathaway prioritized another Knicks championship over winning a second Academy Award while playing a game called “Best Thing Ever.”

The game forced her to choose among two things to decide which is the best and which she would “get rid of forever.”

Fallon held one card that said, “Another Oscar Win” and a second card labeled, “Another Knicks Championship.

Hathaway, a New York City native and lifelong Knicks fan, put down the card with the Oscar trophy on it and didn’t say anything.

That’s when the live audience in Studio 6B at 30 Rockefeller Plaza applauded and cheered on Hathaway’s pick.

“The way my nervous system is reacting to that choice is really intense,” she said with a laugh.

The Knicks won four of five to beat the Spurs in the 2026 NBA Finals to win their first championship in 53 years.

Hathaway won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in 2013 for her performance as Fantine in “Les Misérables.”

Earlier in the show, Fallon gifted Hathaway a signed jersey from Knicks star OG Anunoby.

“Are you serious? Oh my god!” Hathaway said before putting the jersey on.

The Knicks gave Hathaway, who is pregnant, a basket of gifts for her baby, along with a card that read, “All my best” signed by Anunoby.

Jimmy surprises Anne Hathaway with a signed @nyknicks jersey from OG Anunoby #FallonTonightpic.twitter.com/knOnx45Dwe

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) October 1, 2026

“I’m so excited about my jersey,” Hathaway said.

During an April appearance on “The Tonight Show,” Hathaway told Fallon that she considered wearing an Anunoby jersey on the show because “when I’m at the game, I want them to know that I know who they are and that they’re going to win.”

The next night, the Anunoby scored 29 points and the Knicks pulled off a historic win over the Hawks in a series-clinching Game 6 in the first round of the playoffs.

Many said Hathaway was their good luck charm.

Hathaway has been a fan of Anunoby since he nearly crashed into her and her son while they sat courtside during a game at Madison Square Garden in 2024.

Steph Curry is entering his 18th NBA season.

In an interview with ABC7 News Bay Area, the 38-year-old revealed who has been the toughest defender he’s ever faced throughout his career.

“It’s a tie for me between Avery Bradley and Jrue Holiday. Yeah, those are the guys,” Curry said.

In head-to-head matchups against Bradley, Curry averaged 26.2 points, 5.8 assists and 5.4 rebounds. While those are still good numbers, the Warriors star gave credit to Bradley, who was NBA All-Defensive First Team (2015-16) and NBA All-Defensive Second Team (2012-13) during his time with the Celtics.

Curry averaged 25.2 points, 6.8 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game in head-to-head matchups against Holiday, who boasts six selections to the NBA All-Defensive Team. Though he’s never won Defensive Player of the Year, Holiday has been a finalist for the prestigious honor.

Defenders have tried to stop one of basketball’s greatest shooters, but it appears even Curry’s most challenging defensive matchups couldn’t quite contain the Warriors star.

Former NBA star J.R. Smith allegedly roughed up a woman, leading to his arrest earlier this week, according to new court documents obtained by the California Post.

Smith “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly” caused “bodily injury” on Sept. 18 to a female who was a member of Smith’s family or household or with whom he had a dating relationship, a criminal complaint filed on Friday stated.

Smith allegedly committed the crime in Texas “by hitting, grabbing or pushing” the woman “with [his] hand,” according to the filing.

A warrant for Smith’s arrest was issued by the Southlake Police Department a short time after the alleged incident, and the ex-Los Angeles Laker was formally taken into custody over the matter during a traffic stop in Royse City on Monday afternoon.

Smith’s attorney, Justin A. Moore, said in a statement to The Post on Friday that his client “is eager to see this matter resolved and has full confidence in the legal process.”

“He is presumed innocent,” Moore added, “and we will address this matter in Court. We ask that everyone respect the privacy of all involved throughout the process.”

Smith was pulled over on a Texas interstate after authorities said an automatic license plater reader alerted a nearby officer that Smith was “a wanted person.”

“The check of the license plate showed an active warrant for a wanted person out of the Southlake Police Department,” Royse City Chief of Police Kirk Aldridge said in a statement to The Post on Tuesday.

“The wanted person was Earl Joseph Smith III [J.R. Smith’s full name] and the charge was for Family Violence Assault Causing Bodily Injury. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver of the vehicle was identified as Earl Joseph Smith III. The warrant was confirmed and Mr. Smith was taken into custody.”

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Jail records showed Smith was booked on one misdemeanor count of assault causing bodily injury family violence. He was released on $5,000 bond on Tuesday night, the records showed.

He’s due in court for a hearing in the case later this month, according to court records.

Smith played in the NBA from 2004 to 2020, logging minutes for several teams, including the Denver Nuggets, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and LA Lakers.

Smith won two championships in his career, and also earned the 2012-13 Sixth Man of the Year award.

Smith has been seen recently competing in amateur golf tournaments after he walked on to the men’s golf team at North Carolina A&T.

Nobody had a better Summer League than Khaman Maluach.

He was knocked to the All-Summer League Second Team because the First Team went all rookies, and whatever, that’s fair. But we all know what we saw.

That’s the kind of dominance you’d expect from a lottery pick entering his second season on that stage. But just because you expected it does not mean we take it for granted. A double-double in all four games. The Summer League leader in rebounding. The first Suns player on an All-Summer League team since 2021.

Pair that performance with a media day where his name came up more than anyone else’s, and the picture gets clear. Mark Williams will miss a large chunk of the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder, and Oso Ighodaro is the clear competition for Khaman. The starting center job should be his, and here’s why.

What the Tape Says

The production was real. Khaman put up 19.5 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.3 steals per game in Vegas while shooting 53.2% from the field and 40% from three. Summer League numbers can sometimes lie, but he passed the eye test as well. On Portland’s first possession of the opener, he bodied his man and walled off the rim. That’s a filled-out frame doing grown-man work.

He is the vertical threat this starting unit needs. At 7’1″ with a 7’6¾” wingspan, every Devin Booker ball screen forces the low man to commit. Koa Peat found him for an alley-oop on the Suns’ first bucket in Vegas, and that’s the move. When the tagger has to respect the lob, the corner shooters get a cleaner look.

The “pop” is the new, potentially huge wrinkle. He attempted just 21 threes as a rookie, and 40% across four Vegas games is a small sample, so pump the brakes on calling him a stretch five. But even a willing, competent trail three drags the opposing center out of the paint. That opens a runway for Booker and others to get downhill, which is where Phoenix wins games.

If he is a vertical threat at the rim, and also has the ability to drag a big out to guard him on the perimeter, that’s a deadly combo.

Size Matters

This front office has spent two years chasing length and athleticism. Khaman is the purest version of that plan on the roster, along with fellow incoming sophomore Rasheer Fleming.

Oso has earned real respect, and he is without a doubt a long-term rotation piece. He started 24 games last season, and he’s a high-IQ playmaking hub with real defensive versatility. But the size gap matters. Khaman is listed at 7’1″ and 250 pounds with a 7’6¾” wingspan, while Oso is listed at 6’11” and 235 pounds. That shows up on the glass and at the rim against true centers. In a Western Conference full of size, the Suns can’t start a game giving that away.

Starting Khaman also makes the bench better. Oso slides into a second unit where his playmaking out of the short roll fits the reserve guards. Oso and Collin have developed some insane chemistry that is reminiscent of Steph-Draymond levels of in sync.

The Gillespie/Oso chemistry is Steph/Draymond reincarnated, you love to see it. pic.twitter.com/l1gFv5DubE

— Zona (@AZSportsZone) February 4, 2026

When Williams returns, Phoenix has a three-man center room and some serious depth to play with. Newcomer Duop Reath will be a factor in the meantime, especially if foul trouble or health issues come into play.

The Building Already Believes

Media day was a Khaman Maluach appreciation event. Front office members, coaches, and veterans brought him up unprompted.

Booker said Khaman reached out by text this summer asking to work, and the two ended up in the gym late at night together. His verdict: “I’d say he’s taken the biggest leap out of anybody that I’ve seen this summer.” Brian Gregory said Khaman’s body has changed and that he put in the work every single day, often twice a day.

"He has all the intangibles of being a star, and he's going to get that opportunity this year." 🗣️

Devin Booker had plenty to say about what Khaman Maluach is showing at camp. pic.twitter.com/NrY4jhkwWe

— PHNX Suns (@PHNX_Suns) September 30, 2026

New guard Pat Spencer said Khaman has the “best energy” he’s seen in the NBA. 10-Year veteran Luke Kennard said he’s one of the hardest workers he’s been around in the league. Even Oso, his direct competition, admitted that Khaman has gotten a lot better.

Khaman’s own words tell you the rest. “Tired is in the mind,” he said, and he defined a successful season by team wins and a playoff run, not his own numbers. That’s the guy you hand the keys to, raw or not.

The bigger picture matters too. Booker played some of his best basketball when Deandre Ayton was a rising young center (occasionally) catching lobs and finishing around the rim. A No. 10 pick with this work ethic, growing next to Booker, is how Phoenix raises its physical ceiling without another trade.

Will it come with growing pains? Of course.

When, Not If

Jordan Ott didn’t name a starter at media day, and the battle runs up to the Oct. 21 opener. “Camp is three weeks. We’re gonna mix around with some lineups,” he said.

This job becomes Khaman’s at some point this season. It feels inevitable. The only question is how many games Phoenix wants to waste finding that out. Start him on Oct. 21st. Live with the foul trouble and occasional miscues. Let him take his lumps next to Booker now, so they’re paying off and corrected come April.

Khaman Maluach is the future, and there’s no reason he can’t be the present either.

It appears Kentucky is planning to have a surprise guest tonight who currently plays in the NBA.

Cullen Honohan, also known as Coach All Hail, appears to have been welcomed by Kentucky to gain some behind-the-scenes access and showcase the facilities in and around campus.

Honohan has posted videos from the Rupp Arena locker room, film room, players’ lounge, and Rupp Arena. 

In one video, Honohan said a surprise NBA guest is coming to Big Blue Madness on Friday night.

“You guys are going to have to stay tuned, because apparently tomorrow there’s a special NBA guest coming on.”

EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Kentucky’s Rupp Arena (before the madness 👀🏀)

• Opened in 1976
• 20,500-seat capacity
• Record UK crowd: 24,479 vs. Louisville in 2010
• Home to 4 national championship teams
• $3.1M locker room renovation – with the actual 2012 championship floor

50… pic.twitter.com/0yeZHP828U

— All Hail Cullen (@allhailbball) October 2, 2026

Many people have speculated on who the guest for this year’s Big Blue Madness could be. Following up Rick Pitino in year one and John Wall in year two is pretty tough shoes to fill. 

My guess is that it will be someone in the group of Karl-Anthony Towns, Anthony Davis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Devin Booker, or Tyrese Maxey. Obviously, there are many, many more names in the NBA world currently, but that group makes the most sense. 

Karl-Anthony Towns

Coming off winning an NBA championship with the New York Knicks would be a perfect time to bring the big man back to Lexington. KAT has always been a fan favorite, but if he came back and maybe brought his new friend, the Larry O’Brien Trophy, with him, it would make for a magical night in Rupp Arena. 

Anthony Davis

Davis is arguably the greatest to ever play in a Kentucky jersey and an NBA champion. Now heading into his 15th season in the association, making us all feel old, would be an awesome name and face to bring back in 2026, 14 years removed from his team cutting down the nets. Also, my favorite Kentucky Wildcat of all time, so that would make it even sweeter. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

On the heels of back-to-back MVPs and a new Nike contract, SGA could be considered the face of basketball as of today. An NBA champion two years ago and named the best player in the world over the last couple of years makes for a great time to bring the man back to Lexington.

Devin Booker

Now that he has his new shoe line with Nike, Devin Booker has released a couple of Kentucky-themed shoes in the Book 1 and Book 2 models. He also chose to release the “Must Be The Denim” Book 2 early on campus during last year’s basketball season. Booker played for one of the most beloved teams in school history and had a ton of success here, so let’s bring him back. 

No matter who it ends up being, there are a ton of reasons to be excited for tonight, with it being the unofficial start of the Kentucky basketball season! 

EXCLUSIVE LOOK: Inside Kentucky Basketball’s GAMEDAY Locker Room 🔥👀

– Final Four Wood Floors Throughout Locker Room
– Wood Accents Everywhere You Go
– Chanel Sofas
– Drake Film Room lol
– Love the vibe in here, feels blue blood

Big Blue Madness BTS coming tmrw 👀 pic.twitter.com/rXXq6010WU

— All Hail Cullen (@allhailbball) October 2, 2026

Since Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker left and Manu Ginobili retired in the summer of 2018, ending the Spurs’ long era as a championship contender under the Big Three and preventing a Kawhi-led era (or at least ending a short one), there have been several mini-eras. They tried to start a new chapter led by LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, but it never amounted to anything. After that, they entered a youth movement that quickly switched to rebuild mode through the 2024-25 season, with the major acquisitions that brought them back to title contention being the drafting of Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle and Dylan Harper and trade for De’Aaron Fox.

However, there were several other transactions in there that also got them where they are today, some of which still have draft payoff in the future, and that will be huge when the Spurs have to start minding the cap as soon as next offseason. With that in mind, I thought we would go over all the trades of the of the Rebuild Era and see how they are paying off today and what assets the Spurs are still owed in the future, beginning with the trade of DeMar DeRozan in 2021 (which on its own is resolved but still has indirect future pay-off). But first, a few notes:

• Information is courtesy of Salary Swish and Basketball Reference.
• Some trades included multiple other teams, but we’re just sticking to the transactions that involved the Spurs.
• Names or assets in bold are either still pending or turned into meaningful players (of varying degrees) for the Spurs.
• Trades that were simply salary dumps resulting in players waived or no draft capital that paid off anywhere else are not included. (For example: the Spurs sending their 2024 2nd round pick to Boston for Noah Vonleh, whom they immediately waived).
• To save space, if the Spurs acquired a player and later traded him in a smaller trade with minor payoff, that smaller trade is listed under the initial acquisition. (Examples include Juancho Hernangomez and Josh Richardson.)
• A trade status of resolved means it has nothing else to contribute going forward, and a status of pending means it can or will continue to provide for the Spurs in the future.

August 2021: DeMar DeRozan to the Bulls

Bulls receive:

• DeMar DeRozan

Spurs receive:

• Thaddeus Young — later traded
• Al-Farouq Aminu — waived
• Bulls’ 2022 2nd round pick — picked Kennedy Chandler at 38th, traded to Memphis on draft night for the pick that became Harrison Ingram at 48th in 2024
• Bulls’ 2025, 2026 or 2027 1st round pick: top-10 protected in ‘25, top-8 protected in ‘26 and ‘27, would become 2028 2nd round pick if not conveyed — returned to Bulls in 2024 (drafted Noa Essengue at 12th in 2025)
• Bulls’ 2025 second round pick — traded to Kings in 2024 (drafted Maxime Raynaud at 42nd)

Trade Status: Resolved

January 2022: Bryn Forbes to the Nuggets

Nuggets receive:

• Bryn Forbes

Spurs receive:

• Juancho Hernangomez (via Boston) — traded to Jazz a month later for Tomas Satoransky (waived after 1 game) and least favorable 2027 2nd round pick between Thunder, Pacers, Rockets or Heat*
• Nuggets’ 2028 2nd round pick, 31-33 protected — traded back to Nuggets for Tarris Reed in 2026 Draft (and since traded to the Wizards)

Trade Status: Resolved (*the 2027 2nd round pick was a separate trade)

February 2022: Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks to the Raptors

Raptors receive:

• Thaddeus Young
• Drew Eubanks
• Spurs’ 2022 2nd round pick — traded to Cavs (drafted Khalifa Diop at 39th)

Spurs receive:

• Goran Dragic — waived (the twice almost-Spur that never was)
• Raptors’ 2022 1st round pick, top 14 protected — drafted Malaki Branham at 20th
• Raptors’ 2023 1st round pick, top 13 protected — returned to Raptors in Jacob Poeltl trade (drafted Grady Dick at 13th)

Trade Status: Resolved

February 2022: Derrick White to the Celtics

Celtics receive:

• Derrick White

Spurs receive:

• Josh Richardson — traded in Feb. 2023 for Devonte Graham, 2026 2nd round pick that became Ja’Kobi Gillespie at 42nd, and Pelicans’ 2028 and 2029 2nd round picks.
  • Graham would later be traded in the summer of 2024 to the Hornets for cash considerations.
• Romeo Langford — completed contract through 2022-23 season
• Celtics’ 2022 1st round pick — drafted Blake Wesley at 25th
• Right to swap Celtics’ 2028 1st round pick, top-1 protected
  • If Celtics pick 1st (highly unlikely), it will convey to a 2nd round pick if it’s between 31-45 (also highly unlikely, so it will more than likely either be a first round pick outside the lottery or nothing).

Trade Status: Pending

June 2022: Dejounte Murray to the Hawks

Hawks Receive:

• Dejounte Murray
• Jock Landale

Spurs Receive:

• Danilo Gallinari — waived
• Hawks’ 2025 1st round pick — drafted Carter Bryant at 14th
• Right to swap Hawks’ 2026 1st round pick — swapped, drafted Jayden Quaintance at 20th
• Hawks’ (via Hornets) 2026 2nd round pick — traded to Kings in De’Aaron Fox trade (drafted Emanuel Sharp at 45th)
  • Originally would have been 1st round pick in 2023, 2024 or 2025 but was lottery protected by the Hornets and never conveyed, so became 2026 2nd round pick
• Hawks’ unprotected 2027 1st round pick

Trade Status: Pending

February 2023: Jakob Poeltl to the Raptors

Raptors Receive:

• Jakob Poeltl

Spurs receive:

• Khem Birch — later waived
• Raptors’ 2023 2nd round pick — drafted Sidy Cissoko at 44th
• Raptors’ 2024 1st round pick — drafted Rob Dillingham at 8th and traded to Timberwovles for their 2031 first round pick (later traded to Kings)
• Raptors’ 2025 2nd round pick — traded to Mavs as small part of a multi-team trade in 2024, eventually turned into Chaz Lanier for Pistons at 37th
  • The Spurs also received Reggie Bullock (waived) and a 2030 1st round pick swap option with the Mavs in this trade, which was included in the Rob Dillingham trade and is now the top-1 protected, most favorable pick between the Mavs and Timberwolves.*

Trade Status: Resolved (*separate trade)

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Here we take a minor break from “major” trades to note of some of the relatively small ones the Spurs made in the Summer of 2023, including a 2023 draft-night trade of 2nd round pick Leonard Miller to the Timberwolves for their 2028 2nd round pick. The Spurs also acquired/waived Cameron Payne and the Suns’ 2024 2nd round pick in a salary dump (more in this below).

With Victor Wembanyama now in tow, here is where we start seeing the Spurs acquire talent instead of just draft assets.

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July 2023: Spurs acquire Cedi Osman

Heat receive:

• Least favorable 2027 2nd round pick between Spurs, Rockets, Pacers, Thunder or themselves (same pick from the Hernangomez trade)

Spurs receive:

• Cedi Osman — completed contract through 2023-24 season
• Lamar Stevens — waived
• Cavaliers’ 2030 2nd round pick

Trade Status: Pending

February 2024: Doug McDermott to the Pacers

Pacers receive:

• Doug McDermott
• Raptors’ 2024 2nd round pick — drafted Juan Nunez with the 36th pick (still overseas)
  • Nunez was then traded to the Spurs for Johnny Furphy a few weeks later, whom the Spurs had selected at 35th with the pick they got from the Suns in the Payne trade. (Got all that?)

Spurs Receive:

• Marcus Morris — waived (good riddance again!)
• Clippers’ 2029 2nd round pick

Trade Status: Pending

July 2024: Spurs acquire Harrison Barnes

Kings receive:

• DeMar DeRozan from Bulls
• (Spurs gave up nothing in this trade!)

Spurs receive:

• Harrison Barnes — re-signed with Spurs this summer.
• Right to swap 2031 1st round pick with Kings

Trade Status: Pending

February 2025: Spurs acquire De’Aaron Fox and Jordan McLaughlin

Bulls receive (from Spurs):

• Zach Collins
• Tre Jones
• Own 2025 1st round pick that had gone to the Spurs in the 2021 DeRozan trade

Kings receive (from Spurs):

• Sidy Cissoko
• Bulls’ 2025 2nd round pick that had gone to Spurs in 2021 DeRozan trade
• Spurs’ 2027 1st round pick — since traded and top 16 protected for Kings, goes to Thunder if 17-30
• Timberwolves’s 2031 1st round pick from Rob Dillingham trade

Spurs receive:

• De’Aaron Fox — signed 4-year extension in 2025 (kicks in 2026)
• Jordan McLaughlin — re-signed in 2025 and 2026

Trade Status: Resolved

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And that pretty much ends all the Spurs’ rebuild era trades! They’ve been a minor part of a few others since then, either taking on and waiving salary or trading 2nd round picks (such as playing a small role in the trade that sent Kyle Kuzma to the Bucks). They also traded Branham and Wesley to the Wizards for Kelly Olynyk last summer (no draft capital received back), but I consider all of those “post rebuild” trades and inconsequential today.

This has been quite the rabbit hole to go down, but it’s a good way to remember how we got here, plus it was funny to see some of the random connections you wouldn’t have otherwise considered. For example, who remembered or even knew that Bryn Forbes indirectly led to Tarris Reed? (Now I need Reed to pay off more than ever.) Or that the original DeRozan trade to Chicago really amounted to nothing for the Spurs, but they benefited greatly from the Bulls moving him to the Kings a few years later? Talk about playing the long game.

To conclude, here are the assets the Spurs currently own or are owed in the future from these trades for future reference:

Players (traded for or drafted)

• Harrison Barnes — for nothing
• De’Aaron Fox — for Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Sidy Cissoko
• Jordan McLaughlin — for Zach Collins, Tre Jones, Sidy Cissoko
• Carter Bryant — for Dejounte Murray and Jock Landale
• Jayden Quaintance — for Dejounte Murray and Jock Landale
• Tarris Reed — (indirectly) for Bryn Forbes

Future 1st round draft picks

• Hawks’ unprotected 2027 pick (reminder, Spurs’ pick goes to the Kings or Thunder, so this is their only pick next summer)
• 2028 swap rights with Celtics, top 1 protected
• 2030 swap rights with most favorable of Mavs or Timberwolves, top 1 protected
• 2031 swap rights with Kings

Future 2nd round draft picks

• Least favorable of Thunder/Rockets/Pacers/Heat 2027 picks
• 2028 Celtics’ pick IF first round swap does not convey and is inside 31-45
• 2028 and 2029 Pelicans’ picks
• 2029 Clippers’ pick
• 2030 Cavs and Kings’ picks

To many modern fans, the Karl-Anthony Towns trade was a pivot point of their fandom.

I can speak to this myself as well. It’s hard for me to move on from a player who defined the era of Minnesota Timberwolves basketball to which I felt the most connected. I watched KAT battle with the reputation that Jimmy Butler had assigned to him, trying so hard to prove that he was, in fact, a winning, capable player who deserved the money he had just signed for.

I celebrated when he was reunited with draftmate and friend D’Angelo Russell in a pairing that would ultimately produce very little but was still incredibly fun. I spent evening after evening watching him blossom again, renewed in his vigor and joy, alongside Anthony Edwards, and you know what? It was fun!

I still remember where I was when that trade happened. I used to live in Washington Heights, at the very tip of Manhattan, and I remember walking down the streets of New York and seeing Towns stitched onto the back of a Dominican Republic national team jersey.

It was so weird to know that he would be so loved here, but still deeply miss him. I think it was even cooler, however, to watch him win his title this past year.

Now, time has come and gone, and while sentimentality never fails to cloud objectivity with nostalgia, it seems clear now that the Wolves lost that Karl-Anthony Towns trade pretty overwhelmingly. I know, who could have seen it coming when you trade an All-NBA center for a role player, a star that had outstayed his welcome, and a fake first-rounder (that turned out to be real)?

Still, it’s hard to blame the Wolves.

Managing money in the modern NBA is hard. The aprons are complicated and forever limit any type of sustainable build. That, more than any on-court problem, is why KAT is a Knick. He made too much money to retain.

If we break the deal down to its clearest bullet points, the Knicks were able to capitalize on a team that couldn’t pay one of their best players. That allowed them to bring in a star that they hoped would make the life of their offensively focused superstar easier en route to taking the team to an entirely different level.

In a weird way, that’s exactly what the Wolves did this off-season with the LaMelo Ball trade.

How’s that for a long intro? I can still hear my old editors leaving the note “shorten” in my submitted Google Docs.

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The Charlotte Hornets have just had their most impressive season since Kemba Walker was in the fold. They did that behind a career year from LaMelo Ball and his maximization of Kon Knueppel, Moussa Diabate, and Brandon Miller.

While the heights that Charlotte reached are not nearly as high as the Western Conference Finals the Wolves managed to make just a few months before dumping KAT, it is still their current magnum opus to have created a lineup that was among the league’s best.

That was the type of thing that is usually a foundation, and yet the Hornets decided to abandon it.

LaMelo Ball was asked if he was surprised when the Charlotte Hornets traded him: pic.twitter.com/rfnojhwvJo

— Kyle Ingram (@SnapshotKyle) September 28, 2026

At this point in their respective careers, KAT was a much better player than Ball. One was a multi-time all-star and had been good enough to be an All-NBA player, while the other was known just as much for his poor driving and health concerns as he was for his massive talent level at doing cool things on bad teams (well, maybe that was more similar).

But the logic for the move was remarkably similar. Even now, the cult-like love that Donte DiVincenzo still has in New York is nearly the same level of care that Naz Reid will forever have in Minnesota. It’s safe to say there is some comparison to be made there, however aesthetically focused it might be.

As it was with the KAT deal, the Wolves included pick equity that may never really come to pass. While the Wolves got lucky that Detroit took a massive leap the year that Minnesota owned their pick, it is still uncertain whether Minnesota will fall below the Hornets in total record over the next 7 years when those pick swaps would convey.

That may be a lot to understand so let’s simplify it:

The Hornets built a foundation like the Wolves did. The Hornets moved off of the most mercurial and unreliable piece of that lineup, in their eyes, by selling high and trying to make sure that their build was sustainable in doing so. They gave up a talented player that could certainly reach another level, just as he could prove to be unworthy of his current contract.

Towns proved he was capable of reaching that new superstar benchmark. He has made that deal look ridiculously stupid. It may not be the worst in franchise history, but it’s not like Minnesota got even an adequate return on their former number one overall pick unicorn big man who was a near-perfect fit alongside their best player.

For their part, the Hornets’ outlook is now far murkier without said star in the fold. Although they did get some decent pieces back in Naz Reid and a 2033 unprotected first-round pick, they now have a team of shooters with no one to set them up.

Interesting wrinkle of the LaMelo trade:

According to an analysis I'm running for a future article, LaMelo ranked second in the NBA (behind Jokic) in raising his teammates TS%

Expect everyone on the Hornets to shoot a little worse next season, and the Wolves to shoot better

— Jeremias Engelmann (@JerryEngelmann) June 27, 2026

One team will try to retool with their young core already in place, while the other is bringing in that other star to try to push a core beyond what seemed to be the logical limit of where they could end up to a new zenith.

Maybe Minnesota will win a title in the next few years. Maybe they will instead completely crumble to dust, like many expected New York to do after making that move for a star that many could not stand.

However, the truth remains that just a few years after Tim Connolly closed the Wolves’ window with an ill-thought-out KAT trade, he has tried to open one up by being on the opposite end of the very move he made three summers ago.

The door to a title run is flapping open and closed just like a saloon door. Trade after trade for a star player coming in or going out is constantly changing team makeup and resulting expectations.

Would it be better to still have KAT on the roster? Hard to say (yes), but if LaMelo can do for Anthony Edwards what KAT did for Jalen Brunson, then Wolves fans will likely no longer have to be sore about the move that sent out yet another franchise legend to win their first championship somewhere else