TRADE: Kelly Olynyk to SAS | Branham+Wesley+2nd to WAS

[SleepingHero]

@ShamsCharania
The Washington Wizards are trading Kelly Olynyk to the San Antonio Spurs for Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and a 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of Dallas, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City), sources tell ESPN.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Olynyk has been passed around more than a box of Cracker Jacks... I don't see the fit on the Spurs, but maybe he gets moved again

[Nowitzki Way]

Not a bad trade for Washington. They get two young guard lotto tickets for Olynk who was a throw in. Both were late 1st round picks who weren't going to get minutes in San Antonio.

I think the Spurs might be doing what the mavs should have done, a two for 1 trade to clear up a roster spot.

[HoosierDaddyKid]

Not a bad trade for Washington. They get two young guard lotto tickets for Olynk who was a throw in.  Both were late 1st round picks who weren't going to get minutes in San Antonio.

I think the Spurs might be doing what the mavs should have done, a two for 1 trade to clear up a roster spot.

Looks like the Wizards and the Hornets have finally added some adults to the room in their rebuilds.

[Chicagojk]

I think Olynky will help them more than Branham and Wesley. More of a role player and not sure how large of a role he will have.

I have no idea what Branham and Wesley are. Are they really better prospects than Hardy and Omax? I don't know if the Mavs will make a move but a move similar to the Spurs move would be nice. Get an expiring veteran while clearing up a spot. There just isn't a lot of minutes available right now to add another playable player.

[Nowitzki Way]

I think Olynky will help them more than Branham and Wesley.    More of a role player and not sure how large of a role he will have.

I have no idea what Branham and Wesley are.  Are they really better prospects than Hardy and Omax?  I don't know if the Mavs will make a move but a move similar to the Spurs move would be nice.  Get an expiring veteran while clearing up a spot.    There just isn't a lot of minutes available right now to add another playable player.

I agree. OMax and Hardy may not have much value separate, but together hopefully they can bring in a rotational player. But most importantly open up that last roster spot. 

But how many teams have 2 more roster spots to give out? I hope we didnt miss our chance here with Washington. 

Speaking of Washington. They may be onto something big. They have 4 big expiring contracts (Middleton, Smart, McCollum, Holmes). They will absolutely get some draft picks and/or young pieces if they decide to sell during the season.  Or if they simply let them expire they go into next off season and have about 100 million in cap room.

[KillerLeft]

This is just another indication that the NBA still, even to this second, values bigs who can shoot more than fans do.

[Nowitzki Way]

This is just another indication that the NBA still, even to this second, values bigs who can shoot more than fans do.

And the Mavs have 2 big that cant shoot
1 they wont let shoot
And 1 that shouldnt shoot as much as they do.

[Chicagojk]

I agree. OMax and Hardy may not have much value separate, but together hopefully they can bring in a rotational player. But most importantly open up that last roster spot. 

But how many teams have 2 more roster spots to give out? I hope we didnt miss our chance here with Washington. 

Speaking of Washington. They may be onto something big. They have 4 big expiring contracts (Middleton, Smart, McCollum, Holmes). They will absolutely get some draft picks and/or young pieces if they decide to sell during the season.  Or if they simply let them expire they go into next off season and have about 100 million in cap room.

Yeah, I like some of their young pieces.  None are finished products.   None are probably #1 guys either.    The most perfect situation is they lose a lot, but the youngsters show promise.  Get a top 3 pick and then use their cap room to expedite the rebuild.   That could be an interesting team in the depleted East.   BTW, I hope the East really gets some lottery lock next season.

[Nowitzki Way]

Yeah, I like some of their young pieces.  None are finished products.   None are probably #1 guys either.    The most perfect situation is they lose a lot, but the youngsters show promise.  Get a top 3 pick and then use their cap room to expedite the rebuild.   That could be an interesting team in the depleted East.   BTW, I hope the East really gets some lottery lock next season.

Thats where my mind was going. They are really bad this year, sell off the expiring vets for more picks.  Then get a top 3 pick to go along with Sarr, Johnson, Coulibaly, Whitmore, Carrington. Throw 100 million into free agency or take on solid players for teams looking to clear space. They could have a quick rebuild if a couple of those top picks hit.

[KillerLeft]

And the Mavs have 2 big that cant shoot
1 they wont let shoot
And 1 that shouldnt shoot as much as they do.

Well, the Mavs seem to be playing a different game. And frankly, a lot of teams are starting to go the way they're going, which I wasn't super clear about, but tried to bake into my point. Even when the point of your bigs is not to space out to the perimeter for the purpose of clearing driving space (it's not in Dallas), the bench big who can do that is still a player many if not all teams find valuable.

[mvossman]

Well, the Mavs seem to be playing a different game. And frankly, a lot of teams are starting to go the way they're going, which I wasn't super clear about, but tried to bake into my point. Even when the point of your bigs is not to space out to the perimeter for the purpose of clearing driving space (it's not in Dallas), the bench big who can do that is still a player many if not all teams find valuable.

Its the formula that seems to work.  If you look at most contenders/champions in the past, they have two rotational bigs on the roster and at least one of them can space the floor or create. The Mavs are sort of following that model as AD can create, and you can argue that Gafford is necessary depth given AD/Lively health issues, but normally he would be able to shoot. Houston seems to be following the Mavs route, but I'm not really sure why.