San Antonio Spurs Trade Young & Eubanks to Raptors, Add First-Round Pick

It’s no secret the San Antonio Spurs want to the longer term. They’re already working their youngest roster ever beneath Coach Gregg Popovich. On Thursday morning, simply lower than three hours earlier than the NBA’s 3 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. CT commerce deadline, basic supervisor Brian Wright doubled down.

Spurs Commerce Younger and Eubanks to Toronto, Add First-Spherical Choose

The Spurs’ second commerce in as many days the crew is sending Thaddeus Young, Drew Eubanks, and a 2022 second-round choose to the Toronto Raptors. In return, they’re receiving Goran Dragic and a 2022 first-round choose. First reported by NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, the choose coming from the Raptors is protected 1-14 in 2022 and 1-13 in 2023, after which it might turn out to be a pair of second-round picks. Per RealGM, the Spurs had an additional second-round choose within the upcoming draft to maneuver after buying two within the DeMar DeRozan signal and commerce, one among which was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Spurs had already traded their very own second-round choose to the Utah Jazz in 2016, sending Boris Diaw to Utah.

For Wright and San Antonio, the commerce on Thursday was about buying premium draft capital. The Raptors are at the moment sitting in sixth place within the Jap Convention with a 30-23 report. It isn’t doubtless they’ll fall throughout the league’s backside 14 groups. The Spurs, however, are thirteenth within the Western Convention at 20-35. They only began the dreaded eight-game “Rodeo Highway Journey” that hasn’t been type to the franchise with yet one more loss.

Who Acquired Moved

As for the gamers being moved, Dragic hasn’t performed because the fall, leaving the Raptors for private causes. Anticipated to be purchased out of his contract by the Spurs, he’s averaged 13 factors, three rebounds, and 4 assists since coming into the league in 2008. He performed simply 5 video games with Toronto this season.

The Raptors are buying gamers who’re able to contribute instantly by selecting up Eubanks and Younger. A former undrafted free agent and two-way contract of the Spurs, Eubanks earned a much bigger position and a full contract final season to function Jakob Poeltl’s backup at heart. With 49 video games performed, he’s on tempo for a brand new career-high for video games performed within the NBA for a season. This 12 months he’s averaged practically 5 factors to go together with 4 rebounds per recreation in 12 minutes per night time. The return of Zach Collins from harm this month had eaten into Eubanks’ alternatives significantly, as has Jock Landale’s presence.

Younger is the important thing pick-up for Toronto, including the highly-sought after 2007 first-round choice. A by-product of the DeRozan commerce, Younger knew he wasn’t part of the Spurs’ plans, as mirrored by his minutes this season being lowered to almost half of his profession common. He’s steadily averaged double-digits in scoring all through his profession, whereas being a constant presence within the paint.

Extra Strikes Coming

The Spurs are rumored to be pursuing extra trades but, and the entrance court docket might take one other hit. Michael Scotto of USA reported that the Charlotte Hornets and Spurs have mentioned a transfer that might ship Poeltl to the Hornets in alternate for PJ Washington, Kai Jones and a first-round choose. The transfer could be Santonio’s fourth commerce throughout this season.