**San Antonio Spurs’ officially announced 3‑player trade**, covering the **trade details**, **frontcourt strategy**, **roster implications**, **fan analysis**, and **what comes next** for a team reshaping its competitive identity.

 

## 🔥 Breaking News: Trade Details

On **July 9, 2025**, the San Antonio Spurs formally announced via Spurs.com that they acquired veteran forward‑center **Kelly Olynyk** from the **Washington Wizards** in exchange for guards **Malaki Branham**, **Blake Wesley**, and a **2026 second‑round draft pick**

Olynyk joins a Spurs frontcourt currently built around **Victor Wembanyama** and recently signed **Luke Kornet** The trade was first broken by **ESPN’s Shams Charania**

A career **37.1%** 3‑pointer shooter, including **41.8%** last season, Olynyk provides reliable spacing and offense ([San Antonio Express-News][3]). His ability to shoot, pass, and stretch the floor complements Wembanyama’s interior dominance and Kornet’s rim protection.

### 2. Veteran Leadership & Playmaking

At **12 NBA seasons**, Olynyk brings playoff know-how and basketball IQ. Though not a rim protector, he’s an effective connector at the elbow—a value-add to a youthful frontcourt

His one-year, **\$13.4 M** contract adds flexibility—he can be a short-term asset or moved again. The trade also freed up a roster spot, reducing guaranteed deals and granting salary cap maneuverability

* **Victor Wembanyama** – 7’4″ franchise cornerstone

* **Kelly Olynyk** – spacing-forward with playmaking chops

* Rotation may also include: **Charles Bassey** and **Bismack Biyombo**

Sending out Branham and Wesley thins guard rotation. With **Jordan McLaughlin** in place, the Spurs now have **three standard roster spots** to fill in guard depth

* Branham averaged **5.0 PPG** last season—down from a 10.2 rookie average

* Wesley averaged **4.3 PPG, 2.4 APG** — struggled for consistent rotation minutes

Their departure signals Spurs’ confidence in younger guards like **Dylan Harper**, **Stephon Castle**, and **De’Aaron Fox**

## 🔄 Wizards’ Rebuild Move

 

Washington, in full rebuild mode, gains two young backcourt assets and a draft pick while creating approximately **\$13 M trade exception** They now have more roster flexibility to integrate players like Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, and draft picks via Summer League

* **SI’s fan take**: called the deal “strange,” noting Olynyk zipped through three teams in six months

> “Weirdest shams bomb yet

> “Can we report real trades please”

* **FanSided** graded it a **B− for Spurs, B+ for Wizards**, highlighting Olynyk’s impact as a backup and Wizards’ youth haul

* **Pounding The Rock** praised it as a smart move, layering in that it saves roster spots, primes spacing, and addresses frontcourt needs

1. **De’Aaron Fox** acquisition earlier this year brought a dynamic All‑Star point guard to pair with Wembanyama

 

2. **Luke Kornet** bolsters interior defense on June 30, \$41M/4-year contract

3. **Kelly Olynyk** trade further enhances rebounding, spacing, veteran matures.

**Dylan Harper**, top-2 rookie, enters through Summer League—guard pipeline continues

 

Combined, these moves show Spurs pivoting from draft accumulation to establishing a **win-now core** of Wemby, Fox, Castle, Harper, Kornet, and Olynyk.

 

* **Guard depth**: Three roster spots open; Spurs are expected to pursue minimum deals or signings via MLE/Bi‑Annual exceptions

* **Position battles**: Summer League and training camp will reveal rotation for young wings and backup guards.

* **Mid-season agility**: Flexibility to absorb salary or make small trades remains intact.

* **Performance watch**: Key narratives to follow include Olynyk’s synergy, bench effectiveness, and whether the team contends at playoff level.

 

The **3-player trade** brings a seasoned veteranship to San Antonio’s frontcourt, enhancing offensive spacing and locker room leadership—critical complements to a young, high-upside core. It caps a dynamic period featuring major signings and strategic acquisitions:

 

* **Victor Wembanyama** remains the focal point.

* **Fox & Harper** supply scoring punch.

* **Kornet & Olynyk** anchor depth, flexibility, and spacing.

The move underscores a deliberate and accelerated shift towards competitiveness, but questions remain on backcourt depth and consistency. If management nails guard reinforcements and the core gels, the Spurs could rebound into playoff contention. For now, this intel-rich offseason signals a franchise pressing forward with intent.