Latest news with #MalakiBranham
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wizards trade grade for Kelly Olynyk deal with Spurs
The post Wizards trade grade for Kelly Olynyk deal with Spurs appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Washington Wizards trading for veteran center Kelly Olynyk this summer made sense on paper, but it wasn't a marriage meant to last. They rerouted the 34-year-old to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday in a move that builds upon their already-flexible financial situation. Advertisement The full trade details are below: Wizards get: G Malaki Branham G Blake Wesley 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of PHI, DAL, OKC) Spurs get: C Kelly Olynyk This deal gives Washington more salary cap room, via HoopsHype's Michael Scotto. 'By trading Kelly Olynyk to the Spurs, the Washington Wizards increased their tax and apron buffer to take on more salary throughout the summer and season,' he reported. 'Washington also created a $13.5 million TPE [traded player exception]. Olynyk joins a competitive Spurs team while in a contract year ($13.45 million).' TPEs are created when a team trades a player and receives less incoming salary than what it sent out. That's what happened here, as Olynyk's $13.45 million salary next season is more than Branham's ($4.96 million) and Wesley's ($4.73 million) combined. Now, the Wizards can use that TPE to take back $13.5 million in salary without adding to their cap or luxury tax. Advertisement That will come in handy later, when they inevitably take on more unwanted money in exchange for draft capital and/or young players. For now, they must cut down their active roster, which currently has 17 players: F Khris Middleton G CJ McCollum G Marcus Smart G Corey Kispert F/C Richaun Holmes F/C Alex Sarr G Tre Johnson G Bilal Coulibaly G Bub Carrington F Cam Whitmore F Will Riley G Malaki Branham G AJ Johnson G/F Kyshawn George G Dillon Jones G Blake Wesley F Justin Champagnie Although Washington currently has a dearth of centers, Holmes is another player who could be on his way out soon, via Scotto. 'Sources: Wizards center Richaun Holmes is partially guaranteed $250,000 of his $13.28 million salary for the 2025-26 season, which makes him a prime candidate to be eventually waived or traded, given Washington's roster logjam,' he reported. 'He averaged 7.4 points and 5.7 rebounds last season.' Eating almost no dead money after cutting the 6-foot-9-inch, 235-pounder's expiring contract would easily open a roster spot the Wizards could use to get a taller center. Other than the 7-foot Alex Sarr, they have nobody over 6-foot-9-inches. However, they could bring back the 7-foot Tristan Vukcevic, who's a restricted free agent. Advertisement Trading/buying out Smart's expiring $21 million salary and trading Kispert could also be in the cards, as both players are expendable. Regardless, Washington has multiple ways to trim the roster before the season begins in October. The bottom line right now is that it turned an unwanted asset into some useful ones, including the TPE. Wizards add more assets to aid rebuild Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports Wesley and Branham fit what Washington is looking for right now: young players who were drafted in the first round. This trade now gives the team 11 first-round picks over the last four NBA Drafts: Branham (No. 2o overall, 2022) Wesley (No. 25 overall, 2022) Coulibaly (No. 7 overall, 2023) Whitmore (No. 20 overall, 2023) Sarr (No. 2 overall, 2024) Carrington (No. 14 overall, 2024) Johnson (No. 23 overall, 2024) George (No. 24 overall, 2024) Jones (No. 26 overall, 2024) Johnson (No. 6 overall, 2025) Riley (No. 21 overall, 2025) Branham is averaging 8.5 points on 43.9 percent shooting (33.6 percent 3 PT) with two rebounds and 1.7 assists over 19 minutes across his career, while Wesley checks in at 4.3 points on 40.9 percent shooting (29.7 percent 3 PT) with 1.5 rebounds and 2.4 assists over 14.3 minutes. It wouldn't be tragic for the Wizards if neither player pans out, as they're both on expiring deals before hitting restricted free agency. They could either try them out as role players in the backcourt, trade them to another team, or waive them and eat the dead money. Advertisement Meanwhile, Washington now has five picks and one pick swap next summer, not including its top-eight protected selection owned by the New York Knicks: First-round pick (least favorable of OKC, HOU, or LAC) First-round pick swap (PHX, protected for selections 9-30) Second-round pick (via PHX) Second-round pick Second-round pick (via MIN, NYK, NOP, or POR) Second-round pick (least favorable of PHI, DAL, or OKC) Washington is once again in a position to add more high-upside talent in next summer's draft. Assuming that it gets back its pick from the Knicks after finishing near the bottom of the standings, it will have at least two first-rounders and four second-rounders to either draft players with or trade, if it doesn't deal those picks over the next year. Furthermore, Wizards fans now won't have to watch Olynyk play for their team after he scored 26 points on them with the Boston Celtics in Game 7 of the 2017 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which the Celtics won 115-105. Washington hasn't won a playoff series since then, and the 6-foot-11-inch, 240-pounder's presence in its lineup would be a constant reminder of that, despite its need at center. The Wizards were projected to clear about $100 million in cap space next summer before this trade, and now they add this year's TPE to that financial bounty. In an era where most contenders are under cap stress, Washington will be in a position to outbid other squads for free agents and add expensive contracts through trades as it continues to draft young talent. The team must add center depth and solve its roster logjam to help its young core develop next season, but that should come with later moves. Advertisement Trade grade: B Related: Spurs add Victor Wembanyama backup in trade with Wizards Related: Wizards trade grade for Cam Whitmore deal
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Why Kelly Olynyk trade represents next step for Spurs
The post Why Kelly Olynyk trade represents next step for Spurs appeared first on ClutchPoints. In trading for Kelly Olynyk, the San Antonio Spurs did more than add another quality big man to support superstar Victor Wembanyama. They're continuing a shift – and perhaps sending a signal to the NBA during free agency – toward rounding out a roster that intends to compete. Advertisement Obvious as that may seem, the moves the Spurs have made over the previous two seasons focused on developing youth. This off-season signals a different path. Youth has dominated the Spurs roster last several years The Spurs dealt Malaki Branham and Blake Wesley, as well as the least favorable 2026 second-round pick of Dallas, Oklahoma City, and Philadelphia, to acquire Olynyk. Along with Jeremy Sochan, both Branham and Wesley were all first-round picks of the Silver and Black in 2022. While Branham has contributed slightly more than Wesley since then, neither has made his way into the Spurs rotation consistently. Through their first three seasons in the NBA, the organization worked to develop their games, the last two years with Victor Wembanyama at the center of the franchise. Since drafting Wemby in 2023, the Spurs have featured rosters that have ranked among the youngest and second-youngest in the NBA. Players like Tre Jones, Sidy Cissoko, Dominick Barlow, Charles Bassey, Harrison Ingram, and Riley Minix, among others, have been added – some through two-way contracts – to fill out the fringes of the depth. Advertisement When the Spurs added veterans Chris Paul and Harrison Barnes last summer, they were the only players older than 25 on the team at the start of the season. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images What the Spurs are getting in Kelly Olynyk Since the start of last season, GM Brian Wright and company have traded for 27-year-old De'Aaron Fox. They started this off-season by adding 29-year-old center Luke Kornet. Then comes the deal with the Washington Wizards for the 34-year-old Olynyk. Already part of a previous trade this offseason, the veteran big man didn't play for Washington, but instead suited up for the New Orleans Pelicans last season. Advertisement At 6-foot-11, 240 pounds, Olynyk appeared in 44 games last season with the Toronto Raptors and Pelicans. He averaged 8.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.9 assists in 20.2 minutes while shooting 50% from the floor and 41.8% from 3-point range. The 12-year veteran holds career averages of 10.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.5 assists across 800 games with the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Houston Rockets, Detroit Pistons, and Utah Jazz as well. The Dallas Mavericks initially selected Olynyk with the 13th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft following three seasons at Gonzaga. The Spurs struggled to shoot around Wembanyama last season. For his career, Olynyk has shot 48.6% from the field, 37.1% from beyond the arc, and 79.6% from the foul line. The Toronto native represented Team Canada on the international stage, helping secure the country's first FIBA World Cup medal with a bronze at the 2023 tournament to go along with a bronze medal in the 2015 FIBA AmeriCup. Along with Barnes, Fox, and Kornet, Olynyk also brings the Spurs postseason experience. He has appeared in 48 playoff games with Boston (2014-17) and Miami (2017-20), averaging 7.9 points and 3.5 rebounds in 17.4 minutes per game. Advertisement The Spurs hope he adds to those totals in what will be Wembanyama's third season, marking the phenom's first taste of the playoffs. Related: Dylan Harper makes Manu Ginobili admission as he starts NBA, Spurs journey Related: Wizards trade grade for Kelly Olynyk deal with Spurs
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Jeremy Sochan Delivers Verdict on Blockbuster Spurs Trade
Jeremy Sochan Delivers Verdict on Blockbuster Spurs Trade originally appeared on Athlon Sports. On Tuesday, the San Antonio Spurs agreed to a trade with the Washington Wizards, sending Blake Wesley, Malaki Branham, and a future second-round pick away in exchange for Kelly Olynyk. Advertisement Branham and Wesley, since being drafted in 2022, have shown some promise but were simply unable to crack the rotation, and recent additions of Dylan Harper and De'Aaron Fox didn't help their cause. With Olynyk, the Spurs get a floor-spacing big who can play alongside both Victor Wembanyama and Luke Kornet. Fans were thrilled with the deal as it both opens up a roster spot and rounds out the depth chart, although fellow 2022 draft pick Jeremy Sochan did not seem thrilled, as he posted his reaction on social media in the hours after the trade was announced. While Sochan may not have been pleased, the fact of the matter is that this trade makes the Spurs better. Not only did San Antonio need a third big for injury insurance, but Olynyk has long been one of the best shooting centers in the NBA, allowing the Spurs versatile lineups not previously possible. Advertisement If the Spurs decide not to keep Olynyk, he is on an expring contract that can easily be traded before the deadline for a young player, and his salary and Harrison Barnes or Keldon Johnson could easily be packaged in a bigger deal for a true star to put the Spurs over the hump. The Spurs will start the season with a true three-center rotation, giving them plenty of insurance in case Wembanyama misses time with injury or illness again. Check out the Inside the Spurs home page for more news, analysis, and must-read articles. Related: Dylan Harper's Addition to Spurs Might Infuriate Victor Wembanyama Critics Related: San Antonio Spurs Linked to Unsigned Nine-Time All-Star This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Ohio State basketball star traded to new NBA team
Former Ohio State star guard Malaki Branham has been dealt from the San Antonio Spurs to the Washington Wizards after three years in Texas. The trade involved Blake Wesley and a 2026 second-round pick in exchange for veteran center Kelly Olynyk. Branham played just one year at Ohio State, but it was an exceptional one that improved his NBA draft stock so much that he decided to enter the draft after his freshman season. He was selected in the first round by the Spurs with the No. 22 pick and had a solid start to his career, averaging a little over ten points per game, while starting in 32 contests. Advertisement Since then, Branham's production has dropped a little, and he was used sparingly last season, so the move could be a positive one with a fresh start. Sometimes all a player needs is a little change in scenery to resurrect things, especially for a guy with the skill of Branham. We'll keep an eye on Branham and what he does for the Wizards and wish him nothing but the best of luck in D.C. Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X. This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Former Ohio State basketball star gets sent to new NBA team
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
為Victor Wembanyama再找替補 馬刺從巫師換來Kelly Olynyk
消息人士美國時間週二透露，華盛頓巫師將用Kelly Olynyk與聖安東尼奧馬刺交換Malaki Branham、Blake Wesley以及 2026 年第2輪選秀權。 Kelly Olynyk(右)。圖片來源：達志影像 第2輪選秀權將是達拉斯、費城和奧克拉荷馬城在 2026 年選擇中最不受歡迎的。 繼自由球員Luke Kornet加盟馬刺後，這筆交易讓馬刺獲得了另一位大個子球員，他們希望在超級巨星中鋒Victor Wembanyama 的陣容深度上進一步增強。 根據GeniusIQ數據顯示，Kelly Olynyk上季3分球命中率達到了生涯最高的百分之42，過去3年接球投籃命中率也達到了百分之41。今年休賽期早些時候，巫師以CJ McCollum與 Jordan Poole為核心，從紐奧爾良鵜鶘手中得到了他。 Malaki Branham與Blake Wesley兩人都只有 22 歲，為正在重建的巫師提供了兩名年輕球員，他們還獲得了明年選秀的第2輪選秀權。 ✎緯來體育台官方網站 【 】 ✎緯來新聞網 【 】 ✎緯來體育台官方YouTube收看NBA LIVE直播 【 】 緯來體育台-2024-25NBA美國職籃大賽-賽程轉播表
