Spurs Trade Rob Dillingham to Timberwolves After Selecting Him 8th Overall: A Report

Minnesota came out of nowhere to make a blockbuster deal at the NBA Draft.

The Timberwolves traded a 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 protected pick swap to the San Antonio Spurs for their eighth overall selection, Rob Dillingham.

Dillingham, 19, was one of the highest-rated guards in the 2024 Draft. Coming out of Kentucky, the electric scorer averaged 15.2 points on 44.4 per cent from 3-point range in his freshman year in Lexington.

He’s on the smaller side, standing at six-foot-one and weighing only 164 lbs, but he’s one of the fastest players in the draft and gets the ball in the bucket at an incredible rate.

Despite putting on a Spurs hat on draft night, he’ll now join the Timberwolves, who made an impressive run to the Western Conference Finals last season for the first time since 2004.

He’ll now form a must-watch backcourt tandem with the always-explosive Anthony Edwards.

The Spurs, meanwhile, had already acquired a guard earlier in the draft when they picked UConn freshman Stephon Castle fourth overall.

The eighth overall pick had originally belonged to the Toronto Raptors, but it was conveyed to San Antonio as a result of the trade for Jakob Poeltl in 2023.

The San Antonio Spurs made a surprising move during the NBA Draft by selecting Rob Dillingham with the 8th overall pick and then immediately trading him to the Minnesota Timberwolves. This move caught many fans off guard, as Dillingham was considered a top prospect in this year’s draft class.

Dillingham, a 6’6″ shooting guard out of Duke University, was projected to be a key player for the Spurs in the future. Known for his scoring ability and athleticism, Dillingham was expected to make an immediate impact on the court for San Antonio. However, it seems that the Spurs had other plans in mind.

In exchange for Dillingham, the Spurs received a package of draft picks and players from the Timberwolves. This trade indicates that the Spurs are looking to build for the future and acquire assets that will help them compete in the long run.

On the other hand, the Timberwolves are getting a promising young player in Dillingham who has the potential to become a star in the league. With his skill set and work ethic, Dillingham could be a valuable addition to the Timberwolves’ roster.

Overall, this trade signifies a strategic move by both teams to improve their respective rosters. While it may have come as a surprise to many, only time will tell how this trade will ultimately impact both the Spurs and Timberwolves in the seasons to come.