The NBA Draft is usually a place where teams try to land talent. But sometimes it’s more about the math. That was the case Thursday night when the Denver Nuggets traded the No. 26 pick to the San Antonio Spurs for No. 35 and two future second-rounders. The Nuggets didn’t dump a player to clear cap space, but the move still tells you where their head is at.
Denver has a Peyton Watson extension coming. They value him a lot internally and they need room to get that done. Trading down from the first round doesn’t solve the whole puzzle on its own. But it gives them an extra second-round pick now and two more down the line that can be used as trade chips. It’s a small step toward that bigger goal, not a home run swing.
What the Spurs Got for Moving Up
The Spurs used that 26th pick to take Tarris Reed Jr. out of Michigan. Reed is a traditional big man who rebounds and protects the rim but doesn’t stretch the floor. He’s not going to step behind the arc and launch threes. But next to Victor Wembanyama? That actually makes some sense. Wembanyama does the perimeter stuff. Reed can clean up the paint and take some of the physical pounding off Wemby’s plate.
San Antonio also took Jayden Quaintance at No. 20. So the frontcourt depth plan is pretty obvious. They’re stacking big bodies and figuring out the rest later.
Grading the Deal
This is one of those trades where both teams got what they were looking for, even if neither one really swung for the fences. The Nuggets get financial flexibility and future assets without giving up a current roster player. The Spurs add a center who fits what they’re building behind their superstar rookie.
Denver’s grade: B. They didn’t solve the cap problem entirely, but they started the conversation.
San Antonio’s grade: Also B. Reed is a solid fit but he’s not a game-changer. Solid value for a late first-round pick.
The real test for the Nuggets comes at No. 35. If they find a rotation player there, this trade looks a lot better than the spreadsheet says it does right now.
Leave a Comment