The San Antonio Spurs are sending Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, to the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Spurs added to their future draft picks by acquiring a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 first-round protected pick swap from the Timberwolves, according to sources on Wednesday.
Minnesota adds another backcourt option as Anthony Edwards continues his ascent and last year’s starting point guard Mike Conley, 36, nears the end of his career after completing his 17th NBA season.
Dillingham joined his Kentucky backcourt mate Reed Shepard as a top-eight selection, marking the fourth time Kentucky has had multiple freshmen selected in the top 10, breaking a tie with Duke for the most of any school.
Dillingham was a 2023-24 All-SEC selection and the SEC Sixth Man of the Year last season. He averaged 15.2 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 44.4% from 3-point range.
The Timberwolves went 56-26 last season, the second-best record in franchise history. They made the conference finals for just the second straight time, and the team rewarded coach Chris Finch with a four-year extension earlier in the week.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Minnesota’s luxury tax bill will increase from $56 million to $84 million with Dillingham’s salary.
Because of the Rudy Gobert trade, the team only had two first-round picks to trade this offseason — the 27th pick in this draft and the 2031 pick that went to San Antonio. Minnesota still holds its 2026 and 2028 picks and a partially protected 2030 pick, but can’t deal out picks in consecutive years due to league rules.
San Antonio has swap rights with Dallas in the 2030 draft and can choose the more favorable of the Minnesota or Dallas picks.
The eighth pick set up San Antonio’s second pick of the night. No. With pick 4, the Spurs selected guard Stephen Castle from UConn. San Antonio still has picks 35 and 48 in the second round.
