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.
According to sources, the Spurs added to their future draft picks by getting a 2031 unprotected first-round pick and a 2030 first-one protected pick swap.
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 joins his backcourt partner in Reed Shepard at Kentucky as a top-eight pick, marking the fourth time Kentucky has selected multiple freshmen in the top 10, breaking a tie with Duke.
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 time, and the team rewarded coach Chris Finch earlier in the week with a four-year extension.
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 cannot deal 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. With the No. 4 pick, the Spurs selected guard Stephen Castle from UConn. San Antonio still has picks 35 and 48 in the second round.
