Kelly Olynyk is on the move again.
The Washington Wizards struck a deal to send Olynyk to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In exchange, the Wizards will receive Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and a second-round pick in next year’s draft.
The Spurs will mark the fourth team that Olynyk has played for in the past three seasons. He was dealt to Washington in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans that was made official on Sunday, so he ended up spending about 48 hours with the franchise.
Olynyk averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in total last season, which he split between the Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors. He also shot a career-high 41.8% from the 3-point line. The 33-year-old has one year left on a two-year, $26.25 million deal he first signed in the Raptors.
Branham averaged about nine minutes per game last season, his third with the Spurs, while averaging five points per contest. Wesley averaged 3.7 points in just shy of 12 minutes per game. Both players will provide the Wizards some more depth as they work to rebuild in Washington.
Olynyk has been on the move seemingly constantly in recent years. He got his start with the Boston Celtics after he was selected with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. After a short run with the Miami Heat, he’s not spent more than two seasons with a single team. He’s bounced between the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Raptors and Pelicans before his few hours with the Wizards.
Despite his journeyman status, Olynyk should be a solid piece in San Antonio. He marks just the latest significant move the franchise has made this offseason, too. They struck a four-year, $41 million deal with center Luke Kornet in free agency, so the two will provide star Victor Wembanyama even more support down low this fall.
The Spurs are entering a new era, too. The team went just 34-48 last season and missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season after losing longtime head coach Gregg Popovich early on to health issues. The team has since promoted interim head coach Mitch Johnson to replace him permanently after he stepped down.
Though it will take more than a few supporting pieces around Wembanyama in the front court to bring the Spurs back to prominence in the Western Conference, Olynyk and Kornet are great starts.
Kelly Olynyk is on the move again.
The Washington Wizards struck a deal to send Olynyk to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday afternoon, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. In exchange, the Wizards will receive Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley and a second-round pick in next year’s draft.
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The Spurs will mark the fourth team that Olynyk has played for in the past three seasons. He was dealt to Washington in a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans that was made official on Sunday, so he ended up spending about 48 hours with the franchise.
Olynyk averaged 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in total last season, which he split between the Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors. He also shot a career-high 41.8% from the 3-point line. The 33-year-old has one year left on a two-year, $26.25 million deal he first signed in the Raptors.
Branham averaged about nine minutes per game last season, his third with the Spurs, while averaging five points per contest. Wesley averaged 3.7 points in just shy of 12 minutes per game. Both players will provide the Wizards some more depth as they work to rebuild in Washington.
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Olynyk has been on the move seemingly constantly in recent years. He got his start with the Boston Celtics after he was selected with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. After a short run with the Miami Heat, he’s not spent more than two seasons with a single team. He’s bounced between the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Raptors and Pelicans before his few hours with the Wizards.
Despite his journeyman status, Olynyk should be a solid piece in San Antonio. He marks just the latest significant move the franchise has made this offseason, too. They struck a four-year, $41 million deal with center Luke Kornet in free agency, so the two will provide star Victor Wembanyama even more support down low this fall.
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The Spurs are entering a new era, too. The team went just 34-48 last season and missed the playoffs for the sixth straight season after losing longtime head coach Gregg Popovich early on to health issues. The team has since promoted interim head coach Mitch Johnson to replace him permanently after he stepped down.
Though it will take more than a few supporting pieces around Wembanyama in the front court to bring the Spurs back to prominence in the Western Conference, Olynyk and Kornet are great starts.
