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Andrew Lopez, ESPN
The San Antonio Spurs are planning to send Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, the No. 8 pick in this year’s NBA draft, to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources told ESPN on Wednesday.
The Spurs acquired an unprotected 2031 first-round pick from the Timberwolves in exchange for a protected top-10 pick in 2030, according to sources, increasing their stockpile of future draft picks.
Minnesota adds another backcourt option as Anthony Edwards continues to develop and last year’s starting point guard, 36-year-old Mike Conley, nears the end of his career after his 17th NBA season.
Dillingham was picked in the top eight along with fellow Kentucky backcourt member Reid Shepard, marking the fourth time Kentucky has had multiple freshmen selected in the top 10, tying them with Duke for the most.
Dillingham was an All-SEC selection in 2023-24 and was named the SEC Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaging 15.2 points and 3.9 assists while shooting 44.4% from the 3-point line.
The Timberwolves went 56-26 last season, the second-best in franchise history, and reached the conference finals for the second time, and the team rewarded head coach Chris Finch with a four-year contract extension earlier this week.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Minnesota’s luxury tax bill will increase from $56 million to $84 million with the addition of Dillingham’s salary.
The Rudy Gobert trade leaves the team with just two first-round picks available for trade this season: the No. 27 pick in this draft and the 2031 pick that went to San Antonio. Minnesota still owns its 2026 and 2028 picks and a partially protected 2030 pick, but league rules mean it can’t trade consecutive picks.
San Antonio also owns swap rights with Dallas in the 2030 draft and can choose whichever pick Minnesota or Dallas has the better of.
The eighth pick would have been San Antonio’s second pick of the night. With the fourth pick, the Spurs selected guard Stephon Castle from the University of Connecticut. San Antonio still has the 35th and 48th picks in the second round.
