How a Draft Night Gamble Turned Rob Dillingham Into De’Aaron Fox-and Gave the Spurs a Long-Term Edge
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t make any splashy moves at this year’s trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean they’ve been quiet behind the scenes. In fact, one of their most impactful decisions came nearly two years ago-and it’s still paying off in a big way.
Let’s rewind to the 2024 NBA Draft. San Antonio held the eighth overall pick and selected Rob Dillingham, a flashy, undersized guard with scoring upside. But before Dillingham could even put on a Spurs jersey, the team flipped him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for a top-one protected pick swap in 2030 and an unprotected 2031 first-rounder.
At the time, the move raised eyebrows. Dillingham had been projected as a natural fit in San Antonio, and many questioned why the Spurs would pass on developing a high-upside guard next to Victor Wembanyama. But fast forward to today, and the answer is crystal clear: the Spurs were playing chess while others were playing checkers.
Dillingham’s stint in Minnesota was short-lived. He struggled to find his footing, and after less than two seasons, the Wolves cut bait, shipping him to the Chicago Bulls. Meanwhile, the Spurs took that 2031 unprotected first-rounder and used it as the centerpiece in a blockbuster trade for De’Aaron Fox.
Yes, that De’Aaron Fox-the All-Star guard who’s been a catalyst in San Antonio’s surge this season. The Spurs essentially turned the eighth pick in what’s now seen as a lukewarm draft into a proven star, and they still have that 2030 pick swap in their back pocket.
This is the kind of front office finesse that’s helping San Antonio stay ahead of the curve. General Manager Brian Wright deserves serious credit here.
He bet against the long-term value of a 5'11" guard and came away with a franchise-changing player and another future draft asset. That’s not just smart-it’s strategic.
And the ripple effect doesn’t stop there. That 2030 pick swap could quietly become another weapon in the Spurs’ arsenal.
San Antonio will have swap rights with both the Timberwolves and the Dallas Mavericks in that draft. If Minnesota ends up with a better record than Dallas, but San Antonio is positioned to benefit from either, that could mean jumping several spots in the draft order.
Let’s say the Spurs finish with the third-best record in the league, the Wolves land at eighth, and the Mavs fall somewhere in the teens. That pick swap could bump San Antonio up from the 30th pick to the 22nd-or even higher. In a league where every draft slot counts, that’s the kind of flexibility that can shape a roster for years.
It’s no accident the Spurs currently boast the third-best record in the NBA. Moves like the Dillingham trade show just how sharp their front office has become. They’re not just building around Wembanyama-they’re constructing a long-term contender, piece by calculated piece.
And if this is what they’re doing without making a single move at the deadline, just imagine what’s coming next.