NBA Trade: Grading the wild 3-team Spurs, Kings, and Bulls DeRozan swap

San Antonio Spurs

The Spurs quietly continue to rack up assets by making under-the-radar moves. Prior to making the 3-team trade, they moved Devonte Graham and a second-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets. Graham had a partial guarantee that would have cost them $2.8 million if they waived him but trading a Pelicans second-rounder in 2025 saved them that amount and helped them absorb Barnes' contract.

They not only got a starting-caliber player for next to nothing but also got an unprotected first-round pick in 2031. That could be huge since Victor Wembanyama will only be 27 and the Spurs may be a title contender while the Kings may be a lottery team, with De'Aaron Fox possibly leaving in free agency in two seasons.

Even if he doesn't, he and Domontas Sabonis will be in their mid-30s by then, meaning that the Spurs might get a lottery pick out of this deal as well. That is in addition to the unprotected first-round pick that they have from the Minnesota Timberwolves from an earlier draft night trade. Barnes will likely start for the Spurs and play next to Chris Paul, Devin Vassell, Jeremy Sochan, and Wembanyama, giving them size, shooting, and experience and serving as an upgrade over Julian Champagnie.

Grade: A