NBA Trades: Grading the unprecedented Spurs-Wolves draft night deal

The first night of the NBA Draft is in the books, and there was no shortage of trades, including a surprising one involving the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves. Entering the night, the Spurs had two top-eight picks while the Wolves had the 27th pick, with no indications that the two teams were even discussing a trade, let alone that they would agree to one.

An unprecedented one at that. After taking Stephon Castle fourth overall, the Spurs picked guard Rob Dillingham eighth, only to trade him minutes later to the Minnesota Timberwolves for a 2031 unprotected first and a 2030 top 1 protected pick swap.

Teams don't normally trade a top-10 lottery pick for another pick more than a year or two out. After all, few GMs have that type of job security, but the Spurs did by moving their extra first that they initially got from the Toronto Raptors in the Jakob Poeltl deal for two far-out firsts that won't begin to convey for six years.

The timing of those picks isn't a coincidence for a number of reasons, with the Spurs gambling that the Wolves won't be any good. Meanwhile, the Wolves are hoping that Dillingham will give them enough of an offensive boost to put them over the top but which team won the deal? Next, we'll find out.