Wizards Trade Olynyk to Spurs for Branham, Wesley

Kelly Olynyk’s journey continues.

Reports indicate that the Washington Wizards finalized an agreement to send Olynyk to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday afternoon, as reported by ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Wizards, in turn, will acquire Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley, and a second-round selection in the upcoming year’s draft.

The Spurs will become the fourth franchise for which Olynyk has competed in the last three campaigns. He was previously traded to Washington in a transaction with the New Orleans Pelicans that was formally completed on Sunday, resulting in a brief 48-hour stint with the team.

Last season, Olynyk recorded an average of 8.7 points and 4.7 rebounds, splitting his time between the Pelicans and the Toronto Raptors. Additionally, he achieved a career-best 41.8% shooting accuracy from beyond the arc. The 33-year-old has one year remaining on a two-year contract worth $26.25 million, initially signed with the Raptors.

Branham participated in approximately nine minutes per game last season, marking his third year with the Spurs, and contributed an average of five points per game. Wesley, on the other hand, averaged 3.7 points in just under 12 minutes per game. Both players will augment the Wizards’ roster depth as they pursue a rebuilding phase in Washington.

Olynyk’s career has been characterized by frequent transitions in recent seasons. He commenced his NBA journey with the Boston Celtics after being selected as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. Following a brief tenure with the Miami Heat, he has not remained with any single team for more than two seasons. His path has encompassed stints with the Detroit Pistons, Utah Jazz, Raptors, and Pelicans, culminating in his short-lived association with the Wizards.

Despite his nomadic career path, Olynyk is expected to contribute positively to San Antonio. He represents the latest significant addition to the franchise during this offseason. They previously secured a four-year, $41 million agreement with center Luke Kornet in free agency, aiming to provide further assistance to star player Victor Wembanyama in the paint this coming fall.

The Spurs are embarking on a fresh chapter. The team concluded the previous season with a 34-48 record, missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive year after the early departure of longtime head coach Gregg Popovich due to health concerns. The team has since elevated interim head coach Mitch Johnson to the permanent head coaching position following Popovich’s resignation.

While bolstering the front court with supporting players around Wembanyama is essential for the Spurs to regain prominence in the Western Conference, the acquisitions of Olynyk and Kornet represent encouraging first steps.