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Former Ohio State star being packaged in a key NBA trade may be the best thing for his basketball career

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Brandon Little | Last updated Jul 9, 2025 10:06 AM ET

The Ohio State Buckeyes may have had 14 players selected in the NFL Draft back in April, but the program didn’t produce a single pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

That said, Ohio State has sent several talented players to the NBA in recent years—and one of those former Buckeyes is now on the move.

Malaki Branham, who was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 20 pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, is headed to the Eastern Conference and a bit closer to home.

Former Ohio State star Malaki Branham traded to the Washington Wizards

Shortly after the start of NBA free agency, Branham was traded to the Washington Wizards in a deal that sent Kelly Olynyk to the Spurs. Former Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley and a 2026 second-round pick were also included in the deal to Washington.

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Branham’s production has dipped in each of his three seasons in San Antonio. As a rookie, he started 32 of the 66 games he played and averaged 10.2 points per game. In his second season, he played two fewer minutes per game and saw his scoring average drop to 9.2 points.

This past season, Branham didn’t start a single game and appeared in just 47 contests. He averaged 5.0 points and 1.0 rebound in nine minutes per game. With his minutes essentially cut in half, it became clear he was no longer part of the Spurs’ long-term plans.

Now with the Wizards, Branham will have an opportunity to restart his career and get a fresh start. It may be exactly what he needs to rediscover the form that once made him a breakout star as a one-and-done at Ohio State.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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