Trade Breakdown: Spurs Acquire Kelly Olynyk; Wizards Take Flyer On Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley

Two days after landing Kelly Olynyk in a three-team trade, the Washington Wizards are flipping the veteran big man to San Antonio, per ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Spurs will send back a pair of former first-round picks and a 2026 second-rounder in the trade.

Trade Details

To Spurs:

• Kelly Olynyk

To Wizards:

• Malaki Branham

• Blake Wesley

• 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of Mavs, Sixers, Thunder)

Olynyk Heads to San Antonio

Olynyk, 34, gives the Spurs a veteran stretch big to help anchor the frontcourt alongside Victor Wembanyama. He joins newly signed center Luke Kornet in what looks to be a revamped San Antonio rotation.

• Played for Raptors and Pelicans last season

• Appeared in 44 games (22 starts), limited by injury

• Averaged 8.7 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 2.9 APG in 20.3 MPG

• Shot 50.0% from the field and 41.8% from three

A career 37.1% shooter from deep, Olynyk is on an expiring $13.45 million deal for 2025–26 and could be a stabilizing piece for a Spurs team that still has room to add to its roster.

Wizards Take Flyer on Two Young Guards

Branham and Wesley were both selected in the first round of the 2022 draft but never carved out consistent roles in San Antonio. Their inclusion gives the Wizards two young pieces on low-cost rookie deals — though it’s unclear how long they’ll be sticking around.

• Malaki Branham (No. 20 pick, 2022)

  • 22 years old

  • Averaged 6.2 PPG in 15.9 MPG last season

  • Shot 40.5% from three

• Blake Wesley (No. 25 pick, 2022)

  • 22 years old

  • Strong on-ball defender, limited offensive production

  • Averaged 3.4 PPG in 10.1 MPG in 2024–25

Both guards are entering the final year of their rookie-scale contracts, with Branham at $4.96 million, Wesley at $4.72 million.

Roster Implications

• Wizards now have 15 guaranteed contracts, not including:

  • Richaun Holmes (partial guarantee)

  • Justin Champagnie (non-guaranteed)

  • Anthony Gill (expected to re-sign)
    → Some roster movement may still be coming

• Spurs will have just 12 players under contract once the deal is official
  → Plenty of flexibility below the tax line to round out the 15-man roster

The deal reflects Washington’s desire to build flexibility and acquire assets, even if it means parting with a veteran shortly after acquiring him. For San Antonio, it’s another step toward surrounding Wembanyama with high-IQ veterans and floor spacing.