Spurs Trade Bryn Forbes for Hernangomez, 2nd-Rd Pick

The San Antonio Spurs finally made an in-season trade when they agreed to send Bryn Forbes to the Denver Nuggets in a trade that brings in Juancho Hernangomez and a 2028 second-round pick.

Bol Bol and PJ Dozier will be going to the Boston Celtics as part of the deal.

The trade was announced late Tuesday night and marks the first time the Spurs have made an impactful trade in the middle of the season since 2014 (the Marquese Chriss trade didn't really do much).

A 6-9 power forward, Hernangomez has struggled to find minutes with the Boston Celtics this season, only showing up in 18 games all season. He averages 5.4 points, 3.4 rebounds and 0.6 assists per game in his career and shoots 34.6% from the 3-point line.

In shipping off Forbes, the Spurs lose their second-most accurate shooter from downtown (41.7% to Keldon Johnson's 44.1%). Bryn's offensive firepower can make the difference on occasion, but his inability to defend has long been evident and is especially apparently on a rebuilding team that needs all the help it can get.

Why did the Spurs make the Bryn Forbes trade?

The Spurs' acquisition of Denver's 2028 second-round pick is a nice, if not distant kicker in the trade that can the team can eventually use in a trade package instead of waiting six years to use themselves. On top of that, the non-guaranteed $7.5 for Hernangomez means the Spurs can get extra cap space next season if he doesn't work out and ends up being waived.

One of the common beliefs circling is that the Spurs wanted to move Forbes to free up minutes for rookie Joshua Primo, who still needs some seasoning but figures to have a prominent role going forward.

All in all, San Antonio got better defensively while losing an offensive spark that can be replaced in the near future. More importantly, the front office showed they're not allergic to making mid-season moves, even minor ones, to set the Spurs up better in the future.