Spurs' DeMar DeRozan trade looks even better after latest draft pick

DeMar has helped the Spurs in more ways than one.
San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, DeMar DeRozan
San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, DeMar DeRozan | Kavin Mistry/GettyImages

The San Antonio Spurs sent DeMar DeRozan to the Bulls in 2021 as part of a sign-and-trade agreement in return for Thaddeus Young, Al-Farouq Aminu, a protected first-round draft pick, and two second-round picks. Three years later, San Antonio helped facilitate the deal that landed DeRozan in Sacramento, with the Spurs receiving Harrison Barnes and an unprotected 2031 pick swap.

The Kings ended up with the No. 42 pick in the draft (originally the Spurs' pick), which became Maxime Raynaud, and the Bulls traded the No. 45 pick to the Lakers, who traded it to the Timberwolves. Minnesota selected Rocco Zikarsky.

San Antonio still won the deal in the end. Barnes averaged 12.3 points per game for the Spurs in 2024-25, shooting 50.8% from the field and a career-high 43.3% from three. He played all 82 games. Barnes, who turned 33 in May, has one more deal on his current contract. There has been some speculation about whether Barnes will be traded this summer, but Spurs fans don't want to see that happen because the team needs his shooting.

San Antonio entered last offseason with the goal of building veteran talent around Victor Wembanyama, and it succeeded, doing so while retaining its treasure chest of draft assets. The Spurs dipped into those assets for De'Aaron Fox, and were in the running to do so again for Kevin Durant, who instead went to the Rockets.

Spurs' decision to help facilitate DeRozan trade looks better by the day

In case it isn't blatantly obvious, San Antonio is a far better, well-run organization than Sacramento or Chicago. The Spurs run circles around those two other front offices. Luck was on their side in the 2023 draft lottery, but look at how San Antonio has constructed the roster around Wembanyama.

Barnes' production will be key to the Spurs' wish of returning to the playoffs in the first full season of the Wemby-Fox pairing. He has championship experience, winning a title with the Warriors in 2015. The veteran was a great addition to a young locker room.

The Kings' and Bulls' second-round picks won't give them what Barnes gives to the Spurs, and San Antonio still has its 2031 pick swap with Sacramento. It will be several more years until the trade is finalized, but we don't have to wait that long to declare a winner. The Spurs, per usual, came out on top.