DEN and SAS

[San Antonio Spurs]

Denver Nuggets Receive
Marcus Smart

San Antonio Spurs Receive
Wendell Carter Jr.
2026 DEN 2nd round pick
2027 DEN 2nd round pick
Gary Trent Jr $500k, Josh Hart $500k, Jarred Vanderbilt $500k $500k, Kenyon Martin Jr. 1 1 1

I'm a sucker for buying low. Being paid a 2nd round pick to swap out a whelming 29 yo Marcus Smart for 24 yo WCJ who has averaged 20 fppg this season after 31 fppg last season is a pretty good example of buying low. The dead money is more than I would like for one 2nd round pick, but I didn't feel like prodding for an additional one after Nuggets previously held the line on another failed proposal that involved him giving up three seconds. Plus the two that I got were the two that I was most interested in.

[Denver Nuggets]

I accept. I hate to sell low on WCJ, but he can't stay on the court. Smart has his own injury problems, but at least he's showing something out there at the moment.

[Phoenix Suns]

i've posted in-depth thoughts on Discord.

i think Spurs wins this as WCJ is considered a blue-chip prospect who once put up 34 FPPG and is 24 years old, and has some low probability % of breaking out/getting traded, although the median outcome is he's a 30 FPPG guy who plays 54 games a year. but as a rebuilding team he doesnt need Smarts lower salary or consistency/reliablility, he needs to take chances on potential stars so i like this.

marcus smart is a metronomic 28 FPPG a season and at age 29 he won't fall off on a 3 year contract. his 444 deal is cheaper than wcjs 777 and same FPPG but more games played, which is better and more consistent and risk mitigating for a contender who doesn't need a breakout superstar, he needs win-now production.

that spurs squeezed a pair of 2nds out of this for only 2.5m in future dead salary after this season is mildly embarrassing for NUGGETS, considering he's giving up the asset with upside.

spurs showing himself an apt GM (or maybe he's an unrealistic defensive GM who only makes obvious lopsided trades like certain ppl in this league who are scared of their own shadows, and Nuggets caved), he should have given Smart straight up for WCJ and the dead money, i feel like bad negotiation from Nuggets or he's just too lazy to fight over 2nds when busy IRL.

i think strategically, though -- big picture -- this aligns with both teams and both sides are winners.





i approve.

[Dallas Mavericks]

Solid trade for both teams. Only thing I have to add is the injury concerns with WCJ but this trade makes sense for both teams with a slight edge to the Spurs.

I approve.