NBA Rumors: Jalen McDaniels, Draft Pick Traded to Spurs from Kings; PF to Be Waived

The Sacramento Kings traded forward Jalen McDaniels and a second-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

Per Charania, the Spurs plan to waive McDaniels while the Kings will create roster flexibility for a "potential addition down the line" due to the move.

The 26-year-old was initially acquired by Sacramento in a June trade with the Toronto Raptors for a package headlined by Davion Mitchell and a 2025 second-round pick.

McDaniels is on an expiring contract and will earn $4.7 million during the 2024-25 season. San Antonio can use its $8 million room mid-level exception to add him while Sacramento moved from $1 million below the luxury tax to $5.8 million under the tax following the deal, per ESPN's Bobby Marks.

The Kings now have two open roster spots.

McDaniels was originally selected by the Charlotte Hornets with a second-round pick in the 2019 NBA draft. In addition to the Hornets and Raptors, he also spent 24 games with the Philadelphia 76ers during his 2022-23 campaign.

He owns career averages of 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.3 minutes per game on 44.9/32.2/77.7 shooting splits.

McDaniels struggled with Sacramento to start the preseason, recording just six points and five rebounds in 25 minutes on 2-9 shooting during two appearances with the team. He also missed all five of his three-point attempts.

Given his lack of preseason production and the offseason acquisition of star forward DeMar DeRozan, it may have been difficult for McDaniels to earn minutes in head coach Mike Brown's rotation. Sacramento will also have some more flexibility for a possible midseason move.

For the Spurs, they gained a bit of draft capital as they continue to focus on building around 2023-24 Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama.