The Sacramento Kings have traded forward Jalen McDaniels and a second-round draft pick to the San Antonio Spurs. This trade, reported by NBA insider Shams Charania, provides roster flexibility for the Kings as they prepare for potential additions later in the season.
McDaniels, who has played five seasons in the NBA, was selected 52nd overall by the Charlotte Hornets in the 2019 NBA Draft. The versatile forward has averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds per game over his career. However, his time with the Spurs may be brief, as reports suggest that San Antonio plans to waive McDaniels shortly after acquiring him.
This move gives the Kings room to explore other opportunities in the free-agent market or trade scenarios. By shedding McDaniels’ contract, Sacramento gains flexibility to add a player who could contribute to their rotation as they aim to make a deeper playoff run in the competitive Western Conference.
McDaniels has had a career marked by steady development, beginning with the Charlotte Hornets, where he made his NBA debut in October 2019. Over his time with the Hornets, McDaniels played both in the NBA and the G League with the Greensboro Swarm. His breakout moment came in April 2021 when he posted a season-high 21 points, helping Charlotte secure a win over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In 2023, McDaniels was part of a four-team trade that sent him to the Philadelphia 76ers. He played a minor role with the Sixers. That summer, he signed a multi-year deal with the Toronto Raptors before being traded to Sacramento in June 2024 in a deal that involved several players, including Davion Mitchell and Sasha Vezenkov.
Despite these transitions, McDaniels struggled to secure a consistent role with the Kings, which likely contributed to Sacramento’s decision to trade him to San Antonio. His time with the Spurs will likely be short-lived, as the team intends to waive him following the trade.
McDaniels’ NBA journey has seen him show flashes of potential, including a career-high 26-point performance against the Boston Celtics in January 2023. Yet, his inconsistent production has kept him on the move. Last season, he averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game while playing for the Raptors.