Former Raptor Has Tough Day: Gets Traded Then Waived

Back in June, the Sacramento Kings dealt Davion Mitchell, Sasha Vezenkov and a 2025 second-round pick to the Toronto Raptors in exchange for forward Jalen McDaniels. Now, the Kings have sent McDaniels to the San Antonio Spurs in a salary dump move, only to have the Spurs go ahead and dump him as well.

Spurs plan to waive McDaniels, sources said, while Kings open roster flexibility for a potential addition down the line. McDaniels has averaged 6.9 points and 3.3 rebounds over his first five NBA seasons. https://t.co/aAhGazE6kW
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 14, 2024

The 6'9" forward has an expiring $4.7 million contract this season on the second of a two-year deal he signed with the Raptors before last season, but the Spurs will eat that money, waiving McDaniels.

In two preseason games with Sacramento, McDaniels recorded just six points and five rebounds in 25 minutes, with shooting 0-for-5 from three and 2-for-9 from the field.

The Kings made the move in order to "open roster flexibility for a potential addition down the line", as reported by insider Shams Charania.

The Spurs made the deal essentially just to get the draft pick.

The older brother of Minnesota Timberwolves defensive stalwart Jaden, Jalen owns career averages of 6.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 18.3 minutes per game. In addition to his one disappointing year last season with the Raptors (3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.8 minutes per game), he's also suited up for the Charlotte Hornets and the Philadelphia 76ers. Charlotte made him a second-round pick in the 2019 NBA draft.