Victor Wembanyama just got a much-needed assist—and not from Tre Jones. The San Antonio Spurs have pulled the trigger on a frontcourt upgrade that screams “we’re done playing G League Jenga.” Enter Kelly Olynyk, the 6’11” Canadian stretch big who’s been bouncing around the league like a basketball in a shootaround, now landing in San Antonio with one mission: help Victor Wembanyama not carry the entire franchise on his 7’4″ back.

You know things are getting serious when even Antonio Daniels, Pelicans analyst and former Spur, is hyping the move like it’s peak Tim Duncan. “LOVES HIM,” Daniels said in a scouting report that could’ve been mistaken for an audition tape. “Smart, great passer, good on lobs, high basketball IQ. Very crafty to offset limited speed and athleticism.” He even went full nostalgia mode: “Pels’ best big man playing next to Zion.” That’s not just a compliment, that’s certified insurance that Olynyk knows how to coexist with generational unicorns—which bodes well for Victor Wembanyama.

Let’s break this thing down. The Spurs dealt out Malaki Branham, Blake Wesley, and a 2026 second-round pick to the Wizards. In return, they got Olynyk, a career 37% shooter from deep who’s coming off a scorching 42% three-point year. In other words, Wemby finally has a frontcourt partner who can actually make defenders pay for collapsing on his every move. That’s right, the days of “Victor Wembanyama versus five defenders” might finally be over.

Yossi Gozlan put it bluntly: “Neither Malaki Branham nor Blake Wesley was going to be in the rotation for the Spurs.” The team had more guards than the early 2000s Knicks, and with De’Aaron Fox, Dylan Harper, and Stephon Castle clogging the backcourt, Branham and Wesley were basically fighting for scraps. Now they’re heading to a Wizards team so deep in rebuild mode, even the construction crew took a lunch break.

Let’s not forget: Olynyk wasn’t even supposed to be in Washington for more than a D.C. coffee run. He got there as part of the Jordan Poole and Saddiq Bey trade that brought CJ McCollum to the Wizards. But before he could even unpack, he was flipped to San Antonio faster than a JaVale McGee blooper reel.

Victor Wembanyama Finally Gets a Real Running Mate

Victor Wembanyama has spent the past year dealing with everything. No consistent lob threats, no stretch big beside him, no true frontcourt partner who could alleviate some of that paint pressure. Remember when JJ Redick had to resort to playing small-ball lineups that made Wemby the lone shot blocker and backup point guard? Okay, slight exaggeration—but not really.

And that’s why this move matters. With Olynyk on board and Luke Kornet also signed, the Spurs now have legit size behind Wemby. Olynyk brings 11 years of experience, playoff reps, and the kind of veteran poise that makes second units actually functional. You could do worse for a “Plan B” than a guy who nearly averaged 13 and 6 last year, shot over 40% from deep, and makes smart decisions every possession.

For Washington, meanwhile, the youth movement is officially in overdrive. They get Branham, who started 32 games as a rookie and averaged nearly 10 PPG. His minutes vanished last season, but the scoring instinct is still there. Wesley? A bit more raw, but there’s potential if he ever figures out how to hit a jump shot with defenders in the same zip code.

Let’s not forget the second-round pick either—the least favorable of Dallas, Philly, or OKC’s in 2026, which might as well be a scratch-off ticket. But for a team going all-in on development, it fits.

Back in San Antonio, all signs point to this being a very intentional move. The Spurs are loading up on veterans who can actually play next to Victor Wembanyama. Not just warm bodies in big sneakers, but guys who make basketball easier. That’s the goal. You protect your unicorn by giving him a stable ecosystem, and Kelly Olynyk is now part of that ecosystem.

Also, let’s not ignore the flexibility. Olynyk can slot in next to Wemby or anchor a bench unit. He plays the four, he plays the five, he hits threes, and—bonus—he doesn’t need 15 touches to stay engaged. That’s a coach’s dream and a defensive coordinator’s nightmare.

So yeah, the Spurs are making moves. No, they’re not just hoarding lottery picks and letting Wemby babysit the tank job. This is the clearest sign yet that they’re ready to get serious—and Victor Wembanyama finally has some help.

No more 40-minute nights carrying bench units that shoot like they’ve got Vaseline on their fingers. Help has arrived, and his name is Kelly Olynyk. Let the spacing begin.