Mcdermott praised as a pro’s pro
ORLANDO, Fla. — Doug Mcdermott was gone, but not forgotten.
In the minutes before the Spurs were set to tip off Thursday night in Orlando, Mcdermott was on his way to join his new team in Indiana.
His all-important mouth guard, stored in a plastic case with his jersey No. 17 scrawled across it, was on the scorer’s table at the Kia Center, still in the Spurs’ possession.
To Tre Jones, that left-behind piece of dental ware was symbolic of just how quickly friends can vanish at the NBA trade deadline.
“It’s weird, because one moment they’re here and the next moment they’re not,” Jones said. “You’ve built those relationships with your teammates, and they’re gone just like that. That’s just the business of it.”
Mcdermott was traded to the Pacers at the deadline buzzer, part of a three-team deal that also involved Philadelphia.
The Spurs acquired a 2029 second-round pick and cash considerations from Indiana. They absorbed the $17.1 million expiring contract of Marcus Morris Sr., from the 76ers.
In addition to Mcdermott, the Pacers received Furkan Korkmaz from Philadelphia. The 76ers got Buddy Hield from the Pacers.
The upshot for Mcdermott: The 32-year-old veteran sharpshooter returns to Indiana, where he spent three seasons before signing on with the Spurs in 2021.
“I’m going to miss being a Spur,” Mcdermott said in a text message to the Express-news after the trade was finished. “The way they treat their players is second to none. I will always cherish the memories and friendships in my 2 1⁄2 years with the program.”
The Spurs have no immediate means for replacing Mcdermott’s shooting off the bench.
Though averaging only 15 minutes per contest, Mcdermott ranked third on the club in total 3-pointers made (76). Only Devin Vassell and Keldon Johnson have converted more.
More than his shooting, the Spurs will miss Mcdermott’s veteran know-how and leadership by example as the only 30something on the NBA’S youngest roster.
“He’s a grownup,” coach Gregg Popovich said. “He’s very mature. He was really respected by his teammates and we all know he’s a shooter. That’s what he does.”
Vassell pointed to Mcdermott’s day-in and day-out preparation as something that rubbed off on younger players.
“He comes into the game and he never complained,” Vassell said. “He could miss two, three, four games, get DNPS and come into the game and hit five threes. With his mentality, nothing would change.”
The Spurs are expected to soon waive Morris, freeing up a roster spot. There has been speculation the team might use that space to convert promising big man Dominck Barlow’s twoway contract into a full NBA deal.
Those discussions became part of Friday’s front office business.
Thursday, however, was a day for goodbyes.
Mcdermott offered a heartfelt farewell to the club he had called home for 2 seasons, averaging 9.4 points while shooting 42.2% from the 3-point line over 161 games.
He singled out Popovich, Spurs Sports & Entertainment chief executive officer R.C. Buford and general manager Brian Wright “for giving me the opportunity to be a small part of building something special for years to come.”
Mcdermott lands with a Pacers club fighting for a spot in the Eastern Conference playoff bracket. If the Spurs were happy about anything Thursday, it was that Mcdermott is headed someplace where he might matter.
“He’s a pro, and this is a great situation for him going to Indiana,” Popovich said. “There’s a role for him there. I think he’ll get a lot of good playing time with that group who’s doing really well.”