Giannis Antetokounmpo, Warriors
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Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts after making a basket against the Golden State Warriors.
The Golden State Warriors’ late pivot from Giannis Antetokounmpo to Kristaps Porziņģis on Wednesday night reshaped more than the franchise’s trade-deadline plans. It also created an immediate opportunity for one of the team’s most unexpected contributors: two-way guard Pat Spencer.
After a week-long pursuit of Antetokounmpo, Golden State pivoted to Porziņģis, sending Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield to Atlanta. In a separate deal, the Warriors also traded Trayce Jackson-Davis to the Toronto Raptors for the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2026 second-round pick.
Warriors Trades Create Roster Path for Pat Spencer
According to NBA insider Jake Fischer, the combination of deals carried immediate roster implications beyond the headline names.
“The Warriors’ combination of Wednesday night trades will also open a necessary roster spot to convert two-way guard Pat Spencer,” Fischer wrote on X.
Golden State now has two open roster spots following the twin moves, clearing a path to convert Spencer to a standard NBA contract. The timing is critical: Spencer had just one game remaining under the NBA’s two-way eligibility limit.
Warriors Lean on Pat Spencer Amid Injuries, Departures
Spencer has steadily played his way into Steve Kerr’s rotation this season as injuries and roster turnover tested the Warriors’ depth.
In his most recent appearance against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday, Spencer scored 13 points with four rebounds, three assists and a steal while shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. His efficiency, pace control and defensive pressure have earned trust internally and attention externally.
Spencer first moved into a prominent role earlier this season when Stephen Curry missed five games with a quad contusion. During that stretch, Spencer helped stabilize Golden State’s offense, showing poise uncommon for a two-way player.
Over a five-game span, Spencer averaged 15.2 points, 5.4 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.2 steals while shooting 57.1% from three-point range in 25.8 minutes per game in early December.
Career Night Against Cavaliers Cemented Trust
Spencer’s breakout moment came in a 99-94 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Dec. 6, when he scored a career-high 19 points, knocked down the game-clinching free throws and added a game-high seven assists. The performance helped snap a two-game losing streak and underscored his growing value.
“When we have No. 30, we have a clear-cut identity,” Spencer said at the time. “When we don’t, we don’t. But I feel like I can be part of that equation.”
Now, with Curry sidelined again by runner’s knee, Jimmy Butler also out, and Kuminga gone, Spencer is positioned to remain a rotational piece rather than a stopgap.
From Lacrosse Star to NBA Rotation Player
Spencer’s path to this moment is among the most unconventional in the league. A star lacrosse attacker at Loyola University Maryland, he led the Greyhounds to the 2016 NCAA Final Four and became the No. 1 pick in the Premier Lacrosse League’s inaugural draft in 2019.
Instead of turning professional in lacrosse, Spencer used his graduate eligibility to switch sports and play basketball at Northwestern University. He later joined the Capital City Go-Go of the G League, earned a Warriors training-camp invite, and spent two developmental seasons in Santa Cruz before breaking through in Golden State.
“My role is whatever the team needs,” Spencer recently told NBC Bay Area. “I try to add value whether I’m on or off the floor, and when I’m on the floor, just taking advantage of the minutes.”
As the Warriors recalibrate after their Giannis gamble and Porziņģis pivot, Spencer’s rise stands as a rare deadline byproduct — a roster reshuffle that may secure him an NBA future beyond a two-way deal.