When the Spurs shockingly parted ways with Josh Primo on Friday evening, it was the fastest that an NBA team had ever waived a former lottery pick.
The details that have emerged since the news broke are ugly. While the former Alabama guard initially said he was focusing on his mental health treatment, ESPN reported the decision was made following multiple alleged instances in which the 19-year-old exposed himself to women.
USA TODAY’s Jeff Zilgitt has confirmed that Houston-based attorney Tony Buzbee will represent a former employee of the Spurs who alleges that Primo exposed himself to her. Buzbee also represented several women who accused NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson of sexual misconduct.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office hasn’t received any complaints against Primo as of today. Primo, meanwhile, cleared waivers and became an unrestricted free agent on Monday. His short-lived tenure with San Antonio ended far before anyone could have ever expected.
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich denied further comment beyond the initial statement from the team, but he had previously described Primo as having an “uncanny maturity” for someone his age and considered him a “respectful kid” who makes good decisions.
Hindsight is 20/20, but I characterized Primo similarly during my interactions with him during the pre-draft process and on the night of the 2021 NBA Draft, which For The Win watched alongside Primo and his family. Here is what I wrote:
“He was somebody who understood the proverbial it and is willing to accept whatever role it takes for him to take the next steps in his path to success. All things considered, it was very easy to see why San Antonio decided he was worth the pick.”
The Spurs were confident enough to pick Primo at No. 12 overall and they clearly believed in his long-term potential, but the decision to move on was never about basketball. The organization had just exercised its team option on Primo’s contract earlier in the month, and he will remain on the payroll with a guaranteed contract for all of this season and all of next season.
They were giving him a much bigger role within the offense, too. In fact, at the time of the news, he actually had the highest year-over-year total increase in dribbles per touch (+2.03) as well as the largest percentage increase in seconds per touch (+48.8%) of any player in the NBA.
None of that mattered to the franchise when they took swift measures to move on from Primo, though. What actually matters is that Primo hurt people. His alleged actions are gross and had consequences, and the front office acted accordingly.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Russell Westbrook enjoyed a fun moment with the fans after the Lakers secured their first win of the season, and it was great to see:
“Westbrook’s productivity is considerably better when he is given the keys to the offense with the bench squad, so it’s not shocking to see this work out so far. But the decision especially paid off on Sunday when the Lakers got their first win of the season.
The former MVP finished with 18 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists. He was 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. But most important: His plus-minus (18) in the game was the best of any player on either team.
It was a great change of pace to watch Westbrook enjoy himself on the floor.”
If he is able to become a positively impactful player off the bench, that changes everything for the Lakers.
One To Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Nets (-340, -7.5) vs. Pacers (+260), O/U 235.5, 7:30 PM ET
The Nets are the most embarrassingly bad team in the NBA and the Pacers legitimately have two of the more exciting young players (Tyrese Haliburton and Bennedict Mathurin) of the season. I’ll take Indiana with the points, but the favorable money line is attractive as well.
Shootaround
— Grant Williams stayed in character in a Batman costume after the Celtics game, and Jayson Tatum was unamused
— Christian Wood tells HoopsHype Michael Scotto he wants to be an All-Star
— Celtics Wire’s Justin Quinn spoke to Jahlil Okafor about his efforts to return to the NBA
— Cole Huff provided fantasy basketball targets on the waiver wire