Primo became an unrestricted free agent Monday after going unclaimed off waivers, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports.
Less than three weeks after exercising Primo's third-year player option for the 2023-24 season, the Spurs waived the No. 12 overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft on Friday after multiple allegations emerged of the 19-year-old exposing himself to women. Primo isn't yet facing any criminal charges or discipline from the league, but the circumstances surrounding his departure from San Antonio as well as the $8 million-plus in salary he's due over the next two seasons were likely major factors in the league's other 29 teams not putting in a waiver claim for the young wing. Before news of the allegations were reported, Primo said in a statement Friday following his release from the Spurs that he had suffered "previous trauma" and "will now take this time to focus on my mental health treatment more fully." It's not clear if or when Primo will be able to resume his playing career.
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Joshua Primo: Waived by Spurs
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Primo (glute) was waived by the Spurs on Friday, Bruno Passos of PoundingTheRock.com reports.
Primo was slated to miss a second consecutive game Friday against the Bulls due to a sore left glute, but it's a surprising move to see him let go by San Antonio after he was selected by the team with the 12th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. He averaged 6.4 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 21.3 minutes per game over 54 appearances with the Spurs and will now seek out other opportunities.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Remains out Friday
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Primo (glute) has been ruled out for Friday's game against the Bulls.
Primo will miss a second straight game as he continues to deal with a sore left glute. Devin Vassell (knee) will also remain sidelined Friday, so Josh Richardson figures to draw another start, while Romeo Langford could see increased run off the bench. Primo's next chance to return will be Sunday against the Timberwolves.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Ruled out Wednesday
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Primo won't play in Wednesday's game against the Timberwolves due to a glute injury, Dane Moore of BringMeTheNews.com reports.
Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich said that Primo's absence is due to the hard fall he took in Monday's win over the Timberwolves. According to Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com, Primo has been ruled out for Wednesday's contest due to "left glute spasms." With Devin Vassell (knee) also sidelined, Josh Richardson and Romeo Langford could see increased minutes in San Antonio's backcourt Wednesday.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Plays 26 minutes in opener
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Primo notched 10 points (3-11 FG, 0-3 3Pt, 4-4 FT), three rebounds, five assists and one block in 26 minutes during Wednesday's 129-102 loss to Charlotte.
Primo was inefficient, but his five assists and volume of shot attempts were encouraging. Tre Jones and Devin Vassell will continue handling the bulk of the backcourt usage, but Primo has upside to see sixth-man minutes for the rebuilding Spurs. Fantasy managers in deeper leagues should add him to the watchlist.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Posts 23 points in preseason finale
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Primo played 24 minutes against Oklahoma City on Thursday, finishing with 23 points (8-12 FG, 1-4 3Pt, 6-6 FT), four assists, one rebound and one blocked shot.
Despite playing in just his second game of the exhibition slate, Primo was in excellent form as he led the Spurs in scoring with an efficient shooting effort from both the field and the charity stripe. The second-year guard also ranked second on the team with four assists, though he also committed four turnovers. Primo is primed to back up Tre Jones at point guard when the regular season gets underway.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Ready to make preseason debut
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Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Primo (knee) will be active for Tuesday's preseason game versus the Jazz, Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Primo is line to make his first appearance of the preseason Tuesday after sustaining an MCL sprain in late September. Primo will be competing for minutes in the guard rotation with Tre Jones and Devin Vassell, but he is currently expected to be a bench option. The second-year guard should be ready to go for the regular season, barring any setbacks.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Spurs exercise team option
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Primo had his third-year team option for the 2023-24 season picked up by the Spurs on Monday, Tom Osborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Primo missed the last several weeks with an MCL sprain that he sustained in late September, but he's expected to make his preseason debut Tuesday against the Jazz. He'll likely take on a depth role to begin the regular season but will now be under contract with the Spurs through the 2023-24 season.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Could return at end of preseason
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Primo (knee) may be available for the Spurs' final two preseason games against the Jazz and Thunder, Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Primo suffered an MCL sprain in late September but should have time to ramp up at game speed before the regular season. With the Spurs rebuilding, he should see an expanded role.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Limited practice participant
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Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said Friday that Primo (knee) is doing everything in practice besides contact, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News reports.
Primo suffered an MCL sprain in camp and is expected to miss the beginning of the preseason. While the second-year guard is not doing contract drills yet, his participation in everything else is a good sign that he can return for the regular season.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Suffers MCL sprain
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Primo sprained the MCL in his left knee in camp and will miss at least the beginning of preseason, independent NBA writer Matthew Tynan reports. However, he's expected back for the start of the regular season.
Primo appears to have avoided significant damage but will take a bit of a hiatus before returning to the floor. Per Tynan, the earliest Primo could return is the final game of the preseason, so his status should be monitored as the regular season approaches.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Didn't play Thursday
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Primo (health and safety protocols) didn't play in Thursday's Summer League contest against the Hawks.
Primo missed his second consecutive Summer League tilt due to COVID protocols. The second-year guard has seen the second-most amount of minutes on the Spurs' Summer League team so far while averaging 15.0 points per game.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Enters health and safety protocols
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Primo (health and safety protocols) is out for Monday's contest against the Rockets, Ty Jager of PoundingTheRock.com reports.
The second-year guard is averaging 15.0 points while playing the second-most amount of minutes for the Spurs' Summer League team thus far, but Primo will be forced to sit out Monday due to COVID protocols. San Antonio's next contest comes Thursday against the Hawks.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Cleared to play vs. Portland
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Primo (hamstring) will play Sunday against Portland, Paul Garcia of Project Spurs reports.
A sore hamstring landed the rookie guard on the initial injury report, but after going through a pregame workout he's been cleared to take the floor. Primo should be in line for his eighth consecutive start at shooting guard, though he won't have backcourt mate Dejounte Murray (illness) alongside him.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Probable with hamstring tightness
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Primo is probable for Sunday's game against the Trail Blazers due to left hamstring tightness, Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com reports.
Primo has started the past four games with mixed results. He's averaged 8.4 points on 39.3 percent shooting, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 28.1 minutes. He'll continue to be a developmental focus for the Spurs down the stretch.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Scores 11 in another start
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Primo notched 11 points (5-10 FG, 1-4 3Pt), three rebounds, two assists and one block in 34 minutes during Sunday's 110-108 victory over the Warriors.
With Doug McDermott (ankle) done for the season, the Spurs have an open spot in the starting lineup, and Primo has stepped up to fill it in each of the last two games. After posting nine points, three rebounds, a steal and a block against New Orleans on Friday, he followed up with another solid effort Sunday night. The 2021 first-round pick could be worth a speculative look in deeper re-draft formats down the stretch, but he's more of a long-term fantasy asset.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Starting Friday
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Primo is starting Friday's game against the Pelicans.
Primo will make his first start since Jan. 12 with Josh Richardson (calf) unavailable Friday. Across his last three appearances, Primo has averaged 3.7 points and 4.7 rebounds in 22.3 minutes per game.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Cleared vs. Pacers
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Primo (illness) is available for Saturday's matchup against the Pacers, independent NBA writer Matthew Tynan reports.
Primo is back following a two-game absence. He figures to step into a bigger role than usual, as many of the Spurs' key pieces are out Saturday. In games where he's seen at least 24 minutes, he's averaged 10.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.0 blocks.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Won't play Friday
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Primo (illness) has been ruled out for Friday's contest against the Jazz, Jeff Garcia of KENS 5 San Antonio reports.
As expected, Primo won't be available after initially being listed as doubtful. His next chance to suit up will be the second half of the Spurs' back-to-back set Saturday versus Indiana.
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Spurs' Joshua Primo: Likely out Friday
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Primo (illness) is doubtful to play Friday against the Jazz, Paul Garcia of ProjectSpurs.com reports.
Primo missed Wednesday's loss to the Raptors due to a stomach illness, and he isn't expected to be available for Friday's contest. He could also be sidelined for the second half of the back-to-back set Saturday versus Indiana.
