The San Antonio Spurs have moved on from their All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray for a massive haul of first-round picks and Danilo Gallinari’s expiring contract from the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks have finally found a backcourt partner for Trae Young as two of the best playmakers in the league will join forces in Atlanta.
The Spurs have tried remaining afloat since the 2016 retirement of Tim Duncan but haven’t been title contenders since Kawhi Leonard’s injury and subsequent departure. LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan couldn’t make the Playoffs together and now, their draft success in Murray is leaving in exchange for three first-round picks and one first-round pick swap.
Gregg Popovich became the winningest coach in NBA history last season and will happily steer the ship of the non-competitive Spurs through their rebuild, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.
https://twitter.com/_Talkin_NBA/status/1542268205510660098
“This is certainly an organization with the experience of drafting well. This is now a full rebuild mode. Gregg Popovich, the expectation is that he will return. He really enjoyed coaching this young team last year and likes this young group. It may be one of the youngest teams in the NBA.”
This is shaping up to be the worst team Pop has ever coached in his near-30-year NBA career. The man that is used to fighting at the front of the pack has had a below .500 record the last three seasons and will coach the Spurs through their 2023 tank season.
His attachment to the young core of the team makes sense as the players have bought into playing basketball the way Pop wants them to. Keldon Johnson is emerging into a franchise cornerstone with Pop’s affinity for him. They drafted Baylor Bears standout Jeremy Sochan this season and are looking atop the 2023 draft board to get their hands on another franchise-altering star like Victor Wembanyama or Scoot Henderson.
