The trade talks surrounding San Antonio Spurs guard Dejounte Murray being moved to the Atlanta Hawks are progressing slowly. It’s battling through conflicting wants and asks of both the teams. The Hawks were trying to off-load John Collins in a trade with the Spurs, as the Hawks gave Collins a massive contract extension last year that they are trying to move on from.
With the Spurs talks with Collins dead, the Hawks can’t offer anything special in terms of players in a trade. However, the one thing that has value regardless in the trade markets are first-round draft picks.
The Spurs are willing to accept bad contracts of the likes of Danilo Gallinari in exchange for multiple first-round picks from the 2023 Draft to acquire Murray. This may be indicating the Spurs’ intentions to tank for the season in pursuit of Victor Wembanyama. In the meantime, the decision lies with Atlanta on whether they value Murray highly enough to give the Spurs so many picks for him.
In talking with multiple sources around the NBA, many believe Hawks on verge of trading for San Antonio's All-Star guard Dejounte Murray – However, it's looking like John Collins is not part of deal. Would be Gallo & multiple 1st round picks. Spurs prepping for future & '23 draft
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) June 27, 2022
Spurs going into a full rebuild is the natural next step for a team that has tried being middle-of-the-pack for the last few seasons and hasn’t gotten great value players in the late lottery. With the 2023 Draft being top-heavy with the likes of the Thompson twins, Scoot Henderson, and Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs may have chosen 2023 to be the year they tank for a pick.
If they are tanking, giving them picks for their best players is the only way they will trade any useful player. Murray was an All-Star this season and would fetch a hefty price in picks if Atlanta wants to pull the trigger.
A Trae Young and Murray backcourt would be extremely exciting. We will have to see whether the Hawks give in to the demands of the Spurs and part with many picks, or will they safeguard the present and keep Trae happy by making this trade? It’s unclear, but it will be crystal clear within the next week or so after free agency starts.
