Why This Trade Would Benefit The San Antonio Spurs
This deal benefits the San Antonio Spurs in many ways and they are visible right on the surface. DeMar DeRozan is just one veteran player who could be on the move in the NBA trade deadline, along with LaMarcus Aldridge.
If the Spurs were to move a key player like DeRozan, it would need to be for a player impactful like Julius Randle. San Antonio is off to a 14-11 start and holds the sixth spot in the Western Conference playoff picture — making adding a helpful piece to keep winning important.
Dejounte Murray and Keldon Johnson are younger players that look like the real deal in San Antonio. They should both be focuses of the Spurs’ long-term rebuilding efforts and moving DeRozan sooner rather than later could afford them more opportunities in the offense.
This is a trade that San Antonio would jump at given the fact that they will not be re-signing DeRozan in the offseason. It makes sense to send him away at the NBA trade deadline and make use of his value before he potentially leaves in free agency.