Boston Celtics Receive: G Dejounte Murray, F Keita Bates-Diop
San Antonio Spurs Receive: G Marcus Smart, F Aaron Nesmith, BOS 2022 1st Round Pick (Unprotected), BOS 2025 1st Round Pick (Top-5 Protected)
After extending Marcus Smart on a four-year, $77M deal this past offseason, it seems foolish to think that Boston would be wanting to trade him, but the veteran guard is the key to the Celtics having a shot at Dejounte Murray.
At 27-years-old, Smart is still young enough that he could be an essential part of a rebuilding franchise and he is also a 2x All-Defensive player at either guard position.
Marcus Smart’s value on the court lies on the defensive end of the floor and for a franchise that has always preached defensive success, the Spurs could be intrigued by the idea of adding Smart to their roster.
Now, since he did sign this big contract extension in the offseason, Smart is ineligible to be traded before January 25, but the good news for the Celtics, in this case, is that the Trade Deadline is on February 10 this year.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could San Antonio Spurs Make “Surprising” Dejounte Murray?
Getting a deal done for Murray involving Marcus Smart ahead of the trade deadline is possible, but it remains yet to be known if the Spurs are interested in moving Dejounte Murray. If they were, they would have to be receiving a ton of value for their young guard.
Smart’s value is very clear and Aaron Nesmith is another guy who could carry a fair amount of value. Nesmith was drafted 14th overall in 2020 and while he did not play much last season in his rookie year, the Celtics are very high on the young wing to be a key part of their future.
San Antonio has a lot of questions on the wing outside of Keldon Johnson right now, which is why Nesmith could join this team and immediately carve out a role in their rotation.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: Could San Antonio Spurs Make “Surprising” Dejounte Murray?
Along with two first-round picks over the next four years, there is definitely a handful of value going to San Antonio in this trade.
With the Spurs looking to trade Thaddeus Young this year, it seems more likely that they will look to get a deal done involving the veteran forward before they address any other big trades, but Dejounte Murray trade rumors have been around since the offseason. The idea of trading him is definitely somewhat intriguing, but this may not be the deal the Spurs have in mind.
