The Atlanta Hawks and San Antonio Spurs reportedly held trade discussions leading into the 2022 NBA Draft about a potential trade that would form a Dejounte Murray and Trae Young duo in Hot ‘Lanta. No deal ended up transpiring, much like most of the reported talks around the league entering draft night.
According to Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer, the San Antonio Spurs and Atlanta Hawks are still discussing a potential trade that would be headlined by Dejounte Murray and John Collins.
It would be a strange decision for the Spurs to move on from Murray with the return being led by John Collins. He’s a soon-to-be 25-year-old with a role player ceiling and would be leaving the friendly circumstances of Trae Young’s elite playmaking for a team that would have no dynamic talent on offense to draw attention leading to easy looks.
Fischer also reported last week that mutual interest is there between Dejounte Murray and Trae Young to play together. It’s understandable why each player would want to join forces. Both players can run a half-court offense and neither has a co-star they can trust to make life easier on themselves.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Atlanta Hawks Among 3 Trade Packages Involving Dejounte Murray For San Antonio Spurs To Consider?
Murray would be able to guard at the point of attack on defense and cover for Young in needed ways. Assuming that Clint Capela would still be around to anchor the defense with De’Andre Hunter on the wing, there’d be a lot to like about the Atlanta Hawks’ supporting cast.
The San Antonio Spurs will need to be careful with how they navigate Dejounte Murray trade talks. Entertaining them too much could damage the relationship they have with the only All-Star on their roster. Given they have taken largely limited ceiling players with their last three lottery picks, it’s tough to envision him being replaceable without tanking out for the loaded 2023 NBA Draft class.
LATEST NBA NEWS AND TRADE RUMORS: Atlanta Hawks Among 3 Trade Packages Involving Dejounte Murray For San Antonio Spurs To Consider?
There is little reason for the Spurs to trade Murray, too. He is set to turn 26 by the start of the 2022-23 season and is coming off his first All-Star campaign with averages of 21.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 9.2 assists. Especially as a small-market franchise, what’s the point of trading such a talent?
It remains to be seen if Dejounte Murray will ultimately be traded by the San Antonio Spurs, and for what type of return for that matter. However, of all of the teams around the NBA in need of a point guard upgrade, the New York Knicks would likely be the better trade partner assuming there is interest. They added multiple 2023 protected first-round picks on draft night that could be sent along with having all of their own future picks and the Dallas Mavericks’ 2023 first-round pick already.
