How This Trade Impacts San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs signaled the direction they are taking the franchise following the 2022 NBA Draft. Right before free agency got underway, they traded All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray to the Atlanta Hawks for a trade package that screams rebuilding.
San Antonio received Danilo Gallinari, whom they promptly waived, along with three unprotected first-round draft picks and a pick swap.
The Spurs were stuck in the dreaded middle land and decided to go the rebuilding route, likely with an eye toward prized prospect Victor Wembanyama in the 2023 NBA Draft.
Already going down that route, San Antonio will look to continue shopping veteran players with an eye toward the future. In this scenario with the Los Angeles Lakers, they do exactly that, trading Josh Richardson, who they received along with a first-round pick from the Boston Celtics at the deadline.
The Spurs would be acquiring an intriguing young player in Talen Horton-Tucker. While things haven’t panned out as well as he or the Lakers had hoped, he does possess some real upside with his skill set and length.
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Only 21 years old, Horton-Tucker would be afforded the chance to develop with San Antonio that he wouldn’t be afforded with the Lakers. If he has a strong start to the season, perhaps the Spurs could flip him at the trade deadline if they want to gain another asset.
