San Antonio Spurs Receive: G Kendrick Nunn, C Damian Jones, F Wenyan Gabriel, G/F Troy Brown Jr. 

Los Angeles Lakers Receive: F Doug McDermott 

Raise your hand if you’re optimistic about the San Antonio Spurs. 

Fair enough. The Spurs are off to a surprisingly hot 3-1 start. It’s difficult to say whether that will last, but if nothing else, you have some data to support your optimism. Now, raise your hand if you were optimistic about the Spurs before 2022-23 got underway. 

Who are you lying to? Us, or yourself? 

The Spurs were not supposed to be here. After trading Dejounte Murray in exchange for three first-round picks, they were supposed to be frontrunners in the race for Victor Wembanyama.

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They still could be, but if they want to make a deal to ensure their place near the bottom of the league’s standings, that might be a wise decision. 

Does this deal accomplish that goal for them?