One of the teams that are expected to be active on the trade market ahead of the 2023 NBA trade deadline is the San Antonio Spurs.
They came into the season expecting to lose a lot of games as they embarked on a rebuild in the offseason, trading away All-Star point guard Dejounte Murray.
That rebuild is expected to continue in the coming weeks as there are still multiple veterans on the roster. Two of the ones garnering the most attention are Doug McDermott and Josh Richardson.
It seems like a formality that at least one, if not both of them are trading by February 9th. They were discussed in trade packages coming into the season, but the asking price was quite high. That, however, has changed.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: San Antonio Spurs, Josh Richardson & Doug McDermott Updates
According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, both players are available and the price will shock some people. McDermott could actually cost more than Richardson depending on where the draft picks land in the order, as San Antonio is seeking one or two in exchange for the veteran sharpshooter who has one more season remaining on his contract.
Veteran sharpshooter Doug McDermott could command one or two second-round picks on the trade market depending on the pick number and any protections, league sources told HoopsHype. McDermott has shot 41.8 percent from downtown during his Spurs tenure and is owed $13.75 million next season.
In a somewhat surprising development, Richardson is available for a second-round pick. With the number of teams on the search for wing upgrades, his market should be a robust one. It would not be surprising if the Spurs received more than that in a trade package as a desperate team could offer more to ensure they land the 3-and-D wing.
While McDermott’s contract was seen as a hurdle over the summer, it could be the reason that the Spurs can ask for more in a trade.
LATEST NBA NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: San Antonio Spurs, Josh Richardson & Doug McDermott Updates
A franchise could offer a little more knowing he will be on the roster next season as well. Since Richardson is going to be an unrestricted free agent this summer, teams aren’t going to surrender as much for him knowing he is a rental.
